THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


OUR  COUNTY  AND  ITS  PEOPLE: 


A  MEMORIAL  RECORD 


OF 


ST.  Lawrence  County 


NHW  YORK. 


ILLUSTRATED, 


EDITELj  by  gates  CURTIS. 


SYRACUSE,  N.  Y.: 
b.    MASON   &    COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 

1894- 


F 


PREFACE, 


ORDINARILY  the  history  of  a  place  or  town  commences  with  the 
adventurer  or  pioneer  wlio  grapples  with  the  difficulties  pre- 
sented, the  events  of  which  become  fixed  in  his  memory  and  thus  come 
down  in  traditional  form  to  be  recorded  by  the  historian. 

The  essential  prerequisite  of  a  rational  patriotism  is  an  intelligent 
acquaintance  with  the  history  of  one's  country.  To  supply  the  means 
of  making  that  acquaintance  is  the  cherished  object  of  this  work. 
Hence  the  manifest  interest  of  our  citizens  demands  a  clearer  record  of 
the  early  days  of  this  part  of  Northern  New  York  than  we  now  possess. 
Therefore,  in  the  following  pages  it  is  designed  to  give  a  complete 
narrative — in  as  few  words  and  as  simple  form  as  possible — chrono- 
logically arranged,  relating  to  the  discovery  of  America;  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  River ;  of  the  chain  of  Great  Lakes  and  of  the  Father  of 
Waters ;  together  with  the  conflicts  between  the  French,  English  and 
natives,  in  the  settlements  along  the  shores  of  these  waters  ;  also  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  character,  habits  and  religious  views  of  the  aborigines  ; 
but  more  particularly  the  names,  occupancy,  changes,  organizations, 
and  progress  of  the  civil  and  religious  bodies  of  the  county  of  St.  Law- 

h  rence  from  its  first  settlement  up  to  the  present  time.  It  is  our  pur- 
pose to  avoid  all  dry  discussions  and  documentary  array,  yet  to 
preserve   and   perpetuate,  as   far  as   possible,   the   history   of  the   most 

V  important  events  and  some  of  the  quaint  sayings  of  the  pioneers  who 
had  such  a  controlling  influence  in  shaping  the  destiny  and  moulding 
the  character  of  this  people. 


5  •'^  A  lor^c- 


6  PREFACE. 

For  the  historical  part  of  this  work  a  large  amount  of  valuable  infor- 
mation was  selected  from  the  French  war  records,  from  Hough's 
history  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  the  works  of  many  other  eminent 
writers  were  used  so  far  as  applicable  to  this  work. 

With  a  due  acknowledgment  for  these  historical  facts  thus  selected  ; 
for  the  "Judiciary,"  the  bench  and  bar  of  the  county  by  Judge  Tappan ; 
for  the  valuable  information  of  the  religious  bodies  of  the  county  fur- 
nished by  the  various  church  clerks  ;  and  for  the  many  incidents  of 
interest,  not  heretofore  published,  given  by  our  venerable  and  esteemed 
citizens,  thanks  are  hereby  tendered. 

With  a  consciousness  that  the  greatest  vigilance  cannot  wholly  ex- 
clude errors  and  faults,  and  trusting  to  the  charity  of  a  generous  public, 
this  work  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Gates  Curtis. 

OgDENSBURG,  May  I,   1 894. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  Beginnings  of  History — Tiie  History  of  tlie  First  Discoveries  of  the  Western 
Continent  Buried  in  Conjecture — The  Rediscovery  by  Columbus — Importance 
of  the  French  Occupation — Plan   of  this  Work 17 

CHAPTER  I. 

DISCOVERY  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONTINENT. 

Pre-Columbian  Discoveries — Irish  Discovery — Chinese  Discovery — Norse  Dis- 
covery— Arabian  Discovery — Welsh  Discovery — Other  Discoveries — Final 
Discovery  by  Columbus — Difficulties  Encountered  by  Columbus — His  Final 
Fate 19 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ABORIGINES. 

Pre-historic  Inhabitants  of  the  Western  Continent — The  Aborigines  and  their 
Oreat  Divisions— The   Iroquois— The   Esquimaux— The   Destiny   of  the   Red 


Man , 


CHAPTER  III. 

FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER. 

French  Explorations — Jacques  Cartier — Discovery  of  the  St.  Lawrence — Hoche- 
laga — Lord  Roberval's  Expedition — Grant  to  Aylmar  de  Chastes  —  Samuel 
Champlain — Sieur  de  Monts  at  Acadia — Pont-Greve  and  Poutrincourt — Ex- 
pedition of  Champlain  and  Indian  Allies  against  the  Iroquois — The  First 
Bloodshed— The  Establishment  of  Montreal— Champlain's  Trip  to  the  North- 
west— Arrival  of  Catholic  Missionaries  and  their  Explorations — The  Company 
of  New  France — Champlain's  Labors  and  Sacrifices— La  Galette— Origin  of 
the  Name — Voyageurs— Occupation  of  La  Galette  as  a  Station — E.xisting 
Evidences  of  Early  Occupation  of  the  Locality — Frontenac's  Expedition — 
Mention  of  La  Galette  by  De  la  Barre— Other  Allusions  to  the  Place—"  It 
Takes  the  Cake." 31 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  OLD   REGIME. 

Condition  of  the  Colonies  in  1659 — Hochelaga  and  its  Occupation — Contrast  be- 
tween the  Montreal  of  that  Period  and  that  of  To-day — The  Old  Spinner — 
The  Company  of  the  West  and  its  Efforts — Importations  of  Women — The 
Seignorial  Grants — Stringent  Rules  of  the  Church  —  Intemperance — Divine 
Chastisement — Spirit  of  Discovery — De  la  Salle  and  his  Western  Expedi- 
tion— Paucity  of  English  Posts  of  Occupation 47 

CHAPTER  V. 
CONFLICTING  INTERESTS. 

Jesuit  Enterprise — Alarm  of  the  English — Conflicting  Claims  and  Measures — 
Washington's  Mission  to  the  Ohio  Valley — Fort  Duquesne — Washington  at 
Fort  Necessity  —  General  Braddock's  Expedition  — Vigorous  Movements  of 
the  French— Father  Piquet  at  La  Gallette — His  Successful  Establishment — 
His  Report  Concerning  the  Location — French  Industry  in  Founding  Estab- 
lishments for  Civihzing  the  Indians — The  English  Awakened  to  Action — Eng- 
lish Endeavors  to  Secure  an  Alliance  with  the  Indians — Piquet's  Improvements 
at  La  Galette 55 

CHAPTER    \T. 

ENGLISH  SUPREMACY. 

Campaign  of  1758 — Campaign  of  1759— Campaign  of  1760 — Military  Operations 
in  the  Vicinity  of  La  Galette — Capture  of  the  Post  by  the  English — Treaty  of 
Paris — Failure  of  French  Hopes — Piquets  Departure 65 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

ENGLISH  POSSESSION. 

La  Galette  Improved  by  the  English — Name  Changed  to  Oswegatchie — The  In- 
dian Village  of  La  Galette — The  Revolutionary  Period — English  Possession  of 
Oswegatchie  after  the  Declaration  of  Peace — Its  Unimportance  During  the 
War  —  The  Expedition  of  Lieutenants  McClelland  and  Hardenburgh — The 
Boy  Soldier  and  the  Indian — Isaac  Wells's  Description  of  Oswegatchie  in  1796 
— Land  Leases  from  the  Indians  and  the  English — -Mohawks"  Surrender  of 
Lands — The  Ten  Townships  Surveyed  and  Mapped  on  the  South  Side  of  the 
St  Lawrence — Transfer  of  Lands — Samuel  Ogden  and  his  Purchase — Nathan 
Ford — His  arrival  at  Oswegatchie 73 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED. 

Nathan  Ford's  Occupation  of  Osweo;atchie — His  Labors  and  Difficulties — Saw  Mill 
Erected — Canadian  Squatters — The  American  Hotel — Erection  of  Grist  Mill 
— Mr.  Ford's  Financial  Embarrassments 8!) 

« 

CHAPTER    IX. 
THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE. 

Pioneer  Alethods — Equipment  for  Pioneer  Life — The  Shanty — Clearing  of  Land — 
Construction  of  Log  Houses — Food  of  Pioneers — Wild  Animals — Description 
of  Pioneer  Houses — The  Dutch  Chimney— Lumber  and  Black  Salts — Pioneer 
Social  Life , 07 

CHAPTER    X. 

ERECTION  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Causes  Leading  to  the  Organization  of  St.  Lawrence  County — The  Erection  Act — 
Name — Rivers — Lakes — Geology  and  Mineralogy  —  Mineral  Waters,  etc. — 
Analysis  of  Water  from  Various  Sources — Soil  and  Timber — County  Officers 
Appointed — County  Clerk's  Office  Building — First  National  Celebration — Lo- 
cation of  County  Seat — The  First  Court  House — Hasbrouck's  House — The 
State  Road 106 

CHAPTER  XI. 

WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815. 

Causes  of  the  War — Mr.  Ford's  Letter  upon  the  Prospect — Militia  Called  Out  to 
Enforce  the  Embargo  Act — Events  of  the  War  at  Ogdensburg — A  Zealous 
Sentinel — Bombardment  of  the  British  in  1812 — Sacking  of  the  Village  in 
1813 — General  Wilkinson's  Expedition 13G 

CHAPTER  XII. 

AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE. 

Ogdensburg  after  the  Declaration  of  Peace — President  Monroe's  Visit — Removal 
of  the  Public  Buildings — Description  of  the  Buildmgs--The  New  Jail— '"Jail 
Liberties" — Destruction  of  the  Court  House  by  Fire — Measures  for  the  Erec- 
tion of  a  New  One — Description  of  the  Building— The  New  County  Clerk's 
Office — The  Poorhouse  and  Asylum — Statistics  of  the  County's  Charities.  .  .  .    152 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Various  Plans  for  Internal  Navigation — State  Roads — Plank  Roads — Steamboat 
Navigation — Marine  Railway — The  Northern  Transportation  Company — The 
Ogdensburg  Transit  Company — Port  of  Transfer — The  Northern  Railroad — 
The  Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdensburg  Railroad — The  Uticaand  Black  River 
Eailroad — The  Grouverneur  and  Oswegatchie  Railroad — Street  Railway 103 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40. 

Cause  of  the  Uprising- -Meetings,  Open  and  Secret — Seizure  of  the  Sir  Robert  Peel 
— The  Two  Mysterious  Schooners — Connection  of  the  United  States  with  the 
Affair — Her  Seizure — Arrival  of  United  States  Troops — Statement  of  Stephen 
S.  Wright— Futile  Attempts  of  Ogdensburgers  to  Relieve  the  Patriots — Their 
Surrender — Animosity  of  the  Canadians — The  Affair  of  the  Schooner  G.  S. 
Weeks 180 

CHAPTER  XV. 

WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION,  1861-65. 

The  First  War  Meeting — Captain  Nevin's  Company — Other  Companies — Various 
Organizations  Containing  St.  Lawrence  County  Representatives — Drafts — 
Bounties — Confederate  Raids  from  Canada — Major  General  Dix's  Order — 
Ogdensburg  Home  G-uards — The  Fenian  Movement — Ogdensburg  a  Center  of 
Active  Operations — Misunderstanding  Regarding  the  Strength  of  the  Move- 
ment. .  .  .' 196 

CHAPTER   XVI. 
PLTBLIC  INSTITUTIONS,  SOCIETIES,  CIVIL  LIST.  STATISTICS,  ETC. 

Telegraph  Lines  and  Companies — Telephone  Line — St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital — 
Agricultural  Societies — Dairymen's  Association  and  Boards  of  Trade — Civil 
List — Statistics  of  Population 209 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

CLOSE  COMMUNION,  OR  SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

Lodges  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons — Royal  Arch  Masonry — Knights  Templar — 
Scottish  Rite — Order  of  the  Eastern  Star — Odd  Fellowship — Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic — Benevolent  Organizations — Knights  of  Labor — Grangers 224 


CONTENTS.  1 1 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ANCIENT  RELICS. 

Evidence.^  in  St.  Lawrence  County  of  Pre-historic  Occupation — Trencli  Enclosures 
— Mound  near  Ogdensburg — Nature  and  Uses  of  Implements  Found — Theories 
Concerning  the  Mound  Builders 237 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
THE  COURTS,  THE  BENCH  AND  THE  BAR  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Origin  of  our  State  Lavr.s — The  Original  Courts — The  Court  of  Appeals — The  Su- 
preme Court — Justices  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  District — Court  of  Common 
Pleas — Judges  and  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  —  The  County 
Court — County^  Judges -The  Surrogate's  Court — District  Attorneys — Sheriffs 
— Biographical 243 

CHAPTER  XX. 

ST.  LAWRENCE  C(JUNTY  MEDICAL  PROFESSION. 

Organization  cf  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society — Reorganization  of 
Same — List  of  Presidents  of  the  Society — List  of  Resident  and  Non-Resident 
Members — St.  Lawrence  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society — Medical  Association 
of  Northern  New  York — Biographies 284 

CHAPTER  XXr. 
THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON 321 

CHAPTER  XXn. 

THE  TOWN  OF   OSWEGATCHIE 325 

CHAPTER  XXXHI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID 391 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA 404 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  HOPKINTON 417 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON 423 

CHAPTER  XXVH. 
THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM 4fi2 

CHAPTER  XXVHL 
THE  TOWN  ( »F  DE  KALB •'^'M 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  TOWN  OF   STOCKHOLM 51S 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  TOWN  OF  RUSSELL 526 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE 533 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR 541 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSTE 584 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  PARISHVILLE o!)5 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  T(  )WN   OF  FOWLER 599 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  PTERREPONT (;07 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  MORRISTOWN G14 


CONTENTS.  13 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK G23 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 
THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER 631 

CHAPTER    XL. 
THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER G40 

CHAPTER    XLI. 
THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND 651 

CHAPTER    XLII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  EDWARDS .661 

CHAPTER    XLIII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE 669 

CHAPTER    XLIV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  IIERMON 678 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  PITCAIRN^     685 

CHAPTER    XLVL 

THE  TOWN  OF  MACOMB 688 

CHAPTER    XLVII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  COLTON 694 

CHAPTER    XLVIII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  FINE 698 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 

THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON 701 


14  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    L. 

THE  TOWN  OF  CLIFTON 713 

CHAPTER   LI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  CLARE 7Lo 

ADDENDA 710 


PART     II. 
BIOGRAPHIES 1-GG 


PART     III. 
PERSONAL  SKETCHES l-.3r)4 


INDEXES. 

INDEX  TO  PART  I .355-36G 

INDEX  TO  PART  II 367 

INDEX  TO  PART  III 368-372 


PART  1 


HISTORICAL 


HISTORY 


OF 


St.  Lawrence  County. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Beginnings  of  History — The  History  of  the  First  Discoveries  of  the  Western 
Continent  Buried  in  Conjecture — The  Rediscovery  by  Columbus — Importance  of  the 
French  Occupation — Plan  of  this  Work. 

IN  studying  the  history  of  any  people  it  is  very  interesting  to  learn  of 
their  beginnings  and  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were 
brought  into  notice,  as  well  as  of  the  political  powers  by  which  they  were 
sustained  or  governed.  The  books  of  Moses,  however,  open  with  the 
simple  statement  that  "  In  the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth;"  but  no  where  in  the  Holy  Writ  can  we  learn  how  remote 
the  "  beginning"  was  from  any  age  of  the  world  known  to  science  or 
history.  Yet  all  things  temporal  had  a  beginning,  but  it  is  not  always 
that  a  minute  or  correct  history  with  dates  of  origin  can  be  furnished. 
In  such  cases  theory  and  conjecture  must  take  the  place  of  facts. 

The  history  of  the  Western  Continent  virtually  began  with  its  acci- 
dental discovery  by  the  restless  and  roving  Norsemen  in  the  tenth  cent- 
ury of  the  Christian  era.  They  settled  and  occupied  a  portion  of  the 
eastern  shore,  more  or  less,  for  nearly  five  hundred  years,  without  learn- 
ing its  extent  and  true  value,  or  publishing  their  discovery  to  the  world. 
During  this  period  (the  dark  ages),  society  in  the  Old  World  was  very 
much  unsettled  by  the  unfriendly  feelings  and  jealousy  existing  between 
3 


18  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  petty  nations  of  Europe.  Property,  life,  and  female  honor  were  ex- 
posed to  daily  risk  from  tyrants  and  marauders.  Even  the  pious  monks 
and  the  monastic  institutions  were  unable  to  supply  a  refuge  inaccessible 
to  cruelty  and  licentiousness.  Therefore,  during  such  a  period  of  wick- 
edness and  uncertainty  in  the  religious  and  political  affairs  of  the  coun- 
try, it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  people  would  be  sufficiently  en- 
lightened to  undertake  to  navigate  unknown  seas  in  search  of  new  con- 
tinents. 

At  length  the  darkness  which  had  so  long  enveloped  the  minds  of 
men  began  to  give  way  to  the  influence  of  Christianity  and  the  light  of 
science,  enabling  the  people  to  solve  the  problems  of  astronomy  and 
navigation.  The  earth  was  no  longer  believed  to  be  flat,  but  a  sphere, 
and  the  theory  was  advanced  by  the  new  school  that  by  sailing  in  a 
westerly  direction  the  Indies  could  be  reached,  as  well  as  by  sailing 
easterly.  Acting  upon  this  belief,  an  expedition  for  exploration,  en- 
couraged by  the  queen  of  Spain,  and  under  the  direction  of  Christopher 
Columbus,  resulted  in  the  rediscovery  of  the  Western  Continent  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century.  This  discovery  gave  birth  to  a  new 
order  of  things,  opening  up  a  country  which  has  become  an  asylum  for 
the  oppressed  and  down-trodden  of  all  nations  of  the  earth. 

The  French  being  the  first  white  race  to  inhabit  this  part  of  our  coun- 
try ;  very  active  in  exploring  and  in  forming  settlements  along  the  main 
water-courses  of  the  interior  ;  remarkable  for  the  political  power  they 
wielded  over  a  large  territory,  deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice,  as 
their  history  is  closely  connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  Ogdens- 
burg.  For  this  reason  a  brief  account  will  be  given  of  their  doings, 
commencing  with  their  discovery  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  fol- 
lowing them  through  their  various  expeditions  until  the  close  of  their 
supremacy  and  final  surrender  to  the  British  forces. 

From  this  point  the  narrative  will  be  confined  more  especially  to  the 
events  that  have  occurred  in  connection  with  the  affairs  of  Ogdensburg 
and  its  vicinity,  consisting  in  part  of  the  possession  and  evacuation  by 
the  English,  the  settlement  of  the  place  by  the  Americans,  the  organi- 
zation of  the  county  and  the  towns,  the  events  of  wars,  a  description 
of  navigation,  internal  improvements,  ancient  races  and  relics,  societies, 
hospitals  and  other  public   institutions,    church  organizations,   biogra- 


DISCOVERY  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONTINENT.  19 

phies  of  leading  men,  etc.,  from   the  earliest  settlement  down  to  the 
present  time. 


CHAPTER  I. 

DISCOVERY  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONTINENT. 

Pre-Columbian  Discoveries  — Irish  Discovery — Chinese  Discovery — Norse  Discov- 
ery— Arabian  Discovery — Welsh  Discovery — Other  Discoveries — Final  Discovery  by 
Columbus — Difficulties  Encountered  by  Columbus — His  Final  Fate. 

HISTORIANS  have  recorded  the  so-called  pre- Columbian  discovery 
of  the  western  hemisphere  by  various  persons.  Some  of  the 
discoveries  were  accidental,  the  navigators  being  driven  by  storm  upon, 
or  in  sight  of,  strange  lands,  and  doubtless  many  others  were  forced 
to  make  similar  visits,  but  were  lost  before  reaching  their  native 
shores.  These  claims  to  discovery,  or  some  of  them  at  least,  are  re- 
garded by  many  to  be  mythical ;  be  this  as  it  may,  there  can  be  but  one 
conclusion  as  to  their  results,  and  that  is,  that  the  Columbian  discovery 
has  been  fraught  with  incalulable  benefits  to  the  human  race,  while  all 
former  ones  were  of  no  particular  advantage  to  the  Avorld  at  large. 

The  documentary  evidence  in  support  of  claims  to  early  discovery  is 
here  given,  so  far  as  practicable,  in  chronological  order. 

Irish  Discovery. — St.  Patrick  sent  missionaries  to  the  "  Isles  of 
America,"  which  included  Iceland,  Greenland  and  Labrador,  previous  to 
the  year  460;  and,  second,  missionaries  went  out  to  the  New  World  at 
a  time  little  anterior  to  the  Norse  discovery,  or  towards  the  close  of  the 
tenth  century. 

Chinese  Discovery. — Hoci-Shin,  a  Buddhist  monk,  in  the  year  499 
returned  from  an  extensive  journey  to  the  east  and  reported  that  he  had 
visited  a  country  lying  about  6,600  miles  to  the  east  of  Japan,  and  an 
equal  distance  to  the  east  of  China.  He  called  the  country  Tusango, 
on  account  of  many  trees  growing  there  that  went  by  that  name.  It 
has  been  assumed  that  this  country  was  Mexico  and  California.  Rev. 
Frederick  J.  Masters,  a  missionary  who  has  spent  nine  years  in  China 


20 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


XORSE   SEA-KINC. 


and  eight  in  California  among  the  Chinese,  has  found  in  their  literature 
and  traditions  what  he  considers  ample  proof  of  the  truth  of  these  claims 
to  discovery,  and  has  recently  made  his  convictions  public. 

Norse  Discovery. — Previous  to  986  A.  D.   the 
red   men  of  the  forest  held  full  sway  over  the 
western  continent  and  were  unconscious  of  the 
fact  that  a  white  race  of  people  dwelt  beyond 
the  rising  sun,  who  would  eventually  supersede 
them    and    take    possession    of    their    hunting 
grounds.      The  first  to  open  the  way  to  the  New 
World,  according    to   the   records  found  in  the 
Sagas,  were  the  roving  Norsemen,  to  whom  the 
honor   of  first  discovery  undoubtedly   belongs, 
and  which  discovery  is  verified  by  their  repeat- 
ed trips  to  the  countr}^  and  evidences  of  settle- 
ments on  our  eastern  shores.    The  navigator,  Bjarne  HerjuIson,when  sail- 
ing from  Iceland  to  Greenland  in  986,  was  driven  westward  by  a  storm 
nearly  to  the  banks  of  Newfoundland  or  Labrador.    Several  times  he  came 
within  full  view  of  the  shore,  but  did  not  land;  yet  he  was  certain,  by  the 
appearance  of  the  forest  growth,  that  another  country  hitherto  unknown 
to  him  was  in  sight.    Returning  to  Greenland  he  made  known  his  discov- 
ery, and  his  description  of  the  beautiful  coast  led  the  navigator.  Lief  Erick- 
son,  to  fit  out  an  exploring  party  to  visit  the  new  country.     It  was,  how- 
ever, about  fourteen  years  before  he  was  fully  prepared  for  his  departure. 
He  sailed  westward  from  Greenland  in  the  spring  of  the  year  lOOO,  follow- 
ing the  directions  of  Herjulfson,  and  reached  Labrador.      He   explored 
the  coast  for  a  considerable  distance,  finding  the  country  more  attractive 
and  the  climate  milder  than  in    Greenland.       Sailing   southward  he  ex- 
plored the  coast  as  far  as  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  more  than 
a  year.      It  is  claimed  that  he  also  visited   Rhode  Island  and   made  his 
way  into  New  York  harbor.       Erickson's  voyage  was  succeeded  in  the 
following  year  by  those  of  other  Norsemen,  and   in   1005  and  1007  they 
went  as  far  south  as  Virginia.      Still  other  companies  of  Icelanders  and 
Greenlanders  visited  the  country  farther   north  and  planted  a  colony  in 
Newfoundland  and  Nova  Scotia.      Very  little  was  learned,  however,  by 
these  hardy  adventurers  of  the  extent  of  the  country  they  had  discov- 


DISCOVERY  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONTINENT.  21 

ered,  and  they  believed  it  to  be  the  western  part  of  Greenland  bending 
around  an  arm  of  the  sea. 

Other  adventurers  visited  our  eastern  coast  in  the  twelfth,  thirteenth 
and  fourteenth  centuries,  and  in  1347  a  Norwegian  ship  visited  Labrador 
and  the  New  England  coast,  giving  to  the  latter  vaguely  defined  country 
the  name  "Vineland,"  and  small  settlements  were  established;  they  all 
soon  disappeared,  however,  and  the  navigators  returned  to  their  native 
country,  failing  to  grasp  the  great  prize  that  was  within  their  reach.  But 
they  left  unmistakable  evidences  of  their  presence  at  points  on  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  on  the  banks  of  the  Charles  River,  and  other  points,  which 
have  been  made  the  objects  of  extensive  research  and  elaborate  descrip- 
tion by  Prof.  E,  A  Hosford,  of  Harvard  University,  and  others,  to 
whose  writings  the  reader  is  referred.  The  knowledge  and  occupancy 
of  this  country  by  the  Norsemen  for  some  five  hundred  years,  in  this 
intermittent  and  uncertain  way,  proved  to  be  of  no  practicable  benefit 
to  them  or  others.  The  Old  World  did  not  yet  need  the  New.  The 
time  was  not  yet  ripe. 

Arabian  Discovery. — Some  time  previous  to  1 147  there  set  sail  from 
Lisbon  eight  Arabian  brothers  called  Maghrourins,  who  swore  they 
would  not  return  till  they  had  penetrated  to  the  farthest  bounds  of  the 
dark  sea.  They  finally  reached  an  island,  inhabited  by  people  of  lofty 
stature  and  red  skin. 

Welsh  Discovery. — About  the  year  1169,  Madoc,  a  son  of  Owen 
Gwywedd,  Prince  of  North  Wales,  left  his  country  on  account  of  dis- 
turbances, and  determined  to  search  out  some  unknown  land  and  dwell 
there.  With  a  few  ships  he  embarked  with  his  followers,  and  for  many 
months  they  sailed  westward,  until  they  came  to  a  large  and  fertile 
country,  where  they  disembarked  and  permanently  settled.  After  a 
time  Madoc  returned  to  Wales,  where  he  fitted  out  ten  ships  and  in- 
duced a  large  number  of  his  countrymen  to  go  with  him  to  the  new 
country.  Both  Mexico  and  California  have  been  assigned  as  the  place 
of  this  Welsh  settlement.  There  are  indications  of  a  pre-Columbian 
civilization  in  the  Sacramento  valley.  Eight  miles  north  of,  and  run- 
ning parallel  with  "  Putah"  Creek,  is  a  canal  fifteen  miles  long,  some 
two  rods  wide,  and  about  six  feet  deep.  It  was  cut  on  a  straight  line 
through  a  low  belt -of  level  land,  and  the  earth  was  thrown  out  on  the 


22  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

north  side,  forming  an  oval  ridge  some  two  feet  higher  than  the  oppo- 
site bank.  The  natives  and  the  earHest  white  settlers  have  no  knowl- 
edge of  its  origin.  There  are  also  Indian  tribes  in  that  region  whose 
habits  of  living  and  general  custom  of  dealing  are  far  above  the  average 
of  the  North  American  Indian,  and  to  all  appearance  have  European 
blood  in  their  veins.  It  is  assumed  that  this  Welsh  settlement,  having 
no  intercourse  with  Europe  for  upwards  of  three  hundred  3^ears,  eventu- 
ally gave  way  to  the  influences  of  their  surroundings,  intermarried 
with  the  Indians,  and  thus  lost  their  identity.  It  is  also  possible  that 
the  Indians  gained  their  ideas  of  the  flood  from  this  Welsh  source. 

Besides  the  foregoing,  it  is  known  that  other  intrepid  navigators 
reached  the  shores  of  the  New  World  prior  to  the  great  Columbian  dis- 
covery. In  the  year  1463  John  Costa  Cortereal  made  a  voyage  west- 
ward, and  reached  the  ice-bound  coast  of  Newfoundland,  In  the 
following  year  he  attempted  a  second  voyage  in  company  with  his 
brother,  and  both  perished  at  sea. 

A  Pole  navigator  named  John  Scolvus,  or  Kolno,  while  in  the  service 
of  Denmark,  in  1476,  made  a  voyage  to  the  New  World  and  visited  the 
coast  of  Labrador. 

About  the  close  of  the  fourteenth  century,  Nicolo  Zeni,  or  Zeno,  left 
Venice  on  a  voyage  in  quest  of  new  lands  beyond  Hercules's  Pillars, 
and  after  sailing  among  the  islands  of  the  west  for  nearly  a  year,  be- 
came pilot  to  an  island  chief  named  Zichmni,  where  he  was  afterwards 
joined  by  his  brother  Antonio.  Four  years  later  Nicolo  died  in  a 
country  called  Frieslanda,  but  Antonio  continued  in  the  service  of 
Zichmni  ten  years  longer,  finally  returning  to  Venice,  with  not  only  an 
account  of  a  strange  land  beyond  the  Atlantic,  but  also  maps,  letters, 
etc.,  referring  to  the  strange  country.  These  documents  were  for  some 
reason  laid  aside,  and  it  was  not  until  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  later,  in  1 558,  that  a  descendant  of  Zeni  discovered  them  and 
caused  their  publication,  with  an  accompanying  narrative  of  the  voy- 
ages. Many  places  on  the  American  coast  from  Labrador  to  the  West 
India  Islands  were  clearly  described  on  the  Zeni  map. 

A  Spanish  pilot  named  Sanches,  about  1482,  while  attempting  a  pas- 
sage between  Madeira  and  the  Canaries,  was  driven  out  of  his  course 
by  a  storm  and  landed  on  the  shores  of  an  island  supposed  to  have  been 


DISCOVERY  OF  THE  WESTERN  CONTINENT. 


23 


Hayti.  Subsequently  the  pilot  came  to  Lisbon  and  found  lodgment 
with  Columbus,  to  whom  he  related  the  facts,  and  in  whose  house  he 
died. 

A  French  navigator  of  Dieppe,'  named  Cousin,  being  at  sea  off  the 
African  coast  in  the  year  1488.  was  driven  by  wind  and  currents  within 
sight  of  an  unknown  shore,  where  he  presently  discovered  the  mouth 
of  a  great  river.  He  had  on  board  his  ship  one  Pinzon,  whose  conduct 
became  so  mutinous  that  on  his  return  to  France  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  maritime  service.  Pinzon  went  to  Spain,  became  known  to 
Columbus,  told  him  the  discovery,  and  joined  him  on  his  voyage  in 
1492. 

Final  Discovery  of  the  Nezu  Wor/d. — 
A  general  knowledge  of  the  western  con- 
tinent was,  for  some  wise  purpose  of  the 
Creator,  kept  from  the  nations  of  Europe 
until  a  late  period  of  their  history,  and 
until  the  advent  of  the  famous  expedition 
of  Christopher  Columbus  in  1492.  It  is 
entirely  unnecessary,  as  well  as  impracti- 
cable in  this  work,  to  enter  into  the  details 
of  the  life  of  Columbus,  the  circumstances 
and  conditions  that  led  up  to  this  great  dis- 
covery and  the  consequences  to  himself. 
All  this  is  emblazoned  upon  the  pages  of 
history,  and  is  near  at  the  hand  of  every  reader.  It  will  suffice  for  our 
present  purpose  to  state  that  Columbus  was  born  probably  in  the  year 
1436,  at  or  near  Genoa,  in  Italy.  After  three  years  in  the  University  of 
Pavia,  he  ran  away  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  went  as  a  cabin  boy  on  a  vessel 
bound  on  a  piratical  cruise.  He  also  sailed  with  his  great  uncle,  Colombo 
el  Mozo,  a  bold  sea  captain,  who  by  his  exploits  acquired  the  title  of 
"Arch  Pirate."  During  the  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of  the  maritime  service 
of  Columbus,  he  refused  to  give  any  information  regarding  his  business 
further  than  to  say  that  he  had  visited  all  principal  sea  ports  in  the  Old 
World.      In  1470  he  arrived  in  Lisbon,  and  there  married  his  first  wife. 


COLUMBUS. 


'  Memoirs  pour  servies  a  I'histoire  de  Dieppe,  Guerin  navigateurs  Francais, 


24  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  daughter  of  an  experienced  navigator.  He  studied  deeply  the 
problems  of  navigation,  meditated  much  upon  the  great  subject  that 
was  taking  shape  in  his  mind,  and  early  accepted  the  theory  of  the 
spherical  form  of  the  earth.  The  reports  and  stories  of  other  sailors  he 
listened  to  and  assimilated,  drawing  from  them  all  possible  evidences  of 
the  existence  of  the  far-away  land  to  which  he  was  destined  to  sail. 
After  appealing  in  vain  to  his  native  city,  Genoa,  for  aid  in  his  great 
undertaking,  and  afterward  to  the  Venetian  Senate,  he  turned  to  King 
John  of  Portugal,  whose  councillors  turned  him  away  as  a  presumptuous 
dreamer.  Indignant  at  such  treatment,  Columbus  sent  his  propositions 
to  both  France  and  England,  and  then  left  for  Spain,  arriving  at  Palos 
in  1485.  About  this  time  he  brought  religious  belief  and  claims  of 
prophecy  to  bear  upon  his  position,  claiming  that  he  was  designated  to 
fulfill  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  by  carrying  the  gospel  of  Christ  into  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  world.  This  gained  for  him  the  endorsement  of 
the  bishop,  Juan  Perez,  who  had  been  confessor  to  Queen  Isabella. 
Columbus  first  applied  to  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia,  by  whom  hjs 
plans  and  propositions  were  rejected.  His  next  application  was  to  the 
rich  duke,  Medina  Celi,  who  gave  him  encouragement,  entertained  him 
two  years,  but  finally  decided  that  the  proposed  enterprise  was  too  vast 
for  a  simple  subject,  and  recommended  him  to  apply  to  the  court  at 
Cordova.  Owing  to  existing  struggles  with  the  Moors,  it  was  several 
years  before  Columbus  could  present  his  project  to  the  Spanish  king 
and  council.  Finally,  after  years  of  waiting  and  disappointment  he  ob- 
tained an  interview  with  the  great  ecclesiastic,  Mendoza,  Archbishop  of 
Spain,  who  characterized  his  theories  as  heretical,  but  the  bishop  finally 
aided  in  bringing  the  matter  before  a  council  composed  of  priests  and 
monks,  and  it  was  wholly  rejected.  A  second  council  also  ratified  the 
action  of  the  first.  Columbus  was  finally  permitted  to  explain  his 
proposition  to  the  queen,  who  objected  to  the  terms  of  his  service  and 
dismissed  him.  Following  this  third  rejection  Columbus  resolved  to 
appeal  to  France.  On  learning  this  fact,  and  fearing  that  a  rival  nation 
would  accept  his  offer,  the  queen,  under  advice  of  some  of  her  coun- 
cillors, sent  for  Columbus,  accepted  his  offer  and  agreed  that  if  it  should 
be  necessary  she  would  pledge  her  jewels  to  raise  means  for  fitting  out 
the  expedition.     The  articles  of  agreement  were  signed  April  17,  1492, 


DISCOVERY  OF  TEIE  WESTERN  CONTINENT.  25 

and  thus  after  about  eight  years  spent  in  bringing  his  plans  before  his 
own  country  and  Portugal,  and  seven  more  in  Spain,  living  mainly  on 
the  charity  of  friends,  subjected  to  the  scofifs  and  sneers  of  church  dig- 
nitaries, his  object  seemed  on  the  way  towards  accomplishment. 

And  now,  owing  to  the  superstition  of  the  times  regarding  the  dan- 
gers to  be  encountered  by  any  vessel  venturing  beyond  the  border 
waters,  Columbus  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  a  crew  of  sailors.  At 
length,  through  the  influence  of  Father  Juan,  the  vessels  and  officers 
were  secured,  but  to  obtain  his  crews  the  prisons  had  to  be  opened  and 
the  criminals  pardoned  on  condition  that  they  sailed  with  the  expedi- 
tion. At  last  the  three  vessels,  the  Santa  Maria,  commanded  by  Co- 
lumbus, the  Pinta,  under  M.  Pinzon,  and  the  Nina,  under  V.  Y.  Pinzon, 
provisioned  for  a  year,  and  carrying  in  all  one  hundred  and  twenty 
souls,  armed  with  the  most  improved  guns  of  that  time,  were  ready  and 
sailed  on  the  3d  of  August,  1492,  at  3  o'clock.  They  arrived  safely  at 
the  Canary  Islands  on  the  9th,  where  they  lay  four  weeks  and  thor- 
oughly overhauled  the  vessels.  On  the  6th  of  September  they  sailed 
away  in  a  westerly  direction  upon  the  unknown  waters. 

The  details  of  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  are  too  well  known  to 
need  description  here.  Columbus  kept  a  journal,  from  which  authentic 
accounts  have  been  derived  and  extensively  published.  After  many 
weary  days,  opposed  by  the  elements,  the  complaints  and  mutiny  of  his 
men,  and  several  false  alarms  of  the  sight  of  land,  and  often  almost  dis- 
heartened himself,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Friday,  October  12, 
1492,  Roderigo  de  Triana,  a  sailor  on  board  the  Nina,  announced  the 
appearance  of  what  proved  to  be  the  New  World.  On  the  same 
morning  Columbus  landed,  richly  clad,  and  bearing  the  royal  banner  of 
Spain,  accompanied  by  the  Pinzon  brothers,  bearing  banners  of  the 
green  cross,  and  guarded  by  a  number  of  the  crews.  There,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  nude  and  awe-stricken  natives,  Columbus  gave  thanks  to 
God,  named  the  island  San  Salvador,  and  took  possession  of  it  for  their 
Catholic  Majesties  of  Castile  and  Leon.  Columbus  spent  about  three 
months  among  the  islands,  landing  on  several  and  making  diligent 
search  for  gold.  On  the  island  of  Cuba  he  discovered  the  potato,  In- 
dian corn,  tobacco,  cinnamon,  rhubarb,  valuable  woods  and  beautiful 
birds.  Off  Hispaniola  the  Sajita  Maria  stranded,  and  from  the  timbers 
4 


26  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

they  built  a  fort  on  the  island,  placed  forty-three  Spaniards  in  charge, 
and  on  the  i6th  of  January.  1493.  Columbus  set  sail  on  the  Nina  for 
Spain,  having  previously  lost  sight  of  the  Pinta  After  a  stormy  voy- 
age the  port  of  Palos  was  made  on  Friday,  March  15,  1493.^  Reaching 
the  coast,  Columbus,  with  his  rich  and  strange  spoils,  was  received  by 
their  Majesties,  to  whom  he  related  the  story  of  his  wanderings.  Now 
he  was  overwhelmed  with  honors  and  all  his  privileges  and  titles  were 
conferred  upon  him.  The  news  of  the  discovery  spread  rapidly  through- 
out Spain  and  the  other  nations  of  Europe,  many  of  which  soon  had  ex- 
peditions planned  to  visit  the  new  country.  The  chief  ambition  of  Co- 
lumbus seemed  to  be  the  acquisition  of  fame  and  gold.  He  made  three 
more  voyages  to  the  New  World,  and  while  at  first  he  was  distinguished 
as  the  greatest  of  mariners,  after  his  second  voyage  his  claims  to  su- 
premacy were  embarrassed  by  a  long  series  of  failures  that  rendered  his 
career  as  a  founder  of  colonies  and  a  ruler  of  men  most  pitiful  and  re- 
markable. He  was  finally  taken  back  to  Spain  in  irons,  poor  in  purse, 
heart-broken,  and  decrepit.  His  visionary  mind  was  still  exercised 
upon  the  accumulation  of  gold  and  raising  an  army  to  rescue  the  holy 
sepulchre  from  the  infidel  Islamites.  He  was  cared  for  by  friends  at  the 
Tavern  Segovia,  where  he  died  May  20,  1506. 

In  process  of  time  every  gulf,  bay,  and  river  of  note  on  the  Ameri- 
can coast  was  explored,  even  far  into  the  interior  of  the  country.  At 
all  points  from  the  extreme  bounds  of  the  Frozen  North  to  the  Sunny 
South,  and  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  fertile  plains  of  the  Great 
West,  were  found  the  red  men  of  the  forest.  The  name  "  Indian  "  was 
conferred  upon  them  from  their  fancied  resemblance  to  the  people  of 
India,  as  Columbus  and  his  followers  at  first  believed  that  they  had  only 
rediscovered  that  country,  instead  of  the  Western  Continent. 

'  It  is  worthy  of  record,  as  well  as  partaking  of  a  character  of  coincidence  that  the  port  of  Og- 
densburg  was  made  one  of  the  landing  places  of  the  three  Spanish  models  of  the  vessels  used  by 
Columbus  in  his  memorable  voyage,  which  were  sent  out  by  Spain  to  form  a  part  of  the  World's 
Columbian  exhibit  of  1893.  The  vessels  came  to  the  port  of  Ogdensburg  on  the  forenoon  of  Friday^ 
the  30th  of  June,  1893,  and  it  seems  like  a  coincidence  that  the^day  on  which  Columbus  first  sailed 
from  Spain,  the  day  he  discovered  the  new  world,  the  day  he  returned,  and  the  day  he  reached 
home,  were  on  Fridays.  Also,  N.  Ford  and  his  party,  in  commencing  the  settlement  of  Ogdens- 
burg, landed  there  on  Friday. 


THE  ABORIGINES. 


27 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  ABORIGINES. 


Pre-historic  Inhabitants  of  the  Western  Continent — The  Aborigines  and  their  Great 
Divisions— The  Iroquois— The  Exquimaux— The  Destiny  of  the  Red  Man. 


IT  is  not  our  purpose  to  give  a  very  extended 
account  of  this  people,  but  the  events  that 
took  place  in  connection  with  the  red  men  dur- 
ing the  early  days  of  the  pioneers,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  settlement  of  St.  Lawrence  county, 
render  it  proper  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
race,  that  the  reader  may  gain  a  better  under- 
standing of  what  is  to  follow. 

This  peculiar  people  who  were  found  on  the 
Western  Continent  by  its  discoverers,  are  sup- 
posed to  be  one  of  the  older  races  of  mankind, 
INDIAN  WIGWAM.  succeedlug  the  mound-builders.      Many  theo- 

ries have  been  advanced  to  account  for  the  presence  of  the  red  men  in 
America,  but  no  satisfactory  evidence  has  so  far  been  presented  to  sustain 
them  ;  hence  they  are  of  little  historical  value.  One  of  these  theories  is 
that  the  Europeans,  or  Africans,  at  some  remote  period  crossed  the  At- 
lantic by  voyaging  from  island  to  island.  Another  is,  that  a  tribe  of  the 
Israelites  wandered  from  their  country,  and  by  some  means  crossed  Beh- 
ring's  Straits,  when  they  reached  the  Northwest,  and  thus  became  the  pro- 
genitors of  the  red  men  of  the  forest.  Still  another  theory,  and  one 
that  is  equally  reasonable  with  the  others,  is  that  the  two  continents 
were  formerl}^  one,  and  that  a  portion  of  the  land  sank  beneath  the  sea, 
thus  dividing  the  land  by  a  broad  belt  of  water.  The  people  that  were 
left  on  the  western  portion  being,  perhaps,  less  cultivated,  and  left  with- 
out the  means  of  improvement,  would  naturally  separate  into  clans  or 
tribes,  and  through  hunger  and  ignorance — which  are  the  two  greatest 


28  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTS. 

brutalizers  of  the  human  race — degenerated  in  the  course  of  time  into 
a  condition  of  savagery.  There  are  several  evidences  that  this  theory 
mav  be  the  correct  one,  and  it  has  received  the  careful  consideration 
and  partial  acceptance  of  some  eminent  investigators.  But  theorizing 
in  the  absence  of  facts  can  lead  to  nothing  conclusive,  though  it  may  in 
a  measure  satisfy  the  curious  ;  but  one  thing  is  quite  evident  :  though 
cut  ofif  from  the  Old  World,  the  Indians  share  with  other  nations  the 
idea  of  a  deluge.  Reasons  are  given  for  this  as  mentioned  in  the  Welsh 
discovery  note. 

The  origin  of  the  aborigines  will  undoubtedly  always  remain  en- 
shrouded in  mystery,  unless  some  revelation  like  the  interpretation  of 
the  weird  hieroglyphics  on  the  Aztec  pyramids  shall  give  a  correct 
solution  of  the  much  discussed  question. 

The  aborigines  were  divided  into  twelve  great  families,  nations, 
or  tribes,  viz.:  The  Esquimaux,  who  occupied  the  territory  above  the 
sixteenth  parallel,  or  from  Labrador  to  Alaska  ;  the  Algonquins,  who 
occupied  the  territory  lying  south  of  the  Esquimaux,  embracing  the 
greater  part  of  Canada  and  all  that  portion  of  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Mississippi  and  north  of  the  thirty-seventh  parallel  of  latitude. 
Within  this  territory  lived  the  Huron- Iroquois,  bounded  as  follows: 
From  the  Georgian  Bay  and  Lake  Huron  to  Lake  Erie  and  Lake 
Ontario  ;  also  south  of  those  lakes  to  the  valley  of  the  upper  Ohio  and 
eastward  to  the  River  of  Sorel.  South  of  the  Algonquins  lived  the 
Cherokees,  occupying  Tennessee.  The  Mobilians  occupied  the  lower 
Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic.  The  Dakotas  occupied  the  territory  west 
of  the  Mississippi  which  extended  from  the  Arkansas  River  to  the 
country  of  the  Esquimaux  and  westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The 
Comanches  occupied  the  territory  south  of  the  Dakotas  or  what  is  now 
Texas.  Beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  dwelt  the  great  families  or 
nations  of  the  plains  ;  the  Shoshonees,  the  Selish,  the  Klamoths  and  the 
Californians.  On  the  Pacific  slope  farther  south  in  Mexico  dwelt  the 
famous  race  of  Aztecs. 

Some  of  these  families  or  nations  were  subdivided  into  small  tribes 
and  the  names  of  such  usually  correspond  with  the  place,  river,  or  lake 
where  they  were  located.  The  following  tribes  or  clans  were  more  or 
less  connected    with  the  leading  events  in  the  early  history  of  Ogdens- 


THE  ABORIGINES.  29 

burg  and  its  vicinity :  The  St.  Regis,  the  Oswegatchies,  and  the 
Iroquois,  the  latter  embracing  the  five  nations  of  what  is  now  New 
York  State — the  Senecas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Onondagas,  the  Oneidas, 
and  the  Mohawks. 

The  most  striking  characteristic  of  this  race  was  a  certain  sense  of 
personal  independence;  they  could  not  be  humbled  or  made  to  serve  in 
a  menial  capacity,  like  the  African  race.  They  could  not  be  compelled 
to  start  on  tlie  war  path,  but  would  voluntarily  follow  their  chief 
through  the  greatest  dangers  in  order  to  show  their  endurance  and 
courage.  The  "  Indians  have  a  passion  for  war,  which  was  always  un- 
dertaken for  the  redress  of  grievances,  real  or  imaginary,  and  not  for 
conquest."  In  times  of  peace  they  are  unsocial  and  gloomy,  com- 
muning each  with  his  own  thoughts,  or  lost,  as  it  were,  in  a  dream 
under  the  influence  or  fascination  of  the  pipe.  The  winter  was  the  sea- 
son of  idleness  for  the  men  and  of  leisure  for  the  women.  Feasts, 
gambling,  smoking  and  dancing  filled  the  vacant  hours.  Female  life 
among  the  Indians  had  no  bright  side.  It  was  a  youth  of  license  and  an 
age  of  drudgery.  Marriage  existed  among  them  and  pol}gamy  was 
exceptional  ;  but  divorce  was  at  the  will  and  caprice  of  either  party. 
Once  a  mother  and  married  with  a  reasonable  permanency,  the  woman 
became  a  drudge  to  her  liege  lord.  It  was  held  an  abomination  for  two 
persons  of  the  same  family  to  intermarry  ;  hence  every  regular  marriage 
must  unite  members  of  two  clans.  The  children  belonged  in  most  cases 
not  to  the  clan  of  the  father,  but  to  that  of  the  mother,  and  therefore  all 
ranks,  titles,  and  possessions  came  through  the  temale  side.  All 
possessions  passed  of  right  to  the  brother  of  the  chief  or  to  the  sons  of 
his  sisters,  since  these  all  sprang  from  a  common  mother.  The  child 
might  not  be  the  son  of  his  reputed  father,  but  must  be  the  son  of  his 
mother — a  consideration  of  more  than  ordinary  force  in  an  Indian  com- 
munity. 

Dreams  were  to  the  Indian  a  universal  oracle.  They  revealed  to  him 
his  guardian  spirit  and  taught  and  led  him  in  all  the  affairs  of  his  life. 
Hideous  scenes  of  feasting  followed  the  torture  of  a  prisoner,  and,  like 
the  torture  itself,  was  partly  an  act  of  vengeance  and  partly  a  religious 
rite.  All  Indians  had  a  code  of  courtesy  whose  requirements  were  rigid 
and  exact.    Established  usages  took  the  place  of  law.     All  were  prompt 


30  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

to  aid  each  other  in  distress,  and  a  neighborly  spirit  was  often  exhibited 
among  them.  In  religious  affairs  they  were  often  superstitious,  but  sel- 
dom were  idolaters.  They  believed  in  a  Great  Spirit  and  in  a  happy 
hunting  ground  beyond  this  life  ;  they  also  believed  in  many  subordinate 
spirits,  both  good  and  bad,  which  frequently  visited  the  earth  and  had  an 
influence  over  them,  either  for  good  or  evil. 

Their  language  seems  to  have  had  a  common  origin,  but  it  differed 
somewhat  among  the  various  tribes.  It  was  generally  monosyllabic, 
and  the  words  had  a  narrow  but  very  intense  meaning. 

The  Esquimaux  were  peaceably  inclined  and  their  cold  country  was 
seldom  invaded  by  other  tribes.  The  tribes  that  inhabited  the  eastern, 
central  and  southern  and  western  territories  subsisted  chiefly  on  dried 
venison  and  corn.  They  were  more  warlike,  restless  and  unsettled, 
living  in  temporary  huts  or  wigwams,  although  the  tribes  farther  south 
built  more  comfortable  houses  in  which  to  dwell  The  Aztecs  were  the 
most  civilized  of  any  of  the  aborigines,  and  also  the  most  feeble  and 
least  warlike.  They  were  the  best  builders  both  in  wood  and  stone, 
as  they  had  facilities  for  supplying  themselves  with  copper  and  other 
metallic  tools.  Ruins  of  their  fortifications,  dwellings  and  pyramids, 
are  still  found  which  indicate  a  considerable  civilization.  Their  tem- 
ples and  courts  are  built  of  cut  granite,  the  outer  surfaces  of  which  are 
covered  with  various  characters  artistically  engraved  on  the  stone.  This 
once  mighty  nation  is  rapidly  approaching  extinction. 

A  majority  of  the  Indian  tribes  have  already  died  out  and  the 
remaining  ones  are  rapidly  declining.  The  only  hope  for  the  perpetuity 
of  the  race  seems  to  center  in  those  tribes  which  are  now  located  in 
the  Indian  Territory  and   who  are  learning  to  till  the  soil. 

The  feet  of  the  Saxon  have  pressed  the  soil  that  was  given  to  the  red 
man  for  liis  inheritance ;  for  he  has  failed  to  improve  the  one  talent  that 
God  had  given  him  and  buried  it  in  the  earth  ;  therefore,  his  hunting 
grounds  are  turned  into  waving  fields  of  grain  ;  the  wigwam  and  the 
tepee  have  been  displaced  by  the  palatial  home,  the  school-house  and 
the  church,  which  are  the  main  columns  that  sustain  all  civilized  gov- 
ernments. The  Saxon  has  come  to  stay.  The  weaker  race,  like  the 
wild  flower  that  flourishes  onl}'-  in  the  shade,  but  withers  in  the  sun 
as  soon  as  its  primitive  thicket  has  gone,  has  vanished,   leaving  their 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER. 


31 


eastern  liomes  and  the  graves  of  their  ancestors  for  the  wilds  of  the 
west,  whence  in  a  few  years  they  must  in  turn  retreat  until  the  last  of 
the  tribes  shall  have  disappeared.  Right  or  wrong,  this  seems  to  be 
the  inevitable  destiny  of  this  once   numerous  and  powerful  people. 


CHAPTER    III. 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER. 

French  Explorations — Jacques  Cartier — Discovery  of  the  St.  Lawrence — Hochelaga — 
Lord  Roberval's  Expedition —Grant  to  Aylmur  de  Chastes— Samuel  Champlain — Sieur 
de  Monts  at  Acadia — Pont-Greve  and  Poutrincourt — Expedition  of  Champlain  and 
Indian  Allies  against  tVe  Iroquois — The  First  Bloodshed — The  Establishment  of  Mont- 
real— Champlain's  Trip  to  the  Northwest — Arrival  of  Catholic  Missionaries  and  their 
Explorations — The  Company  of  New  France — Champlain's  Labors  and  Sacrifices — La 
Galette — Origin  of  the  Name — Voyageurs — Occupation  of  La  Galette  as  a  Station — 
Existing  Evidences  of  Early  Occupation  of  the  Locality — Frontenac's  Expedition — 
Mention  of  La  Galette  by  De  la  Barre — Other  Allusions  to  the  Place — ''  It  Takes  the 
Cake." 


THE  French  began  to  explore  the  northern 
coast  of  America  in  1504  about  eleven 
years  after  John  Cabot  had  planted  the  English 
flag  on  the  shores  of  Labrador.  A  map  of  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  was  traced  by  a  French- 
man in  1506.  The  colonization  of  the  New 
World  was  advocated  by  Francis  L  in  15 18. 
About  five  years  later  a  voyage  of  discovery  and 
exploration  was  planned,  when  John  Verraz- 
zani  was  commissioned  to  conduct  the  expedi- 
tion and  sailed  January  17,  1524.  The  special 
object  was  to  discover  a  northwest  passage  to 
JACQUES  CARTIER.  Asla.      Hc  sailcd  southward  as  far  as  the  site  of 

Wilmington  and,  not  finding  a  passage,  returned  northward,  traced  the 
broken  line  of  the  New  England  coast  with  considerable  care,  and 
reached  Newfoundland. 


32  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  name  of  New  France  was  given  to  the  whole  country  whose  sea- 
coast  had  been  visited  by  this  adventurer.  Not  being  able  to  accom- 
plish his  design  he  returned  home,  and  owing  to  the  distracted  condition 
of  France  at  that  time,  further  explorations  were  delayed  several  years. 
In  1 534  two  ships  were  fitted  out  and  Jacques  Cartier  was  placed  in  com- 
mand for  another  voyage  to  the  New  World.  He  made  the  passage  and 
anchored  on  the  loth  day  of  May  off  the  coast  of  Newfoundland. 
After  considerable  navigation  in  that  vicinity,  he  finally  entered  the 
Bay  of  Chaleur.  Not  finding  the  western  passage  he  sought,  he  changed 
his  course  northward,  then  to  the  westward  and  entered  what  he  sup- 
posed to  be  an  arm  of  the  sea.  He  continued  this  course  until  the 
narrowing  banks  indicated  that  he  might  be  in  the  mouth  of  a  great 
river.  This  bold  navigator  did  not  wish  to  jeopardize  the  lives  of  his 
crew  in  the  approaching  cold  season,  for  which  he  was  not  prepared, 
and  returned  to  France,  taking  with  him  two  natives,  and  arriving  at  St. 
Malo,  whence  he  had  set  out. 

Cartier's  success  in  this  voyage  and  his  discovery  of  what  he  believed 
was  a  large  river,  caused  another  expedition  to  be  planned  immediately. 
Colonization  as  well  as  discovery  was  now  the  inspiring  motive.  Three 
good  ships  were  provided,  and  a  number  of  young  noblemen  joined  the 
expedition,  which  sailed  on  the  19th  of  May,  1535.  Stormy  weather 
was  encountered  when  off  the  coast  of  Newfoundland,  which  forced  the 
voyagers  to  seek  a  port  of  safety.  They  accordingly  put  into  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  as  it  was  afterwards  proved  to  be,  and  sailed  up  the 
course  Cartier  had  taken  the  previous  year,  and  on  the  loth  of  August, 
1535,  made  the  discovery  of  the  great  river,  which  he  named  the  St. 
Lawrence,  in  honor  of  the  martyr  St.  Laurent,  or  St.  Lorenzo,  the  dis- 
covery having  been  made  on  that  saint's  day.^ 

Cartier  had  on  board  two  Indians  taken  by  him  to  France  in  the 
previous  year.  They  informed  him  that  up  the  river  were  two  impor- 
tant Indian  villages,  one  situated  near  a  high  bluff  and  called  Stadacona, 
and  the  other  farther  up,  on  an  island  by  the  side  of  a  mountain,  called 
Hochelaga.  The  navigator  proceeded  cautiously  up  the  river  to  the 
first  Indian  village  (now  Quebec),  and  after  a  short  stay  sailed  on  up  as 

iThis  saint  was  said  to  be  a  deacon  to  Pope  Scystus,  or  Systus  II.,  who  suffered  niatyrdom  for 
the  faith  of  Christ,  by  being  broiled  on  a  gridiron,  a.  D.  253. 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER.  33 

far  as  the  rapids.  Considering  it  unsafe  to  venture  farther  with  the 
large  vessels,  he  took  the  two  Indians  and  a  party  of  twenty  five  men 
in  boats  and  rowed  up  to  the  second  village  on  the  island,  so  minutely 
described  by  the  Indians.  The  party  ascended  the  mountain  and  viewed 
the  surrounding  country,  which  was  visible  for  ten  leagues  on  either 
side.  Inspired  by  the  beautiful  scenery,  Cartier  raised  the  French  flag 
and  named  the  place  Mount  Royal  (from  which  the  city  of  Montreal 
took  its  name),  and  the  country  was  declared  to  belong  by  right  of  dis- 
covery to  the  king  of  France.  After  visiting  this  ancient  Indian  village 
and  gaining  what  knowledge  they  could  from  the  inhabitants  regarding 
the  country  farther  up,  they  returned  to  their  ships  and  dropped  down 
to  the  first  village  of  Stadacona,  where  they  wintered.  There  twenty- 
five  of  the  crew  died  from  the  effects  of  the  severe  cold,  and  from 
scurvy. 

On  the  opening  of  spring  the  emblem  of  Catholicism,  bearing  the 
arms  of  France,  was  again  planted  in  the  soil  of  the  New  World.  The 
chief  of  the  Hurons,  who  had  treated  Cartier  with  much  generosity,  was 
decoyed  on  board  and  carried  away  to  die.  The  first  fleet  that  had 
ever  wintered  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  then  sailed  away  and  reached 
St.  Malo  on  July  6,  1536.  The  account  of  the  severe  winter  and  their 
sufferings,  and  the  failure  to  find  silver  or  gold  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  greatly  discouraged  the  French  in  organizing  future  expedi- 
tions. 

The  next  voyage  to  Nouvelle  France  was  undertaken  about  four  years 
later  by  Francois  of  La  Roque,  Lord  of  Roberval,  with  Cartier  as  chief 
pilot.  Owing  to  the  discouraging  narrative  of  Cartier,  the  enlistment 
of  volunteers  for  the  expedition  progressed  slowly,  until  the  govern- 
ment adopted  the  plan  of  opening  the  prisons  of  the  kingdom  and  giv- 
ing freedom  to  those  convicts  who  would  join  the  party.  Five  ships 
were  fitted  out  and  left  France  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1541.  They 
made  a  good  passage  to  the  gulf  and  proceeded  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
the  site  of  Quebec,  where  they  erected  a  small  fort  and  named  it  Charles- 
borough.  The  colony  passed  two  winters  there,  suffering  greatly  from 
cold  and  hunger,  many  of  them  dying.  The  survivors  returned,  having 
accomplished  nothing  further. 


34  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  the  year  1549  Lord  Roberval,  with  a  large  company  of  emigrants, 
sailed  on  a  second  voyage  to  the  New  World,  but  the  fleet  was  never 
heard  from  afterwards.  This  catastrophe  checked  the  desire  for  emigra 
tion  for  nearly  fifty  years.  In  1598  the  Marquis  of  La  Roque  obtained 
a  commission,  and  again  the  prison  doors  of  France  were  opened  to 
furnish  emigrants  for  the  colony.  They  crossed  the  Atlantic  by  the 
usual  route,  reached  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  anchored  at  Sable 
Island,  where  a  settlement  of  forty  men  was  begun.  The  colony  lin- 
gered for  a  few  years  only,  when  the  survivors  were  mercifully  picked 
up  by  a  passing  ship  and  carried  back  to  their  native  land. 

In  the  spring  of  1603,  Aylmar  de  Chastes,  governor  of  Dieppe,  ob- 
tained a  patent  from  the  king,  giving  him  the  exclusive  right  to  the  fur 
trade  in  New  France.  He  formed  a  company  with  Pont-Greve  as  man- 
ager. Samuel  Champlain,  fresh  from  the  West  Indies,  young,  ardent, 
yet  ripe  in  experience,  a  skillful  seaman,  and  a  practiced  soldier,  ac- 
cepted a  post  in  the  new  company  and  commanded  one  of  the  two 
small  vessels  fitted  out  for  the  expedition.  Like  specks  on  the  broad 
bosom  of  the  waters  the  two  pigmy  vessels  held  their  course  up  the  St. 
Lawrence,  passing  the  tenantless  places  that  had  been  occupied  by  De 
la  Roque  in  1541,  and  arrived  at  Hochelaga.  Here  they  found  only  a 
few  wandering  Algonquins,  of  a  new  tongue  and  lineage,  in  place, of 
the  savage  population  that  Cartier  had  met  there  sixty- three  years  be- 
fore. In  a  skifTwith  a  few  Indians,  Champlain  endeavored  to  pass  the 
rapids  of  Lachine,  but  failed.  On  the  deck  of  his  vessel  the  Indians 
made  rude  plans  of  the  shores  of  the  river  above,  with  its  chain  of 
rapids,  its  lakes  and  its  cataracts,  and  the  baffled  explorer  turned  his 
prow  homeward,  where  he  learned  that  De  Chastes  was  dead,  thus  end- 
ing his  charter. 

Sieur  de  Monts  next  obtained  leave  to  colonize  Acadia,  a  region  ex- 
tending from  the  fortieth  to  the  forty  sixth  degree  of  north  latitude,  or 
from  the  site  of  Philadelphia  to  beyond  Montreal.  This  gave  him  the 
monopoly  of  the  fur  trade,  and  a  clause  in  his  commission  empowered 
him  to  impress  idlers  and  vagabonds  as  material  for  his  colony.  Among 
the  thieves  and  rufilians  who  were  dragged  on  board  were  many 
volunteers  of  respectable  character,  such  as  the  Baron  de  Poutrincourt 
and  the  indefatigable  Champlain,  with  some  Catholic  priests,  Huguenot 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER.  ?,^ 

ministers  and  Franciscan  friars.  De  Monts  sailed  from  Havre  de  Grace, 
April  7,  1604,  and  Pont- Grave  followed  with  stores  a  few  days  later.  On 
De  Monts's  arrival  he  explored  several  places  along  the  coast  of  Nova 
Scotia  and  captured  some  fur  trading  barks.  They  landed  at  a  place 
which  they  called  St.  Croix,  where  they  began  a  colony  and  built  a  fort. 
Meanwhile  Champlain  continued  explorations,  surveying,  sounding  and 
making  charts  of  all  the  principal  roads  and  harbors  along  the  coast. 
Their  labors  over,  Poutrincourt  sailed  for  France,  leaving  seventy-nine 
men  to  the  terrors  of  an  arctic  winter.  Scurvy  broke  out  among  them 
and  thirty-five  died,  while  many  others  narrowly  survived.  Pont-Greve 
reached  his  colony  in  the  spring  with  forty  men,  with  stores,  which 
greatly  cheered  the  remnant  of  the  colony.  On  the  1 8th  of  June  a  party 
set  out  on  a  voyage  along  the  coast  of  Maine,  landing  daily,  holding 
conferences  with  the  numerous  Indians  whom  they  met,  and  exchanging 
gifts.  Indian  lodges  were  thickly  scattered  along  the  shores,  and  around 
them  patches  of  corn,  beans,  tobacco,  squashes  and  esculent  roots. 
Passing  Cape  Cod  they  reached  an  inlet  called  Nausett  Harbor.  Here 
an  Indian  snatched  a  kettle  from  some  of  the  sailors  who  were  in  search 
of  fresh  water,  and  one  of  the  latter  while  in  pursuit  of  the  thief, 
was  killed  by  arrows  from  the  Indian's  comrades.  The  French  on 
the  vessel  opened  fire  on  the  natives,  during  which  Champlain's 
arquebus  exploded  and  nearly  killed  him.  Provisions  failing  they  sailed 
for  St  Croix,  where  they  arrived  on  the  3d  of  August.  The  colony 
then  removed  from  St.  Croix  to  the  north  side  of  the  River  Annapolis,  to 
a  place  called  Dauphin.  De  Monts  returned  to  France,  leaving  Pont- 
Greve  in  command,  while  Champlain  and  others,  undaunted  by  the 
past,  volunteered  to  pass  a  second  winter  in  the  wilderness.  But  boun- 
tiful provision  had  been  made  for  them  and  the  winter  passed  in  com- 
parative comfort.  In  the  spring  news  came  from  France  that  De 
Monts's  monopoly  had  been  rescinded,  and  therefore  Champlain  and  his 
party  sailed  for  home,  arriving  at  St.  Malo  in  October,  1607.  De  Monts 
secured  a  fresh  monopoly  for  one  year,  after  the  revocation  of  the  first. 
Champlain  had  become  imbued  with  the  theory  that  by  tracing  the  in> 
land  waters  back  to  their  sources,  a  western  route  might  be  discovered 
to  China  and  the  east.  De  Monts  fell  in  with  this  theory  and  fitted  out 
two  ships,  gave  command  of  one,  laden  with  goods  for  the  fur  trade,  to 


36  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  elder  Pont-Greve,  and  the  other  for  settlement  and  exploration  to 
Champlain.  The  latter  sailed  from  Honfleur,  April  13,  1608,  and  in 
due  time  reached  the  point  on  the  St.  Lawrence  where  Cartier  had  win- 
tered seventy-three  years  before.  Here  he  began  the  erection  of  a  strong 
wooden  building,  which  stood  at  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  market 
place  of  the  lower  town  of  Quebec,  and  hedged  it  about  with  timbers, 
forming  a  court  yard.  Two  or  three  small  cannon  were  planted  on 
salient  platforms  towards  the  river.  In  September  Pont-  Greve  sailed  for 
France,  leaving  Champlain  with  twenty-eight  men  to  hold  Quebec 
through  the  winter.  When  Pont-Greve  returned  in  the  spring  twenty  of 
the  men  had  died  and  others  were  suffering  from  disease 

Late  in  the  fall  a  young  chief  from  Ottawa  came  to  Quebec  and 
begged  Champlain  to  join  him  in  the  spring  against  his  enemies,  the 
Iroquois,  and  the  petition  was  accepted.  It  was  Champlain's  plan  to 
hold  the  balance  of  power  between  the  adverse  tribes,  a  policy  which 
continued  in  force  with  the  French  in  America  thereafter.  About  the 
middle  of  May,  1609,  the  expected  warriors  from  the  upper  country, 
Hurons  and  Algonquins,  arrived  at  Quebec,  and  with  eleven  white  men 
Champlain  started  on  the  war  path  in  a  shallop,  armed  with  the  arque- 
bus, a  short  fire- lock  similar  to  the  modern  carbine.  Arriving  at  the 
mouth  of  a  river  now  called  Sorel,  they  encamped  two  days  to  hunt  and 
fish.  The  party  now  had  a  quarrel  and  three-fourths  of  them  seceded, 
the  remainder  continuing  with  Champlain  up  the  Chambly  River.  Four 
of  the  white  men  were  now  dismissed  and  returned  with  the  shallop  to 
Quebec.  On  the  second  day  the  warriors  reached  the  lake  which  bears 
the  name  of  Champlain,  passed  along  its  shore  to  another  lake  which 
Champlain  named  St.  Sacrament  (now  Lake  George).  Proceeding  up 
the  outlet  to  this  lake  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  they  discovered 
the  flotilla  of  the  Iroquois,  and  the  mingled  war  cries  pealed  over  the 
water.  It  was  agreed  on  both  sides  that  the  coming  fight  should  be 
deferred  until  morning.  The  Iroquois  on  shore  made  breastworks  of 
boughs,  while  the  Hurons  remained  in  their  canoes.  At  day  break  the 
Hurons  landed  a  safe  distance  from  the  enemy,  when  the  brave  Iroquois, 
in  number  two  hundred,  tall  athletes,  and  the  fiercest  warriors  of  North 
America,  came  forth.  Their  steady  advance  excited  the  admiration  of 
of  Champlain.      Soon  the  anxious  Hurons  called  for  their  own  champion 


PREXCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LA.WRENCE  RIVER.  .37 

and  opened  their  ranks  that  he  might  pass  to  the  front.  Champlain  in 
his  coat  of  mail  advanced  before  his  red  companions  and  stood  revealed 
to  the  astonished  gaze  of  the  Iroquois,  who,  beholding  the  warlike  ap- 
parition in  their  path,  stared  in  mute  amazement.  Champlain  leveled 
his  arquebus;  the  report  rang  through  the  woods  ;  a  chief  fell  dead  and 
another  by  his  side  rolled  in  the  bushes.  Then  there  arose  from  the 
allies  a  yell  which  would  have  drowned  a  thunder  clap,  and  the  air  was 
filled  with  whizzing  arrows.  For  a  moment  the  Iroquois  stood  firm  ; 
but  when  another  and  another  gun  shot  came  from  the  thickets  on  their 
flank  with  telling  efifect,  they  fled  in  uncontrollable  terror,  followed  by 
the  allies  in  hot  pursuit.  Many  of  the  Iroquois  were  killed  and  more 
were  taken  prisoners.  The  fire-arms  had  done  their  work,  the  victory 
was  complete.  The  victors  kindled  a  great  fire  at  night,  bound  a  cap- 
tive to  a  tree,  and  began  to  torture  him,  but  Champlain  put  an  end  to 
his  misery  by  shooting  him.  Retracing  their  steps,  the  victors  parted 
at  the  Sorel,  the  Hurons  and  Algonquins  making  for  the  Ottawa,  each 
with  a  share  of  the  prisoners  for  future  torture.  At  parting  they  invited 
Champlain  to  visit  their  villages  and  again  aid  them  in  their  wars,  which 
he  promised  to  do. 

Champlain  had  rushed  into  a  conflict  with  the  warriors  of  the  Iro- 
quois. Here  was  the  beginning  of  the  murderous  warfare  which  carried 
havoc  and  flame  to  generations  then  unborn.  After  visiting  France, 
Champlain  returned  and  assisted  the  allies  in  capturing  a  band  of  Iro- 
quois who  had  secretly  barricaded  themselves  on  the  island  in  front  of 
Sorel.  During  the  fight  Champlain  was  wounded  in  the  neck  by  a 
stotie  arrow  head.  He  again  returned  to  France  to  assist  De  Monts  in 
securing  the  trade  with  the  great  Indian  tribes  in  the  Northwest.  Re- 
turning to  Montreal  he  arrived  on  the  13th  of  May,  161 1,  when  the  for- 
est and  the  mountains  far  and  near  were  covered  with  snow.  Here  he 
built  a  fort  and  established  a  trading  post,  above  a  small  stream  at  Point 
Calliere  (now  Montreal),  and  called  it  Place  Royal.  Here  the  Hurons 
soon  congregated  to  market  their  beaver  skins,  afterwards  returning  to 
the  borders  of  Lake  St.  Louis.  Champlain  visited  them  and  was  sent 
back  in  a  birch  bark  canoe  down  the  surging  waters,  he  being  the  third 
white  man  to  descend  the  Lachine  Rapids.  He  was  now  empowered  to 
govern  the  colony  as  he  might  judge  expedient  ;  but  his  paramount  de- 


38  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sire  was  still  to  find  a  route  to  the  Indies,  and  to  bring  the  heathen 
tribes  into  the  embrace  of  the  church. 

For  the  accomplishment  of  these  purposes,  and  relying  upon  reports 
of  parties  that  he  had  sent  into  the  far  Northwest,  he  made  a  trip  in 
the  latter  part  of  May,  1613,  accompanied  by  four  Frenchmen  and  one 
Indian.  The  details  of  this  journey  need  not  be  followed,  but  the  party 
reached  the  head  of  Lake  Coulange,  whence  they  returned  without  ac- 
complishing anything  worthy  of  note,  and  on  their  arrival  at  Montreal, 
Champlain  embarked  for  France,  with  the  promise  to  return  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

Through  his  description  of  the  condition  of  the  Indians  and  his  in- 
fluence, the  Recollect  friars,  a  branch  of  the  great  Franciscan  order, 
were  induced  to  undertake  the  founding  of  a  mission  in  New  France. 
The  Friars,  Denis  Jamet,  Jean  Dolbeau,  Joseph  le  Caron,  and  Pacifique 
du  Plessis  made  their  preparations  and  embarked  with  Champlain  at 
Honfleur,  reaching  Quebec  about  the  end  of  May,  161 5.  Champlain 
also  called  on  the  Jesuits  for  aid  in  his  explorations.  They  had  first 
landed  at  Port  Royal  in  May,  161 1,  and  established  their  order  in 
Acadia,  by  the  assistance  of  Fathers  Baird  and  Masse.  The  Recollects 
built  a  convent  at  Quebec  near  the  fortified  dwellings  of  Champlain, 
erected  an  altar  and  celebrated  the  first  mass  said  in  Canada.  Dolbeau 
was  the  priest  officiating. 

Champlain  met  the  allies  in  council  at  Montreal  early  in  summer  and 
promised  to  join  them  against  the  Iroquois.  While  he  was  absent  in 
Quebec  to  make  necessary  arrangements,  the  Indians  became  impatient 
and  left  for  their  homes,  taking  Father  Joseph  le  Caron  with  them. 
Champlain  with  ten  Indians  and  two  Frenchmen  followed  and  in  due 
time  reached  Lake  Huron,  the  first  white  man  excepting  the  humble 
friar,  to  behold  that  great  inland  ocean.  He  found  Father  le  Caron  at 
Carhagouha,  and  there  on  the  iith  of  August,  161 5,  in  presence  of 
Champlain  and  a  host  of  natives  he  celebrated  the  first  mass  in  the 
country  of  the  Hurons.  About  the  first  of  September  the  warriors  as- 
sembled for  a  grand  attack  upon  the  Iroquois,  passed  over  Lake  Simcoe, 
up  the  River  Talbot,  across  the  portage  to  Balsam  Lake  and  down  a 
chain  of  lakes  to  the  River  Trent.  Thence  they  continued  down  the 
river  to  Lake  Ontario  and  crossed  to  the  south  shore   at  Hungry  Bay, 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIYER.  39 

secreted  their  canoes,  and  after  four  days'  march  came  near  the  hostile 
town  of  the  Senecas,  the  most  populous  of  the  five  Iroquois  nations. 
Champlain  found  their  defensive  works  much  stronger  than  those  of  the 
Hurons.  An  attack  was  made  by  the  Hurons  which  lasted  three  hours, 
when  the  assailants  fell  back,  with  many  wounded,  among  whom  was 
Champlain,  who  had  received  an  arrow  in  his  knee  and  another  in  his 
leg,  which  for  a  time  disabled  him.  Though  himself  urgent  for  another 
attack,  he  was  compelled  to  see  his  force  begin  a  retreat,  and  after 
finally  reaching  their  canoes  they  recrossed  the  lake.  There  the  great 
war  party  broke  up  and  each  band  returned  to  its  hunting  ground. 
Champlain  was  compelled  by  his  wounds  to  pass  the  winter  with  an 
Indian  chief  and  did  not  reach  Quebec  until  the  nth  of  July  following. 

And   now  a  change  began  in  the  life  of 
Champlain.      His    forest  roving  was  over. 
He  returned  every  year  to  France,  laboring 
for  the  welfare  of  the  colony  and  the  church. 
The  Recollects  had  established  five  distinct 
missions,  reaching  from  Acadia  to  the  bor- 
ders of  Lake  Huron  ;   but  the  field  was  too 
vast   for   their   numbers    and   they   applied 
p'  to  the  Jesuits  for  assistance.     Three  of  these, 
•^^^      Charles    Lallemant,   Enemond   Masse,  and 
^-      Jean  de  Brebeuf,  entered  into  their  service 
and  did  excellent  work  as  pioneers. 
CHAMPLAIN.  In    1627  a  grant  was  given  to  a  hundred 

associates,  including  Champlain,  called  the  Company  of  New  France, 
securing  to  them  a  monopoly  of  the  fur  trade  and  all  other  commerce 
for  fifteen  years.  The  company  was  to  convey  to  New  France,  within 
the  fifteen  years,  two  or  three  hundred  men  of  all  trades,  in  order  to 
increase  their  numbers  to  four  thousand.  Every  settler  must  be  a 
Frenchman  and  a  Catholic,  and  they  must  provide  for  their  ecclesias- 
tics. Thus,  as  they  termed  it,  was  New  France  to  be  forever  free  from 
the  taint  of  heresy. 

Quebec  having  reached  a  condition  approaching  starvation,  the  new 
company  sent  them  supplies  in  April,  1628,  but  before  the  ship  arrived 
a  war  had  broken  out.     An  English  ship  of  war  arrived  in  port  and 


40  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

took  possession  of  Quebec,  planted  Ihe  Cross  of  St.  George  on  its  ram- 
parts, and  sent  the  people  to  their  own  country;  but  Champlain  was 
taken  to  London,  where  he  had  an  interview  with  the  French  ambassa-" 
dor,  and  learned  that  by  the  terms  of  a  treaty  New  France  should  be 
restored  to  the  French  crown.  Champlain  then  returned  and  resumed 
his  position  at  Quebec.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  found  on  the  more 
liberal  side  of  Romanism  and  encouraged  the  Recollects;  but  now, 
through  some  influence,  he  chose  the  Jesuit,  Le  Jeune,  as  his  confessor. 
The  more  crafty  Jesuits  soon  became  the  leaders  of  the  temporal  as  well 
as  the  spiritual  affairs  of  the  country. 

Champlain  had  sacrificed  fortune,  repose,  domestic  peace  (his  wife 
having  entered  a  convent),  in  his  twenty-seven  years  of  severe  labor  for 
the  welfare  of  New  France.  He  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty  eight, 
on  the  25th  of  December,  1635.      He  was  born  in  Brouage  in  1567.1 

For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  1615,  Champlain  and  his  asso- 
ciates had  made  explorations  and  carried  missionary  work  among  the 
friendly  Indians  on  the  north  side  of  the  lakes.  They  first  reached  the 
Huron  countr)'  by  way  of  the  Ottawa  River,  The  tribes  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river  and  lakes  were  hostile  and  their  villages  were  often 
situated  a  long  distance  from  the  shores  ;  yet  a  clan  often  spent  the 
summer  and  fall  in  hunting  along  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
Oswegatchie  Rivers.  From  circumstances  that  took  place  later  on  we 
may  say  that  the  southern  shore  of  the  upper  St.  Lawrence  was  not 
visited  by  the  French  previous  to  1626.  The  Recollects  had  just  secured 
the  services  of  several  Jesuits  to  assist  in  their  mission  work.  Father 
Brebeuf  was  sent  to  Lake  Huron  and  Father  Lallemant  to  the  missions 
along  the  St.  Lawrence,  both  starting  from  Quebec.  The  records  of 
this  mission,  which  undoubtedly  contain  information  of  great  importance 
to  us  in  relation  to  the  first  exploration  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
site  of  Ogdensburg,  were  not  preserved,  but  it  ended  with  the  English 
occupation  of  Quebec  in  1628.  In  the  absence  of  such  records  the  fol- 
lowing is  offered  in  its  place — its  statements  warranted  by  the  detailed 
circumstances  : 

1  The  name  of  Champlain  stands  foremost  among  the  pioneers  of  the  North  American  forests. 
He  struck  deepest  into  the  pristine  barbarism,  planting  on  the  shores  and  islands,  to  mark  his 
course,  large  wooden  crosses,  made  of  cedar,  the  emblem  of  his  faith. 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER.  U 

La  Galette. — The  first  party  of  white  or  Christian  men  to  land  at 
this  port  (Ogdensburg),  is  supposed  to  have  been  that  of  Father  Lalle- 
mant  and  his  associates  in  the  spring  of  1626.  They  were  also  the  first 
to  break  the  silence  of  the  primeval  forest  with  prayer  and  praise  to 
alrnighty  God  for  their  safe  deliverance  from  the  perils  of  the  rapids  over 
which  they  had  just  passed,  and  for  the  beautiful  harbor  to  which  they 
had  been  guided  for  repose.  To  this  party  also  belongs  the  honor  of 
naming  the  place  "  La  Galette,"  and  the  river  (now  Oswegatchie),  "La 
Presentation."  The  Indian  name  of  the  river  was  "  Swe-kat-si,"  mean- 
ing "  Black  Water."  Many  of  our  people  of  to-day  believe  that  Father 
Piquet  was  the  first  white  man  who  came  to  the  site  of  Ogdensburg, 
and  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  French  name  given  to  the  place  and 
the  river.  The  following  tradition,  together  with  the  historical  facts 
concerning  the  several  expeditions  passing  up  the  river  in  the  mean 
time,  will  be  sufficient  to  correct  this  impression  as  to  the  date  of  dis- 
covery and  origin  of  the  name  : 

In  those  days  exploring  parties  and  adventurers  were  termed  by  the 
French,  "  voyag-eurs,"  and  their  principal  business  at  that  early  day  was 
to  explore  and  map  the  country,  to  name  and  to  describe  the  most 
important  places  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  were  to  follow  them,  and 
to  establish  missionary  stations  and  military  or  trading  posts.  There 
are  several  versions  of  the  origin  of  the  French  name  of  the  place  and 
the  river.  The  one  that  seems  to  be  the  most  plausible  is  that  which 
the  writer  obtained  when  in  Lower  Canada  in  1846,  from  an  aged 
"  habitant,"  who  claimed  to  be  a  descendant  of  those  early  voyageurs. 
The  tradition  is  in  substance  this  :  A  company  of  explorers  or  voyageurs 
was  fitted  out  in  Quebec  under  the  sanction  of  Champlain,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exploring  the  great  lake  region  or  the  headwaters  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,  as  described  by  the  Indians.  After  ascending  the  greater 
part  of  the  rapids  above  Montreal,  the  crew  were  much  fatigued  and 
their  boats  damaged  by  the  rocks  among  which  the)'  had  passed,  they 
accordingly  prepared  to  land  for  rest  and  repairs.  Their  leader  or  priest^ 
desired  to  continue  on  the  journey,  as  their  Indian  guides  had  informed 
them  that  they  were  not  far  below  the  still  water,  and  he  agreed  that  if 
they  would  proceed  on  the  way,  they  might  stop  at  the  first  presentable 

'  All  exploring  parties  of  that  early  day  had  one  or  more  priests  with  them. 
0 


42  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY./ 

place  after  passing  the  head  of  the  rapids.  On  gaining  the  still  water 
and  when  near  later  called  Indian  Point,  they  discovered  traces  of  black 
water,  which  indicated  the  proximity  of  a  tributary,  and  they  soon 
entered  a  river  and  found  a  good  harbor  closely  guarded  by  an  island 
in  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  which  afforded  them  ample  protection  from 
wind  storms.  Here  they  rested  a  few  days  and  made  the  needed  repairs 
to  the  boats.  From  the  circumstances  following  so  spon  upon  the 
agreement  of  the  leader  with  the  crew,  the  river  was  named  "  La  Pre- 
sentation,"  this  being  the  first  suitable  landing  place  found  after  reach- 
ing the  still  water ;  and  hence  the  name  was  given  to  the  river.  The 
name  of  the  place  was  made  "  La  Galette,"  meaning  a  cake.  This  name 
was  suggested  to  the  party  by  the  fact  that  on  either  shore  of  the  river 
above  the  rapids,  and  especially  at  this  point  (as  it  appeared  to  them 
when  coming  into  the  harbor),  was  the  most  beautiful  place  they  had 
found  on  the  St.  Lawrence  since  they  left  Quebec,  the  shores  being  so 
clean  and  attractive,  studded  with  lofty  maples  and  majestic  oaks,  lead- 
ing them  to  exclaim  in  their  enthusiasm,  "This  takes  the  cake;"  and 
hence  the  name,  "  La  Galette." 

The  mouth  of  the  river  was  for  a  number  of  years  after  its  discovery 
known  as  Blind  Harbor,  as  the  rush  bed  or  bar  was  at  that  time  an 
island,  being  marked  as  such  in  the  French  maps,  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  bqshes,  hiding  the  river  from  the  view  of  those  passing  along 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Lighthouse  Point  was  also 
covered  with  earth  and  a  larger  growth  of  trees.  The  channel  of  the 
Oswegatchie  River,  which  passed  between  this  point  and  the  island,  was 
quite  narrow,  as  was  also  the  channel  that  passed  on  the  opposite  side 
along  the  main  shore.  The  weary  boatmen,  no  doubt,  appreciated  such 
a  harbor,  where  they  could  repose  a  few  days  in  safety,  before  proceed- 
ing on  their  long  journey. 

People  who  now  enjoy  all  the  modern  luxuries  of  travel  by  both  land 
and  water,  shooting  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence  so  gracefully,  can 
scarcely  realize  the  difficulty  and  danger  encountered  by  those  early 
voyageurs,  when  passing  in  small  boats  up  or  down  those  long  rapids. 
In  ascending  they  were  compelled  to  carry  their  boats  and  baggage 
around  the  falls,  or  jump  into  the  foaming  and  surging  waters  at  the 
risk  of  their   lives  (which  were  often  lost),  to  haul  them   up  the  rapids. 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER.  43 

often  being  drawn  under  the  swift  waters  and  their  bodies  lacerated  on 
the  sharp  rocks. 

From  1626  forward,  missionaries,  adventurers,  and  military  detach- 
ments occasionally  passed  up  from  Quebec  (then  the  principal  port  for 
exports)  to  the  far  west  ;  and  as  the  St.  Lawrence  River  was  the  great 
highway  for  the  French  to  travel  to  their  stations  in  the  west,  they  must 
necessarily  have  passed  La  Galctte,  and  doubtless  many  of  them  stopped 
a  few  days  for  rest  and  repairs. 

One  of  these  noteworthy  expeditions  was  that  of  Father  Raymbault, 
who  left  Quebec  in  the  spring  of  1641,  and,  after  stopping  at  La  Galette, 
continued  on  westward  and  established  missions  north  of  the  lakes  in 
what  is  now  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Illinois.  Another  was  that  of 
Father  Le  Moyne,  who  started  in  July,  1654,  with  another  Frenchman 
and  three  converted  Indians,  and  made  his  way  to  the  country  of  the 
Onondaga  Indians,  where  the  salt  springs  were  then  discovered  to  him. 
This  party  also  stopped  at  La  Galette.  Records  of  these  expeditions 
and  others  are  matters  of  published  history. 

Evidences  that  prospecting  parties  also  visited  the^point  at  La  Galette 
at  an  early  date  are  unmistakable.      The  Oswegatchie    River   was  the 
highway  by  which  the   natives  of  this  section   reached  their  hunting 
grounds  and  the  Mohawk  River.     The  Oswegatchie,  turning  to  the  left 
a  short  distance  above  its  mouth,   was  termed  the  East  Branch,  and 
turning  to  the  right,  including  Black  Lake  and  Indian  River,  was  called 
the  West  Branch.     The  two  branches  near  by  the  Ox  Bow  run  close  to 
each  other,  and  the  Indians  had  there  a  carrying  place  from  one  to  the 
other.      On  the  West  Branch,  above  Black  Lake,  are  found   lead,  iron, 
and  pyrites.      In  some  of  the  ravines  little  water  courses  issue  from  the 
iron  ore  hills,  carrying  off  oxide  of  iron   or  red  ochre,  which  has  been 
gathered  for  ages  by  the  Indians  and   used  for  war  paint.      In  this  lo- 
cality the  early  settlers  found  holes   dug  or  blasted    in  the  hills,  which 
had  the  appearance  of  age  and  the  workmanship  of  intelligent  people. 
On  a  farm   now   owned   by  Lyman  Merriman,  in  the  southerly  part  of 
Gouverneur,  near   the  Indian  portage,  is   a   high   rocky  bluff.      On  its 
westerly  slope  there  crops   out  a  large  smooth  surface  of  the  limestone 
rock,  on  which  is  cut  the  date — 1671.     The  figures  are  well  formed, 
about  five  inches  long,  properly  spread,  and  the  grooves  are  sunk  about 


44  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

an  inch  in  depth.  The  bottom  and  sides  of  the  grooves  were  as  weather 
beaten  as  any  part  of  the  rock  surface  around  them,  when  first  discov- 
ered by  the  pioneers  seventy-five  or  eighty  years  ago.  This  landmark, 
having  endured  the  storms  and  frosts  without  any  apparent  change  for 
upwards  of  two  hundred  years,  will  stand  for  centuries  to  come  if  no 
violence  is  used  to  deface  it.  In  tlie  woodland  which  has  never  been 
cleared,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  this  historic  rock,  is  a  large 
hole  excavated  some  twelve  feet  deep  and  a  ditch  leading  from  it,  w^hich 
partially  drains  off  the  water  coming  into  it.  The  mound,  which  was 
formed  by  the  earth  thrown  out  of  the  pit,  has  large  trees  growing  on 
its  surface.  It  is  said  that  the  pioneers,  shortly  after  the  discovery  of 
the  hole,  pumped  out  the  water,  expecting  to  find  treasure,  but  found 
only  fresh  cut  blocks  of  wood  at  the  bottom,  beneath  stone  and  debris 
tiiat  had  accumulated  above  them.  The  supposition  is  that  the  same 
party  who  engraved  the  date  on  the  rock  was  prospecting  for  gold  or 
silver,  but  found  only  pyrites,  which  crops  out  at  that  point.  This  date 
engraved  on  the  rock  corresponds  with  the  date  when  the  fort  at  Fron- 
tenac  (now  Kingston)  was  commenced,  and  the  engineers  who  built  the 
fort  may  have  been  connected  with  this  exploring  party. 

Military  Expedition. — The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  oflicial 
report  of  Count  Frontenac's  expedition  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
strengthen  the  fortification  on  Lake  Ontario  at  Kingston,  and  to  form 
an  alliance  with  the  several  Indian  tribes  in  that  vicinity,  in  the  year 
1673,  as  translated  from  the  second  volume  of  the  collection  of  Paris 
Documents,  hy  Dr.  E.  B.  O'Callaghan,  of  New  York.  The  minute 
description  of  Frontenac's  voyage  up  the  rapids  and  his  building  on 
Indian  Point,  as  well  as  his  mention  of  La  Galette,  give  an  authentic 
starting  point  for  the  history  of  Ogdensburg,  and  in  a  measure  con- 
firm the  previous  accounts  : 

The  expedition  left  Montreal  on  the  28th  of  June,  1673,  with  two  flat 
bateaux  mounted  with  small  cannon,  and  120  bark  canoes.  On  the  3d 
of  July  following  they  reached  the  island  at  the  head  of  Lake  St. 
Francis,  when  they  found  it  necessary  to  repair  their  boats  injured 
in  passing  the  rapids.  The  writer  states  :  "  It  is  impossible  to  con- 
ceive the  danger  without  witnessing  the  fatigue  of  those  who  dragged 
the  bateaux,  as  most  of  the  time  they,  were  in  the  water  up  to  the   arm 


FRENCH  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER.  45 

pits,  walking  on  rocks  so  sharp  that  many  had  their  feet  and  legs  cut  and 
covered  with  blood,  yet  their  gaiety  never  failed  them."  When  it  was 
necessary  they  would  throw  themselves  into  the  stream  with  incredible 
promptness  and  bravery  to  save  a  drowning  companion  or  to  secure  a 
boat  from  loss.  On  the  8th,  having  encountered  a  severe  storm,  a 
portion  of  the  squadron  rested  for  the  night  on  the  north  side  of  Ogden's 
Island.  In  the  morning  Frontenac  received  orders  to  proceed  above 
the  rapids  to  a  certain  point  which  had  been  designated  as  a  depot, 
and  return  the  boats  to  Montreal  for  more  provisions.  The  rest  of 
the  squadron  proceeded  up  the  Rapid  du  Plat  and  arrived  at  what 
they  designated  Indian  Point,  as  they  usually  found  the  place  occupied 
by  Indians,  where  they  built  a  storehouse  for  their  accoutrements 
and  provisions,  on  the  9th  day  of  July,  1673 — the  first  building  erected 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  by  white  men. 

The  writer  further  states  that  from  this  time  forward  the  St.  Law- 
rence was  frequently  traversed  by  French  "voyageurs,"  and  a  port 
was  soon  afterward  established  at  La  Galette.  The  writer  had  a  vague 
idea  as  to  the  location  of  this  place,  as  he  supposed  that  La  Galette  was 
near  the  site  of  Johnstown  below  Prescott,  or  Chimney  Island  ;  but  from 
the  account  given  and  the  familiarity  with  which  the  facts  are  mentioned, 
it  may  be  inferred  that  this  place  (Ogdensburg)  was  known  by  that 
name  (La  Galette)  for  many  years  previous  to  the  date  given. 

In  the  celebrated  expeditions  of  De  la  Barre,  then  governor  of 
Canada,  against  the  Iroquois  in  1684,  he  mentioned  La  Galette  as 
one  of  the  stopping  places,  and  indicated  the  necessity  of  placing 
troops  in  Frontenac  and  at  La  Galette  in  order  to  escort  provisions  and 
keep  the  head  of  the  country  well  guarded  and  furnished.  This  un- 
fortunate expedition  left  Quebec  on  the  9th  of  July,  1684,  and  arrived 
at  Lake  St.  Francis  on  the  ist  of  August,  with  about  two  hundred 
canoes  and  fifteen  bateaux,  where  they  were  joined  by  Fathers  Lamber- 
ville  and  Millet,  from  Onondaga  and  the  Oneidas.  They  met  with  the 
usual  difificulty  in  ascending  the  rapids,  but  for  a  few  presents  of  brandy, 
tobacco,  etc.,  the  Christian  Iroquois  of  the  Saut  St.  Louis  and  of 
Montreal  undertook  to  pass  up  the  bateaux  and  the  large  canoes,  which 
was  successfully  accomplished  in  two  days.  On  the  morning  of  the 
5th  of  August  the   governor  and  his  forces  reached  La  Galette,  where 


46  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtTNTY. 

the  provisions  were  transferred  from  the  canoes  to  a  storehouse  on  what 
is  now  called  Lighthouse  Point,  and  a  portion  of  the  boats  were  sent 
back  to  Lachine  for  another  load  of  provisions.  The  main  body  of  the 
forces  proceeded  on  their  way  to  Fort  Frontenac,  when  the  larger 
canoes  returned  for  lO.OOO  pounds  of  flour  which  had  been  left  at  La 
Galette.  This  expedition  against  the  Indians  failed,  as  did  also  one  later 
in  1687. 

We  find  further  allusions  to  La  Galette  in  an  extract  from  a  letter 
written  by  Father  Charlevoix,  dated  at  Cataraqoui  (Indian  name  of  what 
is  now  Kingston),  May  14,  1721,  which  was  published  in  Paris  in  1744, 
fifth  volume  of  Military  Expeditions  in  America.  Referring  to  the  river 
at  this  point,  he  says  :  "  It  is  only  a  mile  wide  and  the  lands  on  both 
sides  are  very  good  and  well  wooded,  besides  they  have  begun  to  clear 
on  the  north  shore."  He  says  further :  "  It  would  be  very  easy  to  make 
a  road  from  the  point  which  is  over  against  the  Island  of  Montreal,  to 
the  bay  which  they  call  La  Galette  [below  the  O.  &  L.  C.  depot  site]. 
This  route  would  shun  forty  leagues  of  impracticable  navigation.  A 
fort  would  be  much  better  situated  and  more  necessary  at  La  Galette 
than  at  Cataraqoui,  because  a  single  canoe  cannot  pass  that  point  with- 
out being  seen,  besides  a  bark  can  sail  from  the  place  with  a  good  wind 
to  Niagara  in  two  days." 

Charlevoix's  description  of  the  rapids  and  journey  up  the  river  agrees 
with  others.  He  states  that  on  the  8th  of  May,  1721,  when  below 
Rapid  du  Plat,  a  little  snow  fell  and  at  night  it  froze  as  it  does  in  France 
in  the  month  of  January.  On  the  9th  he  passed  up  the  last  rapid,  which 
is  a  league  and  a  half  below  La  Galette  ;  he  says  he  could  not  sufifi- 
ciently  admire  the  beauty  of  the  country  between  the  Galoup  and  La 
Galette.  It  is  impossible  to  see  finer  forests,  and  he  especially  noticed 
some  oaks  of  extraordinary  size  and  height. 

Sufficient  evidence  is  furnished  in  the  foregoing  accounts  to  satisfy  the 
most  skeptical  that  this  place  received  its  French  name  at  an  early  date, 
and  the  beauty  of  the  scenery  in  its  proper  season  of  the  year  would 
naturally  lead  the  enthusiastic  P'renchman  to  exclaim,  in  their  terms, 
and  according  to  our  late  current  eixpression,  "  It  takes  the  cake." 


THE  OLD  REGIME.  47 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  OLD  REGIME. 

Condition  of  the  Colonies  in  1659 — Hochelaga  and  its  Occupation — Contrast  between 
the  Montreal  of  that  Period  and  that  of  To-Day — The  Old  Spinner — The  Company  of 
the  West  and  its  Efforts — Importations  of  Women — The  Seignorial  Grants — Stringent 
Rules  of  the  Church— Intemperance — Divine  Chastisement — Spirit  of  Discovery — De  la 
Salle  and  his  Western  Expedition — Paucity  of  English  Posts  of  Occupation. 

r^HE  colony,  for  ten  years  or  more,  dating  from  1657,  had  her 
internal  troubles.  While  the  heathen  Iroquois  raged  at  her  door, 
discord  rioted  at  the  hearthstone.  A  strife  for  supremacy  and  rule 
existed  between  Montreal  and  Quebec  ;  also  between  the  Recollects,  the 
Jesuits,  the  Sulpitians  and  the  Jansenists,  to  secure  the  appointment  of 
a  bishop  that  would  be  favorable  to  their  particular  views  ;  yet  all  were 
ready  to  unite  against  the  encroachments  of  the  heretic  Huguenots. 
But  finally  the  Jesuits  become  the  ruling  element  in  the  church  in  the 
colony. 

The  white  population  in  Canada  in  1659  did  not  exceed  2,500  souls, 
including  priests,  nuns,  traders  and  settlers.  Montreal  contained  about 
forty  log  huts,  situated  along  the  line  of  St.  Paul  street;  on  the  rising 
ground  on  the  left  was  a  fort,  and  on  the  right  was  a  wind-mill.  The 
place  contained  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  and  only  fifty  of  them  had 
families  or  wives. 

The  Indian  village  Hochelaga  was  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  at  the  foot  of  Lachine  Rapids,  in  the  forks  of  the  Ottawa 
River,  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  above  Quebec.  The  place  was 
used  as  an  outpost  of  Quebec  for  about  one  hundred  years  after  its  dis- 
covery. At  length  the  competition  in  the  fur  trade  was  such  that  it 
became  necessary  for  the  company  to  establish  a  trading  post  at  this 
point,  so  that  peltry  might  be  purchased  of  the  Indians  at  all  times  of 
year.  Therefore,  at  the  dates  mentioned,  a  few  huts  were  erected  under 
the  shadow  of  the  fort,  along  a  winding  and  well-beaten   Indian  trail. 


48  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COJJNTY. 

This  settlement  may  be  considered  the  commencement  of  the  present 
rich  and  populous  city  of  Montreal.  As  the  settlement  increased  a 
village  was  built  around  this  crooked  row  without  disturbing  its  bound- 
ary, and  thus  originated  the  famous  St.  Paul  street,  the  narrow  and  zig- 
zag course  of  which  has  long  been  a  source  of  wonder.  The  contrast 
between  the  conditions  under  which  the  life  of  the  pioneers  of  Montreal 
was  pursued,  and  those  of  the  present  day  is  marvelous,  and  scarcely  to 
be  appreciated.  Deprivation  and  hardship  of  every  nature  has  given 
way  to  luxury  and  all  the  blessings  of  civilization  in  a  great  city. 
Montreal  under  English  economy  has  made  wonderful  progress.  The 
deepening  of  the  channel  of  the  St.  Lawrence  above  Quebec  allows  large 
vessels  to  pass  up  to  the  city,  bringing  the  markets  of  the  Old  World 
to  their  doors.  The  canals  built  around  the  rapids  above  the  city,  and 
around  Niagara  Falls,  open  up  a  vast  farming  country,  the  products  of 
which,  with  those  of  the  lumber  district  of  Ottawa  (or  the  larger  portion 
of  it),  go  direct  to  Montreal,  to  be  either  consumed  there  or  sent  to 
foreign  markets.  The  Lachine  Rapids  supply  the  city  with  an  ample 
and  never  failing  water  power,  which  adds  materially  to  the  manufac- 
turing interests  of  the  town.  Montreal  has  a  population  of  nearly  half 
a  million.  It  takes  the  lead  of  all  the  cities  of  the  Dominion,  and  no 
doubt  will  continue  to  be  the  metropolis  of  Canada  for  years  to  come. 

Yet  in  the  midst  of  this  beautiful  and  enterprising  city  are  a  few 
descendants  of  those  early  pioneers  who  cling  to  the  customs  and 
traditions  of  their  forefathers.  The  writer  was  much  amused,  in  the  fall 
of  1854,  on  seeing  an  apple  vender  carding  wool  and  spinning  yarn  as 
she  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  steps  of  the  Roman  Catholic  cathedral.  The 
spinning  implement  was  the  same  as  the  Roman  women  used  three 
hundred  years  before  Christ ;  it  was  simply  a  pear-shaped  weight  of 
perhaps  two  pounds,  with  a  stem  attached  about  six  or  eight  inches  long. 
The  wool  was  rolled  around  a  distaff,  and  that  fastened  to  a  belt  on  her 
left  side.  On  starting  she  twisted  with  her  thumb  and  fore  finger,  a 
short  thread  and  fastened  it  to  the  stem  of  the  weight,  holding  it  by  the 
thread  in  one  hand  and  with  the  other  she  gave  the  stem  a  twist,  setting 
the  ball  in  motion.  The  momentum  given  to  the  ball  twisted  the  thread 
as  fast  as  she  drew  it  from  the  wool,  and  when  the  speed  slackened, 
she  gave  the  ball  another  twist,  drawing  out  the   thread   as  before.      In 


THE  OLD  REGIME.  49 

this  manner  she  continued  until  the  ball  reached  the  pavement,  when 
she  wound  the  yarn  around  it,  and  repeated  the  process.  I  questioned 
her  in  English  and  received  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  ;  but  anxious  to 
know  more  about  her  quaint  spinning  machine,  I  spoke  to  her  in  French 
and  learned  that  she  was  more  than  ninety  years  old  and  had  learned  in 
her  younger  days  to  spin  in  this  manner,  as  there  was  then  no  other  ma- 
chine in  use.  She  said  she  was  too  old  to  learn  on  the  new  fandangle 
wheels  at  the  time  they  were  introduced. 

The  recently  formed  Company  of  the  West,  as  it  was  named,  had 
started  with  the  purpose  of  showing  the  vast  political  possibilities  of  the 
young  colony,  and  opening  a  vista  of  future  glories  alike  for  the  church 
and  for  the  king.  Louis  XIV.  had  agreed  with  the  company  to  send  to 
Canada  three  hundred  soldiers  yearly  for  ten  years,  to  serve  three  years, 
after  which  term  they  could  become  settlers.  The  company  was  con- 
tinually calling  for  men,  and  the  king  became  alarmed,  for  he  needed 
men  for  his  army  at  home,  and  said  the  colony  must  thereafter  rely  chiefly 
on  its  increase  from  within.  The  Sulpitians,  a  religious  order  founded 
at  Rochelle,  France,  by  one  01ier,i  about  1630,  had  procured  a  grant  of 
a  seignorial  estate  embracing  Montreal  and  several  leagues  above,  ex- 
tending back  from  the  river  a  long  distance.  This  order  brought  over 
people  to  settle  their  lands.  In  1659  the  ship  SL  Andre  brought  to 
Montreal  fifty  settlers,  comprising  artisans,  soldiers  and  peasants,  with 
a  troop  of  young  women.  There  were  also  two  groups  of  women  wear- 
ing the  habit  of  nuns,  under  the  direction  of  Marguerite  Bourgeois  and 
Jeanne  Mance.  Marguerite  was  the  foundress  of  a  school  of  the  Infant 
Jesus,  for  female  children,  at  Montreal ;  and  Jeanne  was  directress  of  the 
Hospital  St.  Joseph.  This  "  Holy  Family  "  commenced  their  labors  in 
a  stable,  lodging  with  their  pupils  in  the  loft. 

The  king,  in  order  to  encourage  the  discharged  soldiers  to  marry  and 
settle  in  Canada,  pensioned  them.  The  officers  were  granted  as  high  as 
1,500  livres,  and  the  soldiers  were  to  receive  land.  The  Sulpitians  and 
other  parties  brought  out  young  women  to  become  wives  for  their  set- 
tlers. The  king  also  continued  the  benevolent  work  on  a  larger  scale. 
Girls  were  taken  from  the  Paris  hospitals,  houses  of  refuge,  and  from 
among  the  peasants,  while  for  officers'  wives  a  better  class  of  young 

'  Olier  died  in  1656,  and  his  remains  were  enclosed  in  a  leaden  box  and  were  said  to  have  miracu- 
lous power  to  restore  diseased  limbs  by  a  touch  of  the  box. 


50  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ladies  were  brought  over.  Thus  hundreds  of  girls,  some  proving  to  be 
grass  widows,  came,  and  were  provided  with  husbands  within  a  short 
time  of  their  arrival.  The  young  women  were  taken  in  charge  by 
Mother  Mary,  and  gave  her  much  trouble.  On  one  occasion,  in  a 
moment  of  unwonted  levity,  she  called  them  "  mixed  goods,"  or  the 
"  king's  girls."  The  matrimonial  market  of  Quebec  and  Montreal  was 
on  a  large  scale.  The  girls  were  assorted  in  three  classes,  each  class 
penned  up  for  selection  in  a  separate  hall,  and  there  submitted  to  the 
inspection  of  the  suitor.  The  man  was  required  to  choose  a  bride  with- 
out delay,  while  the  women  were  permitted  to  reject  any  applicant  who 
displeased  them.  The  first  question  usually  asked  the  suitor  was  if  he 
had  a  house  and  a  farm.  Bounties  were  offered  by  the  king  for  early 
marriages,  twenty  livres  to  young  men  who  married  before  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  also  to  each  girl  who  married  before  the  age  of  sixteen. 
The  father  of  a  family  was  obliged  to  mary  off  his  children  at  those 
ages.  Bachelors  were  to  bear  additional  burdens  and  be  excluded  from 
all  honors  and  privileges  granted  to  others.  Bounties  were  offered  on 
children,  three  hundred  livres  on  families  of  ten  children,  and  four  hun- 
dred on  families  of  twelve  children.  Hence  in  the  year  1671  nearly 
seven  hundred  children  were  born  in  the  colony.  The  immigration  of 
women  and  the  granting  of  the  bounties  ceased  soon  after  the  Dutch 
war  of  1672  The  lands  were  divided  into  seignorial  grants  among  the 
officers,  who  in  turn  granted  them  in  farms  to  the  soldiers.  The  king 
furnished  a  wind  mill,  a  chapel,  and  a  chaplain  to  each  parish,  which 
were  some  three  leagues  apart.  The  habitants  built  their  houses  in  a 
cluster,  and  surrounded  the  village  with  a  picket  palisade  for  protection 
against  the  Indians.  For  a  few  years  the  soldier  farmer's  life  was  a 
rough  one,  until  he  had  a  few  acres  under  tillage;  but  his  supplies  were 
increased  by  a  profusion  of  eels,  which  the  St  Lawrence  never  failed  to 
yield  in  their  season,  and  which,  when  smoked  or  salted,  supplied  his 
larder  for  months.  "  A  poor  man,"  says  Mother  Mary,  "  will  have  on 
the  average  ten  children,  with  bare  heads  and  feet  and  little  jackets  on 
their  backs,  live  on  nothing  but  pea  soup  and  eels,  and  on  that  grow 
fat  and  strong."  With  such  treatment  the  weaker  died,  but  the  stronger 
survived,  and  out  of  this  rugged  nursing  sprang  the  hardy  Canadian 
race  of  bush  rangers  and  bush  fighters. 


THE  OLD  RESIME.  51 

The  stringent  rules  of  the  church,  together  with  the  exacting  laws  of 
the  colony  in  regard  to  marriage,  caused  some  of  the  more  roving  young 
men  to  abandon  civilized  life  and  take  their  chances  with  the  Indians. 
Such  were  called  cotcreurs  debois,  or  bush  rangers.  This  class  was  em- 
ployed more  or  less  by  the  fur  traders  in  exchanging  their  goods,  con- 
sisting largely  of  brandy,  with  the  Indians  for  furs.  At  length  intem- 
perance became  so  prevalent,  especially  among  the  Indians,  that  meas- 
ures were  adopted  by  the  clergy  to  put  a  stop  to  the  trafific.  In  the 
summer  of  1648  a  temperance  convention  was  held  at  the  mission  of 
S^Uery,  n^ar  Quebec,  the  first,  probably,  on  this  continent.  An  appeal 
was  made  to  the  king  to  do  away  with  the  traffic,  and  he  referred  the 
matter  to  the  Fathers  of  Sorbonne,  who  pronounced  the  selling  of  brandy 
to  the  Indians  a  mortal  sin.  He  next  referred  the  case  to  the  merchants, 
who  were  in  favor  of  unrestricted  trade  in  spirituous  liquors.  The  argu- 
ment in  its  favor  was  that  if  the  thirsty  savages  were  refused  brandy  by 
the  French,  they  would  seek  it  from  the  Dutch  and  English  in  New 
York,  where  the  Indians  and  their  beaver  skins  would  be  sure  to  go. 
The  temperance  question  was  agitated  for  years,  when  at  length  the 
Jesuit  party  gained  control,  and  prohibition,  as  far  as  the  Indians  were 
concerned,  was  enacted,  taking  effect  in  1662  under  the  new  gover- 
nor, Avangour,  who  desired  to  conciliate  the  Jesuits.  A  few  weeks 
later  two  men  were  shot  and  one  whipped  for  selling  brandy  to  the  In- 
dians. This  act  raised  a  great  commotion,  as  men  in  high  standing 
were  engaged  in  the  traffic,  and  influence  was  brought  to  bear  to  have 
the  governor  revoke  the  decree.  A  few  months  later  a  woman  was  im- 
prisoned for  the  same  cause,  and  Father  Lallemant  came  to  the  gover- 
nor to  intercede  for  her.  The  governor  flew  into  a  passion  and  ex- 
claimed ;  "  Your  brethren  were  the  first  to  cry  out  against  the  liquor 
traffic,  and  now  you  want  to  save  the  traders  from  punishment.  Since 
it  is  not  a  crime  for  this  woman,  it  shall  not  be  a  crime  for  anybody. 
Henceforth  there  shall  be  full  license  for  liqour  dealers." 

Disorder  grew  from  bad  to  worse  ;  men  gave  no  heed  to  bishops, 
preachers  or  confessions.  Father  Lallemant  gravely  writes  that  as 
winter  was  drawing  to  a  close,  outraged  heaven  interposed  an  awful 
warning  to  the  guilty  colony.  That  blazing  serpents  flew  through  the 
air  on  wings  of  fire,  and   with  voice  as  loud  as  thunder.      A  converted 


52  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE^ COUNTY. 

squaw  heard  a  voice  in  the  night  saying,  "  Strange  things  will  happen 
to  day;"  and  others  heard  similar  warnings.  "Now  to  pass  from 
vision  to  facts,"  writes  Father  Lallemant,  "  at  half  past  five  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  February  5,  1663,  a  great  roaring  sound  was  heard  at 
the  same  time  through  the  whole  extent  of  Lower  Canada,  New  England 
and  New  Netherlands.  Everybody  rushed  into  the  streets;  animals 
ran  wildly  about;  children  cried;  men  and  women  seized  with  fright 
knew  not  where  to  take  refuge,  expecting  every  moment  to  be  buried 
under  the  ruins  of  houses,  or  swallowed  up  in  some  abyss  opening  under 
their  feet.  The  earthquake  continued  without  ceasing,  with  a  motion 
like  that  of  a  ship  at  sea.  The  trees  struck  one  against  the  other,  with 
such  noise  and  confusion  that  the  Indians  said  that  the  forest  was  drunk. 
Considerable  hills  and  large  tracts  of  forest  slid  from  their  places,  some 
into  the  river,  and  some  into  adjacent  valleys  ;  streams  were  turned 
from  their  courses ;  waterfalls  were  leveled  ;  springs  were  dried  up  in 
some  places,  while  in  others  new  springs  appeared.  A  remarkable 
effect  was  produced  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  was  so  charged  with 
mud  and  clay  that  for  many  weeks  the  water  was  unfit  to  drink." 

It  was  midsummer  before  the  shocks  wholly  ceased  and  the  earth 
assumed  her  wonted  calm.  The  accounts  that  have  come  down  to  us 
of  the  forewarning  and  the  visions  seen  during  the  shock,  such  as  spec- 
tres and  phantoms  of  fire  bearing  torches  in  their  hands  ;  also  of  the 
fiery  figure  of  a  man  vomiting  flames,  and  many  other  apparitions,  seem 
somewhat  ludicrous  ;  yet  it  is  clear  that  the  convulsion  must  have  been 
a  severe  one.  The  writers  of  that  day  saw  in  this  a  proof  that  God 
would  punish  the  guilty  without  destroying  them.  There  was  for  a 
time  following  an  intense  revival  of  religion  ;  repentant  throngs  beset 
the  confessionals  and  altars  ;  enemies  were  reconciled  ;  fasts,  prayers 
and  penances  filled  the  whole  season  of  Lent.  Wealth  and  privileges 
of  all  kinds  were  showered  upon  the  church,  and  especially  upon  the 
religious  orders,  in  the  hope  of  purchasing  pardon  for  past  sins  and 
favors  in  the  next  world.  Yet,  as  was  seen,  the  devil  could  still  find,  in 
the  liquor  traffic,  wherewith  to  console  himself 

Succeeding  the  notable  events  thus  far  narrated,  the  spirit  of  discov- 
ery and  conquest  in  the  New  World  continued  active,  and  the  heroic 
figures  of  the  time  pushed  their  way  into  hitherto  unknown  regions; 


THE  OLD  REGIME.  53 

but  as  they  were  chiefly  remote  from  the  section  of  which   this  work 
treats,  their  explorations  can  only  be  touched  upon. 

In  the  summer  of  1673  the  missionaries  Joliet  and  Marquette  made 
their  way  to  the  upper  waters  of  the  Wisconsin  River  iand  down  that 
stream  to  the  Mississippi,  and  southerly  to  the  thirty-third  parallel  of 
latitude. 

The  famous  explorer,  Cavalier  Robert  de  la  Salle,  born  at  Rouen  in 
1643,  came  to  Canada  in  1666.  The  priests  of  St.  Sulpice,  desiring  to 
extend  the  line  of  settlements  up  the  river,  to  form  an  outpost  for  pro- 
tection against  the  Iroquois,  granted  La  Salle  a  large  tract  of  land  just 
above  the  great  rapids  about  nine  miles  above  Montreal.  There  La 
Salle  traced  the  circuit  of  a  palisaded  village,  built  a  seminary,  a  hospi- 
tal and  a  church,  and  had  a  flourishing  settlement  under  way.  A  band 
of  the  Seneca  nation  spent  the  winter  of  1668-9  with  him  and  told  him 
of  a  river  called  the  Ohio,  rising  in  their  country  and  flowing  to  the  sea. 
This  led  in  the  summer  of  1669  to  the  formation  of  a  party  and  the 
historical  explorations  which  took  him  eventually  down  the  Ohio  River 
as  far  as  the  rapids  of  Louisville.  La  Salle  returned  and  was  with 
Frontenac  at  the  Indian  council  held  at  Cataraquoi,  now  Kingston.  In 
the  fall  of  1674  he  went  to  France,  received  a  patent  of  nobility  and  a 
grant  in  seigniory  of  Fort  Frontenac,  to  take  possession  of  which  he  re- 
turned in  the  following  spring.  Here  he  built  vessels  to  run  on  the  lake, 
with  Fort  Frontenac  as  a  base  of  supplies.  In  1679  he  built  a  palisade 
fort  at  Niagara.  In  January  of  the  same  year  he  built  a  small  sailing 
craft  above  Niagara,  the  first  on  Lake  Erie.  On  the  7th  of  August  fol- 
lowing La  Salle  started  with  thirty-four  voyageurs  on  a  journey  which 
took  him  through  the  Straits  of  Detroit,  across  Lake  Huron  and  Green 
Bay,  across  Lake  Michigan  to  the  St.  Joseph  River,  up  that  stream  and 
across  the  country  to  the  upper  Kankaka ;  thence  down  to  Disarters. 
He  then  returned  to  Fort  Frontenac.  During  his  absence,  Father 
Hennepin,  a  member  of  the  company,  traversed  Illinois  and  explored 
the  Mississippi  as  far  up  as  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 

In  1 68 1  La  Salle  returned  to  his  station  in  Illinois  with  men  and  sup- 
plies and  in  the  following  year  descended  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi, 
discovered  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  planted  there,  a  short  distance  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  a  column  of  sycamore  bearing  the  arms  of 


54  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

France.  It  should,  however,  be  stated  that  the  honor  of  discovery  of 
the  Mississippi  belongs  to  the  Spaniards,  through  Pamphilo  de  Nar- 
vaez,  in  1528,  and  Ferdinand  de  Soto  in  1539,  both  of  whom  had  been 
exploring  Florida. 

After  La  Salle's  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  in  1682,  he 
returned  to  Quebec  and  immediately  sailed  for  France.  The  news  of 
this  vast  discovery  greatly  excited  the  kingdom  and  plans  were  made 
for  colonizing  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  France  was  not  slow  to 
occupy  and  settle  the  extensive  country  opened  to  her  by  the  Jesuits. 
The  discovery  of  this  southern  port,  where  they  could  land  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year,  gave  them  additional  advantages  over  the  St.  Lawrence, 
which  is  closed  with  ice  a  part  of  the  year.  As  early  as  1688  military 
posts  were  established  at  Frontenac,  at  Niagara,  at  the  Straits  of  Mack- 
inaw, and  on  the  Illinois  River.  Before  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  permanent  settlements  had  been  made  by  the  French  on  the 
Maumee,  at  Detroit,  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River,  at  Green 
Bay,  at  Vincennes  on  the  lower  Wabash,  on  the  Mississippi,  at  the 
mouth  of  Kaskaskia,  and  at  Fort  Rosaline,  the  site  of  Natchez,  and  on 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  at  the  head  of  the  Bay  of  Biloxi. 

At  this  time  the  only  outposts  of  the  English  colonists  were  a  small 
fort  at  Oswego  and  a  few  scattered  cabins  in  West  Virginia.  It  only 
remained  for  France  to  occupy  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  in  order  to  con- 
fine the  provinces  of  Great  Britain  to  the  country  east  of  the  Allegha- 
nies.  England  had  colonized  the  sea  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida  and 
the  great  towns  were  on  the  ocean  edge,  but  her  claims  reached  far  be- 
yond her  colonies.  In  making  grants  of  territory  the  English  king  had 
always  proceeded  upon  the  theory  that  the  voyage  of  Sebastian  Cabot 
had  given  to  England  a  lawful  right  to  the  country  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Far  different,  however,  were  the  claims  of  France. 
She  had  first  colonized  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  about  five 
hundred  miles  from  the  sea.  and  had  her  colonies  been  limited  to  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  its  tributaries  there  would  have  been  little  danger  of 
a  conflict  over  territorial  dominion.  The  purpose  of  the  French,  as 
manifested  in  their  movements,  was  to  divide  the  American  continent 
and  take  the  larger  portion  for  France  and  Catholicism.  For  more 
than  two  centuries  previous  to  that  time  France  had  been  the  leader  of 


CONFLICTING  INTERESTS.  55 

the  Catholic  and  England  of  the  Protestant  powers  of  Europe.      Relig- 
ious prejudice  thus  intensified  the  natural  jealousy  of  the  two  nations. 

The  Hudson  and  the  St.  Lawrence  Rivers  were  then,  as  now,  in  di- 
rect antagonism  in  the  matter  of  trade.  Commerce  sought  the  most 
advantageous  market,  and  drew  much  of  the  traffic  of  the  Indians  by 
the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  into  the  hands  of  the  English.  This  naturally 
embittered  the  feelings  of  the  French  against  their  hereditary  enemy  of 
the  sea- board  and  gave  local  zest  to  the  contest  which  was  long  waged 
between  the  two  powers.  In  pursuit  of  the  fur  trade,  that  great  source 
of  wealth  to  the  people  of  both  nations,  these  trails  to  the  west  became 
avenues  of  commerce  which  it  was  important  for  the  French  to  hold 
and  equally  so  for  the  English  to  obstruct. 


CHAPTER    V. 

CONFLICTING  INTERESTS. 

Jesuit  Enterprise — Alarm  of  the  English — Conflicting  Claims  and  Measures — Wash- 
ington's Mission  to  the  Ohio  Valley — Fort  Duquesne — Washington  at  Fort  Necessity — 
General  Braddock's  Expedition — Vigorous  Movements  of  the  French — Father  Piquet 
at  La  Galette — His  Successful  Establishment — His  Report  Concerning  the  Location  — 
French  Industry  in  Founding  Establishments  for  Civilizing  the  Indians — The  English 
Awakened  to  Action — English  Endeavors  to  Secure  an  Alliance  with  the  Indians — 
Piquet's  Improvements  at  La  Galette. 

WHEN  by  the  enterprise  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries  the  French  began 
to  build  fortifications  along  the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributaries  and 
monopolize  the  fur  trade,  the  English  colonies  were  greatly  distressed, 
and  it  was  only  a  question  of  time  when  this  unreasonable  jealousy  would 
bring  on  a  collision  between  them.  For  some  time  the  strolling  traders 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  in  purchasing  furs  had  frequented  the  In- 
dian villages  on  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Ohio.  The  French  were 
equally  active  and  began  to  visit  the  same  places  and  to  compete  for 
the  trade.  The  French  traders  were  regarded  by  the  English  as  un- 
warranted intruders,  and  the  Virginians  united  in  a  body,  called  "The 
Ohio  Company,"  with  a  view  to  the  immediate  occupation  of  this  dis- 


56  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

puted  territory,  and  sent  on  a  large  colony  of  families  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  This  expedition  was  followed  by  a  still 
more  vigorous  movement  on  the  part  of  tbe  French,  who  built  fortifica- 
tions at  several  strategic  points.  The  Indians  of  that  territory  were 
somewhat  jealous  of  these  movements,  not  knowing  which  side  to  favor; 
but  after  the  murder  of  their  chief,  Miami,  by  a  French  scouting  party, 
their  hostility  towards  the  French  became  more  decided,  and  at  a 
council  of  war  a  delegation  was  sent  to  the  French  headquarters  to 
remonstrate  with  the  commander  against  a  further  invasion  of  their 
country.  "  The  land  is  mine  and  I  will  have  it,"  replied  the  French- 
man, with  decision  and  contempt.  This  insulting  remark  caused  the 
Indians  to  raise  the  hatchet  against  the  enemy  of  their  people,  and 
their  chief  met  Benjamin  Franklin  at  the  town  of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and 
formed  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  the  English.  Virginia  was  now  thor- 
oughly aroused  ;  but  before  proceeding  to  actual  hostilities  the  governor 
determined  to  try  the  effect  of  a  final  remonstrance  with  the  French. 
Accordingly  a  paper  was  drawn  up  setting  forth  the  nature  and  extent 
of  the  English  claim  to  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  solemnly  warning 
the  authorities  of  France  against  further  intrusion  into  that  region. 
George  Washington,  a  young  man,  a  surveyor  by  profession,  was  select- 
ed as  the  bearer  of  this  important  dispatch,  to  be  delivered  to  St.  Pierre, 
the  general  in  command,  then  stationed  at  Erie,  Pa.  Washington  set 
out  on  his  long  journey  October  31,  1753  ;  but  before  he  had  completed 
it  he  learned  that  St.  Pierre  had  come  down  to  superintend  the  fortifica- 
tions at  Laboeuf,  where  the  conference  was  held.  Washington  was 
received  with  great  courtesy  by  the  French  general,  but  he  refused  to 
enter  into  any  discussion  on  the  rights  of  nations.  He  said  he  was  act- 
ing under  instructions  from  the  governor  of  New  France,  and  his  orders 
were  to  eject  every  Englishman  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  he 
meant  to  carry  out  his  instructions  to  the  letter.  Washington  was 
kindly  dismissed,  but  not  until  he  had  noted,  with  keen  anxiety,  the 
immense  preparations  which  were  being  made  by  the  French  to  defend 
their  rights  to  the  countr3^  It  was  in  the  dead  of  winter  when  Wash- 
ington returned  to  Virginia,  and  the  defiant  dispatch  of  St.  Pierre  was 
laid  before  Governor  Dinwiddie.  The  first  public  services  of  Washing- 
ton, the  future  president  of  the  United  States,  were  then  acknowl- 
edged. 


CONFLICTING  INTERESTS.  57 

In  the  mean  time  a  company  was  organized  under  the  command  of 
Trent,  with  orders  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  source  of  the  Ohio  and 
erect  a  fort.  About  the  middle  of  March  the  party  reached  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Alleghany  and  the  Monongahela  Rivers,  and  there 
built  the  first  rude  stockade  fort  on  the  present  site  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
this  being  the  key  to  the  Ohio  valley.  The  French,  however,  rallied 
soon  after  and  captured  the  place  and  laid  the  foundation  for  Fort 
Duquesne. 

Washington  was  commissioned  by  the  governor  of  Virginia  as 
lieutenant-colonel  in  the  spring  of  1754,  to  command  a  little  army  of 
Virginians,  with  Orders  to  construct  a  fort  at  the  source  of  the  Ohio  ;  to 
destroy  whomsoever  opposed  him  in  the  work,  and  to  capture,  kill,  or 
repel  all  who  interrupted  the  progress  of  the  English  settlements  in  that 
country.  Washington  reached  the  Great  Meadows  in  the  latter  part  of 
May,  and  was  informed  that  a  company  of  French  was  a  few  miles 
away  and  on  the  march  to  attack  him.  A  stockade  was  immediately 
erected,  to  which  was  given  the  appropriate  name  of  Fort  Necessity, 
Ascertaining  from  an  Indian  that  the  French  company  in  the  neighbor- 
hood was  only  a  scouting  party,  Washington,  after  conferring  with  the 
Mingo  chief,  determined  to  strike  the  first  blow.  Two  Indians  followed 
the  trail  of  the  French  and  discovered  their  hiding  place  in  a  broken 
ravine.  Washington's  troops  advanced  cautiously,  intending  to  surprise 
and  capture  the  whole  force  ;  but  the  French  were  on  the  alert,  saw  the 
approaching  soldiers  and  prepared  to  meet  them,  when  Washington,  at 
the  head  of  his  company,  with  musket  in  hand,  gave  the  command 
"  fire,"  and  the  reverberating  sound  rang  through  the  forest  as  the  first 
volley  of  a  great  war  went  flying  on  its  mission  of  death.  The  engage- 
ment was  brief  and  decisive.  Jumonville,  the  leader  of  the  French,  and 
ten  of  his  party  were  killed  and  twenty-one  were  made  prisoners  of 
war. 

In  July  of  the  following  year,  when  General  Braddock  was  about  to 
make  a  move  against  Fort  Duquesne,  Washington,  who  was  acting  as 
his  aid-de-camp,  cautioned  him  as  to  the  danger  of  being  led  into  an 
ambuscade.  This  advice  touched  Braddock's  pride  and  he  angrily  ex- 
claimed, "  It  is  high  times  when  Colonel  Buckskin  can  teach  a  British 
general  how  to   fight."     The  result  was  that  Braddock   lost  his  life  and 


58 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


his  main  forces  were  destroyed,  while  Washington  with  thirty  Virginians 
remained  ahve  to  cover  the  flight  of  the  ruined  army.  Thus  our  brave 
Washington  commenced  his  miHtary  career  and  continued  to  render 
efficient  services  to  the  English  against  the  French  during  the  war. 

The  collisions  which  often  took  place  between  the  French  and  English 
scouting  parties,  who  were  contending  for  the  possession  of  the  Ohio 
valley  in  1754-55,  created  a  distrust  all  along  the  line,  and  both  sides 
were  eager  to  make  allies  of  the  Indian  tribes.  The  French,  however, 
were  very  successful  in  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  Indians,  and  for  a 
year  or  two  drove  every  English  family  from  the  Ohio  valley  as  well  as 
from  the  basin  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  territory  the  French  then  oc- 
cupied comprised  twenty  times  as  much  as  the  English  possessed. 

The  vigorous  efforts  put  forth  by  the  French  in  encouraging  such 
hostilities  caused  Great  Britain  to  make  an  open  declaration  of  war, 
May  ly,  1756,  which  was  followed  by  a  similar  declaration  on  the  part 
of  France. 

We  have  in  this  chapter  diverged 
somewhat  from  the  direct  historv  con- 
nected  with  Ogdensburg,  in  order  to 
note  the  operations  of  the  French  in 
the  southwest,  thus  continuing  the 
chain  of  circumstances  which  led  to 
the  war  and  the  final  cessation  of 
French  rule  in  America.  Let  us  now 
return  to  tlie  record  of  events  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  territory  of  which  this 
work  treats. 

Francois  Piquet,   a    Sulpitian,  who 
was    a    successful    missionary   at    the 
Lake  of  Two   Mountains,  was  among 
the  first  to  foresee  the  coming  war  be- 
FATHER  PIQUET.  twccn  Fraucc  and  England.      He  had, 

therefore,  prepared  himself  as  early  as  1742,  for  the  coming  struggle. 
The  French  had  long  seen  the  necessity  of  forming  an  alliance  with  the 
Indian  tribes  on  the  borders  of  their  territory,  and  of  fortifying  every 
avenue  of  approach  whereby  the  English  could  reach  the  St.  Lawrence 


CONFLICTING  INTERESTS.  59 

River;  therefore,  it  became  necessary  to  fortify  La  Galette  in  order  to 
hold  the  British  in  check,  as  the  latter  could  descend  from  the  Mohawk, 
by  the  way  of  Cranberry  Lake  and  the  Oswegatchie  River,  to  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

The  French  authorities  had  great  confidence  in  the  zeal  and  executive 
ability  of  Father  Piquet,  as  he  had  a  military  turn  of  mind.  He  was  a 
theologian,  an  orator  and  a  poet  ;  he  also  sang  and  composed  songs  in 
French  as  well  as  in  Iroquois  (with  which  language  he  was  familiar), 
which  greatly  interested  and  amused  the  savages.  "  He  was  a  child 
with  one,  and  a  hero  with  another  ;"  therefore  he  was  commissioned  to 
take  charge  of  this  enterprise,  and  left  Quebec  September  30,  1748,  for 
Fort  Frontenac,  where  he  wintered.  On  the  4th  of  May,  1749,  he  left 
Frontenac  with  twenty-five  Frenchmen  and  four  converted  Indians,  in 
several  bateaux,  laden  with  provisions  and  the  necessary  outfit  to  erect 
a  fort. 

Landing  with  his  forces  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Oswegatchie  at  La 
Galette,  May  30,  1749,  he  first  erected  a  storehouse  for  his  provisions, 
then  a  stockade  fort,  also  a  house  which  served  them  as  a  bastion,  on 
the  spot  near  where  the  Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdensburg  station  now 
stands.  Shortly  afterward  five  two-pounder  cannons  were  sent  him 
from  the  fort,  to  give  it  the  appearance  of  stability  and  to  inspire  the 
Indians  with  confidence  in  his  strength. 

Piquet  with  his  assistants,  after  fitting  up  their  houses  and  laying  in 
provisions  for  the  winter,  commenced  work  among  the  various  Indian 
tribes,  to  bring  them  into  friendly  relations,  and  to  induce  them  to  join 
his  mission.  On  the  26th  of  October  a  party  supposed  to  be  Mohawk 
Indians,  being  instigated  to  this  attack  by  the  English,  surprised  the 
camp  and  burned  everything  excepting  Piquet's  house,  including  a 
quantity  of  hay  on  two  barges  which  had  been  gathered  for  shipment, 
causing  a  loss  to  the  settlers  of  about  $600.  The  loss  would  have  been 
greater,  but  for  a  detachment  of  Sieur  de  Vassau's  comrsand  from  Fort 
Frontenac,  and  four  Abenakis,  who  furnished  on  this  occasion  good 
proof  of  their  fidelity.  No  lives  were  lost,  but  one  man  had  his  hand 
carried  away  by  a  ball,  and  his  arm  had  to  be  amputated.  Nothing 
daunted  by  this  unexpected  check,  they  went  to  work  at  once  to  make 
repairs  and  build  their  winter  quarters.      Piquet  had  a  special  interview 


GO  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  C0UNT7. 

with  the  Iroquois  Indians,  who  were  satisfied  with  all  he  had  done,  and 
six  Indian  families  took  up  their  abode  with  him.  Father  Piquet,  in 
making  his  report  to  the  governor  of  New  France,  said,  "  This  post  was 
very  advantageous  ;  it  is  on  the  borders  of  the  River  de  la  Presentation 
at  the  head  of  all  the  rapids,  on  the  west  side  of  a  beautiful  basin  formed 
by  the  river  and  capable  of  easily  holding  forty  or  fifty  barks,  drawing 
ten  or  twelve  feet  of  water.  The  bank  is  very  low,  in  a  level  country, 
the  point  of  which  runs  far  out.  The  passage  across  is  hardly  a  quarter 
of  a  league,  and  all  the  canoes,  going  up  or  down,  cannot  pass  elsewhere. 
A  fort  on  this  point  would  be  impregnable  ;  it  would  be  impossible  to 
approach  and  nothing  commands  it.  The  east  side  is  more  elevated, 
and  runs  by  a  gradual  inclination  into  an  amphitheatre.  A  beautiful 
town  could  hereafter  be  built  here." 

Abbe  Piquet  also  stated  that  he  would  like  to  clear  up  a  portion  of 
the  forest  and  accustom  the  Indians  to  raise  cows,  hogs  and  poultry,  as 
there  were  beautiful  prairies, acorns  and  wild  oats  in  the  vicinity,  which 
could  be  brought  into  use.  In  order  to  induce  the  natives  to  settle 
there,  the  governor  is  said  to  have  placed  at  this  point  a  large  magazine 
of  all  kinds  of  clothing  fitted  for  Indians;  also  provisions,  arms  and 
ammunition,  which  were  distributed  very  liberally  among  them. 

In  the  summer  of  175  :,  having  materially  strengthened  the  fortifica- 
tions and  gathered  three  hundred  and  ninety-six  families  about  him. 
Father  Piquet  turned  his  attention  to  the  erection  of  a  saw- mill  for  the 
use  of  his  settlement  and  for  the  government.  He  also  obtained  a  per- 
petual lease,  from  the  authorities  at  Quebec,  for  the  mill  privilege  on 
the  river,  with  one  and  one-half  square  arpents^  of  land  for  a  mill  yard, 
at  the  annual  rental  of  five  sous  and  six  deniers,  payable  to  his  majesty's 
domain,  on  the  festival  day  of  St.  Remy,  which  occurs  on  the  first  of 
October. 

The  industry  of  the  French  in  founding  establishments  among  the 
Indian  tribes  at  this  period  sufficiently  evinces  the  anxiety  they  felt  to 
secure  the  interest  and  influence  of  the  savages,  to  the  prejudice  of  the 
English  colonies.  How  far  the  P"rench  had  succeeded  in  drawing  away 
the  Indians  at  this  date  may  be  inferred  by  the  words  of  the  son  of  the 

'  An  arpent  is  ten  rods  square  (loo  square  rodsl,  French  measure ;  a  rod  is  eighteen  feet  English 
measure. 


CONFLICTING  INTERESTS.  61 

Indian  chief,  Black  Prince,  in  his  interview  with  the  English  officer. 
Colonel  Johnson  :  "  I  hear  a  bird  sing  that  a  great  many  Indians,  from 
my  castle  and  others  from  the  Five  Nations,  had  gone  to  Swe-kat-si. 
All  this  grieves  me  and  I  see  things  going  very  wrong.  If  a  stop  is  not 
put  to  it  the  Five  Nations  will  soon  be  ruined." 

The  English  colonies  were  now  thoroughly  aroused  over  their  late 
reverses,  and  from  the  fact  that,  since  Braddock's  defeat,  the  Indians 
were  more  inclined  to  tender  their  allegiance  to  the  French.  A  con- 
gress of  representatives  from  the  several  English  colonies  was  called, 
and  assembled  at  Albany,  N  Y.,  on  the  19th  of  June.  1754,  to  agree 
upon  a  plan  of  union  for  the  common  defence  against  the  enroachments 
of  the  French  and  the  hostilities  of  the  Indians.  The  measure,  which 
was  the  great  object  of  this  congress,  ultimately  failed,  from  its  strong 
republican  tendency,  which  alarmed  the  minions  of  royalty  then  in 
power.  Several  points  of  interest  were  discussed  which  have  a  direct 
relation  with  our  subject.  Among  the  commissioners  from  the  several 
colonies  appeared  those  who  afterward  shone  with  distinguished  reputa- 
tion in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Undoubtedly  this  congress  was  the 
starting  point  where  the  question  was  raised  as  to  the  God-given  right 
of  self  government  for  the  protection  of  their  lives  and  property,  which 
was  so  signally  carried  out  by  the  colonists  in  1777. 

During  the  session  of  the  Congress  it  was  stated  that  the  French  were 
continually  drawing  off  the  Indians  from  the  British  interest,  and  had 
lately  persuaded  one-half  of  the  Onondaga  tribe,  with  many  from  the 
other  nations,  to  remove  to  a  place  called  Oswegatchie,  on  the  River  St. 
Lawrence,  where  they  had  built  them  a  church  and  fort,  and  that  many 
of  the  Senecas,  the  most  numerous  nation,  appeared  wavering  and  rather 
inclined  to  the  French. 

Hendrick,  the  Mohawk  chief,  and  a  friend  of  the  English,  endeav- 
ored to  dissuade  his  confederates  of  New  York  from  joining  the  settle- 
ment at  Oswegatchie.  At  one  of  their  councils  he  said  :  "  It  grieves 
me  sorely  to  find  the  road  hither  so  grown  up  with  weeds  for  the  want 
of  being  used,  and  the  fires  almost  expiring  at  Onondaga,  where  it  was 
agreed  by  the  wisdom  of  our  ancestors  that  it  should  never  be  extin- 
guished. You  know  it  was  a  saying  among  them,  that  when  the  fire 
was  out  here,  you   would  be    no   longer   a  people.      I  am  now  sent  by 


62  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

your  brother,  the  governor,  to  clear  the  road  and  make  up  the  fire  with 
such  wood  as  will  never  burn  out,  and  I  earnestly  desire  you  will  take 
care  to  keep  it  up,  that  it  may  always  be  found  the  same  when  he  shall 
send  among  you  a  belt." 

There  were  only  a  few  of  the  many  expected  representatives  of  the 
Indian  tribes  present  at  this  congress  to  show  their  friendship  to  the 
English  cause.  The  Indian  chief,  Red  Head,  who  was  chosen  a  repre- 
sentative at  a  council  held  at  Onondaga,  in  reply  to  the  Mohawk  chief, 
said  :  "  We  acknowledge  with  equal  concern  with  you  that  the  road  be- 
tween us  has  been  obstructed  and  almost  grown  up  with  weeds  ;  that 
our  fire  is  scattered  and  almost  extinguished.  We  return  you  our  most 
hearty  thanks  for  recruiting  the  fire  with  such  wood  as  will  burn  clear 
and  not  go  out,  and  we  promise  that  we  shall,  with  the  utmost  care, 
dress  and  keep  it  up,  as  we  are  sensible  from  what  has  been  said  by  our 
forefathers,  that  the  neglect  of  it  would  be  our  ruin.  We  rejoice  that 
we  see  the  fire  burn  pure  where  it  should,  and  you  may  depend  upon 
our  quenching  that  false  fire  at  Oswegatchie,  and  doing  all  we  can  to 
recall  our  brothers,  too  often  seduced  that  way.  Though  we  did  not 
imagine  we  had  done  so  much  amiss  in  going  thither,  when  we  observed 
that  you  white  people  pray.  We  had  no  nearer  place  to  learn  to  pray 
and  have  our  children  baptized  than  there.  However,  as  you  insist 
upon  it,  we  will  not  go  that  way  nor  be  any  more  divided.  I  must  now 
say  it  is  not  with  our  consent  that  the  French  have  committed  any 
hostilities  in  Ohio.  We  know  what  you  Christian  English  and  French 
together  intend.  We  are  so  hemmed  in  by  both  that  we  have  hardly  a 
hunting  place  left.  In  a  little  while,  if  we  find  a  bear  in  a  tree,  there 
will  immediately  appear  an  owner  of  the  land  to  claim  the  property,  and 
between  both  we  hardly  know  what  to  say  or  think." 

The  sentiment  expressed  by  the  last  speaker  is  so  prophetic  and  true 
that  it  cannot  fail  to  excite  our  sympathy  at  the  fate  of  this  unfortunate 
race,  made  so  b)'-  the  hand  of  a  Christian  people  in  whom  at  first  they 
had  placed  great  confidence. 

After  the  saw  mill  here  was  put  in  operation,  the  facilities  for  build- 
ing were  much  greater  and  the  mission  increased  rapidly.  They  also 
commenced  to  clear  up  the  forest  at  the  rate  of  about  one  hundred 
arpents  a  year,  and  to  plant  corn,  keep  cows,  pigs  and  sheep. 


CONFLICTING  INTERESTS.  63 

In  1753  Father  Piquet,  accompanied  by  a  converted  Indian  chief, 
made  a  trip  to  France  to  render  an  account  of  his  stewardship  and  to 
solicit  aid  for  liis  Httle  colony.  He  was  kindly  received  by  the  king, 
who  made  him  presents  of  money,  pictures,  a  banner  and  books.  This 
mark  of  distinction  caused  some  jealousy,  however,  on  the  part  of  other 
priests.  On  his  return.  Father  Piquet  accompanied  his  people  on  sev- 
eral expeditions  against  the  English.  One  was  around  Lake  Ontario 
where  the  English  sent  brandy  into  his  camp,  thus  making  the  Indians 
drunk  and  greatly  embarrassing  his  plans.  Piquet,  with  his  braves,  was 
present  when  Fort  George,  near  Saratoga,  was  taken  from  the  English, 
August  9,  1757,  by  the  French  commander,  De  Longuil  Sabervois,  who 
captured  one  hundred  prisoners  without  losing  a  man.  The  scalping 
expeditions  that  went  out  from  the  post  at  La  Galette  greatly  annoyed 
the  English  settlements  on  the  Mohawk,  so  much  so  that  the  British 
commander  determined  to  put  a  stop  to  them  by  capturing  the  fortress 
whence  they  issued  The  English  were  thoroughly  aroused  and  made 
great  preparations  to  close  in  on  their  enemies  all  along  the  line,  while 
the  French  were  equally  determined  to  defend  their  position. 

The  fort  at  La  Galette  in  1755  is  described  by  the  French  general 
De  Barre,  as  follows:  "The  fort  Presentation  consists  of  four  battle- 
ments in  the  form  of  bastions,  of  which  the  curtains  are  palisades.  It  is 
sufficient  to  resist  savages,  but  could  be  but  poorly  defended  against 
troops  who  might  attack  it."  Therefore,  the  fort  was  strengthened  and 
the  Marquis  de  Levis  commenced  to  fortify  Isle  Royal.  The  Indian 
name  of  this  island  is  Oraquointon,  now  known  by  the  name  of  Chim- 
ney Island. 1  The  fort  was  completed  in  1759  and  christened  Fort 
Levis,  after  the  general  who  built  it.  At  this  fort  the  main  force  of 
troops  was  thereafter  garrisoned,  as  Father  Piquet  was  opposed  to 
having  many  of  the  soldiers  stationed  at  his  post.      He  had  found  by 

'  The  name  of  "  Isle  Royal,"  became  changed  to  Chimney  Island,  soon  after  the  country  was 
occupied  by  the  Americans  from  the  fact  that  many  chimneys  were  left  standing  among  the  ruins 
of  the  fortress.  It  is  situated  some  three  miles  below  Ogdensburg  on  the  American  side  of  the 
channel,  and  about  half  a  mile  due  north  from  "  Indian  Point."  The  island  is  low,  irregular  in 
shape,  and  contains  about  six  acres.  For  many  years  traces  of  the  fortress  were  clearly  visible, 
but  it  having  been  dug  over  time  and  again  by  parties  in  search  of  treasures,  who  wei'e  led  astray 
by  the  pretended  indications  of  the  divining  rod,  or  the  impositions  of  fortune  tellers,  have  nearly 
obliterated  all  traces  of  the  former  works.  These  scenes  of  money  digging,  however,  have  discov- 
ered a  great  number  uf  metallic  relics,  such  as  tomahawks,  hoes,  a.Kcs,  picks,  gate  hinges,  cannon 
balls  and  lead  bullets,  relics  of  the  French  and  Indian  occupation  of  the  place. 


64 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


sad  experience  that  the  troops  demoralized  the  savages  whom  he  was 
laboring  to  Christianize  and  greatly  retarded  the  missionary  work.  For 
said  he,  "  No  one  knows  better  than  myself  of  the  disorders  which  in 
crease  in  proportion  as  the  garrison  becomes  more  numerous.  Liber- 
tinism, intemperance,  and  all  kinds  of  debauchery,  which  were  intro- 
duced by  the  whites,  happily  were  unknown  among  the  savages."  ^ 


SCALE  OF  FEET 


FORT  LEVIS  ON   CHIMNEY   ISLAND. 


Father  Piquet  was  as  much  abhorred  and  dreaded  by  the  English, 
as  he  was  honored  and  esteemed  by  the  French.  At  a  grand  council 
held  by  the  French,  on  the  progress  of  the  war  in  Montreal,  a  member 


■The  experiences  of  many  of  the  French  missionaries  are  somewhat  different.    They  find,  as 
a  general  rule,  that  the  morals  of  the  Indians  were  very  low. 


ENGLISH  SUPREMACY.  05 

by  the  name  of  Eastburn  said  that  a  priest  called  Piquet,  stationed  at 
Osvvegatchie,  and  who  understood  the  Indian  language  well,  did  more 
harm  to  the  English  than  any  other  of  his  order  in  Canada;  that  his 
raids  had  proved  very  harassing  to  the  white  settlements  along  the 
frontier  at  New  York. 

In  1757  General  Gage  was  ordered  by  the  British  commoner  that  if 
Fort  Niagara,  which  was  then  under  siege,  should  be  reduced,  he  should 
immediately  proceed  to  capture  the  fort  at  La  Galette,  so  that  the  Eng- 
lish settlements  might  be  free  from  the  enemies'  scalping  parties.  But 
owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season,  the  order  was  not  carried  out. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ENGLISH  SUPREMACY. 

Campaign  of  1758  — Campaign  of  1759 — Campaign  of  1760 — Military  Operations  in 
the  Vicinity  of  La  Galette — Capture  of  the  Post  by  the  English — Treaty  of  Paris — 
Faihire  of  French  Hopes — Piquet's  Departure. 

ANEW  ministry  was  formed  in  England,  with  the  great  commoner, 
William  Pitt,  at  its  head,  and  General  Abercrombie  succeeded  the 
deposed  Lord  Loudon  at  the  head  of  the  army  in  America.  Substantial 
success  followed  this  charge,  attained  chiefly  through  the  operations  of 
the  subordinate  officers.  Admiral  Boscawen,  General  Amherst,  Lord 
Howe,  General  Forbes,  General  Washington,  Col.  Robert  Montgomery 
and  General  Wolfe. 

Three  campaigns  were  planned  for  1758 — Amherst  in  conjunction 
with  the  fleet  to  capture  Louisburg  ;  Lord  Howe  to  reduce  Crown  Point 
and  Ticonderoga ;  while  the  Ohio  valley  was  entrusted  to  General 
Forbes,  with  the  assistance  of  Washington.  As  a  result  of  Amherst's 
operations,  Louisburg,  Cape  Breton,  and  Prince  Edward's  Island  sur- 
rendered on  the  2 1st  of  July.  On  the  5th  of  July  the  French  repulsed 
Lord  Howe  at  Ticonderoga,  who  returned  to  Fort  George  at  the  head 
of  Lake  Champlain,  whence  he  sent  a  force  under  Colonel  Bradstreet 


60  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

against  Fort  Frontenac.  After  a  siege  of  two  days,  this  fortress,  so  im- 
portant to  the  French,  surrendered,  with  forty-six  cannon,  nine  vessels 
of  war,  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores.  Late  in  the  summer  General 
Forbes,  with  9,000  men,  advanced  against  Fort  du  Quesne,  Washington 
leading  the  Virginians.  On  the  night  of  November  24,  when  Washing- 
ton's forces  were  within  ten  miles  of  the  fort,  it  was  burned  by  the 
French  garrison,  who  floated  down  the  river.  The  English  flag  was 
raised  over  the  ruins  and  the  place  named  "  Pittsburg,  the  Gateway  of 
the  West." 

In    1759   General    Amherst  was   promoted  to  the    command  of  the 
American  forces,  and  parliament  voted  twelve    million  pounds  to  carry 
on  the  war.     The  colonies  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost,  and  by  the 
beginning  of  summer  the  British  and  colonial   forces  numbered   nearly 
50,000  men.     The  entire  French  army  scarcely  exceeded  7,000.     Again 
three  campaigns  were  planned.      General  Prideaux  was  to  conduct  an 
expedition  against  Niagara,  capture  the  fort   and  descend  the  river  to 
Montreal.      Amherst  was  to  lead  the  main  division  against  Crown  Point. 
General  Wolfe  was    to   complete   the  work    by  the   capture  of  Quebec. 
General  Prideaux's  expedition   was  successful,  though    he    was  nearly 
killed  by  the  bursting  of  a  mortar,  Sir  William   Johnson  succeeding  to 
the  command,  and  on  the  25th  of  July  Niagara  capitulated  and  received 
an    English   garrison,  cutting  ofl"  communication  between    Canada  and 
Louisiana. 

General  Amherst  with  11,000  men  attacked  Ticonderoga  on  the  22d 
of  July,  and  within  the  next  six  days  Ticonderoga,  Fort  Carleton  and 
Crown  Point  were  given  up  without  a  battle,  the  French  entrenching 
themselves  on  Isle-aux-Noix.  The  whole  country  about  Lake  Cham- 
plain  was  thus  secured  by  the  British.  Meanwhile  General  Wolfe,  with 
nearly  8,000  men  and  a  fleet  of  forty-four  vessels,  ascended  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  on  the  27th  of  June  reached  a  point  four  miles  below 
Quebec.  After  maneuvering  more  than  two  months,  Wolfe's  forces 
gained  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  where  a  battle  was  fought  on  the  13th  of 
September,  the  French  retreating  to  their  fortress.  Five  days  later  the 
French  surrendered  to  General  Townshend,  Wolfe  having  been  killed, 
and  the  English  took  possession  of  the  citadel.  Thus  the  year  1759 
closed  with  complete  triumph  for  the  English  arms. 


ENGLISH  SUPREMACY.  67 

Tlie  campaign  of  1760  opened  early  and  was  of  a  character  which  had 
a  bearing  upon  the  immediate  locality  of  which  this  work  treats.  The 
sagacious  and  humane  commander,  General  Amherst,  planned  the  ter- 
mination of  the  war  in  Canada  by  a  bloodless  conquest.  For  this  pur- 
pose three  armies  were  destined  to  co-operate  by  different  routes  against 
Montreal,  the  only  remaining  place  of  strength  held  by  the  French  in 
that  country.  The  corps  under  General  Murray,  formerly  commanded 
by  Wolfe,  was  ordered  to  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence  from  Quebec;  an- 
other, under  Colonel  Haviland,  to  descend  Lake  Champlain  and  reduce 
Isle-aux-Noix,  on  its  way  to  join  Murray's  forces.  With  the  third 
corps,  consisting  of  about  10,000,  assisted  by  Colonel  Putnam  and  Gen- 
eral Gage,  the  commander.  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst,  embarked  at  New  York 
on  the  3d  day  of  May,  proceeded  to  Schenectady,  whence  he  left  June 
2 1  St,  passed  up  the  Mohawk  River,  Wood  Creek,  Oneida  Lake  and 
Oswego  River,  and  arrived  at  Oswego  on  the  ist  of  July.  On  the  14th 
Captain  Loring  hove  in  sight  with  two  war  vessels  fitted  out  at  Niagara, 
where  he  had  received  orders  to  look  out  for  and  attack  two  French 
boats  which  were  crusading  on  the  lake.  On  the  20th  the  French  ves- 
sels, which  had  escaped  Loring's  vigilance,  passed  down  into  the  St. 
Lawrence,  pursued  by  Loring.  Captain  Willyamoz  was  dispatched 
with  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  and  twelve  boats  to  the  Isle  aux- 
Iroquois  to  supply  Captain  Loring's  immediate  wants.  On  the  22d 
General  Gage  arrived  at  Oswego  with  the  rear  of  the  army,  as  did  also 
Sir  William  Johnson  on  the  23d  with  a  party  of  Indians.  On  the  5th  of 
August  General  Amherst  ordered  the  army  to  be  in  readiness  to  em- 
bark. The  Indians  under  Sir  William  Johnson  numbered  706.  On 
the  loth  the  general  himself,  with  the  royal  artillery,  the  regulars,  Sir 
William  Johnson  and  a  party  of  his  Indians,  embarked  in  canoes  and 
whale  boats;  but  owing  to  the  high  winds  they  made  slow  progress  and 
one  of  the  artillery  boats  was  lost  on  a  bar.  On  the  12th  in  a  bay 
where  the  enemy  had  lately  encamped,  they  were  joined  by  General 
Gage  with  the  provincials.  On  the  13th  the  whole  army  embarked  and 
and  the  same  day  encamped  with  Colonel  Haldiman  at  the  post  which 
he  had  taken  at  the  head  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  having  passed  Captain 
Loring  with  his  two  vessels  grounded  on  a  bar.  On  the  13th  the  army 
gained  Point  de  Raril  (now  Blue  Ciiurch)  just  above  La  Galctte.      Here 


G8 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


the  French  had  a  very  good  dock  and  ship-yard  where  they  had  built 
their  vessels,  having  their  timbers  sawed  at  the  saw-mill  at  La  Galette. 
The  grenadiers  and  infantry  with  the  row-galleys  took  position  that 
day,  without  previously  halting,  at  the  mouth  of  Oswegatchie  River. 


BATTLE  OF   ISLE   RO\'AL. 


1.  Chimney  Island,  or  Fort  Levis. 

2.  Battery  on  American  Shore. 

3.  Battery  on  Canadian  Shore. 

4.  Sa-.v  Mill. 


5.  Port  la  Presentation. 

6.  Island  in  Mouth  of  Oswegatchie,  now  a 

Sand  Bar. 

7.  Clearing's  made  by  Piquet. 


The  vessels  are  all  Eng-lish  war  vessels  in  jjosition  for  battle.     The  short  dashes  in  the 
river  represent  row  galleys. 

All  this  time  one  of  the  French  war  boats  hovered  about  the  row 
galleys,  while  the  other  one  had  taken  shelter  near  the  French  Fort  la 
Presentation,  and  as  Captain  Loring  had  not  yet  got  into  the  right 
channel,  it  became  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  army  either  to  com- 


ENGLISH  SUPREMACY.  69 

pel  this  vessel  to  retire,  or  to  take  her.  Colonel  Williamson  was  ac- 
cordingly ordered  to  take  her  with  the  row  galleys,  and  on  the  17th  the 
advance  was  made  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  which  was  returned 
from  the  galleys  with  such  resolution  and  bravery  that,  after  a  contest 
of  four  hours,  the  French  struck  their  colors.  The  French  vessel  car- 
ried ten  twelve-pounders  and  one  hundred  men.  On  the  same  day 
General  Amherst's  forces  reached  Oswegatchie,  when  it  was  necessary 
to  reconnoitre  Isle  Royal  ;  this  delayed  the  forward  movement  until 
noon  the  next  day.  Isle  Royal  was  not  of  great  importance,  but  was 
of  too  much  consequence  to  leave  in  rear  of  an  army,  and  its  captured 
garrison  would,  moreover,  furnish  pilots  acquainted  with  the  river 
rapids ;  hence  it  was  determined  to  make  the  attack,  which  was  done 
the  same  evening.  The  French  opened  a  sharp  cannonade,  destroyed 
one  of  the  row  galleys,  a  few  boats,  and  killed  two  or  three  men.  Not- 
withstanding the  continuance  of  this  fire,  the  placing  of  batteries  on 
the  Canadian  shore  and  on  Indian  Point,  and  the  masterly  disposition 
of  the  British  troops,  the  fort  was  so  thoroughly  invested  that  by  the 
20th  the  escape  of  the  garrison  was  impossible.  The  vessels  dropped 
down  the  stream  (Captain  Loring  having  arrived  on  the  previous  day), 
and  posted  themselves  as  close  to  the  fort  as  possible,  with  decks  and 
rigging  well  manned,  in  order  to  fall  upon  the  enemy  and  prevent  them 
from  using  their  guns  ;  while  the  grenadiers  were  prepared  to  row  in 
with  broadswords  and  scaling  ladders,  their  boats  surrounded  with  mus- 
ket-proof fascines,  and  under  cover  of  three  hundred  light  infantry,  who 
were  to  fire  into  the  embrasures.  On  the  23d  the  assault  was  made  by 
the  batteries  opening  on  the  fort.  Captain  Loring's  vessel  ran  aground, 
and  he  was  wounded  and  sent  ashore,  his  boat  being  abandoned  about 
midnight.  This  accident  delayed  the  assault  for  a  time,  but  the  delay 
was  a  fortunate  one,  as  it  saved  much  bloodshed  ;  for  on  the  25th  of 
August  M.  Pouchet,  the  French  commander,  asked  for  terms  of  capit- 
ulation. The  answer  was  that  the  fort  must  be  given  up  immediately, 
and  the  garrison  surrendered  prisoners  of  war.  Only  ten  minutes  were 
granted  for  a  reply.  The  terms  were  accepted  within  the  time  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Massey,  with  the  grenadiers,  took  possession  of  the 
place.  The  loss  of  the  English  was  twenty-one  killed  and  nineteen 
wounded. 


70  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

After  the  surrender  of  Fort  Levis,  the  French  garrison  at  Fort  la 
Presentation  saw  that  it  would  be  useless  to  hold  out  or  to  attempt  to 
escape  with  the  gun  boat  moored  in  a  cove  near  by,  and  they  scuttled 
her  and  fled  to  the  woods,  escaping  into  Canada.  The  English  took 
possession  of  the  place. 

After  preparations  had  been  made,  the  general  with  a  part  of  his 
army  embarked  about  noon  on  the  31st  of  August,  descended  to  Isle- 
aux  Chats  (opposite  Louisville  Landing),  and  on  the  ist  of  September 
encamped  about  ten  miles  farther  down.  On  the  2d  General  Gage, 
with  the  other  division,  joined  Amherst,  having  lost  three  Highlanders 
in  going  over  the  falls,  the  whole  force,  proceeding  together,  entered 
Lake  St.  Francis,  and  that  evening  reached  Point-aux-Boudels.  On 
the  3d  a  prisoner  was  brought  in  and  gave  intelligence  that  Colonel 
Haviland  had  taken  possession  of  Isle-aux-Noix,  the  enemy  having 
abandoned  it.  On  the  4th  the  army  was  put  in  motion,  and  about  noon 
the  vanguard  entered  Cedar  Falls.  This  is  by  far  the  most  dangerous 
part  of  the  river,  and  had  the  boats  crowded  close  upon  each  other, 
most  of  them  must  have  foundered.  As  it  was,  twenty-nine  small 
boats,  seventeen  whale  boats,  seventeen  artillery  boats,  and  one  row 
galley  were  dashed  to  pieces,  with  a  loss  of  eighty- eight  men.  On  the 
morning  of  the  5th  the  remainder,  who  had  encamped  on  Isle  Perrot, 
passed  the  rapids  in  safety.  While  stopping  to  repair  the  boats  many 
inhabitants  flocked  in  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jesty. 

After  nine  days  of  further  perilous  voyaging  over  the  rapids  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  the  general  and  his  army  came  in  sight  of  Montreal. 
The  other  two  armies  came  up  the  river  from  below,  and  on  the  8th  of 
September,  1760,  the  garrison  of  Montreal,  the  last  important  post  of 
the  enemy  in  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  surrendered  to  General 
Amherst,  which  virtually  ended  French  rule  in  Canada.  The  Marquis 
of  Vaudreuil,  in  surrendering  Montreal,  stipulated  that  all  western  forts 
under  control  of  the  French,  should  be  given  up  to  England.  Major 
Robert  Rogers,  with  a  company  of  two  hundred  provincial  rangers,  was 
sent  on  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  outposts  in  the  west.  But  for 
three  years  longer  the  war  between  France  and  England  continued  on 
the  ocean. 


ENGLISH  SUPREMACY.  71 

On  the  loth  of  February,  1763,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  made  at  Paris, 
when  all  the  French  possessions  in  North  America  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, from  its  source  to  the  River  Iberville,  and  thence  through  Lakes 
Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  were  surrendered  to 
Great  Britain.  At  the  same  time  Spain  ceded  East  and  West  Florida 
to  the  English  crown,  while  the  French  were  forced  to  cede  to  Spain 
all  of  the  vast  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi,  then  known  as  the  Prov- 
ince of  Louisiana. 

The  historical  engagement  between  the  English  and  the  French  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  surrender  of  the  French  garrison  at  Isle 
Royal,  was  perhaps  more  important  in  its  consequences  than  any 
battle  of  which  we  have  record.  The  first  blood  was  shed  in  the 
Southwest  under  Washington's  command,  and  at  this  point  the  last  gun 
was  fired  and  the  last  blood  spilled  in  the  memorable  French,  Indian 
and  English  war  of  1754-60  in  North  America,  which  not  only  ended 
French  rule  but  dominated  Catholicism,  which  they  endeavored  to 
establish  with  the  feudal  system  throughout  this  now  free  and  happy 
land,  so  rendered  under  the  powerful  institutions,  language,  laws  and 
liberties  of  the  English  speaking  race.  In  consideration  of  these  facts, 
Ogdensburg  will  ever  be  known  as  one  of  the  most  important  historic 
places  in  this  countrx'. 

There  was  a  time  when  hope  beamed  on  the  fruits  of  French  explo- 
ration and  settlement  in  the  New  World.  The  daring  ambition  and 
enterprise  of  the  young  French  noblesse  laid  the  foundation  of  that 
trade  which  led  to  the  partial  opening  of  the  Great  West.  The  mis- 
sions the  Jesuits  had  come  to  plant  among  the  heathen  natives  were 
consecrated  with  tears  and  watered  with  their  life  blood.  Through 
years  of  unparalleled  toil  and  with  great  agony  of  soul  the  hopes  of  the 
fathers  were  alternately  raised  and  crushed.  Despite  the  amazing  forti- 
tude and  unquenchable  zeal,  through  the  triumph  of  the  English  the 
hopes  of  the  mission  were  doomed  to  destruction  and  the  heart  of  faith 
was  humbled  in  the  dust. 

This  chapter  may  be  properly  closed  with  brief  reference  to  Father 
Piquet,^  whose  influence  was  so  marked  in  early  times  upon  the  territory 

'  Followinjt  is  a  brief  sketch  of  Father  Piquet's  life.    Father   Piquet  was  born   at  Bourg  in 
Bresse  on  the  6th  of  December,  1708.    His  early  education  was  under  the  care  of  an  estimable 


72  HISTORY  OF  ST    LAWRENCE. 

with  which  we  are  concerned  in  these  pages.  In  the  account  given  by 
M.  De  Vaudreuil,  in  1765,  of  French  affairs  in  Canada,  he  said  that  as 
the  circumstances  became  more  embarrassing,  the  zeal  of  Father  Piquet 
became  more  precious  to  the  cause  and  prompted  him  to  greater  activity; 
but  when  Montcalm  was  killed,  September  13,  1759,  at  the  taking  of 
Quebec,  bringing  ruin  upon  that  place,  Father  Piquet  decided  to  termi- 
nate his  long  and  laborious  career  as  missionary  of  La  Galette.  He 
could  not  endure  the  thought  of  swearing  allegiance  to  an}'  other  power, 
and  made  preparations  to  leave,  Father  Garde  having  been  selected  to 
take  charge  of  the  mission.  He  accordingly  left  La  Galette  May  8, 
1760,  with  a  few  of  his  braves  to  escort  and  guard  him  up  the  country, 
taking  the  route  between  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  and  thence  down 
through  Louisiana  to  New  Orleans.  Louisiana  and  the  west  were  then 
still  under  the  French  rule.  Father  Piquet  remained  in  New  Orleans 
nearly  two  years,  and  until  he  heard  of  the  final  triumph  of  the  Eng- 
lish, when  he  sailed  to  France.  In  1777  he  made  a  journey  to  Rome, 
and  was  heartily  received  by  the  Holy  Father.  Returning  to  France  he 
repaired  with  his  sister  to  Verjun  in  1781,  and  died  on  the  iSth  of  July 
that  year. 

Father  and  his  greatest  desire  was  to  be  a  inissionary.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  mission- 
ary work  in  the  parish  where  he  lived.  His  success  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  bishop, 
who  gave  him  permission  to  preach  in  all  parishes  of  his  diocese.  This  new  position  rendered  him 
desirous  to  go  to  Rome  to  complete  his  education,  but  the  archbishop  advised  him  to  go  to  Paris 
instead.  Following  this  advice  he  entered  the  congregation  of  St.  Sulpice,  where  he  remained 
about  five  years.  His  activity  and  zeal  led  him  to  seek  a  larger  field  of  labor.  He  sailed  therefoie 
to  the  wilds  of  America  in  1733.  He  located  in  Montreal,  where  he  passed  about  seven  years  in 
missionary  work.  During  this  time  he  acquainted  himself  with  the  customs  and  language  of  the 
Indians,  in  whose  tongue  he  spoke  fluently.  About  1740  he  established  himself  at  the  Lake  of  Two 
Mountains,  where  he  built  with  some  aid  from  the  king,  a  stone  fort  and  a  palisade  of  cedar  posts 
around  the  village,  flanked  by  good  redoubts.  He  became  a  great  favorite  with  the  Indians  and 
drew  many  to  the  support  of  the  king,  as  well  as  to  the  embrace  of  Christianity.  For  his  militarj' 
knowledge,  courage  and  zeal  he  was  called  in  1748  to  establish  a  fort  and  a  missionary  post  at  La 
Galette.  Of  the  thirty  years  of  his  active  life  spent  in  the  northern  wilderness  to  convert  the  sav- 
ages to  the  Catholic  faith,  eleven  were  passed  in  founding  and  conducting  the  mission  of  La 
Galette.  Besides  carrying  on  a  warfare  with  the  English  he  built  a  saw  mill,  a  stone  chapel,  and 
several  stone  houses,  also  an  extensive  fortification.  He  also  cleared  several  hundred  arpents  of 
land,  and  put  it  under  cultivation  for  the  benefit  of  his  flock,  which  consisted  of  more  than  four 
hundred  families,  or  some  3,000  souls,  most  of  whom  were  converted  Indians  from  the  several 
tribes  in  his  vicinity.  He  had  established  a  burying  ground  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  just  back  of 
the  barracks,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  what  is  now  New  York  avenue  and  King  street,  where 
the  bones  of  some  of  their  dead  now  repose.  The  English  also  used  the  same  place  for  burial  pur- 
poses during  the  thirty-six  years  of  their  occupancy  of  the  place, 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ENGLISH  POSSESSION. 

La  Galette  Improved  by  the  English — Name  Changed  to  Oswegatchie — The  Indian 
Village  of  La  Galette- -The  Revolutionary  Period — English  Possession  of  Oswegatchie 
after  the  Declaration  of  Peace — Its  Unimportance  During  the  War — The  Expedition  of 
Lieutenants  McClelland  and  Hardenburgh — The  Boy  Soldier  and  the  Indian — Isaac 
Wells's  Description  of  Oswegatchie  in  1796 — Land  Leases  from  the  Indians  and  the 
English — Mohawks'  Surrender  of  Lands — The  Ten  Townships  Surveyed  and  Mapped  on 
the  South  Side  of  the  St.  Lawrence — Transfer  of  Lands — Samuel  Ogden  and  his  Pur- 
chase— Nathan  Ford — His  Arrival  at  Oswegatchie. 

AFTER   the   surrender  of  Isle  Royal,  the  fort  was  dismantled  and 
abandoned,    while   the    fortification     "  La    Galette  "    was   put  in 
good  repair  and  a  squad  of  soldiers  stationed  there  to  guard  British  in- 


FORT  AND  BARRACKS  AT  LA  GALETTE 

terest  in  this  locality.  The  name  of  the  fort  and  place  was  changed  to 
Oswegatchie,  the  Indian  name  of  the  river.  During  the  progress  of  the 
war  the  greater  portion  of  the  Indians  had  become  completely  subor- 
dinated to  French  influence,  and  the  English  were  hated  with  all  the 
ferocity  of  the  savage  nature.  The  tribes  could  not  be  made  to  com- 
prehend that  the  French  authority  had  been  broken  up,  and  they  con- 

10 


74  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

fidently  expected  the  day  would  soon  come  when  the  king  of  France 
would  send  new  armies  and  expel  the  obnoxious  English.  Infatuated 
with  this  belief,  instigated  by  the  French  themselves,  and  stung  by 
many  insults,  real  and  imaginary,  the  warriors  began  their  usual  atroci- 
ties on  the  western  frontiers  in  the  following  summer. 

In  this  section  of  the  country  a  peace  policy  was  enacted,  both  with 
the  French  and  the  Indians,  and  great  care  was  taken  not  to  molest 
either  race  in  their  religious  observances  or  customs. 

The  Indian  village  at  La  Galette  was  composed  of  upwards  of  four 
hundred  families  that  Father  Piquet  had  gathered  around  him,  who 
commenced  to  disperse  as  soon  as  the  English  had  taken  possession  of 
the  place ;  some  went  back  to  the  Lake  of  Two  Mountains,  some  to  St. 
Regis  or  to  other  places,  and  a  remnant  of  the  Oswegatchies  remained 
in  the  mission  houses.  The  English  soon  discovered  their  mistake  in 
allowing  the  Oswegatchies  to  occupy  the  deserted  village  and  remain  so 
near  their  barracks.  The  intimacy  which  soon  sprang  up  between  the 
Indians  and  soldiers  had  a  demoralizing  effect  on  the  latter,  and  besides 
the  number  of  vacant  houses  in  the  mission  village  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity for  roving  Indians  to  congregate  under  the  cover  of  friendship, 
and  through  treachery  it  was  feared  they  might  undertake  to  surprise  and 
capture  the  garrison.  Therefore  an  order  was  issued  from  headquarters 
either  to  disperse  the  Indians  or  to  remove  them,  at  the  expense  of  the 
government,  to  a  safe  distance  from  the  barracks,  and  demolish  the 
mission  houses.  There  were  forty-six  Indian  families,  including  eighty 
warriors,  who  declared  their  loyalty  to  the  English  government  and 
desired  to  be  located  at  Indian  Point. 

A  village  was  laid  out  at  the  place  designated,  consisting  of  a  street 
running  parallel  with  the  river,  with  the  houses  ranged  in  a  regular 
manner  on  each  side  of  it,  all  uniformly  built,  with  their  ends  to  the 
street,  sharp  roofed,  shingled  with  pointed  shingles,  and  with  glass  win- 
dows. Every  house  was  built  for  two  families,  had  two  doors  in  front, 
and  a  double  fire  place,  and  single  chimney  in  the  center,  with  a  parti- 
tion equally  dividing  the  interior.  The  villagers  at  first  ntmibered 
something  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  souls.  They  did  not  increase  in 
numbers,  but  gradually  diminished  to  nearly  one-half  their  former  num- 
ber, when    the   Americans   came  into   possession  of  the  place  in    1796. 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  75 

While  located  at  this  point  they  were  under  the  direction  of  one  Joseph 
Reoam,  a  Frenchman,  who  spoke  the  dialect  of  the  Iroquois  language, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  a  chief  and  to  have  married  an  Indian  woman. 
They  planted  corn  on  Galloup  Island,  and  elsewhere  in  the  vicinity,  and 
fished  and  hunted  near  by  their  village.  A  portion  of  the  Indians, 
however,  were  accustomed  to  spend  most  of  their  summers  and  falls 
on  Black  Lake,  trapping,  fishing  and  hunting  deer,  returning  to  their 
cabins  for  the  winters.  They  used  bark  canoes,  which  they  carried 
around  rapids  and  across  portages  with  perfect  ease. 

European  settlements  in  the  New  World  had  hitherto  mainly  been 
made  for  trade;  now  the  settlers  partook  of  the  character  of  and  felt 
the  desire  to  be  a  nation.  The  days  of  great  companies,  with  huge 
land  grants  and  restricting  monopolies  had  passed,  and  the  ties,  com- 
mercial and  political,  between  the  mother  country  and  the  colonies 
were  already  being  sundered.  The  public  debt  of  England  had  in- 
creased largely  on  account  of  her  colonies,  and  it  seemed  reasonable  to 
them  at  least,  that  a  return  in  some  measure  should  be  made  to  the 
mother  country  for  what  they  had  cost.  The  laying  of  heavy  taxes  on 
the  colonies  English  statesmen  never  anticipated  would  lead  to  revolt. 
What  took  place  at  the  port  of  Boston  and  what  came  of  it  is  too  well 
known  to  deserve  description  here.  In  the  various  conflicts  that  took 
place  between  the  French  and  English  troops  from  1754  to  1761,  the 
Americans  had  learned  valuable  lessons  in  modern  warfare,  and  had 
seen  for  themselves  that  British  generals  were  not  infallible  nor  British 
troops  invincible,  and  thereby  had  gained  a  very  decided  confidence  in 
their  own  prowess. 

The  colonists,  or  a  portion  of  the  New  World,  resenting  interference 
in  matters  of  trade  from  administrations  in  London,  and  feeling  that 
liberty  was  imperiled  by  the  aggressions  of  the  crown,  threw  off 
allegiance  to  Britain,  proclaimed  to  the  world  their  independence,  and 
founded  the  government  of  the  United  States.  The  struggle  was  long 
and  fierce,  and  for  a  time  British  arms  met  with  their  wonted  success, 
and  the  hopes  of  the  young  nation  were  far  from  being  elated.  But 
while  the  weary  years  of  the  unnatural  conflict  passed,  fickle  fortune 
began  to  change  and  the  fates  to  smile  on  the  armies  of  the  young  re- 
public.    The   royalists  met   with   reverse  after   reverse   until    the    end 


7G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

came  with  the  surrender  at  Saratoga  of  General  Burgoyne,  and  at  York- 
town  of  Lord  CornwalHs.  Victory  finally  rested  upon  the  continental 
armies,  America  achieved  her  independence,  and  was  formally  admitted 
into  the  category  of  nations.  In  the  spring  of  1783  the  news  came 
from  England  of  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace,  and 
was  officially  communicated  to  the  people  in  the  proclamation  by  Con- 
gress on  the  19th  of  April  of  that  year.  A  general  exchange  of  pris- 
oners followed,  and  a  large  number  of  tories  left  the  country,  fearing  to 
remain  after  the  British  forces  were  withdrawn,  which  was  accomplished 
during  the  following  summer  and  fall. 

There  were  several  places  on  the  northern  frontiers  that  were  held  by 
the  British  for  several  years  after  peace  was  declared.  Oswegatchie  was 
one  of  the  number.  It  being  located  so  far  away  from  the  American 
settlements,  the  English  felt  at  liberty  to  continue,  through  a  company 
or  corporation,  that  lucrative  business,  the  fur  and  lumber  trade,  until 
the  boundary  lines  should  be  definitely  settled. 

The  marshy  territory  along  the  Oswegatchie  River,  Black  Lake  and 
their  tributaries,  formed  large  and  admirable  parks  for  the  otter,  beaver, 
and  other  fur-bearing  animals,  which  greatly  flourished  in  those  early 
days.  The  beaver  dams,  built  by  these  industrious  animals,  across 
the  low  grounds,  to  hold  back  the  water  in  times  of  drouth,  may  be 
distinctly  traced  at  this  late  date. 

The  forest,  for  miles  above  and  below  this  point,  as  well  as  in  the 
rear,  was  filled  with  a  beautiful  growth  of  white  oak,  rock  elm,  pine, 
rock-maple,  beech,  birch,  basswood,  spruce,  hemlock,  cedar  and  several 
varieties  of  less  valuable  woods.' 

A  large  business  was  carried  on  here,  when  the  English  occupied  the 
Oswegatchie  post  by  Canadian  lumber  companies.^  The  forest,  for  miles 
around,  was  denuded  of  its  most  valuable  timber,  which  was  floated  in 

1  The  growth  of  white  oak  was  astonishing.  The  writer,  some  fifty  pears  ago,  in  the  town  of  De 
Peyster,  counted  as  high  as  twenty  large  white  oak  stumps  standing  on  an  acre  of  ground,  which 
averaged  from  three  to  five  feet  in  diameter,  the  timber  upon  which  had  been  cut  by  lumbermen 
forty  to  fifty  years  before.  The  large  chips,  score-blocks  and  stave-rivings,  being  partially  buried 
in  the  mucky  soil,  were  then  quite  sound.  The  early  settlers  made  use  of  these  blocks  to  boil  sap 
in  making  sugar,  also  in  cooking  their  nieals,  in  the  days  of  log  houses  and  Dutch  chimneys,  which 
were  the  prevailing  styles  of  that  period. 

■■^The  thistle,  so  common  here,  was  brought  from  Canada  by  the  lumbermen  of  that  early  period, 
in  the  hay  and  grain  ;  therefore,  early  settlers  called  it  "  Canada  Thistle,"  and  it  still  bears  that 
name. 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  77 

cribs  down  the  smaller  rivers,  or  hauled  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  where  it 
was  rafted  and  floated  down  to   Quebec  for   the  English  market. 

The  military  post  at  Oswegatchie  was  so  far  from  the  seat  of  war  during 
theRevolutionary  struggle  that  it  was  of  very  little  benefit  to  the  English, 
further  than  to  serve  as  a  stopping  place  for  their  soldiers  when  passing 
up  the  St.  Lawrence  river  to  operate  against  the  American  forces  in  the 
vicinity  of  Oswego.  So  far  as  the  knowledge  of  the  writer  extends, 
nothing  of  very  great  importance  happened  to  break  the  monotonous 
life  of  the  soldiers  in  camp  at  Fort  Oswegatchie,  save  the  following: 
April  I,  1779,  Lieutenants  McClelland  and  Hardenburgh,  of  the  Colonial 
army,  were  dispatched  from  Fort  Schuyler  (the  site  of  Utica)  at  the 
head  of  a  body  of  soldiers  and  Indians,  on  an  expedition  against  the 
British  garrison  at  Oswegatchie,  their  plan  being  to  steal  upon  it  and 
take  the  place  by  surprise.  But  falling  in  with  some  straggling  Indians, 
several  shots  were  imprudently  exchanged,  which  warned  the  garrison 
of  their  approach.  The  attacking  party  then  attempted  to  draw  the 
enemy  from  the  fort  by  stratagem  and  partly  succeeded,  but  could 
not  entice  them  to  come  out  a  sufificient  distance  to  enable  the  be- 
siegers to  cut  off  their  retreat.  Besides,  on  approaching  the  fort 
themselves,  the  assailants  were  so  warmly  received  that  they  were 
compelled  to  retreat  without  unnecessary  delay.  The  only  valuable  serv- 
ice performed  was  the  sending  of  an  Indian  into  Canada,  with  a  letter 
written  in  French  by  a  French  general,  probably  the  Marquis  de  La- 
fayette, and  addressed  to  the  Canadians. 

The  day  preceding  the  arrival  at  Oswegatchie,  the  following  incident 
happened  to  a  little  boy,  about  twelve  years  old,  who  belonged  to  the 
military  party  and  served  as  a  fifer  to  the  company,  which  shows  in  an 
amiable  light  the  finer  feelings  of  the  Indian  character,  and  will  serve 
as  an  offset  for  some  of  the  darker  phases  of  Indian  warfare.  Light 
hearted  and  innocent,  he  tripped  along,  sometimes  running  in  advance 
to  gather  flowers,  and  sometimes  lingering  behind  to  listen  to  the 
music  of  birds,  which  made  the  forest  vocal  with  their  songs.  Seeing 
the  unguarded  deportment  of  the  lad,  his  captain  cautioned  him  against 
wandering  from  the  compan)%  fearing  that  some  hostile  Indian  who 
might  be  lurking  in  the  thicket,  should  take  him  off.  The  warning  was 
heeded  for  some  time,  but  ere  long  forgotten,  and  the  lad  found  himself 


78  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

many  rods  in  advance  of  the  party,  culling  wild  flowers,  which  were 
scattered  in  his  path,  and  inhaling  the  fragrance  which  the  morning  air 
with  its  exhilarating  freshness  inspired  him.  He  was  suddenly  startled 
by  a  rude  grasp  upon  the  shoulder,  which,  upon  looking  around, 
he  saw  was  that  of  a  sturdy  Indian,  who  had  secreted  himself  behind  a 
rock  and  had  darted  from  his  concealment  upon  the  unsuspecting 
victim.  The  boy  attempted  to  scream,  but  fear  paralyzed  his  tongue, 
and  he  saw  the  glittering  tomahawk  brandished  over  his  head,  which 
the  next  moment  would  terminate  his  existence  with  a  blow;  but  the 
savage  seeing  the  unarmed  and  terror-stricken  child,  with  no  warlike 
■implement  but  his  fife,  and  doubtless  touched  with  the  innocence  and 
terror  of  his  trembling  prisoner,  relaxed  his  grasp,  took  the  fife  from 
under  his  arm,  and  having  playfully  blowed  in  its  end,  he  returned  it  to 
its  owner,  and  bounded  off  into  the  forest. 

According  to  Hough's  history,  the  subject  of  this  adventure  after- 
wards for  several  years  resided  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  when  age 
had  made  him  infirm,  often  related  the  incident  to  the  one  from  whose 
lips  the  account  is  written.  He  said  that  "  he  would  weep  with  emotion 
when  relating  this  perilous  adventure,  and  always  ended  with  the  heart- 
felt acknowledgment,  that  God  had  always  protected  him,  and  guarded 
him  from  dangers  seen  and  unseen,  and  from  childhod  to  old  age."  The 
expedition  returned  to  Fort  Schuyler  on  the  20th  of  April,  without 
having  effected  their  purpose. 

In  1799  Isaac  Wells,  jr. ,  published  in  London  an  account  of  a  journey 
of  travels  made  in  Upper  and  Lower  Canada  in  1795—7,  i"  which  he 
describes,  among  other  interesting  subjects,  the  condition  and  appear- 
ance of  the  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie.  The  voyage  was 
undertaken  in  the  month  of  August,  1796.  He  says  :  "  The  trade  is  at 
present  carried  on  between  New  York  and  the  lake,  by  means  of  Hud- 
son River  to  Albany,  and  of  the  Mohawk  River,  Wood  Creek,  Lake 
Oneida,  and  Oswego  River,  which  falls  into  Lake  Ontario.  Thence 
by  sharp-built  vessels  of  a  considerable  size,  which  can  approach  with 
safety  to  the  mouth  of  Oswegatchie  River.  The  British  vessels  of  war, 
of  twenty  six  guns,  formerly  used  to  ply  between  Fort  de  la  Galette 
and  Fort  Niagara;  and  the  British  fur  ships,  on  the  lakes,  used  also 
to   discharge    their   cargoes,  brought   down    from    the    upper   country. 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  79 

there.  The  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie  is  so  much  better 
than  that  of  Oswego,  that  the  trade  between  the  lakes  and  New  York 
will  be  for  the  most  part,  if  not  wholly,  carried  on  by  means  of  Cran- 
berry Lake  and  Oswegatchie  River,  rather  than  by  the  way  of  Oswego 
River."  He  states  further  that  "  the  fort  at  La  Galette  was  erected 
long  after  Fort  Frontenac  (now  Kingston)  ;  yet  they  esteemed  it  by  far 
the  most  important  military  post  on  the  St  Lawrence.  Since  the  close 
of  the  war,  Fort  de  la  Galette  has  been  dismantled,  as  it  was,  according 
to  Jay's  treaty,  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  nor  would  any 
advantage  have  arisen  from  the  retention,  for  it  was  never  of  any  im- 
portance to  us  (the  English)  but  as  a  trading  post."  He  further  states- 
that  "  in  the  neighborhood  of  La  Galette  there  is  a  village  of  the  Os- 
wegatchie Lidians,  which  numbered  one  hundred  warriors." 

Such  were  the  views  of  an  English  traveler,  who  visited  this  place 
about  the  time  of  the  evacuation  by  the  English  troops,  which  event 
took  place  June  i,  1796,  The  English  held  possession  of  Fort  Oswe- 
gatchie from  August  25,  1760,  up  to  June  i,  1796,  nearly  thirty- six 
years.  Something  over  thirteen  years  of  this  time  was  after  peace  had 
been  declared.  During  this  time  no  effort  was  made  to  Christianize  the 
Indians,  or  to  settle  and  improve  the  country. 

Under  British  administration,  however,  leases,  or  warranty  deeds,  had 
been  procured  from  the  Oswegatchie  Indians,  who  claimed  to  be  the 
owners  of  the  land  in  that  vicinity.  The  representatives  of  this  tribe 
leased  a  tract  of  land  for  a  certain  consideration  per  year,  as  follows,  to 
John  Livingston,  Daniel  Smith,  Major  Watson,  and  Jered  Seley.  The 
leases  were  drawn  up  in  legal  form,  specifying  the  location  and  number 
of  leagues  of  width  and  length  that  each  lot  contained,  also  the  amount 
of  Spanish  milled  dollars,  bushels  of  wheat  and  pounds  of  pork  to  be 
paid  yearly.  The  lease  or  deed  was  signed  by  eight  of  the  representa- 
tives by  making  their  mark,  under  a  seal,  consisting  of  a  rudely  drawn 
elk,  in  the  presence  of  witnesses.  To  still  further  substantiate  their 
titles,  the  lessees  from  the  Indians  procured  of  Richard  Porter,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  fort  of  Oswegatchie,  a  permit  to  locate  upon  and  oc- 
cupy the  leased  lands,  who  also  ratified  and  confirmed  the  leases  or 
deeds.  The  four  leases  covered  nearly  the  whole  front  of  the  township 
of  Oswegatchie.      Major  Watson's  lease  was  three  miles  on  the  river  and 


80  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

nine  miles  back.  It  was  dated  August  22,  1792,  and  the  annual  rental 
was  twenty  Spanish  milled  dollars,  thirteen  and  one-third  bushels  of 
wheat,  and  thirt>'-three  and  one-third  pounds  of  pork.  By  virtue  of 
these  titles,  and  under  protection  of  the  British  flag,  the  old  French 
saw  mill  at  the  west  end  of  the  dam  across  the  Oswegatchie  River  was 
rebuilt  on  a  much  larger  scale,  and  the  business  of  lumbering  was  com- 
menced anew  and  prosecuted  with  spirit,  under  which  the  majestic  for- 
ests, covering  almost  the  entire  region,  began  rapidly  to  disappear;  and 
these  operations  extended  to  the  whole  river  front,  and  the  tributaries 
of  the  great  river  capable  of  floating  spars  and  rafts.  These  lessees  were 
not  very  sure  of  the  validity  of  their  titles,  should  the  Americans  come 
into  possession  of  the  place  ;  therefore  they  made  a  greater  effort  to 
secure  the  best  part  of  the  timber  in  the  forest  before  Jay's  treaty  was 
to  take  effect. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  there  was  gradually 
manifested  a  strong  tendency  for  the  extension  of  the  settlements,  to 
which  feeling  the  newly  acquired  freedom  gave  an  impulse  before  un- 
known. But  little  was  known  of  this  part  of  the  country  at  the  time 
of  its  sale,  except  that  which  lay  on  the  border  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
River. 

In  Jefifery's  map  of  the  French  dominion  in  America,  the  tract  of 
country  lying  west  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  between  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  chain  of  mountains  (Adirondack)  on  the  south,  was  known  as 
the  "  Iroquois  deer  and  hunting  grounds  ; "  that  portion  lying  above 
and  along  the  St  Lawrence,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Oswegatchie  River, 
was  called  the  "  beaver  hunting  grounds  of  the  Six  Nations."  All  this 
part  of  the  country  had  not  been  conveyed  to  any  one  by  the  British 
government ;  therefore  it  belonged  to  the  United  States,  or  to  the  State 
of  New  York. 

The  sovereignty  of  the  soil  of  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New 
York  was  anciently  vested  in  the  Mohawks,  who,  from  the  earliest  period 
of  authentic  history,  exercised  jurisdiction  over  it.  At  a  treaty  held 
under  the  authority  of  the  United  States  with  the  Mohawk  nation  of 
Indians,  whatever  title  to  the  land  remained  with  them  was  surrendered 
by  that  treaty,  which  was  made  at  Albany,  March  29,  1795.  Treaties 
with  the  Indians  for  their  lands  were,  by  a  provision  of  the  first  consti- 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  81 

tutioii  of  the  State  of  New  York,  adopted  April  20,  1777,  reserved  to 
the  Legislature.  It  was  therefore  ordained  that  no  purchases  or  con- 
tracts of  sales  of  lands,  made  since  the  14th  day  of  October,  1775,  with 
the  said  Indians  within  the  limits  of  this  State,  shall  be  binding  on  the 
said  Indians,  or  deemed  valid,  unless  made  under  the  authority  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York.  By  an  act 
passed  April  4,  1801,  it  was  deemed  a  public  offence  for  any  person  to 
lease  and  occupy  land  or  purchase  the  same  from  an  Indian  except  as 
heretofore  provided,  under  a  penalty  of  $250  fine,  and  imprisonment 
and  fine  at  the  discretion  of  the  court.  An  act  was  passed  May  5, 
1785,  entitled,  "an  act  for  the  speedy  sale  of  the  unappropriated  lands 
of  the  State,"  creating  land  commissioners,  and  empowering  them  to 
dispose  of  such  unsold  lands  as  they  might  see  proper,  within  the  limits 
of  the  State.  In  accordance  with  the  said  act  a  board  of  commissioners 
was  appointed,  and  the  surveyor- general  directed  to  survey  and  make  a 
map  of  two  ranges  of  townships  on  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
River  for  sale.  Each  township  was  to  contain  as  nearly  as  might  be 
64,000  acres,  to  be  as  nearly  square  in  form  as  local  circumstances  would 
permit,  and  to  be  subdivided  into  lots  as  nearly  square  as  might  be, 
each  lot  to  contain  about  640  acres. 

The  manner  in  which  the  primitive  title  to  lands  in  Northern  New 
York  was  extinguished,  has  been  detailed  in  the  foregoing  pages.  There- 
by it  became  the  property  of  the  State,  which  was  patented  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature  to  certain  individuals, 

The  ten  townships  were  laid  out  as  follows:  Commencing  on  a  line 
to  be  run  south  20°  east  from  a  point  or  place  on  the  southern  bank  of 
the  River  St  Lawrence,  bearing  south  28°  east  from  the  northwest  end 
of  the  Isle  au  Long  Saut,  and  a  line  parallel  with  the  said  first  line,  and 
also  to  run  from  the  south  bank  of  the  said  river,  and  the  said  parallel 
lines,  to  be  distant  fifty  miles  from  each  other.  This  space  was  to  be 
divided  into  five  townships  on  the  river  of  ten  miles  each,  and  also  five 
townships  in  the  rear,  to  be  sufficiently  deep  to  contain  in  each  town- 
ship about  the  said  number  of  acres — 64,000.  The  names  of  the  ten 
townships  were  established  by  a  formal  resolution  of  the  commissioners 
of  the  land  office,  September  10,  1786,  and  with   their   corresponding 

numbers  were  as  follows:   First,  Louisville;   second,  Stockholm;   third, 
11 


82  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Potsdam  ;  fourth,  Madrid  ;  fifth,  Lisbon  ;  sixth,  Canton  ;  seventh,  De 
Kalb  ;  eighth,  Osvvegatchie  ;  ninth,  Hague  (now  Hammond) ;  and  tenth, 
Cambray  (now  Gouverneur).  These  towns  have  since  been  divided  and 
subdivided,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  history  of  towns. 

In  pursuance  of  the  statute,  the  following  advertisement  appeared  in 
the  Albany  Gazette  of  June  7,  1787  :  "Ten  townships  of  unappropri- 
ated lands,  on  the  south  side  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  will  be  sold  at 
public  vendue,  at  the  Cofifee  House  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  sale 
will  commence  on  Tuesday,  the  loth  of  July  next,  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon.  Maps  are  filed  for  inspection  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary of  state  and  surveyor  general.  Madrid  and  Oswegatchie  will  be 
sold  by  single  lots  or  mile  squares,  the  balance  by  quarters  of  town- 
ships." 

In  every  township  there  was  to  be  one  lot  reserved  for  the  support 
of  the  "  gospel  and  schools  "  and  another  "for  promoting  literature," 
to  be  located  as  near  the  center  of  the  town  as  might  be  ;  also,  five 
acres  in  every  hundred  were  to  be  reserved  for  roads.  The  conditions 
of  sale  were  that  there  should  be  an  actual  settlement  made  for  every 
six  hundred  acres  sold,  within  seven  years  thereafter;  otherwise  the 
patent  would  become  void  and  the  lands  revert  to  the  State.  Accord 
ing  to  the  established  rule,  the  commissioners  were  not  allowed  to  sell 
lands  at  a  less  rate  than  one  shilling  an  acre  (12^  cents).  By  an  agree- 
ment among  the  purchasers  this  price  was  not  raised  any  higher. 

The  intention  of  the  law  in  offering  these  lands  in  small  parcels  was 
to  afford  an  opportunity  to  those  of  limited  means  to  compete  at  the 
sales;  but  this  intention  was  defeated,  it  is  said,  by  a  previous  arrange- 
ment among  the  purchasers,  under  which  they  delegated  one  of  their 
number  to  bid,  and  agreed  to  not  compete  in  the  sale. 

The  principal  purchaser  was  Alexander  Macomb,  who  subsequently 
acted  a  distinguished  part  in  the  northern  purchases.  Macomb  had  for 
many  years  lived  in  Detroit,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  fur  trader.  In 
the  course  of  his  business  he  had  passed  up  and  down  the  St.  Lawrence, 
thus  becoming  acquainted  with  the  general  aspect  and  probable  value 
of  the  la'nds,  and  better  qualified  than  most  of  his  associates  to  engage 
in  the  purchases.  To  cover  the  private  agreement  just  mentioned,  cer- 
tain  persons  were   employed  to  bid  for   Macomb,  and  the  lots  so  sold 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  83 

were  afterward  conveyed  to  him  before  patenting.  Others  besides 
Macomb  who  bid  off  lands  were  Michael  Conoly,  John  Myers  and  Dan- 
iel McCormick,  who  bid  off  about  2,ooo  acres  for  themselves  ;  also, 
Thomas  McFarren,  John  Taylor,  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Henry 
Remsen,  bid  off  4,000  acres  and  transferred  the  same  to  Macomb,  who 
had  bid  off  the  remainder  of  the  lands  in  the  county,  thus  becoming  the 
nominal  owner  of  nearly  the  whole  of  the  ten  towns.  John  Taylor  had 
bid  off  nearly  the  whole  front  of  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  embracing 
the  historic  place  on  which  Ogdensburg  now  stands,  which  was  in- 
cluded in  his  transfer  to  Macomb.  On  the  i6th  of  April,  1792,  Macomb 
appointed  Gouverneur  Morris  his  attorney  to  sell  any  portion  of  the 
ten  towns,  excepting  a  tract  of  9,600  acres  in  Lisbon  previously  sold  to 
John  Tibbets ;   but  so  far  as  known  no  sales  were  made  by  Morris. 

On  May  3,  1 792,  Macomb  conveyed  to  Samuel  Ogden,  in  trust  for 
himself.  Gen.  Henry  Knox,  Robert  Morris  and  Gouverneur  Morris,  for 
^3,200  the  four  townships  of  Hague,  Cambray,  Oswegatchie  and  De 
Kalb,  with  the  stipulation  that  Ogden  should  convey  to  Henry  Knox 
44,114  acres;  to  Robert  Morris  60,641  acres,  and  to  G.  Morris  60,641 
acres  of  this  tract ;  this  left  Ogden  upwards  of  90,000  acres,  all  of 
Oswegatchie,  and  a  part  of  De  Kalb  and  Cambray. 

In  the  spring  of  1792  Macomb  became  involved  by  some  transac- 
tions with  a  new  bank  in  the  city  of  New  York,  by  which  he  was  forced 
to  assign  his  interest  in  a  tract  of  land  in  the  ten  townships  of  1,920,000 
acres  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  to  William  and  Daniel  McCormick. 
On  the  same  date  with  the  foregoing  he  sold  to  William  Constable  for 
^5^1,500  the  towns  of  Madrid,  Potsdam  and  the  west  half  of  Stockholm 
and  Louisville,  and  to  William  Edgar  for  i^i  2,000  the  towns  of  Lisbon 
and  Canton,  except  what  had  been  previously  sold  to  J.  Tibbets. 

The  following  is  a  brief  summary  of  the  transfers  of  the  several  towns 
of  the  first  purchases,  so  far  as  known  :  James  Constable,  John  Mc- 
Vicker  and  H.  B.  Pierrepont,  executors  of  William  Constable,  on  De- 
cember 15,  1803,  conveyed  2,854  acres  in  a  square  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  Louisville  to  Gouverneur  Morris,  which  tract  went  by  will  to 
his  son,  G.  Morris,  jr.  The  remainder  of  the  west  half  of  the  town  was 
conveyed  by  William  E.  to  Everetta  Constable,  January  3,  1803.  The 
east  half  of  Louisville  and   Stockholm    was   conveyed   June  2,  1792,  by 


84  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTT. 

Macomb  to  William  Edgar,  William    Laight  and   John  Lamb,  in   trust, 
to  be  divided  among  themselves. 

Stockholm  — The  west  half  of  this  town  was  conveyed  by  William 
Constable  to  John  Constable,  who  conveyed  the  same  to  Hezekiah 
Pierrepont,  September  28,  1809,  in  trust  to  settle  certain  claims  against 
the  lands,  etc. 

Potsdam  — Macomb,  by  way  of  Edgar  to  Constable,  as  above.  The 
latter  on  November  8,  1802,  conveyed  to  Garret  Van  Home,  David  M. 
Clarkson  and  their  associates,  as  joint  tenants,  the  town,  except  two 
miles  wide  on  the  northwest  side.  The  two  mile  strip  by  the  side  of 
Madrid  was  divided  into  two  tracts.  The  eastern  part  was  sold  to  Le 
Roux,  April  30,  1802,  and  the  western  part  came  into  possession  of  U. 
A.  and  Gouverneur  Ogden  as  joint  tenants  in  fee  simple. 

Madrid. — Constable  sold  to  Abraham  Ogden,  Josiah  Ogden  Hoff- 
man, David  A.  Ogden  and  Thomas  L.  Ogden  in  June,  1796,  for  $60,000. 
On  the  29th  of  June,  181 1,  these  persons  executed  partition  deeds  of 
lands  previousl}'  contracted  and  mortgaged. 

Canton  and  Lisbon. — Deeded  by  Edgar  to  Alexander  Von  Pfister, 
June  12,  1794,  in  trust,  who  conveyed  March  3,  1795,  to  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman  and  Richard  Harrison,  for  £^,068 
1 6s.;  on  January  21,  1805,  Hoffman  sold  his  share  of  the  purchase  to 
Van  Rensselaer.  By  an  agreement  Harrison  retained  one-third  of  the 
eastern  part  of  the  tract,  and  Van  Rensselaer  the  remainder.  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer  conveyed  September  13,  1836,  all  of  his  real  estate  in 
these  towns  to  his  son,  Henry  Van  Rensselaer. 

De  Kalb. — Macomb  to  Ogden  as  above.  Dates  of  transfer  not  ob- 
tained. William  Cooper,  of  Cooperstown,  subsequently  purchased  the 
town  and  began  its  first  settlement. 

Oswegatchie. — Patented  by  ninety- eight  patents,  as  before  stated,  to 
Macomb,  who  sold  the  same  to  S.  Ogden,  May  3,  1792,  with  three 
other  towns.  Colonel  Ogden  purchased  the  share  of  Robert  Morris  in 
January,  1793,  and  conveyed  to  the  others  their  shares  in  the  townships 
of  Hague  and  Cambray.  On  February  29,  1808,  S.  Ogden  conveyed 
to  his  son,  David  B.  Ogden,  this  town,  who  also  quit-claimed  the  same 
to  David  C.  Judson,  January  21,  1847.  Nathan  Ford  and  others  pur- 
chased  large    tracts  in  this   town.      August  17,  1798,  Ogden  conveyed 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  85 

to  N.  Ford  an  undivided  one-half  of  three  certain  tracts,  one  of  which 
contained  io,ooo  acres,  and  lay  south  of  land  at  the  outlet  of  Black 
Lake. 

Hague  and  Cambray  were  deeded  to  S.  Ogden  May  3,  1792,  which 
land  has  since  been  divided  and  sold  to  various  persons.  Gouverneur 
Morris's  title  was  subsequently  sold  to  Edwin  Dodge,  David  C.  Judson, 
Augustus  Chapman,  Abraham  Cooper  and  others. 

The  Gospel  and  School  Lots  have  since  been  sold  by  authority  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  April  21,  1825,  authorizing  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  the  several  towns  at  their  annual  town  meeting,  to  vote 
directing  the  whole  of  the  income  of  the  Gospel  and  School  Lots  to  be 
appropriated  to  the  schools  of  the  town. 

The  foregoing  gives  all,  or  nearly  all  of  the  first  land  titles  or  patents 
in  St.  Lawrence  county  from  the  State  to  the  several  persons,  with  dates 
of  each  as  far  as  possible. 

Samuel  Ogden,  of  New  York  city,  became  the  rightful  owner  by  a 
second  purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  southern  shore  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  River,  which  included  the  military  station  of  Oswegatchie, 
then  in  possession  of  British  troops.  He  was  informed  that  certain 
parties  in  Canada  had  obtained  leases  of  land  from  the  Oswegatchie 
Indians,  which  lots  were  included  in  Jiis  purchase,  and  were  carrying 
away  the  timber  without  restraint  or  interference  from  the  officers  in 
charge  at  the  garrison.  Mr.  Ogden,  therefore,  began  a  correspondence 
November  2,  1792,  with  Governor  George  Clinton,  governor  of  Upper 
Canada,  in  relation  to  these  claims  and  trespasses.  He  also  corres- 
ponded later  with  Governor  Simcoe  and  Lord  Carlton,  the  latter  com- 
mander in- chief,  which  is  too  lengthy  for  insertion  in  these  pages.  The 
following  is  sufficient  to  indicate  the  pacific  tone  of  the  letters  : 

New  York,  August  31,  1793. 
Samuel  Ogden,  Esq.: 

Dear  Sir: — I  am  just  favored  with  your  letter  of  the  31st  of  August.  I  beg  leave  to 
observe  to  you,  that  last  autumn  on  the  representation  of  the  Oswegatchie  Indians,  the 
magistrates  of  the  town  of  Augusta  warned  some  of  his  majesty's  subjects  to  quit  these 
very  lands.  In  regard  to  your  intimation  that  the  executive  of  the  State  of  New  York 
would  give  its  immediate  aid  for  the  protection  of  this  property,  I  have  to  observe,  that 
you  are  perfectly  just  in  your  observation  that  such  would  be  a  governmental  question, 
inasmuch  as  it  is  obvious  to  all  that  there  is  no  treaty  line,  nor  can  :t  be  reasonably 
expected  to  be  acknowledged  by  Great  Britain,  until  the  prior  articles  of  the  treaty 


8G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

shall  be  fulfilled  by  the  United  States.  But  from  an  immediate  point  of  view,  as  this 
question  does  not  concern  his  majesty's  subjects,  who  have  already  been  forbidden,  at 
the  request  of  the  Indians  claiming  the  lands,  to  form  settlements  on  that  side  of  the 
river,  I  can  only  refer  you  to  his  excellency,  the  commander-in-chief,  for  any  further 
explanation  you  require,  to  whom  your  very  liberal  principles,  as  expressed  in  your 
letters  which  I  shall  transmit  to  him,  cannot  but  be  highly  recommendatory  and  impress 
sentiments  of  respect.     I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  G-.  SiMCOE,  Lt.  Gov.  Upper  Canada. 

Mr.  Ogden  secured  the  services  of  a  young  man  named  Nathan  Ford, 
who  had  had  considerable  experience  as  an  assistant  deputy  quarter- 
master-general in  the  continental  army  during  the  memorable  winter  of 
suffering  in  which  the  American  army  lay  in  camp  on  the  hills  back  of 
Morristown,  N.  J,  Mr.  Ford  having  in  his  army  experience  gained  the 
confidence  of  various  persons,  some  of  them  officers  in  the  war,  who 
became  interested  in  the  land  speculation,  united  with  Mr.  Ogden  in 
sending  Ford  in  1794-5  to  explore  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  where 
they  had  made  purchases,  and  to  ascertain  to  what  extent  the  timber 
was  being  taken  away  ;  also  to  examine  and  report  upon  several  islands 
near  Kingston,  which  they  proposed  purchasing.  Mr.  Ford  wrote  his 
friends  from  Kingston,  July  12,  1795,  stating  that  he  had  made  inquiry 
into  the  titles  and  terms  of  sale  of  these  islands.  Tante  Island  was  held 
at  ;^2,ooo  sterling  ;  eleven  persons  had  been  settled  on  it  three  years. 
Grand  Island  had  been  purchased  at  Montreal,  from  Curot,  a  French- 
man, who  held  it  under  a  grant  from  the  king  of  France,  for  ;^500,  with 
a  further  sum  of  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  per  acre  due  when  the  title  was 
established.  Mr.  Ford  made  a  full  report  on  the  soil,  timber,  etc., 
which  ended  the  negotiations. 

Mr.  Ford  was  continued  in  the  service  of  Mr.  Ogden  and  was  directed 
to  take  certain  measures  to  obtain  possession  of  the  place  with  a  view 
of  beginning  a  settlement  at  Oswegatchie.  Mr.  Ogden's  letter  to  Ford, 
dated  Perth  Amboy,  July  12,  1795,  will  be  of  interest : 

Dear  Nathan  : — By  this  opportunity  I  have  written  again  to  my  brother,  Isaac  Og- 
den, on  the  subject  of  his  application  to  my  Lord  Dorchester  and  have  told  him  that 
you  would  stay  a  few  days  at  Montreal  and  request  him  to  communicate  to  you  there 
(to  the  care  of  Mrs.  Forsyth)  his  lordship's  determination.  Now,  in  case  of  his  giving 
you  permission  to  repair  one  or  more  of  the  houses  and  place  inhabitants  therein,  you 
will  then,  while  at  Oswegatchie,  with  the  advice  of  Major  Drummond,  make  the  nec- 
essary arrangements  and  procure  some  proper  person  to  move  therein  as  my  tenant. 


ENGLISH  POSSESSION.  87 

The  importance  of  this  you  will  see  and  it  may  become  a  question  whether  you  had 
not  better  in  this  case  return  from  Toronto  via  Oswegatchie  and  spend  some  weeks  or 
perhaps  months  there  this  summer  and  autumn,  so  as  to  prepare  and  arrange  things  for 
your  reception  next  spring.  If  you  should  succeed  in  the  idea  I  gave  you  respecting 
the  saw-mill,  then  it  ought  to  be  kept  diligently  at  work  in  sawing  pine  boards  and 
shingles,  proper  for  the  building  we  intend  to  erect  next  year,  which  ought  to  be  care- 
fully set  up  when  sawed,  so  as  to  be  seasoned  for  use  next  summer. 

The  remainder  of  the  letter  directed  him  to  find  a  passage  up  Black 
Lake  or  rivers  to  reach  Fort  Stanwix  (now  Rome)  and  to  find  what 
streams  of  considerable  size  empty  into  the  lake,  the  distances,  etc.,  and 
concludes  by  saying,  "  perhaps  a  few  dollars  laid  out  in  presents  to  the 
Oswegatchie  Indians  would  be  useful.  You  will  procure  from  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Montreal  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  sergeant  at 
Oswegatchie.  This  will  become  very  necessary.  Colonel  Gordon  and 
Colonel  McDonald,  if  at  Montreal,  will  aid  you  in  this." 

Mr.  Ford's  answer  in  regard  to  affairs  at  Oswegatchie,  says : 

On  my  way  up  to  Niagara  I  stopped  at  La  Galette  and  was  much  surprised  to  find 
the  saw-mill  and  dam  so  much  out  of  repair.  There  is  no  person  about  the  place  that 
can  give  me  the  whole  history  of  the  business.  Mr.  Honniewell,  who  could  do  so,  was 
not  at  home.  1  was  happy  to  find  that  most  of  the  people  upon  the  other  side  are  glad 
to  find  that  a  settlement  is  to  be  made  and  many  intend  coming  over.  I  did  not  go  to 
see  Lorimier,  and  for  this  reason.  After  conversing  with  Mr.  Farrand  fully  upon  this 
subject,  we  finally  concluded  that  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  show  the  greatest  indiffer- 
ence, merely  call  at  the  mill,  look  at  the  fort,  and  take  care  to  impress  the  idea  fully  upon 
whoever  I  talked  with  that,  by  the  treaty,  the  fort  was  to  be  given  up  in  June,  that 
there  would  be  a  garrison  sent  there,  that  settlers  would  be  brought  on  and  business 
commenced  extensivel3^  This  I  have  done  in  a  way  that  I  hope  will  have  the  desired 
effect.  In  my  absence  Mr.  Farrand  will  make  business  at  Oswegatchie  and  sound  Lor- 
imier on  the  subject  and,  if  possible,  make  him  apply  for  terms.  If  he  can  be  brought 
to  this  state,  a  negotiation  may  be  had  upon  better  terms  than  if  I  should  apply  to  him. 
I  intend  to  leave  my  baggage  and  find  may  way  through  the  woods  to  Little  Falls,  as 
you  suggested  in  a  former  letter.  The  greatest  object  of  all  is  the  fixing  of  the  Oswe- 
gatchie business  and  no  stone  shall  be  left  unturned  to  bring  this  to  a  happy  issue.  Mr. 
Farrand  tells  me  that  Lorimier  relies  upon  a  French  title  which  he  says  he  has.  This 
Mr.  Farrand  will  get  a  sight  of  and  should  it  be  worth  anything  a  negotiation  will  be 
more  necessary.  Mr.  Farrand  will  be  in  full  possession  of  all  the  business  agamst  my 
return,  which  I  will  make  as  speedy  as  possible,  and  which  I  shall  not  leave  until  I 
have  finished.  N.  Ford. 

Jay's  treaty,  which  was  finally  ratified  in  February,  1796,  provided  in 
its  second  article  that  Her  Majesty's  troops  should  be  withdrawn  from 
all  posts  within  the  States  on  or  before  the  first  of  June  ;   the  property 


88  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  British  subjects  being  secured  to  them  by  the  pledge  of  the  gov- 
ernment, and  they  were  to  be  free  to  remain  or  go  as  they  saw  fit.  The 
signing  of  the  treaty  at  length  rendered  it  certain  that  the  surrender  of 
Fort  Oswegatchie  would  remove  the  last  obstacle  which  had  for  several 
years  hindered  the  settlement  of  northern  New  York. 

Mr.  Ford  had  engaged  a  Mr.  Tuttle  and  family  to  move  into  the  bar- 
racks and  care  for  the  property  on  the  evacuation  of  the  fort  by  the 
British.  After  these  arrangements  were  made  Mr.  Ford  returned  to 
New  York  for  men  and  such  goods  as  were  necessary  for  them  during 
the  time  of  rebuilding  the  dam  and  mill  on  the  Oswegatchie,  and  sur- 
veying roads  into  the  country.  As  a  guide  for  Mr.  Ford's  operations 
the  proprietor  drew  up  the  following  memoranda  of  instructions,  which 
embody  the  designs  and  wishes  of  Colonel  Ogden  in  relation  to  the  new 
settlement: 

On  your  arrival  at  Oswegatchie  endeavor  in  an  amicable  a  manner  as  possible  to  gain 
immediate  possession  of  the  works,  mills  and  town.  If  difficulties  do  arise,  you  will  of 
course  exercise  the  best  of  your  judgment  and  discretion  in  order  to  remove  them. 
This  perhaps  may  be  done  best  by  soothing  measures;  perhaps  by  threats  and  perhaps 
by  bribes,  as  to  which  it  must  be  entirely  submitted  to  your  judgment  as  circumstances 
may  turn  up.  It  seems  certain  that  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  possession 
of  the  fort  and  works.  These  therefore  I  presume  you  will  immediately  possess.  The 
mills  seem  the  great  difficulty,  for  which  you  will  make  every  exertion  after  you  have 
possession  of  the  fort.  After  you  have  obtained  possession  of  the  mills  you  will  imme- 
diately commence  the  repair  thereof  so  as  to  have  the  saw-mill  at  work  this  autumn 
before  you  leave  it.  If  the  old  mill  is  destroyed  and  you  find  that  a  new  one  must  be 
constructed,  I  would  recommend  that  you  construct  it  so  as  to  saw  plank  or  timber 
forty  feet  long.  You  will  exercise  your  own  judgment  as  to  what  repairs  it  may  be 
proper  for  you  to  put  on  any  of  the  buildings  at  the  old  fort.  It  seems  to  me  that  it 
will  be  best  to  repair  the  the  old  stone  houses  and  as  many  of  the  framed  as  may  be 
found  sound  and  free  from  decay.  If,  on  experiment,  you  find  that  a  further  supply 
of  goods  or  any  particular  article  of  commerce  not  in  stock,  will  answer  a  good  and 
speedy  remittance,  you  will  write  me  and  send  a  memorandum,  .'^o  that  I  may  forward 
them  to  you,  and  it  is  probable  that  you  may  point  out  the  best  and  most  expeditious 
manner  of  transportating  the  same.  You  will  remember  in  your  letter  hook  to  keep 
regular  copies  of  all  your  letters.  Your  set  of  books  must  be  regularly  kept  so  as  to 
show  a  very  exact  account  of  all  expenditures  and  disbursements  so  that  every  shilling 
may  be  explained  and  accounted  for.  If,  on  examination,  you  find  any  tract  of  land 
Avithout  the  bounds  of  my  purchase,  and  which  you  believe  to  be  an  object  worth  our 
attention  write  me  a  full  account  thereof  and  enable  me  to  take  it  if  it  should  be  found 
an  object.  Mr.  Grey  gave  me  some  reason  to  believe  he  could  find  a  mine  of  iron  ore 
within  our  township.     Pray  extend  your  resources,  therefore,  as  early  as  possible,  as 


Atlantic  Pubhsliini: 


SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED.  89 

it  is  very  important  that  we  should  at  as  early  as  possible  commence  our  iron  work 
operations,  and  nothing  can  be  done  until  the  ore  be  found.  S.  Ogden. 

The  foregoing  memorandum  was  merely  a  guide  for  Mr.  Ford  to  go 
by,  as  Mr.  Ogden  gave  him  sufficient  latitude  to  vary  from  it  when 
found  necessary,  having  great  confidence  in  Ford's  ability  in  getting  rid 
of  those  trespassers  on  his  property  who  claimed  to  have  leases,  which, 
however,  proved  to  be  spurious. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED. 

Nathan  Ford's  Occupation  of  Oswegatchie— His  Labors  and  Difficulties — Saw  Mill 
Erected — Canadian  Squatters — The  American  Hotel — Erection  of  Grist  Mill — Mr.  Ford's 
Financial  Embarrassments. 

j\/\  R.  FORD  left  New  York  July  4,  1796,  and  on  the  i8th  arrived  at 

/      \    Albany  and  crossed  with  teams  to  Schenectady,  where  he  met  Mr. 

Day,  John  Lyon  and  family,  whom  he  had  employed  to  come  with  him, 

together  with  Thomas  Lee,  carpenter,  and  Dick,  a  negro  slave  who  was 

owned  by  Mr.  Ford.     These  were  considered  sufficient  to  manage  one 

boat.      To  hire  another  to  go  to  Oswegatchie  would  cost  £8$  besides 

portage  and  lock  fees,  which  would  amount  to  five  pounds  more.      He 

therefore   purchased  a  four  oared   boat  and    was   obliged  to  pay  high 

wages  to   his  hands.      Richard  Randolph,  Mr.  Ford's  clerk,  was  one  of 

the  party  when  the  two  boats  laden  with  goods  started  on  their  tedious 

journey,  Friday  July  22,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  proceeded  up  the  river 

to  Maby's  tavern,  where  they  lodged,  having  gone  six  miles.     The  next 

day  they  reached  Mills's  tavern,  ten  miles  farther,  where  they  stopped  to 

escape  a  very  heavy   shower.     The   next   day,  the  24th,  they   got  to 

Connoly's,  a  distance  of  seventeen  miles.      Owing  to  low  water  and  their 

heavy  load,  the  passage  up  the  river  was  slow.      On  the  25th  Mr.  Ford 

said  his  trouble  began  when  ascending  what  is  called  Caty's  Rift,  the 

boat  being  nearly  over  it,  turned  off  her  course,  fell  back  and  brought 
12 


90  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

up  broadside  upon  a  rock  and  almost  instantly  sank.  The  dry  goods, 
mostly  on  this  boat,  got  thoroughly  wet  and  the  boat  was  considerably 
damaged.  The  goods  were  taken  out,  carried  above  the  rapids,  dried 
and  repacked,  and  the  boat  repaired.  The  tea  and  two  casks  of  powder 
were  too  much  damaged  for  use  and  were  sent  back  to  New  York.  On 
the  28th  at  10  o'clock  they  again  started,  but  on  account  of  heavy  rain 
stopped  over  night  at  Neller's  tavern,  having  traveled  twelve  miles. 
The  next  day  about  3  P.  M.  they  reached  Little  Falls.  On  the  1st  of 
August  they  arrived  at  Fort  Stanwix  (Rome),  whence  they  proceeded 
with  less  difficulty  by  Wood  Creek,  Oneida  Lake,  Oswego  River  and 
down  the  lake  into  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  arrived  at  Oswegatchie  on 
the  I  ith  of  August,  1796,  just  thirty  days  from  the  date  of  their  leaving 
New  York. 

Mr.  Ford  arranged  his  goods  in  the  sergeant's  quarters  at  the  fort 
which  he  used  as  a  store,  Mr.  Tuttle  remaining  in  a  portion  of  the  bar- 
racks adjoining  the  store  and  therein  caring  for  the  hired  help.  Mr. 
Lyon  and  family  occupied  the  saw- mill  house.  After  all  were  comfort- 
ably situated  Mr.  Ford  crossed  to  Canada,  purchasing  three  yoke  of 
oxen,  four  cows,  a  lot  of  peas,  wheat,  etc.,  and  hired  some  forty  men. 
Returning  he  began  repairs  on  the  dam  and  saw- mill.  Although  he 
found  many  persons  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  anxious  to  settle,  he 
was  not  then  authorized  to  sell  lands,  and  put  off  their  applications  by 
telling  them  they  must  wait  the  survey  of  the  lands.  In  a  few  days 
Joseph  Edsall  arrived  and  began  to  survey  tne  roads  and  town.  He 
brought  a  small  sack  of  orchard- grass  seed  for  Mr.  Ford  and  Mr.  Far- 
rand  on  the  north  shore.  On  the  7th  of  September,  1796,  Mr.  Ford 
wrote  Mr.  Ogden  the  following  : 

When  I  wrote  you  last,'  I  mentioned  Major  Watson  and  several  other  persons,  who 
had  settled  upon  lands  up  the  river.  These  people  have  relinquished  their  pretensions 
and  find  that  they  had  better  become  purchasers.  Several  of  them  are  now  worliing 
for  me.  One  of  them,  Mr.  Smith,  living  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  says  he  will  try 
the  title  with  you.  It  would  be  well  to  make  an  example  of  him,  if  we  could  get  him 
over  this  side.  Such  fellows  only  want  to  be  treated  with  promptness  to  bring  them 
to  terms.  I  have  had  all  the  chiefs  of  the  St.  Regis  village  to  see  and  welcome  me  to 
this  country.  They  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome  and  pressed  me  very  hard  to  pay  them 
a  visit.  I  treated  them  with  the  utmost  civility,  and  sent  them  all  away  drunk.  As 
to  the  Oswegatchie  Indians,  I  never  heard  a  word  from  them  upon  the  possession  of 
their  lands ;  many  of  them  have  been  here  to  trade,  etc.     Lorimier's  claim  I  never  heard  a 


SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED.  91 

word  from,  until  I  had  been  here  several  days.  I  had  been  asked  what  I  intended  do- 
ing with  the  widow,  etc.,  by  people  who  were  not  interested  ;  my  reply  was,  that  we 
had  been  illy  treated  about  the  business,  but  I  had  understood  that  the  widow  Lorimier 
was  in  indigent  circumstances,  and  that  it  was  not  our  intention  to  distress  the  widow 
and  fatherless;  what  was  right  we  intended  to  do.  This  was  my  uniform  reply  to 
those  who  said  anything  to  me  on  the  subject.  On  the  17th,  Mr.  Sherwood  (a  young 
lawyer)  came  over  and  presented  me  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Lorimier,  and  endeavored  to 
explain  his  position  and  rights,  which  he  thought  would  hold  good  under  the  second 
article  of  the  treaty,  etc.  I  gave  him  to  understand  that  if  Mrs.  Lorimier  meant  to  set 
up  title,  it  must  be  the  hardest  kind  of  one — that  such  an  act  would  end  all  idea  of 
chant}'.     Following  is  Mrs.  Lorimier's  letter  to  me : 

Edw.^rdsburg,  i6th  August,  1796. 
Sir — I  am  informed  you  have  arrived  in  Oswegatchie  with  a  number  of  people,  and  have  taken 
possession  of  one  of  my  houses  there,  and  that  you  are  about  to  build  a  dam  across  the  Black 
river,  first  taking  away  what  remained  of  mine  That  you  may  not  be  deceived,  I  now  inform  you 
that  I  h.ave  a  good  title  to  half  a  mile  on  each  side  of  that  river,  from  the  mouth  to  the  source  of 
it.  which  I  cannot  think  of  relinquishing  without  a  valuable  consideration ;  and  Christian  charity 
obliges  me  to  think  that  you  would  not  endeavor  to  wrong  or  in  any  manner  distress  the  widow 
and  fatherless,  and  as  it  appears  j'ou  wish  to  form  a  settlement  there,  I  hereby  give  you  my  first 
offer  to  purchase  mj'  title,  and  would  be  glad  to  have  you  answer  upon  the  subject  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, that  I  may  know  how  to  govern  myself. 

I  am  your  most  humble  serv't, 

Catharine  Lorimier. 
To  Major  Ford. 

As  to  business  in  the  mercantile  way,  it  equals  my  expectation.  I  am  sorry  that  I 
have  not  a  further  supply  of  coarse  goods  here  for  the  season.  It  was  impossible  for 
me  to  know  soon  enough  what  would  answer  the  demands  here  for  you  to  forward 
them  this  fall.  I  would  suggest  to  you  the  propriety  of  sending  to  England  this  fall, 
to  have  the  burr  stones  shipped  to  Montreal ;  they  will  come  easier  and  much  cheaper 
that  way  than  up  the  Mohawk.  It  is  astonishing  what  a  mill  may  do  here.  I  have 
not  yet  been  able  to  get  information  relative  to  iron  ore.  If  we  get  the  saw-mill  under 
way  this  fall,  which  I  hope  will  be  the  case,  it  will  be  absolutely  necessary  to  have  a 
bill  of  such  timber  as  will  be  wanted  for  the  grist-mill,  so  that  every  preparation  for 
that  may  be  going  on  this  winter. 

While  the  repairs  on  the  dam  and  saw-mill  were  in  process,  the  sur- 
veyor, Mr.  Edsall,  and  a  gang  of  men  were  engaged  in  laying  out  and 
making  roads,  as  nothing  but  Indian  trails  or  lumbermen's  paths  then 
existed.  In  this  work  the  first  essential  was  to  locate  a  favorable 
starting  point,  and  at  a  suitable  place  for  the  erection  of  a  bridge  across 
the  Oswegatchie  River.  The  present  site  was  found  to  be  the  most 
feasible,  as  the  river  at  that  point  is  narrower  than  above  or  below,  and 
the  water  is  about  ten  feet  deep,  with  a  smooth  rock  bed.  The  north 
bank  is  bold  and  about  twelve  feet  high,  and  the  rock  rises  abruptly  to 
the  surface  of  the  water,     A  strip  about  ten   rods   wide  on  the  south 


92  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COTTNTT. 

shore  at  this  point  was  marshy  and  it  gradually  widened  towards  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  The  land  on  the  south  shore  is  underlaid  with  gray 
limestone,  and  gradually  descends  into  the  marsh.  The  rock  in  the  bed 
of  the  river  begins  just  below  the  north  end  of  the  bridge  site  and  run- 
ning in  a  westerly  direction,  suddenly  drops  oft' to  the  north.  The  bed 
of  the  river  below  this  rock  is  composed  of  hard-pan  covered  with 
bowlders  that  greatly  obstructed  laden  vessels  coming  into  the  harbor 
in  time  of  low  water.^ 

The  first  road  laid  out,  called  "  Black  Lake  Road,"  was  started  at  a 
point  in  an  Indian  path  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Oswegatchie  (now 
Water  street),  crossing  the  river  at  the  bridge  site,  and  passed  along  by 
the  mill  yard,  following  an  Indian  trail  up  by  the  "Cold  Spring;" 
thence  along  the  westerly  shore  of  Black  Lake  to  the  site  of  an  Indian 
village  at  the  Narrows.  The  second  road  lid  out  was  called  the  Morris- 
town  Road,  and  began  in  the  Black  Lake  Road  about  ten  rods  south 
from  the  bridge  site,  ran  westerly,  passing  just  back  of  the  barracks, 
running  nearly  to  the  St.  Lawrence  ;  thence  up  along  its  shore  to  Morris- 
town,  where  David  Ford,  brother  of  Nathan,  located  in  the  summer  of 
1804.  On  the  east  side  of  the  Oswegatchie,  the  third,  called  the  River 
Road,  was  started  near  the  bridge  site  and  ran  nearly  parallel  with  the 
St.  Lawrence  down  to  Indian  Point,  and  thence  to  Waddington.  The 
fourth  began  at  the  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  ran  in  a  southwest- 
erly direction,  crossing  the  River  Road  at  right  angles  on  the  height  of 
land  about  thirty  rods  north  of  the  bridge  site,  and  continued  through 
to  the  site  of  Fordville  (now  Heuvelton). 

Mr.  Edsall,  with  a  small  party,  began  the  survey  of  the  town  into 
farm  lots,  and  continued  it  the  remainder  of  that  season  ;  the  carpenters 
continued  work  through  the  fall  and  winter.  The  repairs  on  the  dam 
and  saw  mill  being  finished,  it  was  started  and  continued  cutting  lumber 
for  the  next  season's  building.  Mr.  Ford  being  in  feeble  health  and 
fearing  the  northern  climate,  returned  and  wintered  in  New  Jersey. 

On  his  return  to  Oswegatchie,  August  8.  1797,  he  found  that  the 
Canadian  claimants  had  been  over  in  the  preceding  spring,  held  a  town 
meeting,  elected  civil  officers  and  sent  on  Ensly,  their  moderator,  to  get 

I  The  government  has  of  late  spent  considerable  money  from  time  to  time  in  dredging  the  har- 
bor and  removing  the  bowlders. 


SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED.  93 

their  proceedings  confirmed  by  the  governor,  and  that  they  had  opened 
a  land  office  for  selling  and  settling  his  tract.  He  also  found  that  some 
of  those  jockeys  had  come  over  and  stripped  a  quantity  of  hemlock 
bark,  which  Mr.  Ford  confiscated  and  threatened  the  trespassers  with 
prosecution  if  they  came  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State.  These 
men  had  carried  on  with  a  high  hand  during  his  absence,  insulting  the 
settlers,  which  caused  him  some  anxiety  concerning  their  claims.  Mr. 
Ford  wrote  Mr.  Ogden  that  influence  should  be  used  with  the  governor 
and  the  Legislature  to  prevent  mischief  that  might  arise  from  the  ex  parte 
representations  which  he  understood  were  being  made,  and  added  that  it 
would  make  "  a  fatal  hole  in  Oswegatchie  township,"  should  the  claims 
happen  to  be  confirmed.  The  trouble  about  the  Lorimier  lease  was  set- 
tied  September  26,  1 798,  by  paying  her  $250  for  a  quit  claim  deed. 

Mr.  Watson  was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  having  violated  the  statute 
by  dealing  with  the  Indians  for  their  lands,  was  taken  to  Rome  and  con- 
victed, and  after  lying  in  jail  a  year,  was  released  by  signing  a  quit  claim 
and  surrendering  his  papers.  This  course  taken  with  Watson  settled  all 
claims  made  by  others  to  lands  through  Indian  titles. 

A  provision  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  adopted  April  20,  1777, 
reserved  to  the  Legislature,  as  before  alluded  to,  as  follows: 

That  no  purchases  or  contracts  for  the  sale  of  lands,  made  since  the  14th  day  of 
October,  1777,  or  which  may  hereafter  be  made,  with  the  said  Indians,  within  the 
limits  of  this  State,  shall  be  binding  on  the  said  Indians,  or  deemed  valid,  unless  made 
under  the  authority  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State. 

By  an  act  passed  April  4.  1801,  it  was  made  an  offence  subject  to  fine 
and  imprisonment,  to  violate  the  above  act  of  1777. 

The  disputed  claims  of  land  titles  having  been  disposed  of,  Mr.  Ford 
now  turned  his  attention  to  improvements.  The  saw  mill  had  been  kept 
running,  a  quantity  of  lumber  was  prepared  for  building  and  large  lots 
were  rafted  occasionally  to  Montreal.  The  first  building  of  note  erected 
was  a  hotel.  Mr.  Ford  saw  the  necessity  of  a  house  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  accommodate  the  traveling  public,  as  the  new  settlement 
began  to  attract  strangers  from  abroad,  as  well  as  to  lodge  and  board 
the  workmen  who  would  be  employed  on  the  various  improvements  soon 
to  be  commenced.  The  site  selected  was  on  the  east  shore  of  the 
Oswegatchie,  by  an  Indian  path  near  the  St.  Lawrence  and  directly 
facing  or  opposite    the  old  barracks,  where   the  low  and  sloping   banks 


94 


filSTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


afforded  a  good  landing  place  for  small  boats,  as  ferrying  for  several 
years  at  first  was  the  only  means  of  communication  between  the  east 
and  west  sides  of  the  river.  The  hotel  was  finished  in  the  fall  of  1797, 
and  Mr.  Ford,  averse  to  anything  English,  named  it  "  The  American." 
This  same  building,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  by  the  oldest 


AMERICAN  HOTEL. 


inhabitants,  has  been  used  for  a  hotel  only,  and  is  now  in  good  repair. 
It  is  situated  on  water  street  in  front  of  the  Averills'  office.  The  large 
hewn  timbers,  framed  in  "  bents,  "  clearly  show  the  style  of  the  framed 
buildings  of  that  day.  The  name  of  the  house  has  since  been  changed 
to  "  Lusher,"  then  to  "  American,"  then  "The  Baldwin,"  and  it  is  now 
called  the  "  Sterling  House." 

The  grist  mill  was  begun  in  the  summer  of  1 797,  and  raised  in  October 
of  that  year.  It  was  placed  a  considerable  distance  below  the  dam, 
in  order  to  get  a  greater  depth  of  water  for  vessels  to  load  and  unload 
at  the  wharf  near  by.  The  water  was  conducted  to  the  wheel  in  a  flume 
from  the  pond.  The  first  story  of  the  mill  was  of  stone,  and  three 
stories  above  of  wood.  A  large  number  of  men  were  employed  on  the 
mill  at  high  prices,  to  be   paid  in  silver.      Most  of  the  masons  and  ten- 


SETTLEMENT  COMMENCED.  95 

ders  were  from  Montreal,  and  therefore  would  not  take  pay  in  trade,  as 
was  the  general  custom. 

The  internal  arrangements  of  the  mill  were  after  the  improved  plans 
of  that  practical  mechanic,  Oliver  Evans,  who  published  a  work  enti- 
tled "Millwright  and  Miller's  Guide,"  at  Philadelphia  in  1795,  which 
contained  specifications,  cuts  of  plans  of  gearing  and  the  various  styles 
of  water  wheels,  such  as  the  overshot,  breast,  flutter  and  central  dis- 
charge wheels.  This  work  contained  in  its  recommendations  those  of 
President  George  Washington,  Secretaries  of  State  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  Edmond  Randolph,  with  others  of  senators  and  noted  men.  For 
his  own  guidance  in  the  construction  of  this  mill,  Mr,  Ford's  millwright 
brought^  copy  of  this  book  with  him,  which  was  reported  to  have  been 
left  with  one  of  the  millers.  The  book  has  since  passed  from  one  per- 
son to  another,  and  finally  came  into  possession  of  the  writer,  who  hav- 
ing seen  a  portion  of  the  works  in  this  mill  fifty  years  ago,  found  it  to 
correspond  with  the  engravings  in  the  book.  The  shafts  of  the  water 
wheels  and  machinery  were  of  wood  ;  the  gear  wheels  were  also  wood, 
doweled  together.  The  large  spur  or  crown  gear  had  coarse,  oval- 
shaped  wooden  pins,  and  was  called  the  "  wallower."  The  pinions  had 
round  wooden  pins,  and  were  known  as  "trundles."  There  was  no  cast 
gearing  made  at  that  date.  The  burr  stone,  spindle  points  and  gud- 
geons were  brought  up  from  Montreal ;  also  the  bolting  cloth,  screens, 
etc. 

Getting  men  and  supplies  from  so  far  away  was  very  expensive. 
There  was  no  lack  of  ability  or  inclination  on  the  part  of  Samuel  Ogden 
to  sustain  these  expenses  ;  but  the  means  of  communication  by  letter, 
and  especially  the  remittance  of  money,  were  very  precarious  and  un- 
certain. This  caused  the  greatest  inconvenience  and  difficulty,  and  in 
this  and  the  following  years  almost  rendered  the  firm  insolvent.  It 
was  in  this  extremity  that  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  Mr.  Ford 
were  displayed  in  the  most  striking  manner,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to  in- 
dicate his  qualifications  for  founding  a  colony  beyond  the  protection  of 
law,  and  among  those  whose  interests  would  have  been  promoted  by 
his  misfortune.  He  writes  under  date  of  September,  1797,  that  he  took 
out  his  commission  as  a  magistrate,  but  could  not  be  sworn  in  except 
by  a  judge  or  a  clerk  of  the  County  Court,  which  officers  were  not  at 
hand,  and  he  could  not  spare  time  to  hunt  them  up. 


96  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

As  the  business  of  the  season  was  about  to  close  Mr.  Ford's  embar- 
rassment became  extreme.      He  said  : 

The  $500  vvhich  I  am  authorized  to  draw  on  Mr.  Ogden's  brother  was  so  trifling  a 
sum.  compared  with  my  disbursements,  that  I  was  almost  discouraged.  I  had  but  five 
dollars  of  this  sum  left  after  paying  the  four  French  masons  and  the  six  laborers  from 
Montreal.  Now,  what  was  I  to  do  Avith  the  rest?  The  wages  due  Edsel's  thirteen 
surveyors,  five  carpenters  and  thirteen  laborers,  with  the  amount  due  for  supplies,  had 
all  to  be  paid  very  soon,  so  that  the  men  could  go  to  their  homes.  I  wrote  R.  Ogden 
that  I  had  sent  a  raft  of  2,800  boards  to  Montreal,  but  that  Mr.  Richards,  the  foreman 
of  the  raft,  had  not  yet  returned,  but  had  written  to  me  that  he  feared  the  raft  would 
not  sell  for  enough  to  pay  for  the  articles  that  he  had  been  under  the  necessity  of  pur- 
chasing, so  that  when  he  had  to  pay  $40  advanced  for  the  Frenchmen's  outfit,  the  $40 
owing  to  R.  F.  dz  Co.  for  three  barrels  of  rum  [the  staflf  of  life  in  those  days],  or  the 
fifteen  bushels  of  salt,  two  casks  of  nails,  window  glass  and  tin,  and  added  <o  this  the 
cash  that  he  owed  the  hands  at  Montreal,  he  was  sure  that  he  would  have  but  little  if 
any  of  the  raft  money  left.  The  raft  would  not  bring  more  than  $.380,  if  Richards  was 
able  to  get  $12.50  per  100  boards,  which  was  very  improbable.  The  door  of  my  room 
was  besieged  by  men  who  wanted  their  pay.  What  was  I  to  do?  I  wrote  Mr.  Ogden 
that  if  he  would  for  a  moment  imagine  himself  in  my  very  unpleasant  position,  I  was 
confident  his  humanity  would  become  excited  to  that  degree  that  he  would  lose  no 
time  in  giving  relief.  But  he  was  too  far  from  the  scene  of  my  trouble,  and  my  pen 
was  too  weak  to  portray  the  emergencies  of  the  situation.  I  stated  to  Mr.  Ogden  that 
perhaps  he  might  ask  why  I  did  not  draw  a  bill  and  send  it  to  his  brother  at  Montreal 
to  negotiate  and  pay  the  Frenchmen  there.  This  I  had  tried  to  do.  but  from  their  jeal- 
ousy or  ignorance,  or  by  the  orders  of  their  priests  to  bring  the  money  with  them  (so 
they,  tiie  priests,  could  get  their  share),  or  for  other  reasons  of  which  I  was  ignorant, 
they  would  accept  of  nothing  but  the  money. 

Mr.  Ford  stated  that  those  people  upon  the  other  side  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  who  at  first  talked  so  much  about  purchasing  and  settling  at 
Ogdensburg,  said  little  about  the  matter  when  the  terms  for  actual  set- 
tlers were  made  clear  to  them.  Their  object  seemed  to  have  been  to 
get  a  chance  to  cull  out  the  timber  and  leave.  Another  class,  who 
would  have  come  over  but  were  too  poor  to  pay  in  the  limited  time  al- 
lowed, were  fearful  that  the  land  would  be  taken  from  them  and  they 
would  lose  their  improvements.  He  said  the  more  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  this  class,  the  less  he  valued  them  as  settlers.  They 
were  a  strange  medley,  and  he  believed  that  it  was  well  that  there  was 
an  intervening  river.  He  was  well  convinced  in  his  own  mind  that  the 
country  would  be  settled,  and  by  our  countrymen,  one  of  whom  was 
worth  six  of  his  majesty's  beef-eaters. 


THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE. 


97 


When  thej'  at  Oswegatchie  shall  get  their  building  and  business  well  under  way,  and 
if  possible  get  the  Legislature  to  assist  in  cutting  a  road  through  to  the  ]Moha\vk,  the 
country  svill  soon  be  settled. 

The   great   object  of  solicitude,  the    grist   mill,  was  at  length    com 
pleted,  so  that  grinding  was  done  on  the  first  day  of  December,  1798, 
and  up  to  the  22d  they  had  ground  1,500  bushels  of  wheat. 

During  the  summer  of  1799,  while  the  surveying  of  the  towns  was  in 
progress,  vague  reports  of  the  discovery  of  iron  mines,  salt  springs,  etc., 
were  circulated  and  high  expectations  formed,  especially  from  the  lat- 
ter. During  the  season  of  1799  a  second  saw  mill  was  erected.  Both 
the  grist  mill  and  the  saw  mills  were  kept  busily  at  work.  In  almost 
every  letter  that  Mr.  Ford  wrote  to  Mr.  Ogden  he  brought  in  the  sub- 
ject of  a  road  to  the  Mohawk  as  an  object  of  vast  importance  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  new  settlement.  The  agitation  led  to  a  State  road 
being  built  a  few  years  later. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE. 


Pioneer  Methods — Equipment  for  Pioneer  Life-  -The  Shanty — Clearing  of  Land — 
Construction  of  Log  Houses — Food  ot  Pioneers — Wild  Animals — Description  of  Pioneer 
Houses — The  Dutch  Chimney — Lumber  and  Black  Salts — Pioneer  Social  Life. 


T' 


"HE  following  narrative  is  no 
fancy  sketch,  but  simply  relates 
what  the  pioneer  settlers  were  obliged 
to  pass  through  in  order  to  effect  a 
lodgment  in  a  wilderness  so  remote 
from  civilization.  Being  constantly 
exposed  to  savage  ferocity,  wild 
beasts,  to  famine  and  sickness,  to- 
gether with  the  hardships  which  such 
a  situation  imposes,  has  in  it  a  species 
of  merit  which  deserves  to  be  commended  ;    especially  by  those  who 

13 


PIONEER'S  SHANTY. 


98  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

are  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  cultivated  fields,  elegant  homes,  good 
roads,  and  means  of  rapid  transportation,  which  have  grown  out  of  those 
feeble  beginnings  of  the  first  settlers. 

When  it  became  known  to  the  people  of  the  east  that  the  British 
troops  had  evacuated  Fort  Oswegatchie,  and  Mr.  Ogden,  through  his 
agent,  Mr.  Ford,  had  taken  possession  of  this  place,  began  to  build 
mills,  lay  out  and  work  roads  through  a  portion  of  the  most  valuable 
lands,  people  from  various  parts  came  to  look  over  the  situation  with  a 
view  of  selecting  places  on  which  to  settle.  The  beautiful  St.  Law- 
rence, with  its  chain  of  navigable  lakes,  attracted  many  to  undertake 
the  hazardous  task  and  endure  the  privations  that  must  necessarily  fol- 
low the  pioneer  in  settling  along  the  banks  of  this  noble  river. 

It  was  customary  when  a  new  settlement  was  to  be  commenced  in 
the  woods  at  any  considerable  distance  from  civilization,  for  two  or 
three  men  to  visit  the  place  in  order  to  select  the  most  desirable  places 
to  locate.  Mr.  Ford  allowed  the  settlers  at  first  to  choose  their  loca- 
tions, after  which  he  had  the  land  surveyed  into  such  lots  as  they 
desired.  Their  choice  of  lands  at  first  were  the  maple  and  beech 
ridges,  as  the  dry  ground  ivas  more  certain  to  produce  an  early  crop. 
After  these  arrangements  were  completed  the  men  returned  to  their 
homes,  when  half  a  dozen  or  more  would  join  in  the  enterprise  and  go 
back  to  the  woods  to  begin  the  settlement.  Their  outfit  consisted  of 
pocket  knives,  whet  stones,  chopping  axes,  iron  wedges,  a  saw,  augurs, 
a  few  nails,  a  frying  pan,  a  bake  kettle,  pail,  cups,  tin  plates,  blankets, 
salt  and  flour.      Meats  were  easily  procured  from  game  near  the  camp. 

On  arriving  at  the  place  selected,  they  first  built  what  was  termed  a 
hunter's  shanty,  which  was  readily  made  by  placing  a  pole  about  eight 
feet  high  against  two  small  trees,  and  leaning  others  on  either  side 
against  it,  the  lower  ends  resting  on  the  ground.  This  frame  was  then 
covered  with  hemlock  or  cedar  boughs,  one  end  being  left  open,  and 
cots  were  made  of  the  same  material  to  sleep  on.  In  front  of  the  door 
a  few  stones  were  properly  arranged  in  which  to  build  a  fire  for  cooking 
food.  A  bright  or  blazing  fire  was  usually  kept  burning  all  night  as  a 
protection  against  wild  beasts.  Each  person  having  selected  his  lot 
began  his  work  by  what  is  termed  underbrushing  ;  that  is,  he  cut  the 
saplings    and    brushwood    and    piled   them    in    heaps.      Having  no  ox 


THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE.  99 

team  to  haul  the  large  logs  together,  they  planned  what  were  termed 
"  windrows,"  by  felling  the  large  trees  in  one  direction,  and  one  upon 
another  as  far  as  possible.  The  smaller  trees  that  could  not  be  thus 
treated  were  cut  into  such  lengths  as  five  or  six  men  could  carry,  and 
dumped  into  the  thin  places  on  the  heaps.  After  the  men  had  chopped 
a  few  days,  for  a  change  of  work  they  all  joined  and  piled  up  the 
logs.  In  this  manner  the  work  went  on  until  each  one  had  two  or  more 
acres  cut  and  piled  ready  to  set  on  fire.  The  fallows  were  usually  set 
on  fire  at  the  same  time,  as  no  one  could  chop  in  the  dense  smoke  that 
arose  from  the  burning  brush  wood.  The  first  burn  usually  consumed 
the  greater  part  of  the  heaps,  after  which  the  brands  were  replied  and 
reburned,  until  all  the  timber  was  in  ashes.  The  next  move  made,  in 
case  the  season  was  not  too  far  advanced,  was  to  plant  a  patch  of  corn 
and  potatoes  ;  but  if  too  late,  they  sowed  fall  or  winter  wheat.  The 
process  of  planting  corn  or  potatoes  in  new  fallows,  was  to  make  a  hole 
in  the  ground  between  and  around  the  stumps  with  the  "  bit  "  of  an 
axe,  drop  in  the  seed,  and  cover  with  the  foot.  The  wheat  was  sowed 
broadcast  between  the  stumps  and  raked  in  with  a  wooden  tooth  rake, 
usually  made  on  the  spot. 

The  next  in  order  was  to  erect  a  log  shanty  near  the  center  of  the 
clearing,  or  away  from  the  reach  of  trees  which  were  liable  to  be  blown 
down.  The  size  of  the  shanty  depended  somewhat  on  the  number  in 
the  family  to  occupy  it,  but  usually  twelve  by  sixteen  feet  square  and 
one  story  high.  The  roof  single  and  of  sufficient  pitch,  and  covered 
with  either  boughs,  bark  or  troughs,  which  were  dug  from  split  logs. 
The  floor  was  laid  on  the  ground  with  bark  or  split  slabs.  A  few  stone 
were  laid  up  at  one  end,  or  corner  of  the  house,  for  a  fire  place,  the 
ground  serving  for  a  hearth,  and  a  hole  left  in  the  roof  to  allow  the 
smoke  to  escape.  The  door  was  usually  made  of  split  slabs,  and  with 
strong  wood  hinges,  with  a  heavy  latch  bar  extending  nearly  across 
the  door,  and  dropped  into  a  strong  wooden  catch,  securely  fastened  to 
the  door  post.  A  raw  hide  thong  was  fastened  to  the  latch  bar,  passed 
through  a  small  hole  higher  up  in  the  door,  so  that  by  it  the  bar  could 
be  lifted  out  of  the  notch,  and  the  door  opened  from  without.  By 
drawing  in  the  latch  string  the  door  was  barred  to  outsiders.  From 
this  originated  the  poetry  of  the  log  cabin   and  "  our  latch  string  is 


100  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

out"  has  become  a  classic  expression  of  cordial  hospitality.  One  or 
two  holes  were  cut  in  the  walls  and  covered  with  greased  paper  (in  ab- 
sence of  glass)  to  admit  light.  The  cracks  between  the  logs  were 
stopped  with  split  strips  of  wood  and  calked  with  moss  from  trees. 
Benches  to  sit  on  and  tables  to  eat  from  were  made  of  split  slabs  with 
wood  pegs  to  support  them.  The  beds  were  either  made  on  the  floor 
or  on  racks  consisting  of  long  pegs  driven  into  the  logs  at  one  corner 
of  the  shanty  and  covered  with  evergreen  boughs.  The  shanties  be- 
ing thus  finished,  one  or  two  of  the  men  remained  to  look  after 
their  claims,  while  the  others  returned  to  their  old  homes  for  their 
families. 

During  the  absence  of  the  men  their  wives  were  busy  making  clothes 
and  preparing  to  go  to  the  forest  homes.  The  culinary  utensils  were 
limited  to  a  pot,  skillet,  bake  kettle,  a  few  iron  spoons,  knives  and  forks, 
and  a  few  tin  dishes. 

Parties  coming  in  by  the  way  of  Vermont  could  get  conveyances  as 
far  as  Plattsburg.  From  that  point  they  made  their  way  through  the 
woods  on  foot,  carrying  a  pack  on  their  backs,  guided  by  Indian  trails 
or  blazed  trees,  sleeping  in  hunter's  shanties  or  on  boughs  gathered  for 
the  occasion.  This  part  of  the  journey  was  accomplished,  if  the  family 
was  in  good  health,  in  from  six  to  ten  days.  Those  who  came  by  way 
of  Albany,  came  in  boats  up  the  Mohawk,  Wood  Creek,  and  around  by 
Oswego.  Some  came  across  from  Fort  Stanwix  (now  Rome)  through 
the  woods  by  Carthage,  making  their  way  either  on  foot  or  on  pack 
horses,  sleeping  in  shanties  or  in  booths  made  for  the  occasion.  On  ar- 
riving at  their  destination  they  made  themselves  as  comfortable  as  pos- 
sible with  the  means  at  hand,  and  soon  became  accustomed  to  their  lot. 
Similar  settlements  were  formed  within  a  year  or  two  at  Morristown, 
Black  Lake,  Heuvelton,  De  Kalb,  Lisbon,  Waddington,  and  other  places 
in  the  county.  The  first  two  or  three  years  of  the  pioneer's  life  were 
the  most  trying.  Previous  to  the  completion  of  Ford's  grist  mill  at  Os- 
wegatchie  the  settlers  had  to  procure  what  little  flour  they  used  from 
Montreal  at  great  expense  and  trouble  ;  therefore  their  food  consisted 
largely  of  fresh  and  dried  or  "jerked  "  venison,  beech  nuts,  walnuts, 
butternuts,  basswood  buds,  the  inner  coat  of  birch  bark,  and  maple 
sugar,  and  occasionally  a  shortcake,  when  they  were  lucky  enough  to 


THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE.  101 

get  the  flour  to  make  one.  Shortcake  was  considered  a  luxury  of  those 
days,  although  made  from  coarse  flour,  without  butter  or  lard  for  short- 
ening, or  soda  to  raise  it  with.  In  absence  of  these  ingredients  the 
women  were  not  slow  to  utilize  the  means  at  hand.  Deer's  tallow  was 
plenty,  though  too  hard  and  dry  to  work  well  in  kneading  the  dough  ; 
but  by  melting  a  portion  of  bear's  grease,  or  raccoon's  oil  with  it,  a 
compound  was  formed  that  could  be  used  to  good  advantage.  White 
lye  was  also  used  in  place  of  soda,  which  was  readily  made  by  dropping 
hot  ash  cinders  into  water.  The  cinders  were  formed  by  the  sap  of 
green  timber  dripping  from  the  end  of  burning  logs  into  hot  ashes. 
After  the  materials  were  properly  kneaded,  the  dough  was  rolled  into 
shape  to  fit  into  an  iron  skillet,  when  the  cake  was  ornamented  by 
marking  the  surface  with  the  tines  of  a  fork  into  small  diamond  shaped 
squares  and  dotting  in  the  center  with  the  same  instrument.  The 
skillet  was  set  up  to  the  hearth  before  the  fire  at  a  suitable  angle  to  al- 
low the  heat  to  strike  squarely  on  the  cake.  Live  coals  were  also 
placed  beneath  and  around  the  back  side  of  the  skillet.  In  this  manner 
the  cake  was  soon  baked  to  a  good  brown  and  healthy  color.  The 
women  were  skilled  in  this  way  of  cooking,  as  they  watched  the  bak- 
ing closely,  turning  it  around  or  over  occasionally  to  give  it  an  even 
baking.  To  ascertain  when  it  was  sufficiently  baked,  they  dumped  it 
out  on  a  bench  and  either  gave  it  a  few  taps  with  the  fingers  or  punct- 
ured it  with  a  partridge  quill,  after  which  it  was  rolled  up  in  a  dampened 
towel  to  soften  the  crust,  broken  and  served  warm  with  maple  molas- 
ses. The  elderly  people  who  were  accustomed  to  feast  on  this  kind  of 
cake  in  their  younger  days,  solemnly  declare  there  is  no  cake  made  even 
in  this  day  of  improvements  that  equals  in  flavor  their  mother's  short- 
cake baked  in  a  skillet  before  the  fire. 

During  the  second  year  the  settlers  raised  small  patches  of  corn,  po- 
tatoes, turnips,  etc.,  which  greatly  added  to  their  comfort.  The  native 
leek  that  grew  so  abundantly  in  the  woods,  filling  the  atmosphere  with 
its  odor,  was  used  during  its  season  in  place  of  onions.  The  use  of 
leeks  caused  the  breath  to  smell  very  rank,  and  the  milk  and  butter 
made  when  the  cows  fed  on  leeks  had  also  a  rank  taste  and  smell.  The 
only  way  to  tolerate  this  smell  or  taste,  as  the  settlers  used  to  say,  was 
by  "  biting  a  leek." 


102  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

During  the  third  season,  the  settlers  usually  raised  sufficient  hay  to 
winter  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  cow  or  two,  by  browsing  them  a  portion 
of  the  time  on  birch  and  basswood  tree  tops  felled  for  that  purpose. 
The  few  vegetables  that  were  raised  in  addition  to  a  small  quantity  of 
of  milk  distributed  among  the  families  of  the  neighborhood  was  highly 
appreciated.  The  deer,  at  first,  furnished  venison  for  the  greater  portion 
of  their  living  and  thus  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  pioneer,  as  this 
food  often  kept  them  from  starving.  Yet,  after  the  first  few  years,  in 
some  other  respects  the  deer  were  very  annoying,  as  they  roamed  over 
the  fields  by  night,  trampling  down  and  browsing  off  the  tender  grain, 
vegetables,  etc.,  often  to  the  entire  destruction  of  the  crops.  Their 
presence  also  drew  the  wolf,  bear  and  panther,  which  prowled  around  the 
settlements  to  the  terror  of  women  and  children.  Most  any  night  the 
scream  of  the  panther,  the  growl  of  the  bear,  and  the  howl  of  the  wolf 
could  be  heard  in  different  quarters  of  the  forest.  Families  that  were 
separated  by  a  belt  of  woods  never  visited  each  other  after  dark,  except 
on  urgent  business  or  in  case  of  sickness,  when  they  carried  a  blazing 
torch,  which  was  a  protection  against  wild  animals.  The  panther  or  wolf 
seldom  interfered  with  the  freedom  of  settlers,  except  in  case  of  extreme 
hunger,  or  being  wounded  or  having  their  young  near  by ;  there- 
fore, on  the  whole,  these  animals  were  considered  harmless.  There 
were,  however,  many  instances  of  fierce  encounters  with  wild  beasts, 
a  few  of  which   are   recorded   in  the  history  of  the  towns  herein. 

After  Mr.  Ford  had  got  his  grist  mill  in  operation  to  grind  grain  for 
the  settlers,  and  roads  cut  through  to  various  places,  emigration  was 
greatly  stimulated  thereby,  and  the  borders  of  the  various  settlements 
were  rapidly  enlarged.  Oxen,  cows,  sheep,  pigs  and  poultry  were  soon 
brought  to  the  settlements,  which  added  materially  to  the  prosperity 
and  stability  of  the  neighborhoods.  The  settlers  began  to  build  log 
houses  with  double  roofs  and  Dutch  chimneys  to  take  the  place  of  the 
shanty.  The  Dutch  chimney  was  introduced  into  the  country  by  the 
Hollanders  in  settling  Manhattan  Island,  and  was  so  well  adapted  to 
the  wants  of  the  people  living  in  a  forest  country  that  its  use  became 
general  with  all  classes  of  settlers.  As  the  introduction  of  the  log 
house  and  Dutch  chimney  was  considered  an  advanced  step  in  civiliza- 
tion over  the  rude  shanty,  it  may  be  well  here  to  give  a  description   of 


THE  PIOXEER'S  EXPERIENCE.  103 

each.  The  information  does  not  come  to  the  writer  at  second  hand,  as 
he  was  born  and  Hved  in  one  a  number  of  years.  Logs  were  selected 
that  were  uniformly  straight  and  nearly  of  a  size.  The  sills  were  laid 
on  a  few  flat  stones  and  the  floor  sleepers  being  "  sided"  were  notched 
into  them.  Each  tier  of  logs  was  locked  together  at  the  corners  by 
"V  "  shaped  notches,  and  carried  up  seven  to  eight  feet,  when  small 
peeled  logs,  straightened  one  side,  were  notched  into  the  side  walls  to 
support  a  chamber  floor.  Above  this  floor,  the  bod}'  of  the  house  was 
continued  to  four  feet  higher  to  give  chamber  room.  The  plates  were 
thoroughly  pinned  to  the  logs  beneath  and  notches  made  six  feet  apart 
termed  "  bear's  mouths  "  to  receive  jack  rafters,  which  were  elevated  to 
one-third  pitch.  Ribs  or  small  poles  were  pinned  across  the  rafters 
about  two  feet  apart  and  covered  with  long  shingles.  The  shingles  were 
"  rove  "  cooper  fashion  or  across  the  grain,  about  half  an  inch  on  the 
heart  edge  and  about  five- eighths  of  an  inch  on  the  sap  edge;  they 
were  some  fifty  inches  long,  four  to  six  inches  wide  and  laid  twenty  to 
twenty- four  inches  to  the  weather.  They  were  not  shaved,  as  it  was 
claimed  that  the  rough  surface  just  as  it  was  split,  would  shed  water  much 
better  than  if  made  smoother  and  uniform.  The  shingles  were  lapped 
one  inch  on  each  other,  the  thin  edge  on  the  thick,  clapboard  fashion, 
the  lap  side  changed  each  course,  and  fastened  with  six-penny  nails, 
which  at  that  early  day  were  wrought  by  hand  in  a  forge.  This  style  of 
shingling  was  forced  to  go  out  of  use  here  when  suitable  timber  to  make 
them  from  had  been  exhausted,  but  they  are  now  in  use  in  some  parts 
of  the  Southern  States  The  gable  ends  were  carried  up  either  with  logs 
or  boarded  up  and  down.  The  windows,  usually  three  below  and  one 
above,  were  cut  in  the  walls,  and  only  a  single  casing  on  each  side  to 
stiffen  the  walls,  and  filled  with  a  single  sash  about  two  by  three  feet, 
having  lights  either  four  by  six  inches,  or  four  and  a  half  by  seven  inches. 
The  door  was  of  the  usual  length,  but  considerable  wider  than  now 
built,  for  the  convenience  of  taking  in  large  logs  to  burn.  The  side 
jambs  served  as  casing  and  the  log  or  sill  answered  as  a  threshold. 
The  hinges  and  latch  fastening  were  similar  to  those  described  as  used 
in  the  shanties.  The  lower  floor,  when  the  settlement  was  not  near  by 
a  saw  mill,  was  made  of  split  basswood  about  three  inches  thick,  but 
the  chamber  floor  was  usuallv  made  of  inch  boards.      A   hole  about  six 


10-t  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

feet  square  and  three  feet  deep  was  dug  in  the  center  of  the  house  for  a 
cellar,  and  a  floor  plank  over  it  was  left  loose,  which  served  as  a  door. 
People  who  were  particularly  nice  hewed  the  walls  of  the  house  inside, 
and  outside  "chinked  "  the  cracks  with  splints  and  calked  with  moss, 
or  plastered  them  with  clay  morter 

The  Dutch  chimney  was  constructed  by  building  a  wall  about  ten 
feet  long  by  seven  high  in  an  opening  left  in  the  end  wall  of  the  house, 
flush  with  the  inside.  It  was  either  laid  in  clay  mortar  or  banked  up 
with  earth  on  the  outside.  A  hearth  of  flat  stone  was  laid  opposite 
this  wall  and  extended  about  six  feet  back.  The  flue  was  laid  on  girts, 
connecting  the  chamber  floor  beams  to  the  end  wall  of  the  house  over 
the  fire-place.  It  was  laid  up  with  small  split  sticks  crossing  each  other 
at  the  corners.  The  lower  end  was  about  ten  feet  by  four,  and  tapered 
up  to  the  top  to  about  two  and  a  half  by  three  feet  square,  extending 
a  few  feet  above  the  peak  of  the  house,  and  plastered  inside  and  out 
with  clay  mortar.  A  tram  pole,  usually  ironwood,  three  to  four  inches 
in  diameter,  was  placed  just  beneath  the  flue  and  parallel  with  the 
chimney  back,  resting  on  girts,  which  could  be  moved  in  or  out  to 
accommodate  the  kettles  hanging  thereon  to  the  size  of  the  fire.  There 
were  three  kinds  of  hooks  to  suspend  the  kettles  over  the  fire.  The 
primitive  one  was  a  sapling  with  a  hock  or  branch  at  one  end  to  pass 
over  the  tram  pole,  and  at  the  opposite  end  a  notch  was  cut  to  receive 
the  bail  of  the  kettle.  The  second  style  was  made  of  iron  bent  over  at 
each  end,  and  of  different  lengths  ;  by  using  several,  hooking  one  in 
the  other,  the  kettle  could  be  adjusted  to  the  desired  height  above  the 
fire.  The  third  style  was  more  expensive,  as  it  was  made  of  a  flat 
piece  of  iron  about  three  feet  long,  one  end  turned  over  to  fit  the  tram 
pole  and  the  other  turned  up  as  a  guide  for  an  adjustable  rod  to  work 
in  ;  a  piece  of  round  iron  was  of  the  same  length,  had  one  end  turned 
over  to  fit  a  kettle  bail,  and  the  other  end  was  turned  up  the  opposite 
way  to  fit  into  holes  that  were  punched  along  the  flat  part  of  the  iron. 
By  placing  the  adjustable  rod  into  a  hole,  below  or  above,  the  kettle 
could  be  readily  placed  at  proper  height  above  the  fire. 

There  soon  came  a  time  when  the  settlers  had  to  do  something  be- 
sides building  log  houses  or  procuring  food  for  their  families.  The 
clothing   which    they   brought    with    them    was   fast   wearing   out,  and 


THE  PIONEER'S  EXPERIENCE.  105 

necessity  compelled  them  to  devise  some  means  whereby  it  could  be 
replaced  ;  and,  besides,  payments  had  to  be  made  on  their  contracts  in 
order  to  hold  possession  of  their  lands.  For  a  number  of  years  after 
tlie  close  of  the  Revolutionary  W^ar  money  was  scarce  and  difficult  to 
obtain.  The  only  articles  that  commanded  cash  were  black  salts, 
square  timber  and  West  India  pipe  staves.  Merchants  in  Ogdensburg 
erected  pearling  ovens,  bought  the  salts  and  made  pearlash.  which 
article  brought  cash  in  Quebec,  Lumber  merchants  also  bought  square 
timber  and  staves  in  winter,  made  them  into  rafts,  and  in  the  spring 
floated  them  down  to  Quebec  where  they  also  brought  the  gold.  The 
merchants  paid  the  settlers  for  their  timber  and  salts  part  cash  and 
part  in  goods.  By  this  arrangement  the  settlers  could  work  during  the 
summer  and  fall  chopping  down  the  forests,  burn  the  timber  into  ashes 
and  with  it  make  black  salts  for  marketing.  This  served  a  double  pur- 
pose;  first,  by  clearing  the  land  for  a  crop,  which  was  usually  fall 
wheat,  and  second,  with  the  proceeds  of  the  salts  they  could  purchase 
clothing  and  make  small  payments  on  their  land.  In  the  winter  most 
of  the  settlers  were  engaged  in  lumbering,  and  although  not  very  re- 
munerative, yet  the  proceeds  greatly  assisted  them  to  "  make  both 
ends  meet." 

Apart  from  the  hardships  and  privations  which  the  pioneers  were  to 
endure,  it  would  appear  to  the  people  of  the  present  day  that  they 
would  be  very  lonely,  surrounded  as  they  were  by  a  dense  forest  which 
virtually  cut  them  off  from  the  outside  world.  This  was  not  the  case  ; 
they  actually  enjoyed  life  better  than  they  do  at  the  present  day,  for 
there  was  no  display  of  pompous  etiquette  to  mar  the  friendly  feelings 
which  bound  them  together  as  a  neighborhood,  wherein  each  depended 
as  it  were,  upon  the  others.  They  were  always  ready  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to  the  needy  in  sickness  or  in  health,  and  their  doors  were  ever 
open  to  welcome  the  stranger.  They  raised  flax,  and  sheep  for  wool, 
which  they  spun  into  yarn,  wove  into  cloth  and  made  into  garments, 
with  a  view  more  to  the  comfort  of  the  wearer  than  to  conform  to 
fashion.  The  social  gatherings,  apart  from  those  for  worship,  consisted 
in  frequently  going  from  house  to  house,  which  was  very  enjoyable. 
In  such  visits  they  usually  passed  their  time  in  singing,  dancing,  story- 
telling or  riddle- guessing.     The  women   and   children   were  often  con- 

14 


106  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWEENCE  COUNTY. 

veyed  to  and  from  the  place  on  sleds  or  ttavois  drawn  by  oxen.  This 
seeming  equality  of  the  people  and  their  social  and  friendly  intercourse 
existed  for  a  time,  and  until  strangers  of  some  means  came  to  the 
neighborhood,  purchased  the  improvements  of  a  few  of  the  settlers,  who 
were  thus  sent  further  into  the  wilderness.  The  places  thus  left  vacant 
in  the  neighborhood  were  filled  by  those  unaccustomed  to  pioneer  life, 
creating,  as  it  were,  a  coldness  or  indift'erence  on  the  part  of  the  new- 
comer to  entering  into  full  fellowship  with  the  pioneers.  This  caused 
distrust  on  the  part  of  the  latter,  which  grew  stronger  as  wealth  in- 
creased, and  caste  in  society  was  soon  clearly  visible  ;  this  distinction 
has  kept  pace  with  the  prosperity  of  the  country  ever  since  ;  and  hence 
the  good  old  days  of  the  pioneer's  life  have  passed  away  never  to 
return. 

The  experience  given  in  the  foregoing  narrative  is  applicable  to  most 
of  the  early  settlers  in  the  older  towns  in  the  county;  hence  it  is  not 
necessary  to  allude  to  similar  experience  in  the  history  of  the  towns. 


CHAPTER    X. 
ERECTION  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Causes  Leading  to  the  Organization  of  St.  Lawrence  County — The  Erection  Act — 
Name — Rivers — Lakes — Geology  and  Mineralogy — Mineral  Waters,  etc. — Analysis  of 
Water  from  Various  Sources — Soil  and  Timber — County  Officers  Appointed — County 
Clerk's  Office  Building — First  National  Celebration — Location  of  County  Seat — The 
First  Court  House — Hasbrouck's  House — The  State  Road. 

THE  causes  which  led  to  the  organization  of  St.  Lawrence  county 
are  set  forth  in  a  petition,  which  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of 
the  State,  and  which  possesses  much  value,  as  it  contains  the  names  of 
nearly  all  the  citizens  then  living  in  the  count}'.  Up  to  March  6,  i8oi, 
the  people  of  this  section  had  to  go  to  Montgomery,  Oneida  and  Herki- 
mer counties  to  transact  legal  business.  Owing  to  this  fact  a  petition, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  intended  as  a  preliminary  to  the  location  of 
the  county  seat  in  Lisbon,  was  made  to  the  Legislature  that  the  said  ten 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  107 

townships,  previously  described,  be  incorporated  into  one  town  by  the 
name  of  Lisbon,  and  that  the  same  may  be  annexed  to  the  county  of 
CHnton.  Lisbon  was  accordingly  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
and  a  town  meeting  held,  when  a  full  set  of  officers  was  elected.  This 
move  gave  the  people  relief  so  far  as  town  officers  were  concerned,  yet 
they  were  obliged  to  go  to  Plattsburg  to  attend  court  or  transact  busi- 
ness of  the  county.  Therefore  a  petition  was  circulated  that  fall 
throughout  the  townships  asking  the  Legislature  that  the  territory 
above  designated  be  set  off  into  a  county,  with  all  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges as  other  counties  have  in  the  State,  and  to  be  called  St.  Lawrence. 
The  petition  also  set  forth  that  one  of  the  old  stone  buildings  of  the 
Oswegatchie  Fort  could  be  used  for  a  court-house,  clerk's  office  and 
jail  until  the  county  decided  to  erect  suitable  buildings  for  that  purpose. 

The  petition  having  received  the  signatures  of  156  representative 
men  of  the  proposed  territory,  was  presented  to  the  State  Legislature 
on  February  8,  1802.  The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granted,  and 
the  act  to  erect  the  county  was  passed  March  3,   1802. 

And  it  was  further  enacted,  that  all  that  part  of  the  said  county  lying 
westward  of  the  boundary  line  of  the  townships  of  Lisbon  and  Canton, 
shall  be  and  is  erected  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Oswegatchie ;  and 
the  first  town  meeting  in  the  said  town  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Nathan  Ford  ;  and  the  said  township  of  Lisbon  and  Canton  shall  con- 
tinue and  remain  one  town  by  the  name  of  Lisbon.  And  that  all  that 
part  of  the  said  county,  known  as  the  townships  of  Madrid  and  Pots- 
dam, shall  be,  and  hereby  is,  erected  into  a  town  by  the  name  of 
Madrid  ;  and  the  first  town  meeting  in  said  town  shall  be  held  at  the 
house  of  Joseph  Edsall.  And  that  all  the  remaining  part  of  the  said 
county  shall  be,  and  hereby  is,  erected  into  a  town  by  the  name  of 
Massena  ;  and  that  the  first  town  meeting  in  the  said  town  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  of  Amos  Lay. 

And  it  is  further  enacted,  that  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the 
several  towns  erected  as  follows :  Lisbon,  Oswegatchie,  Madrid  and 
Massena,  shall  be  and  are  hereby  empowered  to  hold  town  meetings, 
and  elect  such  town  officers  as  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  any 
town  in  the  State  may  do  by  law. 

And  it  is  further  enacted,  that  there  shall  be  held,  in  and  for  the  said 
county  of  St.  Lawrence,  a  Court  of  Common   Pleas   and  General  Ses- 


108  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sions  of  the  Peace,  and  that  there  shall  be  two  terms  of  the  same  courts 
in  every  year,  to  commence  the  first  Tuesday  in  June  and  the  second 
Tuesday  in  November  in  every  year,  and  each  term  may  continue  to  be 
held  until  the  Saturday  following  inclusive.  All  having  the  same  ju- 
risdiction, powers  and  authority  in  the  same  county  as  the  Courts  of 
Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  in  other  counties  of 
the  State. 

It  was  also  enacted,  that  until  legislative  provisions  be  made  in  the 
premises,  the  said  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  shall  be  held  in  the  old  barracks  in  the  said  town  of  Oswegatchie, 
which  sliall  be  deemed,  in  law,  the  court  house  and  jail  of  the  said 
county  of  St.  Lawrence. 

And  it  was  further  enacted,  that  all  the  residue  of  the  tract  of  land 
lying  between  the  division  lines  aforesaid,  of  great  lots  numbered  three 
and  four,  and  of  great  lots  numbers  one  and  two,  in  Macomb's  pur- 
chase, and  the  north  bounds  of  Totten  and  Crossfield's  purchase,  shall, 
until  further  legislative  provision  in  the  premises,  be  considered  as  part 
of  the  town  of  Massena.  With  these  additions  to  the  ten  townships, 
comprises  the  territory  and  boundary  of  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence,  as 
hereinafter  more  fully  described. 

The  county  was  named  from  the  great  river  of  its  boundary.  The 
upper  line  begins  on  the  shore  of  Chippewa  Bay,  and  runs  north  54° 
west  44  miles  and  40  chains  ;  thence  north  89°  45'  east  25  miles  and 
36  chains;  thence  north  2P  west  60  miles  and  10  chains,  to  the  line  of 
the  St.  Regis  or  Indian  reservation,  or  about  four  miles  from  St.  Regis 
village  ;  thence  westerly  along  the  said  line  of  reservation  three  and  a  half 
miles  ;  thence  northerly,  or  at  right  angles  to  the  river  St.  Lawrence  ; 
thence  up  along  the  river  about  sixty-seven  miles  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning, containing  according  to  the  State  Gazetteer,  "  2,880  square  miles, 
or  I  743,200  acres."  The  county  lines  embrace  the  ten  original  town- 
ships and  some  six  miles  further  on  each  side  of  them  at  the  river  front ; 
also  certain  portions  of  Macomb's  purchase  as  hereinafter  described. 
The  county  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  Herkimer  and  Hamilton  coun- 
ties;  on  the  east  by  Franklin  county;  on  the  northeast  by  the  river  St. 
Lawrence,  and  on  the  southwest  by  Jefferson  county.  The  land  for 
several  miles  back   from  the    river  is  sufficiently  rolling  for  good  drain- 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  109 

age,  and  gradually  rises  toward  the  southeast  to  about  i,o8o  feet,  which 
becomes  more  rolling  or  broken  as  it  enters  the  Adirondack  region. 

The  principal  rivers  are  the  Oswegatchie,  Indian,  Grass,  Racquet 
and  St.  Regis.  The  Indian  River  rises  in  the  east  part  of  Lewis  county, 
passes  in  a  tortuous  course  into  Jefferson  county  and  across  tlie  town 
of  Rossie,  through  Black  Lake,  and  falls  into  the  Oswegatchie  about 
four  miles  above  Ogdensburg.  The  Oswegatchie  River,  East  Branch, 
rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Herkimer  county  and  flowing  northward 
through  Cranberry  Lake,  thence  westerly  across  the  south  end  of  Pierre- 
pont  and  the  northerly  end  of  Fine,  through  the  center  of  Edwards  and 
the  village,  thence  across  the  north  end  of  Fowler  into  the  town  of 
Gouverneur  and  through  the  village,  thence  northerly  across  Rossie, 
making  a  short  turn  into  Jefferson  county,  turns  north  and  back  through 
Rossie,  thence  along  the  north  line  of  Macomb,  forming  an  ox  bow, 
thence  through  the  town  of  Gouverneur,  forming  a  second  or  smaller 
ox -bow,  thence  through  De  Kalb,  and  passing  across  the  northwest 
corner  of  Canton  at  Rensselaer  Falls  to  Heuvelton,  and  bearing  west- 
erly along  the  northerly  line  of  De  Peyster  to  the  forks  or  mouth  of 
Black  Lake,  thence  to  Ogdensburg,  and  falls  into  the  St.  Lawrence 
River.  The  West  Branch  of  the  Oswegatchie  River  rises  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Lewis  county,  and  flows  across  the  western  end  of  Pitcairn, 
thence  across  the  southwest  corner  of  Edwards,  making  a  detour  into 
Fowler  by  the  village  of  Fullerville,  thence  back  of  Edwards,  through 
the  village,  and  uniting  with  the  East  Branch  at  Freemansburg,  about 
twelve  miles  below  the  village  of  Edwards. 

Grass  River  rises  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Hopkinton,  having  two 
branches  which  unite  not  very  far  from  the  western  line  of  Pierrepont, 
draining  Massawepie  Lake  and  several  other  small  ones,  passing  north- 
ward, crossing  the  towns  of  Colton  and  Pierrepont,  making  a  turn 
into  Russell  and  flowing  northerly  through  Canton  village,  thence 
across  the  corner  of  Potsdam  at  Norwood,  thence  through  the  town  of 
Louisville  and  Massena  village  and  into  the  St.  Lawrence.  A  dam  for 
a  reservoir  was  built  near  its  headquarters  several  years  ago,  which 
broke  away  and  has  not  been  replaced. 

Racquet  River  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Hamilton  county,  passes 
into  the  town  of  Hopkinton,  and  is  fed  by  several  lakes,  passing  thence 


no  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

through  the  southerly  corner  of  Parishville,  thence  across  the  northern 
corner  of  Colton,  also  across  the  northwest  corner  of  Parishville  and  the 
northeast  corner  of  Pierrepont,  thence  across  the  easterly  part  of  Pots- 
dam at  the  village,  thence  diagonally  across  Norfolk  at  the  village, 
through  to  the  easterl}^  part  of  Massena,  running  nearly  parallel  and 
within  about  a  mile  at  the  point  of  the  Grass  River,  passing  across  the 
west  end  of  the  Indian  Reservation  and  falling  into  the  St.  Lawrence. 
This  is  the  longest  stream  in  Northern  New  York,  it  being  upwards  of 
one  hundred  miles,  and  is  supposed  to  drain    about  1.200  square  miles. 

St.  Regis  River,  the  western  branch,  rises  in  the  southern  part  and  the 
eastern  branch  in  the  eastern  part  of  Franklin  county,  and  is  formed  by 
the  outlet  of  numerous  small  lakes  and  ponds.  The  easterly  branch 
enters  the  county  and  forms  the  line  between  the  towns  of  Hop- 
kinton  and  Lawrence,  crossing  the  northern  end  of  Hopkinton,  thence 
along  the  eastern  corner  of  Stockholm  to  the  O.  and  L.  C.  Rail- 
road. The  western  branch  passes  diagonally  across  Hopkinton  and 
across  the  northern  corner  of  Parishville  into  the  town  of  Stockholm, 
bearing  easterly  and  forming  a  junction  with  the  eastern  branch  at  the 
railroad  before  mentioned.  The  branches  united  pass  along  the 
northeasterly  point  of  Lawrence,  thence  through  Brasher  by  Helena 
and  crosses  the  west  end  of  the  Indian  reservation  to  the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  Deer  River  rises  in  the  southern  part  of  Franklin  county,  flows 
through  Lawrence  and  enters  the  town  of  Brasher  and  unites  with  the 
St.  Regis  River  at  Helena.  All  these  streams  have  a  rapid  descent 
from  the  highlands,  diminishing  somewhat  as  they  near  their  mouths, 
and  are  broken  by  numerous  falls  or  rapids  which  furnish  abundant 
water  power. 

Oswegatchie  and  Grass  Rivers  are  connected  by  a  natural  canal  about 
five  miles  long  at  a  point  some  six  miles  above  Heuvelton,  which  served 
in  early  days  as  a  highway  for  canoes.  The  Oswegatchie  is  a  trifle  the 
lowest,  but  the  water  flows  from  one  river  to  the  other  according  as  either 
river  rises  or  falls  first. 

Lakes  in  the  County — The  one  most  important  is  Black  Lake.  It 
commences  in  Rossie  and  forms  the  boundary  line  between  the  towns  of 
Hammond,  Morristovvn,  and  Oswegatchie  on  its  north,  and  De  Peyster 
and    Macomb  on   its    south  side.      It  is  about  twenty   miles     long,   is 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  HI 

quite  narrow  at  its  lower  end,  and  about  five  miles  wide  at  its  upper 
end.  It  covers  an  area  of  about  fifteen  square  miles.  Its  water  is  quite 
dark,  caused  by  drainage  of  peaty  swamps.  The  water  is  generally 
shallow  but  very  deep  near  the  mouth  of  Indian  River.  The  upper  end 
or  broad  part  of  the  lake  contains  numerous  islands  and  is  walled  in 
places  by  perpendicular  ledges  of  sandstone,  some  of  a  reddish  color, 
affording  in  many  localities  picturesque  and  beautiful  scenery. 

Cranberry  Lake  is  next  in  importance.  It  lies  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  township  of  Colton  and  originally  contained  about  5,000  acres. 
An  act  was  passed  April  21,  1865  (chap.  505),  for  the  purpose  of  check- 
ing freshets  and  improving  the  hydraulic  power  on  the  Oswegatchie 
River  ;  a  dam  was  erected  at  the  mouth  of  the  lake  to  raise  the  water 
twelve  to  fifteen  feet,  which  serves  as  a  reservoir.  A  tax  was  levied  on 
the  water  powers  below  according  to  the  valuation  as  assessed  by  the 
three  commissioners  who  were  appointed  by  the  county  judge.  The 
money  so  raised  was  to  pay  for  the  overflowed  land,  which  was  5,000 
acres,  to  build  a  dam,  other  expenses  and  pay  a  gate-tender.  The  first 
tax  raised  was  $1,871.  According  to  a  survey  made  by  the  commis- 
sioners in  the  summer  of  1892,  there  were  forty-seven  falls  or  suitable 
places  to  erect  dams,  and  the  most  of  these  places  have  been  utilized. 
The  lowest  of  these  is  six  feet  and  forty-three  one-hundredths,  and  the 
highest  is  164  and  twenty-one  one  hundredths  feet.  The  average  of 
these  falls  is  eighteen  and  fourteen  one-hundredths  feet.  Tupper's 
Lake  lies  partly  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  Hopkinton,  and  in  the 
county  of  Hamilton,  near  the  head  of  Racquet  River.  A  dam  was 
erected  on  the  outlet  as  a  feeder  to  the  water  power  below. 

Massawepie  Lake  lies  a  few  miles  below  Tupper's  Lake,  in  the  same 
town  ;  also  there  are  about  half  a  dozen  smaller  lakes  and  ponds  within 
a  short  distance  around  this  lake,  which  drains  into  Grass  River. 

Jordon  Lake  lies  near  the  center  of  Hopkinton  and  drains  into 
Racquet  River. 

Trout  Lake  lies  in  the  same  town  near  the  northeast  corner,  and 
drains  in  the  east  branch  of  Racquet  River.  Indian  Lake  lies  in  the 
southeast  corner  af  Parishville,  and  drains  into  Racquet  River.  In  the 
town  of  Fine  there  are  about  twelve  small  lakes  or  good  sized  ponds, 
most  of  them  draining  into  the    East  Branch  of  the  Oswegatchie. 


112  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  the  same  town  tliere  are  some  six  good  sized  ponds  which  drain 
into  the  West  Branch  of  the  Osvvegatchie.  There  are  three  lakes  in  the 
town  of  Edwards,  Bonner  and  Clear  Lakes,  and  Cedar  Lake  which  lies 
partly  in  the  town  of  Hermon.  Hermon  has  Trout  Lake,  and  a  creek 
flows  from  it  through  Gardiner's  Pond.  Yellow  Lake  lies  mostly  in 
the  town  of  Rossie,  and  partly  in  Macomb.  It  is  about  ten  miles  long. 
Pleasant  Lake  lies  in  the  west  end  of  Macomb,  and  a  second  Yellow 
Lake  lies  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  same  town,  and  drains  into  Fish 
Creek.  Mud  Lake  is  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town  of  De  Peyster 
and  drains  into  Fish  Creek. 

The  surface  of  St.  Lawrence  county  covers  so  vast  an  area  that  it 
necessarily  shows  great  variety,  from  the  highlands  of  the  Adirondacks 
in  the  southeast  to  the  champaign  region  lying  adjacent  and  parallel  to 
the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  surface  in  the  more  even  portion  is  broken  more  or  less  by  paral 
lei  ridges  of  primitive  and    secondary  formation  ;  and  the  western  por- 
tions, particularly   in   the    town    of  Rossie  and  Macomb,  are  somewhat 
hilly. 

A  very  peculiar  feature  of  the  topography  of  the  county  is  the  curi- 
ous course  which  its  principal  inland  streams  pursue.  They  all  rise  in 
the  highlands,  flow  for  about  one-half  or  more  of  their  course  directly 
towards  the  St.  Lawrence,  when  they  make  sudden  and  sometimes,  as 
is  the  case  with  the  Oswegatchie,  very  acute  angles,  and  flow  thence  to 
their  union  with  the  great  river  in  courses  almost  parallel  to  that  stream. 
The  Oswegatchie  is  an  exception,  though  in  former  times  it  connected 
by  a  sort  of  natural  canal  with  Grass  River,  as  before  mentioned,  and 
very  possibly  at  one  period  poured  its  waters  through  that  channel  to 
the  northeast.  The  reason  of  this  peculiarity  is  undoubtedly  found  in 
the  ridge  like  formations  before  spoken  of,  which  tend  generally  in  a 
northeast  and  southwest  direction.  Chippewa  Creek  rises  in  the  south- 
west part  of  Oswegatchie  and  flows  through  Morristown  and  Hammond 
into  Chippewa  Ba\',  and.  curiously  enough,  in  a  direction  exactly  con- 
trary to  that  followed  by  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  middle  and  western 
portions  of  the  county  are  somewhat  broken  by  protruding  masses  of 
the  Potsdam  sandstone.  The  northern  and  northeastern  portions  are 
generally  level  or  slightly  undulating. 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  113 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — It  has  been  conceded  by  mineralogists  that 
St.  Lawrence  county  is  unrivaled  for  the  variety  and  beauty  of  its  min- 
eral treasures.  The  southern  part  is  underlaid  by  what  is  termed 
primary  rock,  which  is  designated  by  geologists  as  the  oldest  of  the 
rocky  masses.  It  is  made  up  of  a  mixture  of  simple  materials  which 
often  shows  in  the  structure  and  mode  of  arrangement  that  they  were 
at  some  remote  period  subjected  to  the  action  of  heat.  The  constitu- 
ents of  these  primitive  rocks  are  generally  quartz,  hornblende  and  feld- 
spar, arranged  on  irregular  and  often  very  tortuous  strata  or  layers, 
which  are  usually  steeply  inclined.  This  peculiar  mixture  and  arrange- 
ment of  simple  minerals  is  denominated  gneiss  rock.  A  great  variety 
of  minerals  occurs  in  gneiss  rock  in  certain  localities,  and  it  is  a  valuable 
repository  of  lead  and  iron  ores.  The  gneiss  rock  enters  the  county 
from  Jefferson,  near  the  line  of  the  military  road  in  Hammond,  and  its 
northern  margin  runs  nearly  in  a  direct  line  to  Black  Lake,  and  forms 
all  the  islands  in  that  water,  although  the  north  shore  is  sandstone.  It 
diverges  from  the  lake  in  De  Peyster,  and  runs  across  De  Kalb,  Can- 
ton, Potsdam,  Parishville,  and  thence  onward  to  Franklin  county. 
Nearly  the  whole  of  St.  Lawrence  county  south  of  this  line  is  underlaid 
by  primary  rock.  At  the  village  of  Potsdam  the  same  rock  comes  to 
the  surface,  sometimes  resembling  an  island  of  gneiss  in  the  midst  of 
sandstone,  and  the  same  thing  is  observed  at  other  places.  However 
irregular  the  strata  of  gneiss  may  be,  it  will  generally  be  found  to  dip, 
or  slope,  down  towards  the  north,  and  is  sufficiently  covered  with  earth 
to  be  suited  for  agricultural  purposes,  but  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
county  it  occurs  in  abrupt  and  broken  ledges.  In  De  Peyster,  De  Kalb, 
Macomb,  and  Gouverneur,  white  limestone  occurs  in  abundance.  This 
stone  is  sawed  into  shape  and  is  largely  used  for  building  and  monu- 
mental purposes.  For  the  manufacture  of  lime  also  there  is  probably 
no  material  in  the  county  that  surpasses  this.  It  is  generally  in  lime- 
stone, or  along  the  line  of  its  junction  with  the  gneiss,  that  the  more 
valuable  varieties  of  minerals  occur,  which  are  so  eagerly  sought  by  col- 
lectors. 

Lying  directly  upon  the  gneiss,  or  in  some  instances  upon  the  lime- 
stone, is  a  rock  which  presents  a  great  variety  of  structure,  called  by 
geologists  Potsdam  sandstone.     This  rock  crops  out  in  the  town  of  Pots- 

15 


114  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

dam,  St.  Lawrence  county,  above  the  village.  (This  same  kind  of  stone 
is  found  in  Potsdam  Germany,  hence  the  name  "Potsdam  "  was  given 
to  the  town).  The  quarry  is  extensively  worked,  the  stone  being  used 
principally  for  trimmings.  The  sharpness  of  outline  which  it  preserves 
in  situations  where  it  has  been  exposed  to  the  weather  for  centuries,  in- 
dicates its  durability,  and  being  composed  of  nearly  pure  silex,  occasion- 
ally tinged  with  iron,  it  harbors  none  of  the  parasitic  mosses.  Walls 
made  of  this  stone  never  present  the  mouldy,  decaying  appearance, 
common  to  walls  of  limestone  in  damp  situations.  (See  history  of  town 
of  Potsdam).  This  sandstone  contains  but  few  evidences  of  organic  life, 
these  being  limited  to  obscure  fucoids  and  one  or  two  bivalve  shells. 
The  Potsdam  sandstone  is  bordered  along  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  ex- 
tending back  a  few  miles,  by  the  calciferous  sandstone,  which  presents 
at  many  places  near  Ogdensburg  definite  fossil  remains,  which  are,  how- 
ever, limited  to  a  few  species.^  Among  these  are  many  obscure  masses 
with  a  texture  that  indicates  that  they  had  been  sponges,  or  the  lower 
order  of  zoophytes.  From  an  economical  point  of  view  this  rock  (or 
blue  limestone  in  the  second  ward  of  Ogdensburg)  is  of  great  impor- 
tance, both  as  a  building  stone  and  as  material  for  lime,  for  which,  how- 
ever, it  is  inferior  for  certain  kinds  of  work  to  the  white  limestone  of 
the  primary  region,  but  as  it  partakes  somewhat  of  the  nature  of  water 
lime,  it  is  far  superior  for  stone  work,  especially  in  damp  places.  This 
blue  limestone  taken  from  the  quarries  along  the  bank  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence above  the  Oswegatchie  River  is  extensively  used  for  building  ma- 
terial, both  in  the  city  of  Ogdensburg  and  in  the  asylum  which  is  now 
being  erected  below  the  city. 

Those  above  enumerated  are  the  principal  of  our  rock  formations,  but 
over  them  all  is  more  or  less  extensively  and  very  unequally  spread 
masses  of  soil,  sand,  clay,  and  bowlders,  much  of  which  bears  evidence 
of  having  been   drifted   by  agencies  that   have  long  since  ceased    from 

•  The  writer  in  1888  had  an  opportunity  to  examine  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  outlines  of  a  fos- 
sil turtle  some  fifteen  inches  long,  which  is  shown  in  the  blue  limestone  rock  upon  the  shore  of 
Black  River,  near  Dexter,  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  The  upper  portion  of  the  body  or  shell  seems  to 
have  been  worn  away,  leaving  a  series  of  parallel  curves,  touches,  and  traverse  lines  formed  of 
white  or  yellowish  colors,  flinty  substances,  embedded  in  the  rock.  The  limestone  doubtless  was 
formed  around  the  turtle  after  which  the  cavity,  made  by  the  decay  of  the  ligaments  which  con- 
nected the  particles  of  flesh,  was  filled  by  infiltration  or  some  other  process,  thus  showing  the 
minute  formation  of  the  flesh  and  entrails  of  the  turtle. 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  115 

more  northern  localities  and  deposited  in  their  present  form.  This  has 
received  the  name  of  "  drift,"  and  its  study  forms  one  of  the  most  in- 
structive departments  of  practical  geology.  Evidences  ot  its  northern 
origin  may  be  found  in  our  ability  to  often  trace  loose  masses  of  rock 
to  the  parent  source,  and  the  polished  and  scratched  surface  of  the  rocks 
when  exposed  bears  testimony  to  the  fact  that  they  have  been  ground 
and  furrowed  by  moving  masses,  which  the  direction  of  the  scratches 
certify  was  from  a  northerly  region.  In  the  lower  part  of  the  county 
continuous  ridges,  crossing  the  river  obliquely,  maybe  traced  for  a  con- 
siderable distance.  In  some  cases  the  surface  is  thickly  studded  with 
bowlders,  which  have  been  noticed  in  continuous  trains  for  half  a  mile 
or  more,  and  groups  of  these,  usually  of  similar  material,  are  of  constant 
occurrence. 

There  is  above   the  drift  still  another  formation,  consisting  of  sands 
and  clays,  and   containing  shells    unchanged    in   texture,    and    of  the 
species  now  living  in  the  Arctic  Seas,  which  skirt  the  northern  border  of 
the  counties  eastward  from  Ogdensburg.      ?Vom  the  extensive   occur- 
rence  of  this  formation   in   the  valley  of  the  St.    Lawrence,   the  term 
"  Laurentian   Deposit  "   has   been   applied    to  it.      It  exists  in  Canada 
over  a  great  extent  of  country,  and   also  in  the  valley  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.      In  the  deep  railroad  cut  through  the  clay  bank  east  of  Ogdens- 
burg were   found    multitudes  of  fossil   shells  ;   also    shells   of  the  same 
kind  are  found  in  the   clay  banks  in  the  Second    Ward,  where  excava- 
tions are  made  for   cellars  and  wells.     The  clay  beds  at  Raymondville, 
which  have  a  peculiar  columnar  structure,  very  much  like  starch  and  no 
signs  stratification  whatever,  contain   shells   of  the  same  species,  prov- 
ing that  they  belong  to  a  marine  formation  of  a  comparatively  recent 
period.      Of  a  still  more  recent  period    are  the  bog  ores  still  fo  ming  in 
swamps;  the  deposits  of  lime  from  a  few    springs  and  detritus  brought 
down  by  rivers  and  left  at  their  mouths,  which  form  bars,  such,  for  ex- 
ample, as  the  "  rush-bed  "  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie,  and  which 
is  still  going  on  with  each  succeeding  freshet. 

Minerals. — Among  the  remarkable  features  of  primary  or  gneiss 
rock  are  trap  dykes  and  metallic  veins,  of  which  many  interesting  in- 
stances occur  in  Rossie,  especially  near  Wegatchie.  Of  metallic  veins, 
those  of  iron,  lead,  copper  and  zinc  are  the  principal,  and  of  the  first 


116  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

that  at  Rossie  is  pre-eminent.  Indefinite  reports  of  lead,  silver,  etc., 
based  upon  Indian  traditions,  were  common  among  the  early  pro- 
prietors, and  much  effort  was  made  to  discover  the  localities  where  they 
existed.  Among  these  a  lead  mine  was  said  to  exist  up  the  Os- 
wegatchie,  near  the  Eel  Weir.  It  was  said  that  Indians  would  go  up 
the  river  in  bark  canoes  and  return  in  very  short  time  with  the  lead. 
Isaac  C.  Page,  an  uncle  of  the  Page  brothers  of  this  city,  claimed  to 
know  the  locality  of  this  lead  mine,  but  he  was  put  under  an  obligation 
by  the  Indians  to  not  reveal  it,  which  vow  he  faithfully  kept  to  the  day 
ofhis  death.  At  the  mines  on  Black  Lake  at  Mineral  Point  zinc  blende 
occurs  in  considerable  quantities  ;  as  it  also  does  to  some  extent  with 
the  galena  in  Macomb  Mine.  Copper  ore  was  found  in  the  southerly 
part  of  Canton  in  the  white  limestone,  and  contained  occasional  crystals 
of  brown  tourmaline.  It  was  the  yellow  sulphuret  of  copper,  and  it 
formed  a  regular  vein  one  foot  in  width  in  some  places,  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  iron  pyrites  and  occasional  stains  of  green  and  blue  carbon- 
ates of  copper.  The  calciie  of  this  place  was  at  times  found  in  crystals 
of  huge  proportions  coated  with  minute  crystals  of  pearl  spar.  The 
iron  ore  is  more  abundant  than  that  of  other  metals.  There  are  three 
distinct  varieties,  differing  essentially  in  geological  age,  chemical  char- 
acter, mineral  associates,  and  the  quantities  of  iron  which  they  pro- 
duce. These  are  the  primitive,  or  magnetic,  the  specular  and  the  bog 
ores.  The  former,  although  of  greater  abundance,  mostly  occurs  in 
sections  yet  unsettled  and  difficult  of  access.  It  is  this  variety  of  ore 
that  is  largely  wrought  in  Clinton  and  Essex  counties,  and  it  forms  the 
wealth  of  Sweden.  So  far  as  known,  it  is  interstratified  with  gneiss. 
Its  mineral  associates  are  few,  being  quartz,  pyrites  and  pyroxene  from 
its  being  magnetic.  The  specular  ores  are  so  called  from  the  splendid 
luster  of  the  crystals  which  occur  in  two  varieties.  The  least  impor- 
tant of  these  is  the  crystalline  variety  occuring  in  gneiss  and  white  lime- 
stone, often  beautifully  crystallized  in  plates  and  of  variable  and  uncer- 
tain quantities.  It  has  not  hitherto  been  wrought  with  profit.  Quartz 
apparently  in  twelve-sided  crystals  is  usually  found  with  this  ore. 
Between  the  gneiss  and  sandstone,  and  not  elsewhere,  occurs  a  red 
compact  ore,  chemically  like  the  last  named,  but  so  unlike  it  to  the  eye 
as  not  to  be  classed  with  it ;  and  this  has  hitherto  been  the   ore  most 


ERECTION  OP  THE  COUNTT.  117 

largely  used  in  St.  Lawrence  and  Jefferson  counties  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron.  The  ore  occurs  in  the  hills  of  moderate  elevation  and  lies  di- 
rectly upon  the  gneiss  rock.  These  red  ores  impart  their  color  to 
whatever  comes  in  contact  with  them  and  make  a  durable  paint  for 
outside  work  when  finely  ground.  Paint  from  this  ore  is  successfully 
manufactured  at  the  present  time  in  Ogdensburg.  These  ores  are 
never  crystallized,  but  occur  in  every  variety  of  lamellar,  slaty,  botry- 
oidal,  and  pulverulent  forms,  and  in  some  cases  cavities  are  found  lined 
with  beautiful  and  peculiar  crystallization  of  carbonate  of  lime,  spathic 
iron,  heavy  spar,  aragonite,  quartz,  iron  pyrites,  and  more  rarely  cacox- 
ene  of  chalcodite  and  millerite,  the  latter  being  the  rarest  and  most 
beautiful  of  its  associates.  It  occurs  in  one  of  the  localities  in  brilliant 
needle  shaped  crystals,  radiating  from  a  center  like  the  fibers  of  a  thistle 
down  and  having  the  color  and  brilliancy  of  gold.  No  profitable  local- 
ity of  red  ore  occurs  east  of  the  town  of  Gouverneur.  Bog  ores  are 
rare  in  the  primary  district,  but  more  common  in  swamps  in  Madrid  and 
Norfolk  and  some  other  places.  In  favorable  localities  the  superficial 
deposits  are  renewed  after  being  dug  over,  and  thus  successive  crops 
are  obtained  once  in  a  dozen  or  twenty  years.  This  ore  makes  very 
soft,  tenacious  iron,  but  is  generally  lean,  not  yielding  more  than 
twenty  to  twenty-five  per  cent.  A  mixture  of  the  primitive  red  and 
bog  ores  in  equal  parts  was  thought  to  make  the  best  specimen  of  iron 
ever  produce  in  Northern  New  York, 

There  are  between  fifty  and  sixty  kinds  of  minerals,  valuable  in  the 
arts  or  as  cabinet  specimens,  that  may  be  gathered  in  this  locality,  and, 
one  need  not  travel  beyond  the  precincts  of  St.  Lawrence  county  to 
collect  a  cabinet  possessing  excellence  and  value  unsurpassed  by  any 
other  locality  on  this  continent.  The  specimens  occurring  in  St.  Law- 
rence county  may  be  enumerated  as  follows  : 

Agate  of  coarse  variety  occurs  with  chalcedony  near  Silver  Lake  in  Fowler. 

Albite,  or  white  feldspar,  is  a  common  constituent  of  gneiss  found  in  Gouverneur, 
Rossie  and  Fowler. 

Amethyst  (bluish  violet  or  purple  quartz)  found  in  Gouverneur  and  Rossie. 

Amphibole  (basaltic  hornblende)  occurs  frequently  in  bowlders  but  not  in  rock 
formations;  found  in  Rossie. 

Anglesite  (sulphate  of  lead)  occurs  sparingly  in  the  lead  mine  of  Rossie. 

Ankerite  (a  variety  of  dolomite  containing  iron)  occurs  in  the  iron  mines  of  Rossie; 
discovered  by  chemical  test. 


118  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Apatite  (phosphate  of  lime)  crystallized  in  six-sided  prisms,  occurs  in  the  white  lime- 
stone formation ;  its  color  is  a  delicate  green  shade  and  is  chemically  the  same  as  cal- 
cined bones,  a  strong  fertilizer. 

Asbestos,  of  a  brown  color,  with  fibres  interlocking  each  other  in  a  very  intricate 
manner  occurs  in  the  town  of  Fowler,  associated  with  rensselaerite,  talc  and  tremolite. 

Aragonite  (needle-spar)  is  found  in  the  iron  mines  near  Somerville  in  beautiful  white 
lobular  masses,  in  cavities  of  iron  ore.  This  mineral  is  sometimes  called  flos-ferri 
(flowers  of  iron). 

Autoniolite,  said  to  occur  in  Rossie,  supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  spinelle  and  identical 
with  dysluite. 

Babingtonite,  coating  crystals  of  feldspar,  said  to  occur  in  Gouverneur. 

Blende  (sulphnret  of  zinc)  associated  with  galena  at  the  lead  mines  in  Rossie  and 
other  lead  mines  in  the  county. 

Calcareous  tufa,  formed  by  the  deposits  of  carbonate  of  lime,  from  springs,  occurs  in 
Rossie  and  Gouverneur. 

Calcite  (carbonate  of  lime)  occurs  in  most  of  the  lead  and  iron  mines  in  the  county 
in  limpid  crystals  in  various  colors. 

Celestine  (sulphate  of  strontia)  in  crystals  of  a  beautiful  blue  tint  was  found  in  Coal 
Hill  Mine,  Rossie. 

Chalcedony  occurs  in  Fowler,  associated  with  calcareous  spar. 

Chlorite  occurs  in  bowlders,  but  not  in  rock  formations,  associated  with  epidote. 

Chondrodite,  with  its  usual  associate,  spinelle,  is  found  in  Rossie  in  white  limestone. 
It  is  of  every  shade  of  yellow,  inclining  to  orange  and  brown. 

Dolomite,  or  magnesian  limestone,  in  small  quantities,  associated  with  white  lime- 
stone, is  found  in  Rossie  and  Fowler. 

Dysyntribite  occurs  at  all  localities  of  red  iron  ore. 

Epidote,  granular  and  disseramated  in  chlorite,  is  common  in  bowlders. 

Feldspar  ;  this  important  constituent  of  gneiss  and  granite  occurs  abundantly  through- 
out the  primitive  region,  but  in  few  localities  of  sufficient  interest  to  merit  notice. 
Crystals  of  considerable  interest  occur  in  Rossie. 

Fluor  spar;  good  specimens  of  this  mineral  have  been  found  in  Gouverneur.  Ex- 
ternally they  were  usually  rough,  but  within  were  perfectly  transparent,  in  varying 
shades  of  green  ;  it  is  employed  as  a  flux,  also  in  making  fluoric  acid,  used  in  etching 
on  glass. 

Galena  (sulphuret  of  lead) ;  this  important  ore  occurs  in  Rossie  and  Macomb  in  suf- 
ficient quantities  to  warrant  the  working  of  the  mines.  It  has  also  been  found  in  other 
parts  of  the  county  but  not  in  such  quantities  as  to  pay  the  cost  of  working.  It  occurs 
in  veins  with  calcareous  spar.  When  crystallized  it  has  been  in  the  form  of  cubes  and 
octahedrons,  with  intermediate  modifications. 

Garnet  is  only  found  in  bowlders. 

Graphite  (carburet  of  iron)  is  a  common  mineral  in  white  limestone,  and  occurs  in 
Canton  and  Rossie. 

Green  stone  is  common  in  bowlders  and  in  dykes  in  limestone  in  Rossie. 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  119 

Hornblende,  either  in  its  proper  color  and  crystallized  form,  or  in  its  varieties,  as 
tremolite,  asbestos,  pargasite,  etc.;  it  i.s  a  constituent  of  gneiss,  and  coextensive  with 
that  rock ;   it  occurs  in  several  parts  of  the  county. 

Houghite  (named  in  the  honor  of  its  discoverer,  Dr.  Franklin  B.  Hough),  a  new 
mineral  that  occurs  near  Somerville,  associated  with  spinelle,  serpentine,  dolomite, 
phlogopite,  etc.     It  has  been  found  crystallized  in  octahedrons. 

Idocrase,  in  irregular  fluted  prisms,  occurs  in  bowlders  and  in  rocks  in  situ  in  Rossie ; 
color,  clove-brown,  opaque  and  brittle. 

Iron  pyrites  (sulphate  of  iron)  is  common,  and  possesses  much  econcmical  importance 
for  the  manufacture  of  copperas,  sulphuric  acid  and  soda  ash.  Brilliant  specimens  are 
found  in  the  Rossie  lead  mines  where  it  occurs  in  the  cavities  of  the  veins,  crystalhzed 
in  cubes  with  various  modifications,  and  possessing  a  brilliant  luster  which  is  not  liable 
to  tarnish.     It  is  found  in  iron  mines  and  often  imbedded  in  gneiss. 

Labradorite  (opalescent  feldspar)  occurs  in  bowlders.  The  best  specimens  have  been 
found  three  or  four  miles  above  the  city  of  Ogdensburg  near  the  bank  of  St.  Lawrence. 
It  takes  a  beautiful  polish  and  would  form  an  elegant  gem.  The  play  of  colors  is  vivid 
and  the  shades  mostly  green  and  blue. 

loxoclase  (feldspar  with  diagonal  cleavage),  occurs  in  Rossie  in  crystallized  form 
usually  with  feldspar.  Avhen  broken  presents  a  delicate  bluish  opalescence. 

Muscovite,  a  variety  of  black  mica,  does  not  occur  m  situ  in  this  locality,  but  is  found 
in  bowlders. 

Pargasite  (green  hornblende)  occurs  wheiever  apatite  has  been  found  in  this  locality. 
It  usually  is  crystallized  in  hexagonal   prisms,  of  a  delicate  grass  green  or   bluish  color. 

Pearl  spar  (crystallized  dolomite)  occurs  in  Rossie  in  crevices  of  limestone;  in  clus- 
ters or  crystals  ;  upon  large  dog-tooth  crystals  of  calcareous  spar. 

Phlogopite,  the  mica  of  our  white  limestone  formations,  occurs  in  numerous  localities 
and  often  of  great  beauty. 

Pyroxene  in  prisms,  occurs  in  numerous  localities  in  De  Kalb  ;  the  variety  is  white  in 
which  the  crystalline  form  is  well  exhibited. 

Quartz,  the  most  abundant  of  the  simple  minerals,  and  a  constituent  of  gneiss  and 
sandstone,  abounds  in  many  interesting  varieties  in  the  county. 

Rensselaerite,  of  various  shades  from  white  to  black  through  every  intermediate 
color,  and  varying  from  a  finely  granular  to  a  coarsely  crystalline  structure,  occurs  in 
limestone  and  gneiss  in  many  places  in  the  county.  Its  softness,  toughness,  the  beau- 
tiful gloss  which  it  readily  receives,  and  the  diversity  of  color  indicates  it  as  a  suit- 
able material  for  any  of  the  ornamental  uses  to  which  alabaster  is  applied. 

Rutile  (titanic  acid)  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  Gouverneur  and  is  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  artificial  teeth. 

Satin  spar  (fibrous  calcite)  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  seams  of  serpentine  and 
rensselaerite  in  Fowler  and  several  other  places. 

Scapolite,  in  pearly  gray  crystals  which  are  short  and  generally  terminated,  occurs  at 
the  locality  of  apatite  in  Grouverneur,  diffused  through  white  limestone. 

Serpentine  abounds  throughout  the  primary  section  of  the  county,  near  the  white 
limestone  formation.  In  Edwards  it  occurs  in  various  delicate  shades  of  green  and 
greenish  white; 


120  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Spathic  iron  (carbonate  of  iron)  is  found  in  the  iron  mines  of  Rossie  in  beautiful 
crystalline  groups,  lining  cavities  in  the  ore,  and  associated  with  calcite,  heavy  spar  and 
iron  pyrites.  The  color  is  usually  bronze  and  various  shades  of  brown,  and  the  faces 
of  the  crystals  often  wa-ped  and  usually  very  brilliant. 

Sphene  occurs  at  the  apatite  localities  in  Gouverneur  and  Rossie.  It  is  of  a  pale  red 
color,  and  in  imperfect  crystals;  its  associates  are  pargasite,  apatite,  graphite,  etc. 

Spinelle  occurs  at  the  locality  of  chondrodite  in  Rossie  and  at  the  locality  of  serpen- 
tine and  mica  in  Gouverneur;  it  has  a  pale  reddish  brown  color,  opaque  and  well 
crystallized  ;  grouped  in  clusters. 

Sulphur,  in  a  native  state,  occurs  in  concretions  around  the  iron  mines  in  Rossie 
where  it  is  formed  by  the  decomposition  of  iron  pyrites,  and  its  deposition  is  said  to  be 
due  to  the  action  of  vegetable  matter. 

Sulphate  of  barytes  is  associated  with  limestone  in  Gouverneur,  in  an  irregular  vein 
with  fluor  spar.  Externally  it  is  of  a  rusty  brown  color  and  with  irregular  attempts 
at  crystallization,  the  surface  being  covered  by  bundles  of  coarse  crystalline  fibres 
Broken  it  presents  a  pure  white  color  and  is  fibrous  and  laminated. 

Sulphuret  of  copper  has  been  procured  in  quantities  in  Macomb,  Canton  and  several 
other  towns. 

Tourmaline  of  a  reddish  brown  color  and  crystallized  is  found  imbedded  in  white 
limestone  in  Rossie,  Gouverneur  and  some  other  towns. 

Tremolite  (white  hornblende)  occurs  in  Fowler,  of  a  delicate  rose  color,  in  masses 
which  have  a  broken  crystalline  structure. 

Zircon,  much  esteemed  by  mineralogists  and  for  its  containing  zirconium,  one  of  the 
rarest  of  .he  mineral  elements,  occurs  at  the  apatite  locality  in  Rossie,  in  square  prisms, 
sometimes  terminated  by  pyramids.  It  is  of  a  brownish  red  color,  in  small  crystals  and 
transparent,  valuable  as  a  gem. 

The  preceding  description  of  the  various  kinds  of  minerals,  specimens 
of  which  have  been  procured  in  the  rocky  fonnation  of  St.  Lawrence  coun- 
ty, is  given  in  condensed  form.  In  its  preparation  the  writer  has  quoted 
freely  from  the  work  of  Dr.  Franklin  B.  Hough,  who  also  drew  largely 
from  the  American  Journal  of  Science  and  the  reports  of  the  American 
Association  from  1849  to  1851;  also  from  articles  upon  geology  and 
mineralogy  contributed  by  Professors  Shepard,  Dana,  Johnson  and 
others. 

The  drift  which  covers  the  rocky  formation  of  this  county  and  the 
Laurentian  deposit,  alluded  to  in  the  preceding  pages,  contains  a  large 
percentage  of  the  various  kinds  of  minerals,  which  were,  doubtless,  pul- 
verized and  deposited  during  the  glacial  period.  We  find  no  elaborate 
account  of  this  theory  by  geologists,  but  a  reasonable  conclusion  that 
such  is  a  fact,  may  be  reached   in  a  careful  test  of,  the  waters  from  the 


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ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  121 

various  springs  and  deep  wells  in  this  section  of  the  county,  as  nearly 
all  are  more  or  less  impregnated  with  minerals  of  some  kind. 

Mineral  Waters,  etc. — Water  is  composed  of  two  gases,  oxygen  and 
hydrogen,  and  is,  when  pure,  free  from  smell  or  taste.  From  the  fact 
of  its  being  the  most  universal  solvent  known,  it  is  rarely  obtained  in 
this  condition,  as  it  attracts  to  itself  more  or  less  from  all  substances 
with  which  it  comes  in  contact.  Many  springs  and  wells  are  highly 
charged  with  certain  minerals,  alkaline  and  salts,  which  often  impart  to 
the  water  medicinal  and  salubrious  qualities.  The  ocean  aggregates 
them  all,  and  in  its  composition  are  found:  chlorine,  iodine,  bromine, 
sulphurs,  carbon,  soda,  magnesia,  potash,  chalk,  iron,  fluorine,  phos- 
phorus, nitrogen,  silicon,  boron,  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead,  zinc,  cobalt, 
nickel  and  manganese. 

The  following  is  an  analysis  of  the  water  taken  eleven  hundred  and 
ten  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  Dead  Sea,  gravity  1,227  • 

Chloride  of  calcium.' 3.107 

Chloride  of  magnesium 14.889 

Chloride  of  sodium 7.855 

Chloride  of  potassium 0.658 

Sulphate  of  lime 0.070 

Bromide  of  potassium. ,    .    0.137 

The  water  from  some  springs  and  wells,  though  having  the  appear- 
ance of  being  pure,  is  yet  so  impregnated  with  mineral  substances  as 
to  render  it  wholly  unfit  for  domestic  use.  A  spring  in  the  town  of 
Macomb  not  far  from  the  State  road,  and  near  the  lead  mines,  sends 
forth  bright  and  sparkling  water,  yet  man  and  beast,  after  drinking  it 
freely  are  seized  with  griping  pains  and  manifest  all  the  symptoms  of 
being  poisoned.  A  well  was  sunk  by  Page  Brothers  a  few  years  ago 
on  the  Canton  road  just  outside  the  city  limits.  A  stratum  of  about 
twenty-five  feet  of  gray  clay  was  passed  when  a  dark  colored,  fine, 
salvy  sand  was  reached  and  water  obtained,  which  had  such  a  peculiar 
taste  and  smell  that  it  was  rejected  for  culinary  purposes.  The  water, 
however,  was  used  in  the  stable,  and  shortly  afterward  two  of  their 
cows  sickened  and  died.  The  veterinary  surgeon  pronounced  it  lead 
poison,  caused  by  drinking  the  water  in  this  well.  The  water  in  the 
Page  well  and  that  in  the  Macomb  spring  doubtless  leaches  through 
mineral  of  some  kind,  probably  a  stratum  of  sulphuret  of  lead.  The 
10 


122  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

water  from   most  of  the  wells  and   springs   in   this  vicinity  is  charged 
with  salts  of  lime  or  magnesia. 

The  noted  Cold  Spring  flowing  out  at  the  base  of  a  thirty  foot  bank  of 
drift,  just  above  the  upper  iron  bridge  over  the  Oswegatchie  at  Ogdens- 
burg,  has  furnished  drinking  water  to  the  inhabitants  in  this  vicinity 
from  the  earliest  settlement  to  the  present  time.  This  spring  water  has 
always  been  regarded  as  the  most  wholesome  of  any  in  the  place  ;  yet 
when  it  has  evaporated  it  leaves  a  sediment  which  under  the  microscope 
shows  mineral  matter  of  a  light  gray  color,  in  which  the  salts  of  lime 
largely  predominate.  In  removing  from  the  surface  about  four  feet  of 
of  rubbish  where  the  river  had  formerly  cut  into  the  bank,  a  spring  has 
recently  been  discovered  about  six  rods  above  the  Cold  Spring,  the 
water  from  which  is  clear,  of  a  bluish  tint,  is  four  degrees  warmer  than 
the  Cold  Spring,  and  has  a  brackish  though  not  unpleasant  taste.  A 
light  colored  or  gray  deposit  is  formed  on  the  grass  over  which  the 
water  flows;  and  also  in  a  glass  after  standing  a  short  time.  When 
freely  drank  this  water  is  a  cathartic  and  diuretic.  A  well  has  recently 
been  sunk  on  Spruce  street  about  twelve  feet  deep  in  clayey  ground. 
The  water  is  clear  and  cold,  and  rises  within  three  or  four  feet  of  the 
surface.  It  has  a  sulphurous  taste  and  smell.  A  well  sunk  upon  the 
Read  farm  about  two  miles  up  the  lake  road  affords  sulphurous  water; 
also  a  spring  about  half  a  mile  above  this  well,  on  the  Lyons  farm, 
near  the  Oswegatchie  River,  and  still  another  farther  up  the  river  bank 
on  the  Denney  tract.  These  are  all  strongly  impregnated  with  sulphur, 
and  the  taste  and  smell  of  their  waters  is  due  doubtless  to  the  pyritous 
soil  through  which  they  leach. 

Laurentian  Well. — The  water  from  this  well  is  clear  and  nearly  in- 
odorous, and  is  claimed  by  many  to  possess  medicinal  qualities.  An 
analysis  of  the  water  made  by  E.  Walker,  Ph.D.,  School  of  Mines, 
Columbia  College,  New  York,  is  as  follows  : 

231  cubic  in.  U.  S.  gallon. 

Sodium  chloride  (grains) 8.549 

Definition. — Sodium  from  .soda,  a  yel'owish  white  metallic  element,  soft  like  wax  and 
lighter  than  water.  Chloride,  or  chlorine,  is  a  heavy  gas  of  greenish  color  ;  it  has  a  disa- 
greeable suffocating  odor,  and  is  destructive  of  life  ;  is  a  constituent  of  common  salt, 
making  sixty  parts  of  it  by  weight,  and  with  hydrogen  forms  hydrochloric  acid.  It  is  a 
powerful  bleaching  and  disinfecting  agent. 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COtJNTY.  123 

Sodium  bicarbonate 3.908 

Bicarbonate  is  a  carbonate  containing  two  equivalents  of  carbonic  acid  to  one  of  base  ; 
one  of  super-carbonates 

Calcium  bicarbonate 4.741 

Calcium  is  a  metallic  basis  of  lime. 

Barium  bicarbonate Trace. 

Barium  is  the  metallic  basis  of  baryta  or  barea,  which  is  an  oxide  or  barium.  (Earthy 
salts  or  heavy  spar. ) 

Ferrous  bicarbonate 0.723 

Ferrous,  partaking  of  iron,  made  of,  or  pertaining  to  iron ;  like  iron. 

Calcium  sulphate 35.691 

Sulphate,  brimstone  sulphur,  a  salt  formed  by  sulphuric  acid  in  combination  with  any 
base  ;  as  sulphate  of  lime. 

Magnesium  sulphate 20.854 

Magnesium  is  the  undecomposable  metallic  base  of  magnesia;  magnesia,  the  magnet, 
also  a  mineral  that  looks  like  silver,  a  kind  of  talc  ;  is  an  earth  ;  the  oxide  of  magnesium. 
It  occurs  in  nature  as  periclase,  (meaning  a  grayish  or  dark  green  mineral),  consisting  of 
magnesia  with  a  small  proportion  of  protoxide  of  iron. 

Potassium  sulphate 3.266 

Potassium  is  a  bluish  white,  lustrous  metal,  havmg  a  strong  affinity  for  oxygen,  with 
which  it  forms  potassa  ;  it  is  lighter  than  water.  Potassa  is  pure  potash  or  protoxicall  of 
potassium. 

Sodium  phosphate Trace. 

Is  a  salt  formed  by  the  combination  of  phosphoric  acid  with  a  satisfiable  base.  (Or  by 
combine  with  an  acid.) 

Alumina 0.286 

One  of  the  earths,  consisting  of  two  parts  of  aluminum  and  three  parts  of  oxygen,  or  an 
ingredient  of  common  clay. 

Sihca 1.020 

Pertaining  to  or  obtained  from  flint  or  quartz.  When  pure  it  is  a  light  white  powder, 
which  feels  rough  when  rtibbed  between  the  fingers.     It  is  both  inodorous  and  insipid. 

Organic  and  volatile .    .  .    1 0.835 

Organic  matter  is  the  remains  of  animal  or  vegetables.  Volatile  is  that  capable  of 
wasting.  A  substance  which  affects  the  smell  with  pungent  and  fragrant  odor,  or  washes 
away  on  exposure  to  the  atmosphere. 

Total  grains  in  a  gallon 89.872 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  cubic  inches 78.7 

Carbonic  acid  is  composed  of  one  part  of  carbon  and  two  parts  of  o.^ygen.  In  its  ordi- 
nary condition  it  is  a  gas,  but  it  may  be  reduced  to  a  liquid  or  solid  state  by  cold  and 
pressure.  It  is  a  heavy  gas,  totally  unfit  for  respiration.  Water  will  absorb  its  own  vol- 
ume of  it,  and  more  than  this  under  pressure  ;  and  in  this  state  it  becomes  the  common 
.soda  water  of  the  shops,  and  the  carbonated  water  of  natural  springs  Combined  with 
lime  it  constitutes  limestone,  or  common  marble  and  chalk.  The  definitions  given  in  the 
preceding  tests  of  the  various  kinds  of  minerals  will  save  the  reader's  time  in  looking  up 
and  will  serve  in  a  measure  for  those  to  follow. 


124  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Massena   Springs. — The   following   analysis   of  the    Massena   Spring 

water  was  made  by  Prof.   Fred   F.    Mayer,   of  the  New  York  College 

of  Pharmacy.     This  spring  has  for  the  past  few  years  been  somewhat 

noted  for  the  medicinal  qualities  of  its  water,   therefore  we  give  the 

analysis   that  a  comparison  may   be  readily   made    with   tests   of  other 

waters  in  the  vicinity  of  Ogdensburg  or  county. 

231  cubic  inches  in  one  gallon 

Grains. 

Chloride  sodium 79,792 

Chloride  potassium 0,508 

Chloride  magnesium 29,627 

Bromide  magnesium 0.673 

Bicarbonate  lime 4,852 

Bicarbonate  iron 0,488 

Sulphate  lime 60,931 

Sulphate  soda 3,500 

Phosphate  soda 1,320 

Hyposulphate  soda 4,205 

Sulphurate  sodium 1,405 

Silicate  soda.and  organic  compound 11,176 


198,477 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen,  per  gallon  5,307  cubic  inches 

The  Brewery  Artesian  Well. — An  analysis  of  the  water  from  the 
artesian  well  at  the  Arnold  brewery  on  Main  street,  Second  ward,  in 
Ogdensburg,  was  made  by  Charles  L  Davis,  University  of  Michigan, 
Ann  Arbor.  This  well  was  drilled  upwards  of  lOO  feet,  through  or 
nearly  through  the  gray  limestone  rock  overlying  a  stratum  of  gneiss, 
the  formation  of  which  antedates  the  era  of  animal  and  vegetable  life. 
Hence  the  water  is  free  from  organic  matter,  and  shows  but  a  small 
quantity  of  mineral  substances.  The  following  analysis  clearly  indi- 
cates that  the  water  from  this  well  is  the  purest  of  any  in  this  section  of 
country. 

Sodium  chloride,  (grains  in  1  gallon) 1.36 

Calcium  sulpliate 2.13 

Magnesium  sulphate .98 

Calcium    carbonate .  4.75 

Magnesium  carbonate 8.72 

Ferrous  carbonate,  (iron) .51 

Alumina  and  phosphates   traces 

Silica 44 

Organic  matter .00 


Total  grains  per  gallon l^iVo 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 


125 


Analyses  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Oswegatchie  Rivers. — The  following 
analyses  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Oswegatchie  River  waters,  made  by 
Professor  Chandler,  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  water-works  in 
Ogdensburg,  is  taken  from  Dr.  Morris's  report  to  the  State  Medical 
Society  in  1877.  The  St.  Lawrence  water  was  taken  in  the  current, 
outside  of  the  light-house,  and  the  Oswegatchie  water  from  below  the 
dam,  in  the  fall  of  1876.  Previous  to  these  tests  it  was  generally  be- 
lieved (and  the  same  opinion  is  held  by  many  at  the  present  time)  that 
the  St.  Lawrence  water  is  preferable  to  the  Oswegatchie  for  culinary 
purposes.  The  test  shows  that  the  Oswegatchie  water  contains  about 
one- third  less  grains  of  matter  per  gallon  than  that  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 
For  this  reason,  and  on  account  of  the  excellent  washing  qualities  of  the 
Oswegatchie  water,  the  latter  was  chosen  for  the  city  use. 

Table  of  Test,    1876. 


Total  sold  impurity 

Lime  as  carb.  or  bicarb 

Lime  as  suphate 

Magnesia  as  phos.  and  carb 

Organic  matter 

Silicate  soda  and  potasste 

Iron 

Alumina 

Chloride  sodium 

Ammonia 

Nitrogen  as  nitrate  and  nitrites. 


Hardness  (Clark's  test) , 
Hardness  after  boihng.  . 


St.  Lawrence 
River. 

Oswegatchie 
River. 

Parts 

Grains 

Parts   1  Grains 

m 

ICXD.OOO. 

per 
Gallon. 

12.6 

m 

loo.oco, 

per 
Gallon. 

1.1662 

.8793 

9.5 

.0506 

5.49 

.2887 

3.52 

.1092 

1.18 

.0740 

.8 

.1157 

1.25 

.0786 

.85 

.1878 

2.U3 

3609 

3.9 

.1343 

2.1 

.0518 

.56 

trace 

.0185 

■2f 

none 

none 

.0481 

.52 

.0027 

.0:! 

none 

none 

.  0027 

.03 

.0037 

.04 

25.20 

19.00 

8de 
6de 

grees 

2*de 
2    de 

^rees 

or. 

The  dissatisfaction  with  the  Oswegatchie  water  for  culinary  purposes 
had  become  so  intense  that  the  water  commissioners  took  steps  to  have 
suction  pipes  of  the  water- works  extended  up  the  river  beyond  the 
cemetery  to  the  railroad  bridge,  with  a  view  a  view  of  obtaining  more 
wholesome  water.  And  in  order  to  determine  this  point  they  had  the 
water  analyzed.  May   21,    1887,  by  Mr.  Albert  R.    Leeds,    professor  of 


126 


HISTORY  OV  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 


chemistry  at  the  Stevens  Institute  of  Technology,  Hoboken,  N.  J.  Two 
samples  of  water  were  supplied  for  the  test ;  one  taken  from  the  river  at 
the  railroad  bridge  above  the  dam,  and  the  other  drawn  from  the  tap  in 
the  city.     The  following  table  shows  the  results  : 

Analysis  of  i88y. 


From  bridge,  color   3.0,   taste   si 

slight. 
From  tap,  color  3.25  taste  not  plea 

slight. 

gilt,  smell 
saut,  smell 

TAKEN  AT  K.  R.  BRIDGE. 

TAKEN  FROM  TAP. 

Parts  in 

100,000. 

Grains 
per  gallon. 

Parts  in 

100,000. 

Grains 
per  gallon. 

Free   ammonia 

0.0035 

0.0190 

1.145 

none 

0.104 

0.350 

2.600 

5.100 

1.900 

3.200 

5  439 

0.00495 
0.011 
0.6677 
none 
0.0585 
0.204 
1.516 
2.97 
1.10 
1.80 

0.006 
0.016 
1.030 
none 
0.0G26 
0.350 
2.730 
6.0 
2.5 
3.5 

5 

1.' 
11. 

0   0036 

Albuminoid  ammonia 

0  0093 

Oxygen  required  to  oxidize  organic  matter. . 
Nitrites   

0.6000 
none 

Nitrates 

0  0365 

Chlorine 

0  204 

Total  hardness 

1  590 

Total  solids 

3  499 

Mineral  matter 

1  450 

Organic  and  volatile  matter 

2  040 

Oxygen  dissolved  in  1  litre 

8.33215 

n  c 

9.4688 
189 

Carbonic  acid 

2.469      " 
11.780     " 

185 

Nitrogen 

140 

Total  gases 

19.688     " 

17. J 

323 

The  following  letter  accompanied   the   report  of  the  test  of  the  two 
samples  of  water  and  is  the  interpretation  of  the  results: 

Neither  the  sample  taken  from  the  railroad  bridge  nor  from  the  tap  is  of  satisfactory 
quality.  That  taken  from  the  bridge  contains  too  much  nitrogenous  matter,  capable  of 
undergoing  decomposition  and  oxidation,  to  be  regarded  as  water  suitable  for  domestic 
supply.  There  has  been  some  matter  added  to  the  water  taken  from  the  tap,  which 
gives  it  an  unpleasant  taste,  and  after  standing  for  twelve  hours  at  a  temperature 
of  seventy  degrees,  it  had  an  oEfensive  smell.  These  matters  caused  the  water 
taken  from  the  tap  to  have  a  somewhat  greater  hardness  than  the  other  sample. 
The  quantity  of  total  solids  held  in  solution  is  also  greater  and  the  total  amount  of  or- 
ganic and  volatile  bodies.  It  contains  a  smaller  quantity  of  oxygen  and  total  gases 
in  solution  than  the  river  water,  but  in  this  respect  neither  is  water  of  good  qual- 
ity. That  taken  from  the  tap,  if  properly  aerated,  so  as  to  raise  the  amount  of 
oxygen  and  thereby  oxidize  the  sewage  matter  and  take  out  the  color,  and  filtered 
so  as  to  remove  the  extraneous  solids,  it  would  be  ninety  per  cent,  better  in  qual- 
ity than  that  taken  from  the  river,  and  it  would  be  bright,  sparkling  and  wholesome. 

Signed,  Albert  R.  Leeds,  Ph.  D. 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  127 

Explanation  of  technical  terms. — Color.— One  degree  of  color  is  the  same  tint  of  yel- 
low as  is  struck  by  0.01  part  of  ammonia  in  100,000  parts  of  water,  when  treated  with 
the  Nesster  test.     The  test  is  always  applied  after  filtration. 

Free  ammonia.  —  This  is  derived  from  decaying  organic  matter  containing  nitro- 
gen, from  sewage,  or  from  slirface  rain  water. 

Albuminoid  ammonia. — This  is  the  measure  of  that  portion  of  the  organic  matter 
which  contains  nitrogen,  and  which,  while  not  as  yet  decomposed,  is  capable  of  un- 
dergoing putrefactive  decomposition.  In  the  course  of  this  decomposition  it  yields 
ammonia. 

Oxygen  required  to  oxidize  organic  matter. — The  amount  of  organic  matter  which 
is  capable  of  undergoing  decomposition  is  measured  by  the  amount  of  oxygen  re- 
quired to  effect  its  oxidation  at  112  degrees. 

Nitrites  and  Nitrates. — The  former  measure  the  nitrogenous  organic  matter  which 
has  undergone  by  natural  process  partial  oxidation ;  the  latter  that  which  has  under- 
gone complete  oxidation.  In  themselves  they  are  harmless,  but  their  determination  is 
of  service  by  way  of  indicating  the  amount  of  previous  contamination.  The  nitrites 
are  estimated  as  nitrous  anhydride  (Na  Oa)  the  nitrates  as  nitric  anhydride  (Na 
0.). 

Chlorine. — An  excess  of  chlorine  over  the  amount  regularly  found  in  the  good  water 
of  any  particular  locality,  indicates  possible  contamination  by  sewage.  The  limit  in  in- 
land wells,  where  the  water  does  not  acquire  its  chlorine  from  soluble  chlorides,  natur- 
ally presents  in  the  geological  formation  through  which  the  well  is  sunk,  two  grains  per 
gallon. 

Hardness. — Hard  water  will  yield  a  lather  with  soap  only  when  all  the  lime  and  mag- 
nesia salts  present  have  been  thrown  down  by  the  soap  in  the  form  of  an  insoluble 
compound.  Hardness  may  be  either  temporary  or  permanent;  the  former  ma}'  be 
removed  by  boiling,  the  latter  is  not.  No  diminution  of  hardness  occurs  on  boiling, 
when  the  amount  of  lime  and  magnesia  present  as  carbonates  is  less  than  1.75 
grains  per  gallon,  or  when  the  lime  and  magnesia  exist  in  the  form  of  sulphates  and 
chlorides.  Hardness  is  measured  in  degrees,  a  degree  standing  for  the  hardness  which 
would  be  given  to  the  water  by  one  grain  of  carbonate  of  lime  disssolved  in  one  gallon. 
Soft  water  is  water  under  five  degrees  of  hardness.  The  greatest  hardness  allowable 
in  good  water  is  fifteen  degrees.  November  1,  1882.  the  Croton  water  was  two  de- 
grees, .86 ;  the  Passaic  water  three  degrees,  .85. 

Solids. — The  total  solids  should  not  exceed  ten  grains  per  gallon,  on  account  of  the 
hardness  which  usually  results  from  excess  of  mineral  matter.  In  river  water  the  or- 
ganic and  volatile  matter  should  always  be  small  in  amount  as  compared  with  mineral 
matter.  In  the  Passaic  water,  as  delivered  in  Newark  and  Jersey  City,  the  ratio  is 
about  1  to  3,  which  is  already  too  high  as  compared  with  the  same  water  in  its  unpol- 
luted condition.  In  wells  the  ratio  should  be  much  smaller  and  should  not  exceed  1 
to  10.  The  total  solids  are  determined  after  drying  at  110  degrees  Centigrade ;  the 
organic  and  volatile  matter  after  heating  to  low  redness. 

Other  data.— When  required  for  judgment  the  twelve  preceding  data  are  particularly 
specified  as  being  those  which  are  essential  to  the  formation  of  a  sound  judgment  upon 


128  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  potability  of  a  water  and  its  fitness  for  technical  use.  As  a  general  rule  their 
determination  will  be  sufficient.  But  when  such  is  not  the  case,  the  analyst  will  not 
restrict  himself  to  their  determination,  but  will  add  other  data  essential  to  the  settle- 
ment of  every  reasonable  doubt.  The  decision  as  to  the  character  of  the  water  in- 
volve? a  very  grave  responsibility,  inasmuch  as  a  hastily  formed  and  inaccurate  judg- 
ment may  lead  to  wide-spread  sickness  among  those  drinking  the  water,  or  the  intro- 
duction of  a  water  into  manufactories  where  it  may  impair  the  steam  boilers,  or  de- 
teriorate the  quality  of  the  goods  in  whose  manufacture  it  is  used. 

The  mineral  and  organic  matter  in  the  St.  Lawrence  water  does  not 
materially  change  from  one  season  to  another,  owing  to  its  even  and 
abundant  flow  throughout  the  year.  But  in  small  streams  like  the  Os- 
wegatchie,  affected  so  easily  by  droughts  or  freshets,  the  mineral  and 
organic  matter  then  contain  changes  somewhat  in  proportion  to  the 
flow  of  water  in  the  stream  ;  therefore  no  two  tests  of  the  water,  if  taken 
at  different  seasons,  either  at  high  or  low  depths,  would  be  exactly 
alike.  The  test  of  the  two  samples  of  water  before  alluded  to  satisfied 
the  commissioners  that  it  was  needless  expense  to  extend  the  suction 
pipes  of  the  water  works  up  the  river  to  obtain  more  wholesome  water. 
Therefore  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  called  to  take  action  upon  a 
proposition  to  erect  an  apparatus  at  the  water  works  for  the  purpose  of 
properly  aerating  and  filtering  the  water,  at  which  meeting  the  proposi- 
tion failed  to  receive  the  endorsement  of  a  majority  of  the  citizens  and 
tax-payers.  The  necessity  to  filter  or  otherwise  to  purify  the  water 
used  in  the  city  for  drinking  and  ciilinary  purposes  is  growing  more  ap- 
parent year  by  year.  The  lead  pipes  first  used  (at  the  erection  of  the 
water  works)  for  conveying  the  water  supply,  have  become  so  much 
corroded  by  the  action  of  the  water  as  to  make  them  unfit  for  conduits, 
and  their  further  use  dangerous  to  the  public  health,  from  the  fact  that 
they  will  become  a  source  of  lead  poisoning.  The  acid  reaction  which 
renders  water  capable  of  dissolving  lead  may  be  due  to  the  chemical 
products  of  the  bacteria  which  are  often  found  in  water  ;  therefore,  it  is 
essential  that  some  process  should  be  adopted  to  destroy  the  germs  of 
poison,  should  such  be  found  to  exist  in  our  water  supply,  as  the  good 
health  of  a  community  depends  largely  upon  tiie  water  it  uses. 

Soil  and  Timber. — The  soil  of  St.  Lawrence  county  is  considerably 
varied  in  its  quality  of  fertility.  The  soils  of  a  district  are  said  to  re- 
semble and  partake  to  a  certain  extent  of  the  nature  of  the  rocks  over 
which  they  lie,  as  the  disintegrated  and  decomposed  particles,  together 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  129 

with  the  vegetable  and  animal  remains,  form  the  soil.  Yet  the  debris 
of  the  different  beds  of  rock  are  more  or  less  mixed  together  by  the 
action  of  the  water  in  the  denuding  the  surface  at  one  part  and  carry 
ing  it  in  greater  or  smaller  quantities  to  another.  Thus  the  fertility  of 
the  soil  on  the  higher  grounds  from  which  the  earthly  particles  are 
washed,  is  found  to  be  very  different  from  that  of  the  valleys  to  which 
these  particles  are  carried.  Therefore,  in  a  district  of  sandstone  the  soil 
is  usually  sandy,  and  in  one  of  limestone,  slate,  or  shale,  it  is  more  or 
less  calcareous  and  clayey,  which  may  be  designated  from  their  compo- 
sition as  clays,  loams,  sandy,  gravel,  chalks  or  peats.  From  the  great 
elevation  of  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  the  action  of  the  water 
in  coursing  its  way  down  to  the  St.  Lawrence  has  materially  enriched 
the  soil  of  the  river  towns  to  such  an  extent,  that  with  proper  tillage, 
good  crops  of  grass  and  grain  may  be  relied  upon.  The  numerous 
swamps  and  low  grounds  which  were  shunned  by  the  early  settlers  as 
worthless,  have  been  drained  and  converted  into  arable  lands,  produc- 
ing heavy  crops  of  both  grain  and  grass.  The  stony  ridges  and  rocky 
ledges  are  utilized  to  good  advantage  for  grazing,  producing  sweet  and 
nutritious  grasses  on  which  animals  so  wonderfully  thrive.  St.  Law- 
rence county's  butter  and  cheese  have  gained  considerable  notoriety  in 
the  markets  of  the  world  for  their  peculiarly  good  flavor. 

At  an  early  day  most  of  the  country  was  covered  with  valuable  tim- 
bet,  such  as  white  and  black  oak,  rock  elm,  pine,  cedar,  hemlock  and 
spruce ;  also  rock  maple,  soft  maple,  basswood,  white  and  black  ash, 
bastard  and  water  elm,  and  various  other  kinds  of  wood  that  usually 
grow  in  our  northern  latitude. 

County  Officers  Appointed. — The  county  being  thus  established  as  de- 
scribed at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  Nathan  Ford  was  appointed 
judge,  John  Tibbitts,  jr.,  and  Stillman  Foot  associate  justices,  and  Louis 
Hasbrouck,  county  clerk.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  kept  the  clerk's  office  in  his 
house  situated  on  the  diamond  square,  which  he  bought  for  a  guinea, 
and  the  first  record  made  in  the  books  is  dated  May  29,  1802.  The 
first  court  held  in  the  county,  and  presided  over  by  the  above  named 
officers,  was  convened  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  June,  1802,  in  the  old 
barracks. 1 

'  It  was  said  of  Mr.  Ford  that  a  worthless  fellow  was  brought  before  him  for  some  trifling  of- 
fence, and  after  hearing  the  complaint  the  judge  banished  him  oflf  the  face  of  God's  earth.    The 
17 


130  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  first  board  of  supervisors  of  St.  Lawrence  county  convened  in 
the  old  barracks  on  the  second  Monday  of  November,  i8o2,  and  con- 
sisted of  Alexander  C.  Turner,  of  the  town  of  Lisbon  and  its  territory 
in  the  rear ;  Nathan  Ford,  from  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  comprising 
the  territory  on  its  rear  and  on  the  west  of  it;  Joseph  Edsall,  from  the 
town  of  Madrid  and  the  township  of  Potsdam  ;  and  Mathew  Perkins, 
from  the  town  of  Massena  and  the  townships  or  territories  of  Hopkinton 
and  Brasher,  embracing  the  whole  of  great  tracts  2  and  3  of  Macomb's 
purchase.  The  board  of  supervisors,  consisting  of  four  members,  met 
annually  and  transacted  the  business  of  the  county  for  three  successive 
years,  when  in  1805  the  towns  of  Hopkinton  and  Canton  were  erected 
and  sent  a  superviser  to  attend  the  session.  In  the  year  following  three 
more  more  towns  were  added  to  the  list.  Since  then,  towns  have  been 
erected  from  time  to  time,  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  chapter  on 
towns,  until  the  number  now  reaches  thirty-one,  yet  there  is  sufficient 
territory  in  the  Adirondack  region  for  several  more  when  settled. 

County  Clerk's  Office  Building. — An  act  passed  by  the  Legislature 
February  12,  18 13,  authorized  the  board  of  supervisors  to  raise  a  tax 
not  to  exceed  $900,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  fire  proof  clerk's  of- 
fice. Owing  to  jealousies  in  regard  to  the  pifblic  buildings  being 
located  in  Ogdensburg,  the  supervisors  delayed  to  pass  a  resolution  to 
raise  money  for  the  erection  of  the  clerk's  office  until  October,  1821, 
when  the  sum  of  $500,  was  raised  for  that  purpose,  and  Louis  Has- 
brouck,  David  C.  Judson  and  Bishop  Perkins  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  erect  the  building.  In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  resolution, 
a  stone  building  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Ford  and  Green  streets, 
in  Ogdensburg. 

The  First  National  Celebration. — The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration 
in  Odgensburg,  if  not  in  the  county,  was  in  1802,  at  the  old  barracks. 
A  large  number  of  settlers  came  in  from  the  various  neighborhoods 
and  a  large  party  of  both  sexes  came  from  Canada  and  joined  in  the 
festivities.  John  King,  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Preston  King,  who  was 
in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Ford,  delivered  the  oration,  and 
Mr.  Ford   provided   dinner  for  all    present.      The  cannon   used  on  that 

man  iooked  up  at  the  judge  imploringly  and  asked  where  he  should  go.    The  answer  came,  "  To 
•  Canada,  G— d  d— n  you." 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  131 

occasion  was  taken  from  the  French  gun-boat  vvhich  was  scuttled  and 
sunk  by  them  on  their  evacuation  of  the  Fort  la  Presentation,  August 
25,  1760.  The  wreck  lay  in  a  cove  in  front  of  the  fort  where  now  the 
Rome  freight  house  stands.  On  building  the  Ogdensburg,  Watertown 
and  Rome  Railroad  Dock,  the  wreck  was  enclosed  by  the  wharf  and  the 
freight  house  built  over  it.  The  boys  thought  that  the  celebration 
would  be  rather  tame  with  no  noise,  and  having  learned  from  a  French- 
man, Antoine  St.  Martin,^  who  was  one  of  the  men  on  the  gun- boat 
when  she  was  scuttled,  that  there  were  several  cannon  on  her  deck  at 
the  time,  with  this  knowledge  the  boys  gathered  log  chains  and  pre  - 
pared  to  fish  out  a  gun.  Black  Dick,  Mr,  Ford's  slave,  volunteered  to 
dive  and  search  the  deck.  He  did  so  and  the  bow  gun  was  found  and 
successfully  raised.  The  gun,  a  nine  pounder,  was  cleaned,  the  fuse 
hole  drilled  out,  and  the  cannon  being  hastily  mounted  on  an  ox  cart 
by  the  use  of  chains,  the  national  salute  was  fired.  The  gun  was 
christened  Long  Tom,  and  was  used  in  the  village  for  a  number  of 
years  on  all  occasions  of  celebrations.  It  is  not  probable  that  the 
thought  entered  negro  Dick's  brain  when  he  was  grappling  this  cannon 
beneath  the  "  bright  and  sparkling  waters  of  the  Oswegatchie  "2  that  it 
or  a  similar  one  would  be  used  some  sixty  years  later  in  celebrating  the 
emancipation  of  his  race  from  bondage.  Two  six  pounders  were  also 
taken  from  the  wreck  ;  one  was  christened  "  Black  Dick  "  in  honor  of 
this  hero,  and  the  other  "  Black  Sue."  One  of  these  guns  (as  report 
says)  was  burst  at  Lighthouse  Point  in  the  fall  of  1807,  when  a  party 
was  firing  a  salute  in  honor  of  Jefferson's  Embargo  Act.  The  other 
cannon  was  placed  in  the  fort,  and  was  captured  with  some  ten  other 
pieces  and  taken  to  Prescott  when  the  British  took  Ogdensburg  on 
February  22,  18 13. 

1  Antoine  St.  Martin  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  army  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  the  post, 
La  Galette,  to  the  English  in  1760.,  He  resided  in  Ogdensburg  from  that  date  until  his  death,  March 
4,  1849,  when  he  was  upwards  of  one  hundred  years  of  age.  In  his  later  days  he  became  a  great 
favorite  with  the  people  and  amused  them  by  relating  incidents  and  scenes  which  he  passed 
through  in  his  younger  days.  These  narratives  supplied  the  subject  for  a  romance  written  and 
published  at  Potsdam  by  C.  Boynton.  His  longevity  seems  to  have  been  to  him  as  much 
a  cause  of  solicitude  as  it  was  to  others  a  wonder,  and  he  would  at  times  weep  and  lament  that 
"God  had  forgotten  him."  With  him  perished  the  last  survivor  of  the  French  period  in  our 
history. 

2  A  term  sarcastically  used  by  R.  W.  Judson  at  a  citizens'  meeting  in  the  fall  of  1868,  when  dis- 
cussing the  quality  of  the  two  waters,  St.  Lawrence  and  Oswegatchie,  one  of  which  was  to  be 
used  for  city  purposes. 


132  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

After  the  county  had  been  established  and  the  use  of  the  old  bar- 
racks for  county  purposes  accepted  for  the  time  being,  Mr.  Ford  wrote 
Mr.  Ogden  that  he  was  not  altogether  satisfied  lest  some  something 
might  turn  up  and  the  county  seat  be  removed  into  the  interior.  At 
the  convening  of  the  grand  jury  he  stated  that  he  brought  forward  bis 
proposition  respecting  the  court-house,  and  should  have  got  through 
it  tolerably  well,  but  Turner  Tibbets  and  Mr.  Foot,  who  lived  in  Can- 
ton, seemed  to  think  it  best  to   have  it  put  off.      Mr.  Ford  continued  : 

This  is  of  too  much  importance  to  be  omitted  a  moment.  If  we  can  preserve  har- 
mony in  the  county,  it  will  be  the  better  way;  but  it  is  reduced  to  a  certainty  that  we 
are  to  be  opposed ;  I  am  determined  to  take  the  field  and  we  will  try  our  strength. 
This  letter  and  our  determination  ought  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret^  and  let  us  pursue 
the  same  friendship  which  they  affect  towards  us.  You  must  let  me  hear  as  early  as 
possible,  for  the  Board  of  Supervisors  must  meet  shortly,  to  fix  about  the  jail,  and  this 
cannot  be  done  for  less  than  £100.  It  will  be  poor  policy  to  tax  the  county  to  raise 
that  additional  sum,  for  a  thing  tliat  ultimately  will  be  lost,  and  at  this  particular  time 
I  do  not  think  it  practicable  for  the  county  to  pay  it,  for  wheat  and  flour  have  no  mar- 
ket at  Montreal,  and  people  have  nothing  that  will  bring  money.  The  policy  of  the 
county  ought  to  be  the  strictest  economy,  making  the  taxes  as  light  as  possible,  for 
nothing  scares  people  like  taxes,  particularly  in  a  new  country.  Upon  mature  delibera- 
tion I  have  concluded  to  make  the  following  proposition,  and  if  the  county  thinks 
proper  to  accept  the  offer,  1  would  set  about  the  preparation  for  building  the  court- 
house and  jail,  and  before  this  time  next  year  I  would  have  a  room  for  the  court  and 
also  one  jail-room  fitted,  and  the  whole  should  be  finished  as  soon  as  possible,  and  not 
repair  the  barracks. 

Proposition. — That  every  person  shall  sign  in  wheat  as  many  bushels  as  they  think 
proper,  to  be  delivered  at  our  mill,  one -third  in  February  each  year  for  three  years 
thereafter,  the  house  to  be  set  upon  the  east  side  of  the  Oswegatchie  River  [the  lot 
where  the  post-office  now  stands].  Ogden  and  Ford  will  subscribe  £1,000,  take  the 
wheat  subscriptions  upon  themselves,  and  go  on  to  finish  the  building  at  once. 

The  opposition  to  this  offer  came  from  the  men  at  Canton  only.  On 
the  1 8th  of  September,  i802,  Mr.  Ford  wrote  Mr.  Ogden  that  he  had 
got  all  the  worst  places  "  cross-wayed."  Continuing,  he  said,  "To 
convince  you  I  have  effected  something  like  a  road,  a  wagon  from  the 
Mohawk  River  came  through  to  Ogdensburg  with  me.  Also  I  have 
finished  a  substantial  bridge  over  the  east  branch  [now  Heuvelton]  ; 
there  are  few  as  good  in  any  other  of  the  older  counties.  During  the 
season  vigorous  efforts  have  been  made  to  collect  materials  for  the  court- 
house. Immigration  this  year  has  generally  been  less  than  for  several 
years  past,  and  this  is  imputed  to  the  sudden  fall  in  the   price  of  pro- 


ERECTION  OP  THE  COUNTr. 


133 


duce,  in  consequence  of  the  peace  policy."  Mr.  Ford,  ever  on  the  alert 
to  advance  the  interests  of  Ogdensburg,  worked  every  card  to  make 
Oswegatchie  the  shire  town,  and  thus  he  had  paved  the  way  by  build- 
ing bridges  and  roads  leading  out  to  the  various  settlements  and  by  the 
building  of  a  suitable  court-house  and  jail.  In  a  recent  letter  to  I\Ir. 
Ogden,  he  stated  that  he  brought  in  three  masons  from  Troy  to  work 
on  the  court  house,  and  hoped  to  see  the  chimneys  above  the  roof 
within  a  few  days,  and  it  was  his  intention  to  hold  the  November  term 
in  the  new  house. 


FIRST  COURT  HOUSE. 


On  November  17,  1804,  Mr.  Ford  again  wrote  Mr.  Ogden  and  said 
that  he  had  the  pleasure  to  inform  him  that  he  had  so  far  completed 
the  house  by  finishing  the  court-room  that  the  court  was  held  in  it; 
also  he  had  finished  one  of  tiie  cells  in  the  jail,  and  everything  was 
comfortable  and  secure.  The  people  who  assembled  from  different 
parts  of  the  county  expressed  much  satisfaction  in  finding  themselves 
in  possession  of  so  much  accommodation.  "  It  has  been  a  pretty 
tough  job,"  he  said,  "  to  get  along  with,  for  it  has  interfered  very 
much  with  our  business,  but  I  hope  the  effect  will  be  to  put  an  end  to 


134 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


any  court-house  disputes  in  the  county.  I  have  had  the  certificates 
regularly  filed  in  the  proper  office,  and  it  now  becomes  the  court-house 
and  jail  of  the  county.  The  property  and  the  prisoners  have  been 
transferred  to  the  new  building." 

There  was  no  county  clerk's  office  provided  for,  but  Mr.  Louis  Has- 
brouck  built  himself  a  residence  the  same  year  on  the  triangular  lot 
which  Mr.  Ford  had  sold  him  for  a  guinea,  and  kept  the  records  at  his 
home  for  several  years  afterwards. 


HASBROUCK'S  HOUSE   AND  BARN. 

In  closing  up  the  business  of  this  remarkable  year  of  1804,  Mr.  Ford 
said  : 

1  intend  laying  aside  all  further  considerations  in  the  way  of  building  except  to  build 
a  house  for  myself,  until  we  find  sufficient  ore  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  furnace. 
However,  I  shall  build  me  a  stone  dwelling-house,  as  I  cannot  consent  to  live  in  those 
old  barracks  much  longer. 

The  State  Road. — The  subject  of  a  road  to  the  Mohawk  was  never 
lost  sight  of  until  accomplished.  A  law  was  passed  by  the  Legislature 
April  9.  1804,  authorizing  a  lottery  for  the  purpose  of  raising  $22,000, 
with  ten  per  cent,  in  addition  for  expenses,  to  construct  a  road  from 
Troy  to  Greenwich,  and  from  or  near  the  head  of  the  Long  Falls  on 
Black  River  (Carthage)  to  the  mills  of  Nathan  Ford  at  Oswegatchie. 
The  road  was  to  be  six  rods  wide,  and  Nathan  Ford,  Alexander  J.  Tur- 
ner and  Joseph  Edsall  were  appointed  commissioners  for  making  it,  at 
a  salary  of  $1.50  per  day.  The  summer  of  1805  was  devoted  to  the 
location  and  opening  of  the  road,  and  on  the  26th  of  October  Judge 
Ford  wrote  Mr.  Ogden  : 


ERECTION  OF  THE  COUNTY.  135 

I  have  just  returned  from  laying  out  the  State  road  between  Ogdensburg-  and  Car- 
thage, and  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that  we  have  great  alterations  [from  the  old  road] 
for  the  better,  besides  shortening  the  distance.  The  difficulty  I  find  in  forming  a  plan 
for  expending  our  lottery  money  to  the  best  advantage,  makes  me  wish  for  some  abler 
head  than  mine  to  consult  with. 

The  commission  decided  to  employ  a  foreman  and  thirty  good  men, 
to  be  paid  by  the  month,  all  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  commis- 
sioners. David  Seymour,  of  Springfield,  Vt.,  father  of  G.  N.  Seymour 
of  Ogdensburg,  was  engaged  as  foreman,  and  began  the  work  on  the 
25th  of  May,  1809,  which  was  finished  in  the  following  fall. 

There  were  Hving  in  the  village  of  Ogdensburg  in  1804  only  four 
families,  as  follows  :  Mr.  Slosson,  on  the  corner  where  the  Gilbert 
block  now  stands;  Dr.  Davis  (first  physician  to  locate  in  Ogdensburg), 
on  the  ground  now  covered  by  E.  B.  Allen's  residence;  George  Davis, 
who  kept  the  American  Hotel,  and  a  Mr.  Chapin  on  State  street  near 
the  Ripley  House.  There  were  no  stores  in  town  except  the  one  kept 
by  Mr.  Ford  in  the  old  barracks,  but  occasionally  the  settlers  had  the 
opportunity  of  shopping  on  the  Durham  boats  from  Utica,  in  which 
goods  were  occasionally  displayed  for  sale.  Doubtless  there  were  sev- 
eral families  living  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  was  not  at  that 
time  counted  as  a  part  of  the  village;  but  the  fact  that  a  large  force  of 
men  was  employed  in  that  year  on  the  court  house,  tannery,  distillery 
and  in  the  mills,  evidently  shows  that  most  of  them  were  single  men  or 
had  families  elsewhere,  to  whom  they  returned  at  the  close  of  the 
season. 


136  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815. 

Causes  cf  the  War — Mr.  Ford's  Letter  upon  the  Prospect — MiUtia  Called  Out  to 
Enforce  the  Embargo  Act — Events  of  the  War  at  Ogdensburg — A  Zealous  Sentinel — 
Bombardment  of  the  British  in  1812 — Sacking  of  the  Village  in  1813 — General  Wilk- 
inson's Expedition. 

THE  trouble  that  led  to  the  War  of  1812  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britian,  had  been  brewing  for  several  years.  It  was 
said  that  through  one  of  the  financial  transactions  of  Mr.  David  Parish, 
who  was  a  prominent  character  in  developing  the  resources  of  St.  Law- 
rence county  in  its  early  days,  was  one  of  the  alleged  causes,  which  are 
as  follows:  Mr.  Parish  resided  in  Hamburgh,  Germany,  and  was  edu- 
cated as  a  banker.  His  financial  operations  in  connection  with  other 
capitalists  were  on  the  most  extensive  scale.  They  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  the  French  government,  then  in  the  hands  of  Bonaparte, 
to  transfer  a  large  amount  of  credit  to  Europe  from  the  Spanish  col- 
onies in  Mexico.  The  war  between  France  and  England,  and  the  re- 
striction upon  commerce  then  existing,  rendered  the  navigation  of  the 
Atlantic  with  valuable  cargoes  extremely  perilous,  from  their  liability 
to  capture  by  British  cruisers,  which  swarmed  in  every  sea.  The  only 
practicable  way  of  transferring  to  Europe  an  equivalent  for  the  specie, 
which  had  been  intercepted  by  blockade  in  the  ports  of  the  Spanish 
colonies,  was  to  procure  its  shipment  to  maritime  cities  in  the  United 
States,  where  it  could  be  invested  in  colonial  produce,  which  could  be 
shipped  to  neutral  ports  in  Europe,  under  the  American  flag,  which  in 
certain  cases  was  allowed  by  the  arrogant  British  government  to  pur- 
sue a  commerce  with  Europe.  The  causes  were  then  being  developed, 
which  soon  ripened  into  an  open  war  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  which  principally  grew  out  of  the  arbitrary  assumption 
of  the  latter  government.  While  engaged  in  carrying  these  measures 
into  effect  Mr.  Parish   resided  in  Philadelphia,  and  his  business  brought 


V/^/Z/^.y 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  137 

him  in  frequent  contact  with  the  financial  men  of  that  place,  among 
whom  were  Gouverneur  Morris  and  the  Ogden  families,  who  were  con- 
nected by  marriage,  and  several  others  who  were  interested  in  the  pur- 
chase and  settlement  of  lands  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  where  he  made  large  purchases  of  lands. 

The  troubles,  which  had  been  brewing  for  several  years,  created  dis- 
trust and  retarded  emigration.  Mr.  Ford  wrote  Mr.  Ogden  as  early  as 
August,  1807  : 

The  sound  of  war  has  palsied  the  sale  of  land.  This  unhappy  aflPair  will  very 
material]}^  affect  our  prospects  in  the  money  line.  Much  pains  is  taken  by  some  people 
upon  the  other  side  of  the  river  to  inspire  a  belief  that  the  Indians  will  be  employed  by 
the  British  government,  and  their  numbers  are  intensely  magnified.     This   constant 

theme  of  fear,  originating  with  the  women,  puts   the  d 1  in  some  men,  and  some 

among  them  are  becoming  as  old-womanish  as  the  women  themselves.  These  men  I 
abuse  for  cowardice,  and  the  women's  fears  I  soothe,  but  I  fear  all  my  exertions  will 
be  in  vain,  for  it  is  incredible  what  frightful  stories  are  going  upon  this  subject.  I  yet 
hope  the  whirlwind  may  pass  by  without  material  injury. 

Later  on  Mr.  Ford  writes: 

I  am  sorry  to  say  the  sound  of  war  has  had  the  efi'ect  to  palsy  immigration,  and  if 
one  can  judge  from  the  acts  of  the  administration,  the  chances  are  much  in  favor  of 
war  measures,  though  I  presume  Jefferson  does  not  calculate  to  fight  himself.  I  hope 
and  trust  there  will  yet  be  found  good  sense  and  moral  honesty  enough  in  the  people 
of  America  to  avert  the  impending  storm. 

Should  this  unpleasant  bustle  blow  over  this  winter,  I  presume  we  may  calculate 
the  ensuing  summer  will  bring  to  the  country  many  valuable  settlers,  who  are  laying 
back  for  no  better  cause  than  to  see  the  fate  of  the  present  commotion.  The  people  in 
the  country  have  very  much  got  over  their  first  fright  about  war,  and  I  hope,  should  it 
come,  they  will  have  spunk  enough  to  stand  their  ground  and  manfully  defend  their 
property.  The  d 1  of  it  is,  we  have  neither  guns  or  ammunition  to  do  with.  I  sup- 
pose, upon  a  proper  representation  to  Jefierson  he  might  be  induced  to  send  up  one  of 
his  gun  boats ;  it  might  as  well  travel  our  new  roads  as  plow  through  the  sandy  corn- 
fields of  Georgia.  I  should  like  to  know  a  little  beforehand  how  the  guillotine  [politi- 
cal it  may  be  presumed]  is  likely  to  work.  That  is  a  machine  much  more  likely  to 
travel  than  Jeff'erson  gun- boats,  and  my  opinion  is,  the  Democrats  will  never  rest  until 
they  erect  a  few  of  that  kind  of  shaving  mills. 

The  embargo  act,  passed  by  Congress,  December  22,  1807,  greatly 
affected  the  prosperity  of  Ogdensburg,  by  stopping  the  commerce 
which  had  sprung  up  between  this  place  and  Montreal,  and  in  no  de- 
partment was  it  felt  more  keenly  than  in  the  social  and  religious  circles, 
and  it  was  rather  difficult  for  every  one  to  keep  the  spirit  of  the  act. 

18 


138  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWREXCE  COUNTY. 

In  order  to  enforce  more  strictly  non  intercourse  with  Canada,  two 
companies  of  a  brigade  that  was  formed  in  St.  Lawrence,  Lewis  and 
Jefferson  counties,  were  sent  here  under  Captains  Cherry  and  Ander- 
son early  in  the  season  of  1809.  They  were  said  to  be  the  worst  set  of 
men  ever  enlisted,  being  needlessly  officious  in  searching  persons  cross- 
ing the  river,  Avhich  led  to  jealousies  that  almost  ripened  into  hostility 
with  the  citizens.  The  inhabitants  organized  a  night  watch  to  protect 
their  gardens  and  hen  roosts.  When  the  facts  in  regard  to  their  action 
became  known  at  headquarters,  the  soldiers  were  ordered  to  be  with- 
drawn. This  so  pleased  the  citizens  that  preparations  were  made  by 
them  to  celebrate  the  event.  This  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  troops, 
and  an  attempt  was  made  the  night  before  they  were  to  leave  to  seize 
the  old  French  cannon  belonging  to  the  village,  which  was  to  have  been 
fired  on  their  departure,  and  throw  it  fromi  the  bridge  into  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  River.  The  timely  discovery  of  this  fact  and  the  arrest  of  the 
persons  by  the  Cititzens'  Guard  saved  the  cannon.  On  their  departure 
the  next  day  the  soldiers  were  followed  by  the  people  with  the  dis- 
cordant sounds  of  hooting,  tin  horns,  cow  bells  and  firing  "  Long 
Tom." 

In  anticipation  of  war  Congress  called  for  10,000  volunteers.  In  the 
latter  part  of  May  a  company  under  Captain  D.  Hawkins  came  to  Og- 
densburg,  and  were  temporarily  quartered  in  the  court  house,  and 
Colonel  Stone  with  a  regiment  was  quartered  below  the  village. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  issued  a  proclamation 
of  war  against  Great  Britain. 

Looking  backward  at  the  condition  of  our  country  at  that  time,  it 
seems  to  have  been  inadequate  to  cope  with  so  powerful  an  enemy. 
The  census  of  18 10  showed  the  population  to  be  7,240,000  in  the  sev- 
enteen States  and  a  few  territories.  The  dominant  part}^  at  the  time 
(Democratic)  having  to  contend  with  a  strong  minority  (Federalists) 
who  were  opposed  to  the  war,  became  unpopular  ;  yet  vigorous  prep- 
arations were  made  by  Congress  and  the  several  States  to  raise  troops 
and  munitions  of  war.  A  national  loan  of  $1 1,000,000  was  authorized 
to  begin  with.  Great  Britain  was  already  prepared  for  the  conflict.  Her 
European  armies  were  immense  and  thoroughly  equipped.  The  Brit- 
ish navy  amounted  to  no  less  than  i  ,036  vessels.  Of  these  there  were  254 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  139 

ships  of  the  line,  not  one  of  which  carried  less  that  seventy- four  guns 
large  calibre.  At  various  stations  on  the  American  coast  there  were 
eighty  five  war  vessels  bearing  the  English  flag  and  ready  for  immedi- 
ate action.  Lake  Qntario  was  commanded  by  four  British  brigs,  carry- 
ing an  aggregate  of  sixty  guns.  The  Canadian  armies  of  England 
numbered  7.500  regulars  and  40,000  militia.  Back  of  all  these  forces 
and  armaments  stood  the  seemingly  inexhaustible  British  treasury. 

The  movements  of  the  war  so  far  as  affecting  Ogdensburg  were  as  fol- 
lows :  There  were  eight  schooners  in  the  harbor  on  the  29th  of  June, 
when  an  attempt  was  made  to  take  them  to  the  lake.  While  on  the 
way  they  were  overhauled  by  a  Canadian  party  and  a  few  Indians  just 
above  Elizabethtown  (now  Brockville),  and  two  unarmed  vessels  were 
taken  and  burned  ;  the  other  six  returned  to  Ogdensburg.  A  section 
of  the  bridge  was  opened  and  the  boats  passed  above  for  better  protec- 
tion. During  an  armistice  the  latter  part  of  summer  the  vessels  were 
moved  up  to  the  lake. 

As  soon  as  war  was  declared  General  Brown  drafted  six  companies 
from  the  regiments  of  Colonels  Benedict  and  Stone,  the  drafted  com- 
panies being  under  Captains  Griffin  of  De  Kalb,  Armstrong  of  Lisbon, 
Cook  and  Hovey  of  Lewis  county,  and  Bell  and  Weaver  of  Herkimer 
county.  In  July  General  Brown  dispatched  the  schooner  Julia,  of  the 
navy,  armed  with  one  eighteen-pounder  and  two  six-pounders  and 
laden  with  military  stores,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  H.  W.  Wells, 
for  the  upper  ports.  On  the  31st  she  arrived  at  Morristown  and  was 
met  at  3  o'clock  by  a  British  vessel,  The  Earl  of  Moira.  The  two  boats 
dropped  anchors,  brailed  up  their  canvas  and  began  a  cannonade  which 
lasted  upwards  of  three  hours,  with  but  slight  injury  to  either.  Near 
dark  the  enemy's  vessel  was  taken  to  Elizabethtown  (Brockville).  and 
the  Julia  weighed  anchor  and  fell  down  the  current,  reaching  Ogdens- 
burg before  morning.  The  report  of  the  capture  of  the  two  vessels, 
the  engagement  of  the  other  two  vessels  at  Morristown,  and  the  news 
of  the  general  order  issued  at  the  same  time  to  march  to  Ogdens- 
burg, ran  through  the  county  with  the  swiftness  of  wind,  and  all  the 
men  of  the  town  prepared  for  immediate  action,  creating  indescribable 
confusion.  The  settlements  on  Black  Lake  and  along  the  St.  Lawrence 
vvereentirely  deserted,  people  everywhere  running  through  the  woods  in 


140  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTr. 

great  dismay.  At  2  P.  M.  they  were  all  under  arms,  an  immediate 
attack  being  expected  from  the  enemj^  for  the  purpose,  as  it  was 
supposed,  of  burning  the  vessels  in  the  harbor.  The  alarm*  had  neces- 
sitated a  hasty  draft  from  the  militia  of  the  adjacent,  towns,  who  arrived 
in  the  forenoon  and  were,  from  the  necessity  of  the  occasion,  put  on  duty 
before  they  had  time  to  learn  the  discipline  of  camp  or  the  duties 
of  a  soldier.  The  articles  of  war  were  read  in  their  hearing,  in  which 
the  penalty  of  death  was  declared  to  be  the  doom  of  every  offender 
who  should  violate  the  regulations  or  be  found  wanting  either  through 
sins  of  omission  or  of  commission  in  the  routine  of  the  soldier's  duty. 
To  those  who  had  just  been  called  from  the  quiet  labors  of  the  field  to 
participate  in  the  events  of  the  war  and  to  share  in  the  rigid  dis- 
cipline of  the  camp,  the  soldier's  life  appeared  to  depend  upon  more 
contingencies  than  casualties  of  battle,  and  the  profession  of  arms  to  be 
a  path  beset  with  pitfalls  and  dangerous  passes,  so  straight  and  nar- 
row that  the  utmost  caution  was  required  so  to  conduct  one's  de- 
portment as  to  not  incur  the  death  penalty.  Such,  doubtless,  were  the 
the  sentiments  of  Seth  Alexander,  a  brawny  man  from  De  Kalb,  who 
could  wield  an  axe  or  handle  a  gun  equal  to  any  backwoodsman  and 
who  was  the  subject  of  the  following  incident :  On  the  evening  of  his 
arrival  he  was  placed  on  duty  as  a  sentinel,  with  the  usual  injunction  to 
let  no  one  pass  without  the  countersign.  Through  either  accident  or 
design  the  countersign  was  not  given  him.  The  omission  was  noticed 
by  him  at  the  time  and  he  asked  one  of  the  party  who  had  previously 
known  something  of  the  usages  of  the  camp,  what  he  should  do  in  this 
emergency.  The  reply  was  that  he  must  do  as  he  had  been  ordered. 
He  accordingly  formed  the  resolution  to  obey  his  orders  to  the  letter  : — 
'•  To  know  no  man  in  the  dark,  and  to  stop  all  persons  passing  by  land  or 
by  luater."  There  are  those  who  believe  that  the  sentinel  was  thus  pur- 
posely left  in  order  to  test  his  fidelity  by  an  effort  to  deprive  him  of  his 
arms,  and  thus  make  him  a  subject  of  ridicule.  Indeed,  one  of  the 
officers  who  was  subsequently  detained  by  him,  is  said  to  have  boasted 
that  he  had  got  two  or  three  guns  away  from  sentinels  that  night  and 
intended  to  get  as  many  more.  The  guard  had  all  been  posted  and  his 
party  of  some  six  or  eight  men  were  returning  to  the  guard  house  when, 
on  approaching   the  spot  where   the   man  without   the  countersign  had 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  141 

been  stationed,  they  were  halted  and  one  by  one  were  commanded  to 
advance,  lay  down  their  arms  and  sit  down  on  the  ground.  Here  they 
were  kept  in  perfect  silence  by  the  resolute  orders  of  the  sentinel,  who 
watched  every  motion  of  his  prisoners  and  with  loaded  musket 
threatened  instant  death  to  the  first  one  who  should  offer  to  leave 
his  place  or  make  the  slightest  move  towards  recovering  his  arms. 
The  answer  returned  by  the  sergeant  on  being   first  hailed    (which  was 

that  Colonel  B had   given   orders   to  allow  a  boat  to  pass  up)  had 

made  the  sentinel  suspicious.  About  1 1  o'clock  at  night  when  preparing 
to  go  the  grand  rounds,  the  captain  of  the  company  on  duty  made 
inquiry  for  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  and  his  relief;  no  one  knew,  what 
had  become  of  them,  as  they  had  not  been  seen  since  dark.  The  cor- 
poral of  the  guard  was  also  missing.  Captain  Hawkins,  to  whose  com- 
mand these  belonged,  Adjutant  Church  and  two  privates  immediately 
started  to  go  the  rounds  and  learn  the  cause  of  the  absence  of  the 
missing  ones.  They  were  proceeding  in  single  file,  the  two  privates  in 
advance,  when  they  were  stopped  with  the  usual  challenge,  "Who  comes 
there?"  to  which  they  replied  :  "  Grand  rounds."  This  was  as  unintel- 
ligible as  Greek  to  the  new  recruit,  who  abruptly  replied,  "  I'll  grand 
rounds  you,"  and  he  ordered  the  first  one  to  advance  and  sit  down.  The 
captain  was  next  disarmed  and  placed  beside  his  soldiers,  forming  al- 
together a  group  of  a  dozen  or  more,  including  all  the  missing  ones,  who 
were  not  only  kept  in  their  places,  but  kept  absolutely  still  by  the 
resolute  sentinel  armed  with  a  loaded  musket.  The  other  privates  were 
soon  added  to  the  captain's  party  and  Adjutant  Church  was  next  ordered 
to  advance,  an  order  which  he  promptly  refused  to  obey.  No  sooner 
did  he  refuse  than  the  sentinel  instantly  fired,  but  in  the  darkness 
the  shot  fortunately  went  wild.  Upon  this,  Captain  Hawkins  sprang  to 
his  feet  and  endeavored  to  seize  the  sentinel's  musket,  but  he  was  col- 
lared and  kept  at  arm's  length  in  the  iron  grasp  of  the  sentinel.  A 
struggle  followed  in  which  the  bayonet  was  loosened  from  the  musket 
but  retained  by  its  owner,  and  the  captain  received  a  severe  wound  in 
the  arm.  The  sergeant  was  also  wounded  in  the  leg,  upon  which  the 
party  retreated,  leaving  their  arms  on  the  field.  In  the  excitement  of 
the  moment  the  captain  had  ordered  the  stubborn  guardsman  to  be  shot, 
but  second  thought  dictated  a  more  humane  policy,  and  aline  of  sentries 


142  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  posted  around  him  to  keep  others  from  faUing  in  his  way  until 
morning.  The  line  beyond  him  was  at  length  relieved,  wondering 
what  had  kept  them  on  duty  so  long.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Alexander, 
conscious  of  having  committed  some  error  the  nature  and  consequences 
of  which  he  knew  not,  resolved  to  still  act  upon  his  orders  and  trust  to 
common  justice  in  the  results.  He  carefully  stacked  the  weapons  he  had 
captured,  hanging  the  swords  and  hats  upon  bayonets,  and  on  top  of  all 
placed  the  military  hat  of  his  captain;  he  then  resumed  his  duty,  re- 
solved to  defend  his  position.  Two  or  three  companies  were  ordered 
out  to  take  him  forcibly  from  his  post,  but  after  a  little  discussion  it  was 
thought  expedient  to  let  him  remain.  A  young  officer,  hearing  of  the 
affair,  offered  to  go  alone  and  get  him  off  and  he  left  with  that  intention, 
but  nothing  more  was  seen  of  him  till  next  morning,  when  he  was  found 
sitting  very  quietly  under  guard  not  far  from  the  stack  of  trophies  of 
the  last  night's  adventure.  The  sentinel  refused  to  let  the  young  officer 
off,  notwithstanding  some  of  his  neighbors  went  to  intercede  in  his  be- 
half, until  the  man  who  had  given  him  the  orders  on  leaving  him  the 
night  before  should  grant  him  the  authority,  but  as  the  latter  had 
been  wounded  and  was  unable  to  walk,  he  was  carried  to  within  speak- 
ing distance  of  the  sentinel  and  was  successful  in  procuring  the  release 
of  the  young  officer.  Alexander,  the  sentinel,  still  refused  to  leave  his 
post,  until  assured  by  an  officer  whom  he  knew  that  no  harm  could  come 
to  him.  He  appeared  deeply  affected  at  the  mistake  he  had  made  and 
especially  at  the  unhappy  consequences.  Public  censure  after  the  first 
impulse  fell  justly  upon  the  officer  who  had  posted  the  sentinel  with 
orders  involving  the  death  penalty,  to  stop  all  persons,  and  at  the  same 
time  neglected  to  give  him  the  countersign.  It  was  understood  that  the 
officers  connected  with  this  incident  soon  found  an  excuse  for  relieving 
Mr.  Alexander  from  further  military  duty,  and  sent  him  home,  as  his 
presence  in  the  army  would  have  had  a  tendency  to  keep  alive  the  re- 
markable story  which  reflected  somewhat  on  the  standing  of  the  officers- 
Near  the  close  of  the  season  Captain  Benjamin  Forsythe  with  a  com- 
pany of  riflemen  arrived  and  were  quartered  at  the  old  barracks. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1812,  about  forty  British  boats  escorted  by 
two  gunboats  came  up  the  river  and  opened  a  cannonade  on  the  village, 
which  was  renewed   the   following  day.     The   Americans,  having  two 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  143 

twelve- pounders  at  the  Parish  dock  and  i,200  infantry  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Oswegatchie  River,  returned  the  fire  with  their  cannon  for  a 
short  time.  On  the  following  morning  (Sunday,  the  4th)  the  enemy 
opened  fire  on  the  village,  and  moving  over  in  the  harbor  came  within 
musket  range.  The  two  cannon  at  the  Parish  dock  were  brought  into 
use,  and  a  lively  fusillade  kept  up  by  the  soldiers  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  caused  the  fleet  to  turn  back  with  a  disabled  gunboat,  having  had 
one  small  boat  sunk  and  a  number  of  men  killed  and  wounded. 
Nothing  further  occurred  that  season  of  more  importance  than  an  oc- 
casional bombardment  from  the  fort  at  Prescott. 

Several  buildings  were  struck  by  cannon  balls.  One  shot  entered 
Mr.  Curney's  dwelling  on  the  lot  where  the  Seymour  House  now  stands 
and  passed  into  the  room  where  the  family  were  at  dinner.  Another 
struck  the  frame  of  a  house  which  stood  a  block  north  of  the  present 
Custom  House  site,  shivering  a  rafter.  Another  entered  a  gable  end  of 
a  small  hotel  on  the  lot  where  the  National  Hotel  now  stands,  passed 
through  a  brick  chimney,  rolled  across  the  room  and  dropped  through 
a  pipe -hole  to  the  floor  below.  Another  struck  a  pile  of  wood  just 
back  of  this  last  named  house,  landing  in  the  clay  pit  of  the  brick-yard, 
and  splashed  mud  on  some  boys,  who  took  refuge  behind  a  wood  pile. 
Henry  Plumb  of  this  city  was  one  of  those  boys.  Several  shots  struck 
the  Parish  stone  store,  the  indentations  being  visible  on  the  walls  to-day. 
A  shot  from  a  gunboat  struck  the  west  quarter  of  the  roof,  and  passing 
diagonally  across,  went  through  a  brick  chimney,  out  of  the  gable 
window,  and  struck  a  lumber  pile  in  the  saw- mill  yard  at  the  dam, 
which  frightened  the  men  away  from  their  work. 

There  were  many  amusing  incidents  mingled  with  the  terror  of  those 
hours  of  bombardment.  The  casualties  were  far  less  than  they  other- 
wise would  have  been  on  account  of  the  few  buildings  in  the  place  being 
so  scattered.  Most  of  the  shots,  however,  dropped  along  the  shore  or 
into  the  rush  bed.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  people  to  keep  a  watch 
and  when  they  saw  the  smoke  from  the  cannon  at  the  fort,  warning  was 
given  to  seek  shelter,  there  being  time  to  do  so  before  the  ball  would 
strike. 

Henry  Plumb  relates  an  incident  that  occurred  to  a  relative  of  his 
who  was  in  an  open  yard,  having  the  skirt  of  her  dress  turned  to  guard 


144  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

her  face  from  the  sun,  and  being  in  a  stooping  posture  engaged  in  pick- 
ing herbs,  when  the  sharp  warning  cry  came.  She  suddenly  drew  the 
skirt  over  her  face  and  started  as  she  supposed  for  the  place  of  safety, 
but,  like  all  humanity  when  off  their  guard,  the  step  of  one  foot  being 
longer  than  the  other  caused  her  to  travel  in  a  circle,  stooping  as  she 
went  at  a  lively  pace  around  the  yard  as  the  ball  came  screaming  over 
her  head,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  boys  who  were  watching  her 
peculiar  antics. 

In  the  winter  of  1813  news  came  from  Brockville  that  a  large  num- 
ber of  American  prisoners  were  confined  there,  some  being  charged 
with  desertion  from  the  British  army,  were  to  be  tried  for  the  same, 
and  all  were  cruelly  treated.  A  party  of  about  two  hundred,  con- 
sisting of  Captain  Forsythe's  company  and  a  few  citizens,  left  Ogdens- 
burg  at  9  P.M.,  February  6,  for  Morristown.  Some  went  in  sleighs  and 
others  on  foot.  They  crossed  the  river  in  two  divisions  and  were 
placed  in  position  for  an  assault  if  found  necessary,  while  Captain  For- 
sythe  with  a  few  men  entered  the  jail  and  brought  away  fifty- two  men, 
including  a  few  of  their  citizens,  one  hundred  and  twenty  muskets, 
twenty  rifles,  two  casks  of  fixed  ammunition,  and  some  other  public 
stores,  without  a  casualty  except  one  man  wounded  by  a  shot  from  a 
chamber  window.  They  arrived  safely  at  Ogdensburg  before  daylight 
the  next  morning.  This  bold  affair  led  the  enemy  to  take  measures  for 
retaliation.  The  following  is  given  on  the  authority  of  a  British  soldier, 
Jehial  Phillips:  A  British  captain,  whose  pride  was  touched  by  the  suc- 
cessful raid  on  Brockville,  called  for  volunteers  to  retaliate  by  capturing 
the  American  sentinel,  who  was  boldh^  treading  his  beat  on  Lighthouse 
Point  in  full  view  of  the  British  camp.  A  soldier  who  was  called 
"  Bob  "  said,  "  Give  me  Bill  Todd  and  '  Supple  Indian  '  and  I  will 
undertake  the  job."  The  party,  dressed  in  Indian  blanket  coats,  pro- 
ceeded cautiously  under  cover  of  darkness  that  night,  captured  the 
guard  and  returned  to  Prescott  with  him,  from  whom  it  was  learned 
that  the  militia  had  gone  home,  thus  leaving  Ogdensburg  poorly 
guarded.  They  at  once  planned  a  raid  on  the  place,  which  was  carried 
out  the  following  day. 

Captain  Forsythe,  being  aware  of  the  design  to  retaliate,  had  asked 
General   Dearborn    of  Plattsburg  for  reinforcements,  but  could  not  get 


OGDENSBURG   IN   1812, 


Rushbed,  or  Sand  Bar.  7. 

Lighthouse  Point.  8. 

Railroad  to  Ferry.  8. 

French  Fort  and  Buildings.  10. 

French  Burying  Ground,  n. 

Early   Grist    Mill    and    Store  12 

House. 
Dotted  lines  show  recent  survey  for  wharf  lines. 

19 


Saw  Mill  and  Dam. 
Nathan  Ford's  House. 
Parish  Stone  Store. 
American  Hotel. 
Parish  Dwelling. 
Hasljrouck  House  and 
Barn. 


13.  Court  House. 

14.  Morristown  Road. 

15.  Black  Lake  Road  and  Bridge. 

16.  Flume  to  Grist  Mill. 

17.  Oswegatchie  Fort,  or  Redoubt. 

18.  Indicate  Batteries. 


146  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY.      . 

them,  receiving  word  instead  that  if  he  could  not  defend  the  place,  he 
was  at  liberty  to  evacuate  it ;  that  the  loss  of  the  place  might  arouse 
the  American  spirit.  Upon  receiving  this  letter  Captain  Forsythe 
assembled  the  officers,  consisting  of  Captain  Kellogg,  Lieutenant  Smith 
of  the  rifle  company,  Lieutenants  Baird,  Lytle  and  Wells,  of  the  volun- 
teers, then  just  raised,  Adjutant  Church  and  a  few  others.  The  result 
of  the  council  was  a  determination  to  defend  the  place  as  long  as  prac- 
ticable, and  to  abandon  it  only  when  compelled. 

The  defense  of  the  place  was  made  as  follows  :  Near  the  intersection 
of  Ford  and  Euphemia  (now  State)  street  stood  an  iron  twelve- pounder 
under  command  of  Captain  Kclloggof  the  Albany  volunteers.  In  front  of 
the  arsenal  a  few  doors  towards  the  bridge  on  Ford  street  was  a  brass 
six-pounder  on  wheels,  under  command  of  Joseph  York,  and  a  few  men 
mostly  citizens  and  volunteers.  On  the  bank  near  the  Plumb  ferry  was 
a  rude  wooden  breastwork,  defended  by  an  iron  twelve  pounder, 
mounted  on  a  sled  carriage  (one  of  the  trophies  won  from  Burgoyne), 
under  command  of  Capt.  Joshua  Conkey  of  Canton.  It  was  said  that 
this  gun  was  not  fired,  although  it  was  so  placed  that  it  might  have 
done  the  enemy  much  injury ;  it  would  have  checked  them,  and  per- 
haps saved  the  place.  On  the  point  where  the  lighthouse  now  stands 
was  a  brass  nine-pounder  mounted  on  a  sled  carriage,  under  command 
of  a  sergeant  in  the  company  of  Captain  Kellogg.  This  piece  was  fired 
repeatedly  with  good  effect,  and  its  commander  was  one  of  the  last  to 
retreat  when  the  place  was  finally  evacuated.  Back  of  the  old  stone 
garrison  were  two  old  fashioned  iron  six-pounders,  mounted  on  sleds; 
one  of  these  pieces  was  under  the  orders  of  Daniel  W.  Church,  and  the 
other  under  Lieutenant  Baird  of  Captain  Forsythe's  company.  In  front 
of  the  gateway  between  the  two  buildings  which  formed  the  stone  gar- 
rison was  a  six- pounder  brass  piece  on  a  sled  carriage.  About  twenty 
feet  to  the  left  of  this  was  an  iron  six- pounder  on  a  sled  carriage,  which 
had  been  taken  from  a  gun  boat  (French  gun-boat  without  doubt) ;  be- 
sides these  were  several  other  cannon  in  front  of  the  stone  garrison, 
which  were  frozen  into  the  ice. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  February  22,  1813,  Lieutenant- Colonel  Mc- 
Donnell's command  marched  out  on  the  ice  in  two  columns  with  the 
intention,  as  stated  by  British   authority,  of  only  making  a  demonstra- 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  147 

tion,  but  which    changed  to  a  real  attack.      One  of  the   columns,  about 
five  hundred  strong,  directed   their  march  to  the   lower  end  of  the  vil- 
lage, and   the   other,  about   three   hundred    strong,  approached   from   a 
point  above   the  stone  garrison.      Besides  the    United  States  regulars, 
there  were   not    more   than  fifty  at  Ogdensburg  to  show  their  faces  to 
the   enemy.      Captain    Forsythe    had    drawn  up  his   men  in  rear  of  the 
garrison  and  facing  the  column  that  was  approaching  from  that  quarter, 
and  when  the  latter  were  within  half  musket  shot,  he  walked  down  in 
front  of  his  men  and  directed    them  to  reserve  their  fire  until  the  word 
of  command  was  given.      Near   the  right  of  the  line   Lieutenant  Baird 
was  stationed    with   an   iron  six-pounder,    and   Adjutant   Church    was 
about  two-thirds  the  way  down  the  line  with  a  brass  six-pounder.      No 
order  was  given  to  fire  until  the    enemy  had   nearly  reached    the   bank 
where  the  snow  had  drifted   about  knee   deep,  and   here  they  delivered 
their  first   volley,  but   without   effect.      Captain  Forsythe  then  ordered 
his  troops  to  fire,  and  a  volley  was  discharged  from  the   rifles  and   the 
two  cannon.      Upon  hearing  the   order  the   enemy  fell   prostrate,  and 
immediately   after   the   discharge   they  jumped  up  and  ran  off  without 
ceremony,  leaving  eight  of  their  number  dead  on  the  ice.    This  detach- 
ment   consisted    of   provincial    militia     and    volunteers    under    British 
officers.     The    column    of  five  hundred   from    below  under  McDonnell 
marched  into  the  village  without    resistance.      When  coming  up  Wash- 
ington street,  as  they  were  turning  the  corner  at  the  Parish  place  to  go 
up   State  street,  a  citizen   from   the  opposite   corner  fired  and  killed  a 
British  soldier,  the  ball  lodging  in  an  elm  tree,  and  the  citizen  was  also 
killed  by  a  return  shot.      Captain   Kellogg's  gun  was  disabled  on  firing 
the  first  shot,  when  his  squad    retreated  across  the   Oswegatchie  River. 
Mr.  York  made  good  use  of  his  gun,  which  was  charged  with  canister, 
disabling   several  of  the   enemy   and    riddling    the    Parish  high  board 
fence.     The   British   offfcer  observed    the   movements   of  Mr.  York  in 
time  to  order  his  men  to  cross  the  road  and  drop  on  the  ground,  or  the 
casualties  would   have  been    much    greater.     Two  of  York's  men  (citi- 
zens) were  severely  wounded,  and  the  squad  was  captured. 

As  the  British  troops  were  marching  up  to  Ford  street,  a  boy  soldier 
named  Jones,  from  Canton,  on  duty  at  the  arsenal,  standing  on  the  east 
side  of  Ford  street,  just  below  State  street  towards  the  bridge,  gave  the 


148  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

usual  challange  and  fired  into  their  ranks  with  fatal  efifect.  He  was 
ordered  to  surrender,  but  cried  out  "  never  !  "  and  attempted  to  reload 
his  gun  as  he  passed  into  a  shop  near  by,  when  the  British  soldiers,  en- 
raged by  his  resistance,  fired  a  volley  upon  the  courageous  youth  and 
finished  their  bloody  work  with  the  bayonet,  pinning  him  to  the  coun- 
ter. 

Meanwhile  the  greatest  confusion  and  alarm  prevailed  throughout 
the  village,  .and  numbers  of  citizens  were  hastening  away,  most  of  them 
in  the  direction  of  Heuvelton.  The  nine- pounder  which  was  posted  on 
the  Point  under  charge  of  a  sergeant,  was  fired  with  effect  upon  the 
first  column  the  moment  they  began  to  show  disorder  and  began  a  re- 
treat, but  its  position  was  such  that  it  could  not  reach  the  lower  body. 
Captain  Conkey  surrendered  himself  without  resistance.  These  three 
cannon  being  in  their  possession,  together  with  the  village,  the  enemy 
next  directed  their  efforts  towards  the  position  of  Forsythe  to  capture 
the  fort.  Captain  Forsythe  had  two  cannon  planted  in  front  of  the 
garrison,  the  brass  piece  charged  with  canister  and  grape,  ready  to  fire 
on  the  enemy  when  they  reached  the  Hasbrouck  place.  But  before 
the  order  was  given  to  fire,  two  men  were  observed  coming  towards 
them  bearing  a  white  flag.  The  object  of  the  visit  was  to  demand  the 
immediate  surrender  of  the  garrison,  otherwise  "  every  man  would  be 
put  to  the  bayonet  !  "  Captain  Forsythe  promptly  replied  :  "  Tell  your 
commander  there  must  be  more  fighting  done  first."  The  bearers  of  this 
dispatch  had  no  sooner  reached  their  own  ranks  than  the  cannon  at  the 
garrison  was  discharged.  The  enemy  watching  the  movement,  dropped 
to  the  ground,  so  that  the  greater  portion  of  the  charge  passed  over 
them,  disabling  only  eight  men.  The  casualties  would  have  been  much 
greater  had  not  Captain  Forsythe  commanded  the  gunner  to  "  give  an- 
other turn  of  the  screw  to  elevate  the  muzzle,"  which  the  latter  sullenly 
obeyed,  and  thus  the  lives  of  many  British  soldiers  were  saved.  The 
grape  shot  struck  the  side  of  Hasbrouck's  barn,  which  stood  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  present  Hasbrouck  brick  block  (see  engraving),  rak- 
ing the  boards  with  numerous  long,  deep  furrows,  which  remained  visi- 
ble to  the  passer-by  as  a  reminder  of  the  war,  until  the  building  was 
destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  1852.  The  enemy  immediately  took 
shelter  behind  the  Parish  stone  store  and  other  available  objects,  and 
began  firing  at  Forsythe's  men,  wounding  several  of  the  gunners. 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  149 

Captain  Forsythe,  seeing  that  it  would  be  useless  for  him  with  his 
small  force  to  undertake  to  hold  out  against  such  odds,  ordered  a  re- 
treat up  the  lake  to  Thurber's  tavern,  and  thence  they  crossed  over  to 
De  Peyster  Corners.  The  British  troops  proceeded  to  ransack  and 
pillage  the  town,  carrying  off  or  wantonly  destroying  a  great  amount 
of  public  and  private  property.  In  their  carousal  they  shot  through  a 
cellar  window  and  killed  a  boy.  They  burned  the  old  barracks,^  and 
made  several  attempts  to  burn  the  bridge,  but  the  snow  and  ice  with 
which  it  was  heavily  covered  saved  it.  Finding  no  more  government 
property  to  destroy  they  left  for  Prescott  that  afternoon,  carrying  away 
fifty-two  prisoners,  mostly  citizens,  who  were  soon  afterward  paroled  ; 
also  taking  away  eleven  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  quantity  of  provisions 
belonging  to  citizens,  which  they  paid  for. 

The  wanton  destruction  of  private  property,  which  is  said  to  have 
extended  to  every  house  in  the  place  but  three,  was  not  perpetrated  by 
the  British  soldiers,  but  by  the  abandoned  of  both  sexes  from  Canada 
and  the  States.  In  this  engagement  the  British  lost  but  six  killed  and 
thirty-eight  wounded,  and  of  the  Americans  five  killed  and  fifteen 
wounded.  Captain  Forsythe  and  his  commond  left  De  Peyster  and 
joined  the  American  forces  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  leaving  Ogdensburg 
wholly  without  military  defence  thereafter.  A  portion  of  the  citizens 
who  had  left  the  place  during  the  season,  returned  soon  afterward  to 
the  homes  which  had  been  made  desolate  by  the  ravages  of  war.  Being 
unprotected,  they  were  frequently  subjected  to  insults  by  parties  from 
Canada. 

In  May,  1813,  some  deserters  coming  over  from  the  enemy,  an  officer 
with  a  flag  was  sent  over  with  a  demand  for  their  return  ;  otherwise  the 
town  would  be  burned.  To  this  Judge  Ford  promptly  replied  that  if 
they  attempted  to  carry  out  that  threat  he  would  rally  his  neighbors 
and  burn  every  house  from  Prescott  to  Brockville.  This  reply  settled 
the  matter,  and  the  British  officer  apologized  for  his  conduct. 

1  The  place  was  left  unguarded  thereafter,  and  the  barracks  were  never  repaired.  The  walls  and 
chimneys  stood  for  many  years,  a  monument  recalling  to  mind  the  efforts  made  and  privations 
endured  by  the  first  white  settlers  for  our  benefit.  The  place  should  have  been  repaired  and  pre- 
served by  the  government,  instead  of  having  been  ruthlessly  destroyed  by  thoughtless  men  for 
mercenary  objects.  Some  of  the  stone  of  these  ruins  may  now  be  seen  in  the  road  bed  west  of  the 
Rome  depot. 


150  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTT. 

In  the  fall  of  1813  Colonel  Lucket  with  a  regiment  of  U.  S.  dragoons 
was  sent  down  the  river  in  advance  of  General  Wilkinson's  army  to 
examine  the  country.  He  arrived  in  Ogdensburg  just  before  sundown 
October  1 1,  and  either  by  design  or  accident  (some  thought  it  purposely 
done)  made  a  display  of  his  dragoons,  which  was  observed  by  the  British 
at  Prescott  fort,  greatly  exciting  the  garrison,  and  they  made  prepara- 
tions to  retaliate.  Ogdensburg  was  filled  with  people  who  had  come 
to  attend  the  county  court,  which  was  to  begin  the  next  day,  Judge 
Raymond  presiding  The  grand  jury  had  just  retired  and  a  case  was 
being  tried  when  cannonading  was  heard  from  the  fort  in  Prescott, 
causing  much  confusion  in  the  court.  The  grand  jury  adjourned  for 
the  day  and  left  the  hall  which  was  over  the  court  room.  Just  as  the 
last  person  was  leaving  the  room  and  while  in  the  doorway,  a  twenty- 
four  pound  shot  entered  the  gable  end  of  the  building,  shattering  an 
end  beam  of  the  house,  cutting  obliquely  across  the  seats  a  moment 
before  occupied  by  the  jury,  and  lodging  in  the  partition  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  hall  [see  engraving].  General  R.  W.  Judson,  of  this 
city,  claims  to  have  the  ball,  which  was  secured  by  parties  up  Black 
Lake,  among  his  valuable  collection  of  relics. 

In  August,  1 81 3,  a  plan  was  proposed  to  bring  a  combined  force 
upon  Canada,  a  part  to  descend  the  St.  Lawrence  and  another  to  go  by 
way  of  Lake  Champlain,  which  forces  were  to  unite  and  co-operate  as 
circumstances  might  dictate.  The  former  of  these  was  to  be  under 
command  of  General  Wilkinson,  and  the  latter  under  General  Wade 
Hampton.  On  the  5th  of  November  Wilkinson's  army,  consisting  of 
about  6,000  men  and  some  300  small  craft  and  boats,  arrived  from  the 
upper  country  at  Morristown  and  camped  for  the  night.  On  the  6th 
the  expedition  proceeded  on  to  within  three  miles  of  Ogdensburg,  and 
preparations  were  made  for  passing  the  fort  at  Prescott.  At  this  place 
General  Wilkinson  issued  the  following  proclamation  to  the  Canadians : 

The  army  of  the  United  States,  which  I  have  the  honor  to  command,  invades  these 
provinces  to  conquer  but  not  to  destroy ;  to  subdue  the  forces  of  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jesty, not  to  war  against  his  unoffending  subjects.  Those,  therefore,  among  you  who 
remain  quietly  at  home,  should  victory  incline  to  the  American  standard,  shall  be 
protected  in  their  persons  and  property.  But  those  who  are  found  in  arms  must 
necessarily  be  treated  as  avowed  enemies.  To  menace  is  unjust,  to  seduce  dishonor- 
•   able;    yet  it  is  just  and    humane  to    place    these    alternatives  before  you.     Done  at 


WAR  OF  1812  TO  1815.  151 

headquarters  of  the  United  States  Army,  this  the  6th  day  of  November,  1813,  near 
Ogdensburg  on  the  River  St.  Lavi^rence. 

James  Wilkinson, 
By  the  General  Command'g. 

N.    PlNKNEY, 

Major  and  Aid-de-Camp. 

The  powder  and  fixed  ammunition  were  debarked  and  placed  in  carts 
to  be  transported  by  land  under  cover  of  night  beyond  the  enemy's 
batteries.  As  soon  as  the  general  returned  from  the  shore,  orders  were 
issued  for  the  debarkation  of  all  ^the  men  (except  so  many  as  were 
necessary  to  navigate  the  boats),  who  were  directed  to  march  under 
cover  of  the  night,  to  save  useless  exposure  to  the  enetny's  cannon,  to 
a  bay  two  miles  below  Prescott.  About  8  o'clock  P.  M.  a  heavy  fog 
came  on  and  it  was  believed  they  could  pass  the  British  fortress  unob- 
served ;  orders  were  accordingly  given  for  the  army  to  march  and  the 
flotilla  to  get  under  way.  The  general  in  his  gig  proceeded  ahead, 
followed  by  his  passage  boat  and  his  family  ;  but  a  sudden  change  in 
the  atmosphere  exposed  his  passage  boat  to  the  enemy,  and  upwards  of 
fifty  twenty- four  pounder  shots  were  fired  at  her,  but  without  effect, 
while  the  column  on  land  being  discovered  by  the  gleam  of  their  arms, 
were  assailed  with  shot  and  shell,  but  without  injury.  General  Brown, 
who  was  in  command  of  the  flotilla,  judiciously  halted  until  the  moon 
had  set,  when  he  began  to  move  his  men  ;  but  he  was  perceived  by  the 
enemy,  who  opened  upon  his  forces,  continuing  their  fire  from  front  to 
rear  for  a  space  of  three  hours,  and  yet  out  of  more  than  three  hundred 
boats  not  one  was  touched,  and  only  one  man  was  killed  and  two 
wounded.  Before  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  the  whole  of  the  flotilla 
except  two  vessels  reached  the  place  of  rendezvous.  After  this  event 
there  was  no  further  hostile  movement  of  any  importance  by  either 
side  in  the  vicinity  of  Ogdensburg  during  the  war. 


152  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE. 

Ogdensburg  after  the  Declaration  of  Peace — President  Monroe's  Visit — Removal  of 
the  Public  Buildings — Description  of  the  Buildings — The  NeAv  Jail — ''Jail  Liberties" — 
Destruction  of  the  Court  House  by  Fire — Measures  for  the  Erection  of  a  New  One — 
Description  of  the  Building — The  New  County  Clerk's  OfiBce — The  Poorhouse  and 
Asyluna — Statistics  of  the  County's  Charities. 

THE  war  thus  far  had  not  proved  of  any  material  benefit  to  either 
nation.  In  tlie  interests  of  New  England  centered  in  ships  and 
factories — the  former  were  captured  at  sea,  while  the  latter  came  to  a 
standstill.  Industry  was  paralyzed.  The  Federal  party  cried  out 
against  the  continuance  of  the  contest,  and  the  Democrats,  being  the 
dominant  party,  were  inclined  to  peace.  In  the  summer  of  1814  five 
commissioners  were  selected  to  meet  ambassadors  of  Great  Britain  at 
Ghent  in  Belgium.  After  several  months  spent  in  negotiations  a  treaty 
was  agreed  to  and  signed  on  the  24th  day  of  December,  18 14.  On 
the  iSth  day  of  February,  1815,  this  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  and  peace  was  publicly  proclaimed. 

It  was  in  the  interim, between  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  and  recep- 
tion of  the  news  in  the  United  States,  that  the  battle  of  New  Orleans 
was  fought.  If  a  telegraph  had  been  in  operation  at  that  day  many 
valuable  lives  could  have  been  saved  by  an  earlier  reception  of  the 
proclamation  of  peace. 

As  the  war  cloud  rolled  away  our  dock  yards  began  to  ring  with  the 
sound  of  saw  and  hammer,  the  factory  was  set  in  motion,  and  new 
hopes  were  inspired  among  all  classes  of  people.  Ogdensburg,  which 
had  been  nearly  deserted  at  one  time,  began  to  bristle  with  industry. 
Work  upon  Fort  Oswegatchie  (near  the  Creighton  place),  the  construc- 
tion of  which  had  been  commenced,  was  abandoned,  but  on  the  recep- 
tion of  the  news  of  peace,  citizens  who  had  been  absent  began  to  re- 
turn  and   take  possession  of  their  property,   which   had  been   at  the 


AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE.  153 

mercy  of  lawless  people.  The  place,  like  most  frontier  towns,  was 
greatly  impoverished  by  the  ravages  of  war.  With  the  returning  citi- 
zens came  many  wealthy  and  influential  men  to  make  Ogdensburg  their 
home.  Such  a  class  of  men  as  George  Parish,  David  C.  Judson,  John 
Fine,  and  Henry  Van  Rensselaer  greatly  assisted  in  restoring  order, 
and  materially  helped  in  reorganizing  society  which  had  become  some- 
what corrupt  during  the  struggle. 

In  the  summer  of  1817  President  James  Monroe  made  a  tour  through 
the  Southern  States.  He  was  met  on  his  way  home  from  Plattsburg  by 
a  party  of  men  from  Ogdensburg,  August  i,  and  brought  into  town, 
received  by  a  band  of  music,  and  became  the  guest  of  George  Parish. 
He  there  received  the  trustees  and  citizens  through  Louis  Hasbrouck, 
who  addressed  him  as  follows  : 

Sir—  The  trustees  and  inhabitants  of  this  village  Avelcome  with  pecuHar  satisfaction 
your  arrival  among  them.  In  common  veith  the  nation  we  have  viewed  with  much 
interest  your  important  tour  along  our  seaboard  and  frontier,  particularly  confiding  in 
your  observation,  wisdom  and  experience,  for  the  establishment  of  such  points  of 
national  defence  along  our  immediate  border  as  will  best  promote  our  individual  pros- 
perity and  strengthen  the  national  security.  Born  and  educated  under  a  government 
whose  laws  we  venerate,  enjoying  a  soil  rich  in  the  bounties  of  Providence,  and  grate- 
ful for  the  invaluable  blessings  of  liberty  bequeathed  to  us  by  the  heroes  of  the  Revo- 
lution, no  effort  shall  be  wanting  on  our  part  to  maintain,  defend,  and  transmit  to  our 
posterity  the  benefits  we  so  eminently  possess. 

His  excellency  replied  as  follows : 

I  thank  you,  citizens  of  Ogdensburg,  for  your  attention  and  very  polite  reception.  I 
receive  them  as  marks  of  respect  to  the  first  magistrate  of  the  nation,  not  by  any  means 
arrogating  them  to  myself  as  an  individual.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure,  because  it 
evinces  an  attachment  of  the  people  to  that  form  of  government  which  they  them- 
selves have  established.  I  am  satisfied  you  hold  its  value  in  just  estimation  and  are 
sincerely  devoted  to  its  preservation.  In  administering  it  I  will  support  its  principles 
and,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  promote  the  interests  of  the  country. 

In  the  evening  the  president  was  joined  by  Major-General  Brown  of 
the  United  States  army  and  his  whole  suite,  accompanied  by  whom  he 
repaired  to  Morristown  and  logded  with  Hon.  David  Ford.  On  Satur- 
day, the  2d,  he  viewed  Mr.  Parish's  extensive  and  valuable  iron  works 
at  Rossie,  considered  at  that  early  day  to  be  an  establishment  of  great 
public  importance  and   usefulness.      From   Rossie  he  proceeded  south- 

20 


154  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ward  by  way  of  Antwerp,  where  he  was  met  by  Mr.  Le  Ray  and  others, 
who  conducted  him  to  Le  Raysville,  where  he  spent  the  night. 

The  natural  advantages  of  this  place  and  the  surroundings,  such  as 
water  power,  lake  navigation,  mines  near  b}',  plenty  of  forest  timber 
and  good  arable  lands  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  excited  extravagant 
anticipations  of  the  future  prosperity  and  growth  of  Ogdensburg  and 
the  county.  Capitalists  entered  largely  into  land  speculation  and  held 
the  farms  at  such  high  prices  that  only  a  few  were  able  to  take  con- 
tracts for  land  with  any  degree  of  certainty  of  making  for  themselves  a 
home. 

The  landed  proprietors  and  settlers  of  the  central  and  southern  sec- 
tions of  the  county  were  never  satisfied  with  the  location  of  the  public 
buildings  at  Ogdensburg.  Among  the  various  arguments  then  adduced 
in  favor  of  the  removal  of  the  county  buildings  to  a  more  central  place 
was  that  of  the  exposed  situation  of  the  frontier  and  the  liability  to 
hostile  incursions  in  case  of  war;  and  the  fact  was  cited  that  the  board 
of  supervisors,  in  the  fall  of  1814,  had  made  an  appropriation  to  repair 
the  damage  done  to  the  court  house  by  the  British  on  F"ebruary  22, 
1813.  A  petition  was  circulated  for  the  appointment  of  commissioners 
to  select  a  new  site  for  the  public  buildings,  which  received  seven  hun- 
dred signatures,  and  a  remonstrance  also  circulated  had  seven  hundred 
and  sixty- two  names.  The  inhabitants  of  Potsdam  also  petitioned  for 
the  removal  of  the  buildings  to  their  village.  Against  the  removal  it 
was  urged  that  the  condition  of  the  buildings  at  Ogdensburg  did  not 
call  for  a  change ;  that  a  large  amount  of  money  was  about  to  be  ex- 
pended on  the  roads,  which  would  make  that  place  easily  accessible ; 
that  the  county  buildings  worth  $2,000  will  become  forfeited  by  re- 
version to  the  proprietor;  that  the  taxable  inhabitants  of  the  county, 
then  numbering  about  2,000,  were  thinly  scattered,  and  an  uncertainty 
still  existed  where  the  weight  of  population  would  ultimately  pre- 
ponderate. 

A  plan  was  at  this  time  proposed  to  divide  the  county  by  a  line  run- 
ning between  Lisbon  and  Canton  on  the  west,  and  Madrid  and  Potsdam 
on  the  east,  to  extend  in  a  direct  line  to  the  southern  bounds  of  the 
county.  The  new  county  was  to  iiave  been  named  Fayette.  An  esti- 
mate made  at  the  time  is  interesting  as  denoting  the  number  of  taxpay- 
ers in  the  then  fifteen  towns  as  follows  : 


AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE. 


i.-io 


Western  Division — Oswegatchie,  193;  Gouverneur,  89;  De  Kalb, 
126  ;  Russell,  119;  Fowler,  28  ;  Rossie,  62  ;  Lisbon,  115;  Canton,  202. 
Total,  934. 

Eastern  Division — Madrid,  260;  Potsdam,  302;  Parishville,  133; 
Stockholm,  99;  Hopkinton,  81  ;  Louisville,  106;  Massena,  85.  Total 
1,066. 

The  subject  of  dividing  the  county  was  abandoned  for  the  time  being, 
but  the  removal  of  the  county  buildings  was  agitated  from  time  to 
time,  yet  no  definite  action  was  taken  as  long  as  Nathan  Ford  was  in 
health  that  would  permit  him  to  take  an  active  part  in  suppressing  a 
movement  of  this  kind.  At  length  his  health  failed  and  he  was  con- 
fined to  his  room  more  or  less  in  the  last  few  years  of  his  life.  Mr.  Ford 
was  the  first  pioneer  settler  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  as  well  as  the 
founder  of  Ogdensburg,  and  it  grieved  him  to  learn  that  in  his  declin- 
ing years  influences  were  at  work  to  have  the  county  seat  changed  to 
another  locality.  He  continued  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs 
after  his  strength  had  denied  him  the  power  of  taking  an  active  part  in 
them. 

The  subject  of  removal  of  the  county  buildings  to  a  central  location 
again  came  up  for  legislative  action  in  the  session  of  1827,  but  was  per- 
mitted to  lie  over  till  the  next  session  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
more  distinct  expression  of  the  popular  will  on  the  measure.  Under 
these  circumstances  it  became  a  test  question  in  the  election  of  member 
of  assembly  of  that  year.  Party  considerations  were  dropped  for  the 
time,  and  it  was  expected  that  the  canvass  would  decide  the  preferences 
of  the  electors  of  the  county  upon  the  subject  of  removal.  There  were 
then  two  assembly  districts  in  the  county,  and  candidates  were  nomi- 
nated who  would  work  for  or  against  the  project ;  the  result  was  that 
the  candidates  who  favored  removal  polled  4,542,  and  the  candidates 
against  removal  polled  3,757,  a  difference  of  785  in  favor  of  re- 
moval. 

The  petition,  dated  December,  1827,  upon  which  the  law  was  founded 
authorizing  a  change  and  appointing  commissioners  to  designate  a  new 
site,  was  not  numerously  signed,  but  it  bore  names  of  those  who  pos- 
sessed much  influence  in  the  county.  The  petition  was  sent  to  the  Sen- 
ate January  18,  1828.      After  the  most  active  opposition  from  many  of 


lo6 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


those  interested  in  Ogdensburg,  a  bill  was  passed  January  28,  1828,  es- 
tablishing the  location  of  the  court-house  and  other  public  buildings  at 
Canton,  and  the  appointment  of  Ansel  Bailey,  David  C.  Judson,  and 
Asa  Sprague,  jr..  commissioners  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the 
court-house,  jail,  and  clerk's  office.  The  act  authorized  a  tax  of  $2,500 
to  be  levied  on  the  county  for  the  buildings.  The  sum  designated  was 
found  inadequate,  and  an  act  was  passed  April  16,  1830,  authorizing 
the  supervisors  to  raise  $600  more  for  the  purpose. 


.* 


SECOND  COURT  HOUSE   AND  PRESENT   CLERK'S  OFFICE. 


Each  building  was  of  stone.  The  court-house  was  of  two  stories, 
forty-four  by  forty  feet.  The  lower  story  was  divided  into  four  rooms, 
besides  passages  and  stairways,  consisting  of  a  grand  jury  room,  a 
room  for  constables  and  witnesses,  and  two  rooms  for  petit  jurors.  The 
upper  story  was  devoted  entirely  to  a  court  room  fort}'-one  by  thirty- 
seven  feet  in  size. 

The  jail  was  thirty  six  by  forty  feet,  with  the  basement  story  rising 
about  five  feet  above  the  ground  and  a  story  and  a  half  above  the  base- 
ment. About  twelve  feet  of  the  easterly  end  of  all  the  stories  was  ap- 
propriated to  prison  rooms,  except  a  small  room  in  the  lower,  for  a 
sheriff's  office. 

The  clerk's  office  was  of  the  same  height  and  size  of  the  private  clerk's 
office,  differing  in  its  construction  only  in  making  the  front  room  smaller, 


AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE.  157 

and  the  rear  one  larger.  The  plan  of  the  criminal  rooms  was  soon 
afterward  entirely  changed. 

The  accommodations  of  the  court-house  being  found  insufficient,  the 
subject  of  enlarging  the  building  was  brought  before  the  board  of  super- 
visors in  1850,  and  it  was  resolved  to  expend  not  to  exceed  $2,000  in 
the  necessary  changes,  including  an  extension  of  twenty- four  feet. 
Messrs.  Fisk,  Thatcher,  and  Cogswell  were  appointed  to  carry  out  the 
plans,  which  they  did  in  the  summer  of  185  I. 

In  1858  a  bill  was  passed  providing  for  the  building  of  a  new  jail. 
Parker  W.  Rose,  Benjamin  Squires  and  George  Robinson  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  in  charge  of  the  work,  and  to  dispose  of  the  old 
jail  and  fixtures  The  building  was  finished' in  i860,  and  cost,  includ- 
ing the  site,  fixtures,  and  interest,  $13,637.31.  It  was  built  of  Potsdam 
sandstone,  44  by  72  feet  in  size,  and  two  stories  and  an  attic.  It  con- 
tains twenty-four  cells,  four  debtor  rooms,  and  one  parlor,  chambers, 
and  two  sleeping  rooms  for  the  sheriff's  family.  In  1877  an  addition 
of  wood  was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  jail,  enclosing  the  prison 
court,  fronting  west  forty  seven  feet  and  running  to  the  east  sixty  seven 
feet,  including  the  wood  house.  This  addition  is  two  stories,  and  sup- 
plies four  rooms  for  the  sheriff  and  his  family.  The  jail  was  extensively 
repaired,  and  the  court  room  painted,  papered,  ventilators  and  wains- 
cotting  put  in,  etc.  The  cost  of  the  addition  to  the  jail  and  the  repairs 
on  the  jail  and  court  room  was  $6,200. 

The  "jail  liberties"  are  certain  prescribed  limits,  contiguous  to  the 
jail,  where  a  certain  class  of  persons  may  range  at  pleasure  by  giving 
security  that  they  will  not  leave  the  limits  without  authority  from  the 
court.  The  limits  were  laid  off  in  1873  and  contain  about  455  acres, 
and  marked  by  stone  monuments  at  the  corners  of  the  tract.  The 
"  liberties  "  are  rectangular  with  the  jail  centrally  located  therein,  and 
include  the  entire  business  portion  of  the  village  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  and  the  railroad  depot,  giving  the  prisoner  who  gives  bail  for  his 
presence  thereon,  a  limited  liberty,  or  he  may  engage  in  some  kinds  of 
labor,  which  is  often  done,  to  advantage  of  both  employed  and  employer. 

The  court  house  took  fire  by  some  unknown  means  about  2  o'clock 
A.  M.  February  21,  1893,  and  was  burned,  leaving  only  the  bare  walls, 
which  were  damaged  so  as  to  unfit  them  for  further  use.     The  County 


158  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Court  was  being  held  by  Judge  Kellogg  at  the  time  and  a  session  con- 
tinued until  a  late  hour  on  the  evening  previous  to  the  fire.  A  portion  of 
the  books  and  papers  were  burned,  rendering  it  necessary  to  adjourn  the 
the  court  for  two  weeks.  On  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  disaster,  immediate 
steps  were  taken  by  citizens  of  Norwood,  Potsdam,  Gouverneur  and 
Ogdensburg  to  have  the  county  buildings  located  at  their  respective 
places.  Under  a  call  of  the  mayor,  the  citizens  of  Ogdensburg  assem- 
bled at  the  town  hall  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  the  fire,  appointed 
a  committee  to  take  legal  steps  and  assemble  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
in  an  endeavor  to  have  the  county  buildings  removed  to  that  city.  A 
resolution  to  that  effect  was  passed,  and  a  petition,  dated  February  23, 
signed  by  ninety- nine  freeholders,  was  prepared  and  public  notice  given 
that  it  would  be  presented  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  their  meeting. 
The  people  of  Potsdam  also  petitioned  in  a  similar  manner  on  the  4th 
of  March.  Meanwhile  the  citizens  of  Canton  took  action,  causing  the 
board  to  be  called  together  on  Tuesday,  March  21  At  that  meeting 
a  motion  to  adjourn  was  lost,  and  a  committee  was  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  Messrs.  Flaherty,  Ives,  L.  P.  Hale,  Kellogg  and  Vance,  to  look 
up  plans  and  cost  of  materials,  etc.,  to  rebuild  the  court  house,  and  to 
report  at  the  adjourned  meeting  of  May  17.  The  committee,  with 
Architect  Johnson,  of  Ogdensburg,  visited  several  public  buildings, 
made  plans,  and  called  for  bids  to  execute  the  same.  On  the  5th  of 
July  they  met  to  examine  the  bids,  when  a  sub-committee  was  selected 
to  open  them.  Seven  bids  were  received,  two  being  for  the  stone  work 
only,  and  five  for  the  whole  building,  exclusive  of  the  heating  and 
plumbing,  which  ranged  from  $54,000  to  $80,000.  Some  of  the  bids 
being  somewhat  indefinite,  they  adjourned  over  to  July  10.  At  the 
assembling  of  the  committee,  the  following  persons  were  named  as  a 
building  committee,  and  authorized  to  close  the  contract  with  the 
bidder  selected:  Hon.  Newton  Aldrich,  of  Gouverneur;  George  W. 
Hurlburt,  of  Oswegatchie ;  Hon.  Leslie  W.  Russell,  and  Ledyard  P. 
Hale,  of  Canton  ;  M.  V.  B.  Ives,  of  Potsdam  ;  and  Michael  H.  Flaherty, 
of  Massena.  On  the  iith  the  committee  met  to  award  the  contract, 
which  was  awarded  to  Evans  &  Ackerman,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  for 
the  sum  of  $53,966.  The  appropriation  being  $60,000,  it  leaves  a 
sufficient  margin  to  pay  for  the  heating  apparatus  and  the  plumbing. 


AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE.  159 

The  body  of  the  building  is  built  of  Canton  stone  and  trimmed  with 
red  sandstone.  The  design  is  Romanesque;  it  has  a  tower  120  feet 
high,  and  two  immense  arches  at  the  entrance,  with  carved  capitals. 
Over  the  entrance  is  carved  in  large  letters  and  figures,  "  18 — Court- 


^      -^ 


'^ 


1  i 


V 


NEW  COURT  HOUSE. 


House — 93."  On  the  pinnacle  of  the  entrance  is  placed  "  Scales  of 
Justice."  The  size  of  the  main  building  is  121  by  70  feet.  On  the 
first  floor  is  a  corridor  64  by  10  feet.  On  the  right  of  the  main  entrance 
is  the  supervisors'  room,  32  feet  square,  one  end  a  circle.  The  seats  are 
arranged  in  amphitheatre  style,  with  a  private  chair  and  desk  for  each 
supervisor,  finished  in  oak.  At  the  right  of  the  main  entrance  is  a 
ladies'  waiting  room  and  toilet  room  attached.  At  the  left  entrance  is 
the  surrogate's  room,  consisting  of  a  court  room,  27  by  16  feet,  private 
office  and  clerk's  office.  On  the  second  floor  is  the  court  room,  48  by 
65  feet  and  23  feet  high,  finished  in  oak.  At  the  south  of  the  room  is 
the  lawyers'  room,  law  library  and  the   county  judges'  room.     At  the 


160  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LA\YRENCE  COUNTY. 

south  of  the  court  room  are  also  three  jury  rooms,  and  at  the  west 
two  more.  The  floor  is  tiled,  also  the  roof.  When  finished,  this 
will  be  one  of  the  handsomest,  most  convenient  and  complete  court 
houses  in  the  State. 

The  old  county  clerk's  office  becoming  too  contracted  for  the  rapidly 
increasing  business  of  the  county,  in  1870  a  committee  recommended 
the  erection  of  a  new  and  more  extensive  one,  and  reported  that  no  re- 
pairs could  be  made  to  advantage  on  the  old  one.  There  was  no  further 
action  taken  in  the  matter  until  the  annual  meeting  of  the  supervisors 
in  1876,  when  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  report  plans  for  a 
building  and  estimates  of  its  cost.  At  the  special  session  of  the  board, 
held  in  January,  1877,  the  committee  reported  plans  and  specifications 
of  a  building  which  w^ere  adopted  by  the  board.  A  building  committee 
consisting  of  L.  W.  Russell,  Robert  Dalzell,  and  E.  S.  Crapser,  was  ap- 
pointed and  authorized  to  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  building  in 
accordance  with  the  plans,  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $.15,000.  The  build- 
ing contract  was  let  to  Moore  &  Fields,  of  Canton,  for  $14,500,  and 
some  changes  made  in  the  plans  brought  the  entire  cost  up  to  $15,000, 
and  the  work  was  finished  in  the  spring  of  1878. 

The  foundation  or  trench  walls  are  laid  with  granite  five  feet  thick, 
and  the  wall  from  the  ground,  including  the  water  tables,  is  of  the  black 
limestone  of  the  Norwood  quarries,  as  are  also  the  corners,  window 
trimmings,  cornice  and  coping.  The  body  of  the  building  is  of  the 
light  gray  granite  of  Gouverneur,  and  the  two  colors  present  a  unique 
and  beautiful  appearance.  The  main  building  is  thirty  by  forty- eight 
feet  with  a  projection  of  five  feet  containing  the  entrance,  and  two  stories 
in  height.  The  lower  story  is  twelve  and  the  upper  one  eleven  feet  in 
the  clear.  A  hall  ten  feet  wide  passes  through  the  center,  on  either  side 
of  which  are  four  rooms  above  and  below  seventeen  by  twenty  feet. 
An  annex  thirty-six  by  forty  feet  of  one  story  of  fourteen  feet  between 
joints,  is  built  at  the  rear  of  the  main  building,  connecting  therewith  b}'^ 
two  passages  secured  by  iron  doors  at  both  ends.  The  annex  is  in- 
tended to  be  fire  proof  for  the  storage  of  records.  The  floor  is  tiled 
with  marble  and  supported  by  three  heavily  built  arches  of  brick.  The 
roof  is  of  copper  and  heavy  limestone  coping  protects  and  ornaments  it. 
The  basement  is  light  and  dry  and    fitted  up  with  furnace  for  heating. 


AFTER  THE  DECLARATION  OF  PEACE.  Kil 

Solid  granite  pillars  support  the  first  floor  of  the  main  building  and  give 
a  sense  of  strength  and  durability  that  is  satisfactory  and  pleasing.  The 
roof  of  the  main  building  is  slate  and  is  surmounted  by  a  very  neat  and 
proportionate  cupola. 

Poor  house  and  Asylum. — The  Legislature  in  1778  provided  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  by  towns  and  city,  and  later  on  for  the  building  of 
poorhouses  by  towns  and  counties.  Previous  to  the  adoption  of  the 
poorhouse  system  by  St.  Lawrence  county,  each  town  in  the  county 
supported  its  own  poor.  The  first  action  taken  by  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors in  regard  to  a  poorhouse  for  the  county,  was  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing in  1825,  when  a  vote  was  carried  to  raise  by  tax  $2,400  to  purchase 
a  farm  and  build  a  house.  Smith  Stillwell,  Josiah  Sanford,  and  Chaun- 
cey  Pettibone  were  appointed  commissioners  to  locate  the  site  and  make 
the  purchase.  The  committee,  through  disagreement,  failed  to  select  a 
site,  and  at  the  session  of  the  board  in  1826  they  were  discharged.  A 
second  committee  consisting  of  John  C.  Perkins,  Samuel  Northrup 
and  Reuben  Streeter,  was  appointed  with  power  to  purchase  a  site. 
A  lot  of  eighty  acres,  known  as  the  "  Nathan  Walker  "  lot,  situated  one 
mile  west  of  Canton  village  on  the  De  Kalb  road  was  bought  for  $1,250. 
An  appropriation  of  $500  was  made  to  repair  the  buildings  and  stock 
the  farm.  A  board  of  seven  superintendents  of  the  poorhouse  was  ap- 
pointed, viz.:  Asa  Sprague,  jr.,  Daniel  Walker,  Smith  Stillwell,  Samuel 
Partridge,  Silas  Wright,  jr.,  Joseph  Barnes,  and  Ephraim  S.  Raymond. 
In  the  year  following  an  additional  sum  of  $500  was  raised  by  tax  to 
build  an  addition  to  the  poorhouse. 

In  1832  the  distinction  between  the  town  and  county  poor  was  abol- 
ished. In  1842  fifty  acres  of  land  were  added  to  the  farm  at  a  cost  of 
$1,066,  and  new  buildings  erected  and  other  improvements  added.  In 
1846  an  addition  was  made  to  the  poorhouse,  constructed  of  stone.  In 
1 861  a  resolution  looking  to  the  erection  of  a  new  poorhouse  was  passed 
by  the  supervisors,  and  A.  B.  James  and  Edwin  W.  Foster  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  on  plans,  but  no  further  action  was  taken  in  the 
matter  until  the  fall  of  1865.  when  the  board  voted  to  purchase  the  Her- 
riman  farm  containing  330  acres  at  a  cost  of  $50  per  acre,  situated  two 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  Canton  village,  and  to  build  a  poorhouse  there- 
on costing  not  to  exceed  $40,000.  The  building  committee  were  M.  D. 
21 


162  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Packard,  Seth  G.  Pope,  and  T.  S.  Clarkson.  They  advertised  for  pro- 
posals on  the  plans  given,  but  no  one  made  a  bid.  The  committee  then 
proceeded  to  make  the  brick,  quarry  the  stone,  and  cut  timber  for  the 
building,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  supervisors  in  1867  the  ap- 
propriation was  increased  to  $50,000.  The  building  was  finished  by  the 
committee  in  1869,  and  accepted  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  No- 
vember of  that  year.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  $48,788.58  ;  of  the 
barn  and  repairs  on  the  outbuildings  $2,348.05  ;  of  the  farm  $16,500. 
Total  expenditure  $67,636.63.  The  old  poor-farm  and  buildings  sold 
for  $6,500.  In  1872  twenty  wards  were  fitted  up  for  the  confinement 
of  the  insane  poor  at  a  cost  of  $1,400, 

The  actual  cost  of  keeping  the  fifty-  six  paupers  who  were  provided 
for  in  the  first  year  of  the  operation  of  the  poorhouse  system,  was 
$1,055.53,  869  weeks  of  board  being  furnished.  The  second  year 
1,329  weeks  board  were  furnished,  costing  $2,731.87.  There  were  fur- 
nished during  the  year  ending  November  1,  1877,  8,046  weeks  of  board, 
at  a  cost  of  less  than  one  dollar  per  week,  or  $8,021.54.  Below  is 
given  a  report  of  the  superintendent  of  the  poor  for  the  year  ending 
November  i,  1877,  which  shows  what  has  been  and  is  still  being  done 
for  the  poor  of  this  county.  The  farm  and  buildings  cost,  including 
twenty  wards  for  the  insane,  $81,636.63.  The  products  of  the  farm  for 
the  year  were  valued  at  $4,285;  the  implements  on  hand  at  $1,231; 
the  furniture  in  the  house  at  $1,659;  ^he  improvements  made  on  the 
farm  during  the  year  at  $190;  and  sundries  on  hand  at  $1,143.  There 
were  received  during  the  year  155  persons,  and  146  were  discharged, 
eleven  absconded,  twenty-two  died,  and  there  were  eight  births  in  the 
house.  Four  children  were  bound  out,  leaving  at  the  end  of  the  year 
seventy  males  and  seventy  one  females.  Of  these  unfortunates,  twenty- 
five  were  insane,  five  were  blind,  nineteen  were  idiotic,  and  three  were 
deaf  mutes.  The  temporary  relief  supplied  by  the  superintendent  in 
the  several  towns  in  the  county  amounted  to  $35,167.68,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  expenses  of  the  poorhouse,  $8,021.54,  and  children's 
home,  $2,984.24,  makes  $46, 173  46  expended  on  charity,  besides  the 
appropriation  for  the  State  charities.  And  the  amount  of  appropria- 
tions for  relief  of  the  poor  in  this  county  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
the   first  year  of  the   adoption  of  the  poorhouse  system   (1827)    was 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  163 

$1,918.51.  This  amount  has  gradually  increased,  with  slight  variations 
from  year  to  year,  until  it  reached  in  1876  the  sum  of  $35,265.64. 
During  the  fifty  years  inclusive  the  total  amount  expended  is  $752,- 
714.25.  To  these  figures  may  be  added  the  amount  expended  for 
that  other  charity  to  give  homeless  waifs  the  comforts  of  a  temporary 
abiding  place.  $5,450,  which  makes  the  sum  $758,164.25,  exclusive  of 
private  charities,  which  have  also  been  liberally  bestowed  on  the  poor 
in  the  mean  time  Could  these  amounts  be  gathered  that  have  been 
given  to  indigent  friends  by  individuals,  churches  and  benevolent  insti- 
tutions, it  would  no  doubt  swell  the  grand  aggregate  to  upwards  of 
$1,000  000.  This  speaks  well  for  the  liberality  of  the  people  of  the 
county. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Various  Plans  for  Internal  Navigation— State  Roads — Plank  Roads — Steamboat 
Navigation — Marine  Railway — The  Northern  Transportation  Company — The  Ogdens- 
burg  Transit  Company — Port  of  Transfer— The  Northern  Railroad — The  Rome,  Water- 
town  and  Ogdensburg  Railroad — The  Utica  and  Black  River  Railroad — The  Gouverneur 
and  Oswegatchie  Railroad — Street  Railway. 


r 


tROM  an  early  period  attempts  were  made  to  improve  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  St.  Lawrence  along  the  south  shore,  from  St.  Regis  up 
to  Indian  Point  in  Lisbon.  Several  acts  were  passed  authorizing  sur- 
veys, and  privileges  granted  to  build  locks.  By  an  act  passed  April  9, 
181 1,  R.  Atwater  and  R.  Hopkins  were  appointed  commissioners,  and 
authorized  to  expend  $600  in  building  a  tow-path  on  the  shore  along 
the  rapids  from  St.  Regis  to  Lisbon,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
carried  out. 

Another  project  was  started  in  1833,  and  endorsed  by  a  convention 
held  at  Canton  that  fall,  to  cut  a  canal  from  the  head  of  "  Long  Saut  " 
to  Grass  River,  and  a  subscription  was  raised  to  procure  a  survey. 
Also  a  petition  was  circulated  to  be  sent  to  Congress  asking  suitable 
appropriation  to  carry  out   the  project.     The    north    shore  had  always 


164  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

been  preferred  by  voyagers  to  ascend  the  rapids,  but  on  account  of  the 
fact  that  the  Canadian  government  had  undertaken  to  improve  naviga- 
tion by  building  canals  and  locks  on  the  north  shore,  this  enterprise 
ended. 

Another  scheme  was  agitated  to  build  canals,  locks  and  dams  on  the 
Oswegatchie  and  Grass  Rivers,  in  order  to  navigate  Black  Lake,  and  to 
extend  the  same  to  Gouverneur  and  by  the  way  of  Natural  Canal  to 
Canton.  A  company  was  incorporated  April  25,  1831,  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  capital  to  be  $15,000,  and  the  work  to  be  accomplished 
within  five  years.  In  1835  the  capital  stock  was  raised  to  $100,000. 
In  the  petition  which  procured  the  passage  of  the  above  act,  it  was 
stated  that  at  Heuvel  locks  had  been  begun  and  might  be  completed  at 
small  expense  ;  that  the  expense  of  dams  and  locks  to  improve  the 
natural  channel  of  the  Oswegatchie  would  not  be  to  exceed  $12,000, 
and  that  steamboats  might  be  built  for  $5,000  sufficient  to  meet  the 
business  of  the  proposed  company.  The  fall  at  Canton  Falls  is  eighty 
feet,  and  at  Cooper's  Falls  in  De  Kalb  about  six  feet,  which  being  over- 
come by  locks,  would  render  the  river  navigable  as  far  as  the  Ox-bow 
in  Jefferson  county.  A  dam  across  Grass  River  and  a  short  channel 
near  the  eastern  end  of  Natural  Canal  would  bring  Canton  in  navigable 
communication  with  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Ogdensburg.  It  is  evident 
that  no  actual  improvements  were  ever  undertaken  under  these  acts. 

The  plan  of  extending  the  Black  River  Canal  to  Ogdensburg  was 
brought  forward  in  1839,  and  a  survey  executed  by  E.  H.  Broadhead, 
which  embraced  the  several  improvements  above  proposed,  but  no 
further  action  was  taken. 

Several  acts  have  been  passed  for  preventing  the  obstruction  of  the 
channels  of  our  rivers  by  declaring  them  public  highways.  Racquet 
River  from  its  mouth  to  Norfolk,  and  St.  Regis  from  the  province  line 
to  the  east  line  of  Stockholm  were  so  declared  April  15,  1810;  the 
Oswegatchie  was  made  a  highway  April  16,  18 16,  to  Streeter's  Mills 
in  Rossie,  a*id  its  obstruction  forbidden  under  penalty  of  $100.  By  a 
recent  act  this  limit  has  been  extended  on  the  East  Branch  to  Cran- 
berry Lake.  An  act  was  passed  April  10,  1850,  declaring  Racquet 
River  a  highway  from  its  mouth  to  the  foot  of  Racquet  Lake  in  Ham- 
ilton  county,   and    an    appropriation  of  $10,000  was   made    to  be  ex- 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  165 

pended  in  removing  obstructions  and  improving  the  channel,  by  shut- 
ting up  lost  channels  and  straits  around  islands,  also  creating  piers, 
dams  and  booms. 

The  want  of  a  cheap  and  direct  communication  between  the  navi- 
gable waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  seaboard  was  felt  from  the 
first,  but  more  especially  during  the  War  of  1812.  Shortly  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  plans  for  uniting  Lake  Champlain  with  the  Connecti- 
cut River  were  discussed  and  attempted. 

Judge  Raymond  and  Benjamin  Wright,  while  surveying  the  country 
before  its  settlement,  had  formed  projects  for  improving  the  natural 
channels  of  the  river,  and  to  them  belongs  the  merit  of  the  idea  of  in- 
land navigation.  A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Clinton,  Franklin  and 
St.  Lawrence  counties  convened  at  Ogdensburg  August  28,  1823,  to 
adopt  measures  for  a  canal  to  reach  Lake  Champlain  from  Ogdensburg. 
They  appointed  B.  Raymond,  of  Norfolk  ;  S.  Partridge,  of  Potsdam  ; 
J.  A.  Vanden  Heuvel,  of  Ogdensburg;  William  Hogan,  of  Covington; 
Thomas  Smith,  of  Chateaugay;  and  Asa  Hascall,  of  Malone,  who  pre- 
pared and  published  a  lengthy  report  for  distribution  in  the  sections  to 
be  most  benefited  by  the  work.  The  preliminary  surve\'  made  by 
Judge  Raymond  was  to  use  Oswegatchie  Natural  Canal  and  Grass  River 
to  Canton,  The  petition  and  the  triendly  influences  towards  these 
works  led  to  an  act  for  a  survey  under  the  direction  of  the  canal  com- 
missioners. The  expense  was  limited  to  $1,500.  The  summit  was 
found  to  be  811  feet  above  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Ogdensburg  and  966 
feet  above  Lake  Champlain.  This  work  was  commended  to  the  Legis- 
lature by  De  Witt  Clinton  in  his  annual  message  in  1825,  but  the  work 
was  found  to  be  impracticable  and  the  idea  was  abandoned. 

State  Roads. — Attention  was  early  directed  towards  opening  roads 
from  St.  Lawrence  county  to  various  places  in  the  State.  After  the 
State  road  leading  from  Ford's  Mills  on  the  Oswegatchie  to  Carthage 
was  authorized  and  worked,  as  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chapter,  vari- 
ous other  roads  were  built.  By  an  act  passed  April  i,  1808,  a  road 
was  made  from  Canton  to  Chester  in  Essex  county,  the  land  through 
which  it  passed  being  taxed  for  the  purpose.  Further  appropriations 
were  made  by  acts  passed  in  18 10  to  18 14.  On  the  19th  of  June,  1812, 
a  road  was  directed  to  be  opened  from  near  the  foot  of  sloop  navigation 


166  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

on  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Albany,  and  again  in  1815  a  further  tax  was 
laid  with  which  a  road  was  opened  from  Russell  southward  and  made 
passable  for  teams,  but  like  the  ones  before  mentioned,  it  soon  fell  into 
decay.  A  law  passed  April  5,  18 10,  imposed  a  tax  on  the  adjacent 
land  to  repair  and  construct  a  road  from  the  Northwest  Bay  to  Hopkin- 
ton.  Further  tax  was  laid  for  the  road  in  1812  to  1824.  The  several 
towns  were  also  to  be  taxed  four  years  for  its  support,  when  it  was  to 
be  assumed  as  a  highway.  In  April,  18 16,  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed to  lay  out  a  road  from  Ogdensburg  by  way  of  Hamilton  to 
Massena  ;  from  Massena  through  Potsdam  to  Russell;  and  from  there 
to  Columbia  village,  on  to  Hamilton,  at  the  expense  of  the  adjacent 
lands.  On  the  i6th  of  April,  1827,  commissioners  were  directed  to 
survey  and  level  a  route  for  a  road  from  Lake  Champlain  to  Hopkinton, 
and  in  1829,  $25,836  were  applied  for  its  construction,  and  a  toll  col- 
lected for  its  support.  In  1833  aline  of  stages  started  between  Port 
Kent  and  Hopkinton  An  act  passed  April  18,  1828,  directed  a  road 
to  be  opened  from  Canton  to  Antwerp  at  the  expense  of  the  adjacent 
lands.  The  first  turnpike  was  made  by  the  St.  Lawrence  Turnpike 
Company,  incorporated  April  5,  1810,  which  ran  from  Carthage  to 
Malone  ;  in  1813  it  was  relieved  from  the  obligation  of  finishing  it  be- 
yond the  line  of  Bangor.  After  the  war  the  road  was  abandoned  by 
the  company. 

The  Ogdensburg  Turnpike  Company  was  formed  June  8,  1812,  was 
incorporated  with  $50,000  and  built  a  road  from  Wilna  to  Ogdensburg 
by  way  of  Rossie.  In  April,  1826,  the  road  was  abandoned  to  the 
public. 

The  Parishville  Turnpike  Company  was  incorporated  February  5, 
18 1 3,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  running  from  Ogdensburg  through  to 
Canton,  and  Potsdam  to  Parishville.  In  March,  1827,  the  road  was 
given  up  to  the  towns  through  which  it  passed.  In  April,  1831,  the 
part  between  Ogdensburg  and  Canton  was  directed  to  be  improved  by 
a  tax  upon  the  three  towns  of  $500  for  two  years.  With  this  sum  and 
tolls  collected  for  its  support,  an  excellent  road  was  kept  up  for  several 
years.  In  1850  the  road  was  directed  to  be  planked  at  the  expense  of 
the  three  towns,  when  at  length  the  route  was  abandoned  to  the  public. 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  167 

Plank  Roads. — The  plank  road  craze  struck  St.  Lawrence  county 
about  the  year  1848  and  covered  all  the  available  territory  within  a 
short  time.  By  a  special  act  the  Ogdensburg  and  Heuvelton  Plank 
Road  Company  with  a  capital  of  $5,000  was  incorporated,  with  the 
privilege  of  raising  their  capital  to  $20,000.  The  road  was  opened  in 
September,  1849.  The  earnings  at  first  were  about  $2,000  per  year. 
After  the  first  planking  gave  out  the  company  was  permitted  to  gravel 
its  road  bed  and  thus  was  enabled  to  hold  its  charter  until  it  expired  by 
limitation. 

The  Gouverneur,  Somerville  and  Antwerp  Company  was  formed 
under  the  general  law  December  30,  1848,  and  finished  its  road  in  1850. 
The  length  was  twelve  miles  and  124  rods;  the  capital  $13,000.  Six 
miles  of  this  road  were  in  Jefferson  county. 

The  Gouverneur,  Richville  and  Canton  Plank  Road  Company  was 
formed  July  6,  1849;   length  of  road  sixteen  miles;   capital  $16,000. 

The  Canton  plank  road,  extending  from  the  village  of  Canton  to  the 
town  line  of  De  Kalb.  was  built  under  a  special  act  passed  March  27, 
1849,  which  authorized  a  tax  on  the  town  of  Canton  of  $6,000  for  the 
first  year  and  $1,500  annually  for  three  successive  years  after,  the  road 
to  be  owned  by  the  town. 

The  Canton,  Morley  and  Madrid  Plank  Road  Company  was  formed 
in  January,  185  i,  and  its  road  finished  in  August  of  that  year;  length 
eleven  and  a  quarter  miles. 

The  Potsdam  Plank  Road  Company  was  formed  October  17,  1850; 
length  of  road  five  miles  and  154  rods,  from  Potsdam  village  to  the 
Northern  Railroad;   cost  $6,439.43;   finished  October  8,  185  i. 

The  Hammond,  Rossie  and  Antwerp  Plank  Road  Company  was 
formed  January  13,  1850,  and  the  road  finished  in  December  following; 
the  length  twenty  miles;  capital  $35,000.  Seven  miles  of  this  road 
were  in  Jefferson  county.  The  Rossie  Hill  cut  was  forty-one  feet  deep 
and  the  deepest  rock  cut  was  twenty- two  feet. 

The  Morristown  and  Hammond  Plank  Road  Company  was  organized 
in  July,  185  I  ;  length  of  road  ten  miles  and  a  quarter.  Capital,  $10,- 
000;  finished  in  May,  1852.  This  with  the  preceding  formed  a  con- 
tinuous plank  road  communication  with  a  route  leading  to  Utica,  Rome, 
Watertown,  etc.,  and  terminating  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Morristown. 


168  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  Heuvelton  and  Canton  Falls  Plank  Road  Company,  originally- 
organized,  had  a  length  of  about  ten  miles;  it  was  continued  to  the 
road  from  Canton  to  Hermon  by  the  same  company,  and  designed  to 
be  continued  to  Edwards. 

The  Hermon  Plank  Road  Company  was  formed  March  i,  185 1; 
capital,  $4,000  ;  length  of  road  four  and  a  half  miles,  extending  from 
Marshville  to  the  town  line  of  Canton,  connecting  with  Canton  Falls 
road  leading  to  Ogdensburg.      It  was  finished  in  Jul}',  1852. 

Heuvelton  and  De  Kalb  Plank  Road  Company  was  organized  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1849,  the  road  extending  to  intersect  the  Gouverneur  and 
Canton  road  about  three  miles  east  of  Richville.  Its  length  was  thir- 
teen miles,  to  be  completed  in  1853. 

The  Norfolk,  Raymondville  and  Massena  Plank  Road  Company  was 
organized  February  14,  185 1,  and  the  road  finished  in  the  following 
year.  Length,  ten  miles  and  forty-four  chains;  capital,  $8,500.  It 
was  a  continuation  of  the  Potsdam  road. 

Steamboat  Navigation. — Sailing  craft  had  been  in  use  more  or  less 
on  the  river  and  lakes  since  the  discovery  of  these  waters  by  Jacques 
Cartier.  The  first  attempt  at  steamboating  on  the  river  and  lakes  was 
made  by  a  company  composed  of  C.  Smith,  D.  Boyd,  E.  Lusher,  A. 
Van  Santvoord,  J.  1.  De  Graff,  and  several  others,  who  made  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  to  incorporate  the  Lake  Ontario  Steamboat  Company 
with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  They  claimed  to  have  purchased  of  the 
heirs  of  Robert  R.  Livingston  and  Robert  Fulton  the  right  to  the  ex- 
clusive navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  Ontario  was  built  in 
18 16  under  the  direction  of  Hunter  Crane,  one  of  the  owners,  the  place 
not  stated,  but  supposed  to  have  been  Sackett's  Harbor.  Her  length 
was  1 10  feet,  width  twenty-four  feet,  depth  eight  feet,  and  measured 
237  tons.  She  had  one  low  pressure  engine  of  thirty-four  inch  cylinder 
and  four  feet  stroke.  She  was  modeled  after  the  Sea-horse,  then  run- 
ning on  the  Sound  near  New  York.  The  first  trip  was  made  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1817,  and  her  arrival  was  celebrated  at  all 
the  ports  on  the  lakes  and  river  with  the  most  extravagant  demonstra- 
tions of  joy,  and  hailed  as  a  new  era  to  the  commerce  of  our  inland 
seas.  In  every  village  that  could  muster  a  cannon,  and  from  every 
steeple   that  had  a  bell,    went  forth  a  joyous  welcome,   and   crowds  of 


V//  z'    y 


^ 


A 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  I(i9 

eager  citizens  from  the  adjoining  country  thronged  the  shores  to  salute 
its  arrival.  Bonfires  and  illuminations,  the  congratulations  of  friends, 
and  the  interchange  of  hospitalities  signalized  the  event.  The  trip 
from  Lewiston  to  Ogdensburg  required  ten  days.  The  cabin  fare  was 
$i6;  deck  fare,  $8.  The  Ontario  seldom  exceeded  five  miles  an 
hour.  She  continued  to  run  on  the  route  till  1832,  and  was  finally 
broken  up  at  Oswego. 

The  Frontenac,  a  British  steamer  at  Kingston,  and  The-Walk-in- 
the-  Water  on  Lake  Erie  followed  soon  afterward.  The  Martha 
Ogden  was  built  at  Sackett's  Harbor  before  1819;  she  was  lost 
in  a  gale  off  Stony  Point,  but  the  passengers  and  crew  were  saved  ; 
the  engine  was  recovered  and  placed  in  the  Ontario.  The  Robins  was 
a  schooner  built  over  into  a  steamer.  The  Black  Hawk  was  built  at 
at  French  Creek  (now  Clayton),  was  used  several  seasons  as  a  packet, 
sold  to  Canadians,  and  name  changed  to  the  Dolphin.  The  Panl  Pry 
was  built  at  Heuvelton  in  1830,  and  ran  for  a  time  on  Black  Lake  to 
Rossie.  In  1834  she  with  great  difficulty  was  passed  down  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  used  as  a  ferry  between  Prescott  and 
Ogdensburg  until  the  affair  at  the  windmill  in  1838,  when  she  became 
obnoxious  to  the  Canadians,  and  was  run  on  Black  River  Bay  after- 
wards. The  Lake  Ontario  Steamboat  Company,  capital  $100,000,  was 
incorporated  January  28.  1831,  to  expire  in  1850,  having  fifteen  direc- 
tors with  head  offices  at  Oswego.  The  company  built  their  first  boat, 
the  United  States,  at  Ogdensburg,  and  launched  her  in  November, 
183 1.  She  was  finished  and  made  her  first  trip  July  i,  1832,  under  com- 
mand of  Elias  Trowbridge  ;  length  142  feet ;  width  twenty-six  feet 
beam,  fifty-five  feet  over  all;  depth  ten  feet;  engines,  two  low  pressure 
ones  of  forty  inch  cylinder  and  eight  feet  stroke  ;  cost  $56,000.  and 
was  the  finest  steamer  at  the  time  on  the  lake ;  she  ran  on  the  through 
time  till  1838,  when,  having  become  obnoxious  to  the  Canadians  on  ac- 
count of  the  use  made  of  her  in  the  affair  at  the  windmill,  she  was  run 
upon  the  lake  only  afterwards,  and  was  finally  broken  up  at  Oswego  in 
1843,  and  her  engines  transferred  to  the  Rochester.  This  was  the  first 
and  only  boat  owned  by  this  company.  The  Oswego  was  built  at 
that  place  in  1833  of  286  tons;  was  used  several  seasons  on  the 
through  line,  when  her  engine  was  transferred  to  the  steamer  St. 
22 


179  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Lazvrence  and  her  hull  changed  to  a  sail  vessel  and  shortly  after  lost. 
The  Brownville  was  built  on  Black  River,  below  the  village  of  that 
name.  In  moving  her  down  to  the  St.  Lawrence  she  took  fire  and  was 
burned.  She  was  afterwards  rebuilt  and  ran  a  while,  and  subsequently 
lengthened  at  Sackett's  Harbor  and  her  name  changed  to  the  William 
Avery,  and  ran  between  Ogdensburg  and  Niagara  ;  she  was  dismantled 
in  1835.  The  diaries  Carroll  was  built  at  Sackett's  Harbor  and  ran 
between  Kingston  and  Rochester  in  1834.  Afterwards  she  was  length- 
ened and  her  name  changed  to  the  America,  and  ran  from  Ogdensburg 
to  Lewiston,  The  Jack  Downing  was  a  small  steamer  built  at  Carthage 
in  1834,  taken  to  Sackett's  Harbor  on  wheels,  launched  and  fitted  up 
for  a  ferry,  and  ran  at  Waddington,  also  from  Fort  Covington  to  Corn- 
wall. Her  engine  was  in  1837  transferred  to  the  Henry  Burden,  a  boat 
on  a  novel  principle,  being  supported  on  two  hollow  cylindrical  floats 
and  a  wheel  between  them.  It  was  used  a  short  time  on  the  ferry  at 
Ogdensburg.  The  Oneida,  of  227  tons,  was  built  at  Oswego  in  1836. 
She  was  employed  by  the  government  from  1838  to  1840,  after  which 
she  made  regular  trips  from  Ogdensburg  to  Lewiston  until  1845,  when 
her  engine  was  used  in  the  British  Queen  and  her  hull  fitted  up  as  a 
sailing  vessel.  She  was  lost  on  Lake  Erie.  The  Telegraph,  a  steamer 
of  196  tons,  was  built  near  Dexter  and  came  out  in  the  fall  of  1836. 
She  was  employed  by  the  government  in  the  fall  of  1838,  the  whole 
season  of  1839,  ^^^  ^  P^^t  of  the  spring  of  1840.  The  St.  Lawrence,  of 
402  tons,  was  enrolled  at  Oswego  in  1839,  but  was  rebuilt  in  1844  and 
the  tonnage  increased  to  434  tons,  costing  $50,000.  She  was  run  most 
of  the  time  on  the  through  line,  and  dismantled  at  French  Creek  in 
185  I.  The  George  Clinton  and  the  President  wtre  small  boats,  built  at 
Oswego  in  1842  ;  the  former  was  lost  in  1850.  The  Lady  of  the  Lake 
of  432  tons,  was  built  by  a  company  in  1842.  She  was  used  on  the 
through  lines  until  1852,  when  she  was  chartered  as  a  ferry  in  connec- 
tion with  the  railroad  from  Cape  Vincent  to  Kingston.  This  was  the 
first  American  boat  that  had  state  rooms  on  the  upper  deck.  The 
Rochester,  built  at  Oswego  in  1843,  of  354  tons,  was  run  on  the  lake  and 
river  until  1848,  since  which  she  ran  from  Lewiston  to  Hamilton.  The 
Niagara,  0^473  tons,  built  at  French  Creek  in  1845  \  length  182  feet; 
beam  twenty-seven  and  a  half  feet ;  total  breadth  forty-  seven  feet ;  hold 


INTERNAL  mPROVEMENTS.  171 

seven  and  a  half  feet.  Her  engine  was  forty  inch  cyh'nders,  eleven 
feet  stroke  ;  wheels  thirty  feet  in  diameter.  The  British  Qjieeit  was 
built  on  Long  Island,  opposite  Kingston,  in  1846,  using  the  Oneida  s 
engine.  The  British  Empire  was  built  at  the  same  place.  The  Cataract 
came  out  in  July,  1837  ;  her  tonnage  577  ;  length  of  keel  202  feet  ; 
breadth  of  beam  over  all  forty- eight  feet  ;  forty- four  inch  cylinders,  and 
eleven  feet  stroke,  and  cost  $60,000.  The  Ontario  was  built  in  1847  J 
length  of  keel  222  feet ;  deck  233  feet,  and  over  all  240)^  feet ;  breadth 
of  beam  over  all  fifty-four  feet  eight  inches  ;  depth  of  hold  twelve  feet; 
cylinders  fifty  inches,  and  eleven  feet  stroke  ;  tonnage  900  ;  cost  $80,- 
000.  Bay  State  came  out  in  1849;  tonnage  935  ;  length  222  feet; 
breadth  of  beam  over  all  fifty-eight  feet ;  depth  in  hold  twelve  feet  ; 
cylinders  fifty-six  inches;  eleven  feet  stroke  ;  wheels  thirty- two  feet  in 
diameter.  The  Northerner  was  built  at  Oswego  and  came  out  in  May, 
1850  ;  has  a  tonnage  of  965  ;  length  232  feet;  beam  over  all  fifty-eight 
feet ;  depth  of  hold  twelve  and  a  half  feet ;  cylinders  sixty  inches  with 
eleven  feet  stroke,  and  cost  $95,000.  The  New  York  was  the  largest 
American  steamer  on  the  lake.  She  was  built  and  came  out  in  August, 
1852,  with  R  B.  Chapman,  master;  cost  $100,000;  tonnage  994; 
length  224  feet;  beam  over  all  sixty-four  feet;  cylinders  sixty  inches, 
with  twelve  feet  stroke,  and  wheels  thirty- four  feet  diameter.  There 
were  also  built  and  run  on,  the  river  and  lake  the  John  Marshal,  Utica, 
Caroline,  Prescott,  Swan,  Express,  Gleaner,  and  a  few  others,  mostly 
small.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  since  the  first  steamer  was  started  on 
the  line  in  18 16,  down  for  forty  years,  not  a  single  accident  has  ever  oc- 
curred on  any  American  steamer  on  the  lake  or  river  which  has  caused 
the  death  or  injury  of  a  passenger.  This  is  not  due  to  chance  so  much 
as  to  skillful  management. 

Marine  Raihvay. — The  want  of  some  convenience  to  take  vessels  and 
steamers  out  of  the  river  for  repairs  had  long  been  felt,  but  no  definite 
action  had  been  taken  until  the  29th  of  September,  1852,  when  a  party 
of  Ogdensburg  capitalists  met  and  organized  a  company  named  "The 
Ogdensburg  Marine  Railway,"  with  a  capital  of  $15,000,  to  be  enlarged 
at  pleasure.  The  following  officers  were  then  chosen:  Henry  Van 
Rensselaer,  E.  N.  Fairchild,  E.  S.  Allen,  Edwin  Clark  and  Allen 
Cheney,  trustees ;   H.  Van   Rensselaer,  president ;  W.  B.  Allen,  secre- 


172  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNT T. 

tary.  The  plan  for  the  machinery  was  made,  and  the  materials  re- 
quired gathered  during  the  winter,  and  work  was  begun  early  in  the 
following  spring.  The  plant  is  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  bt.  Law- 
rence, about  half  a  mile  above  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie  River  at 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  city  limits.  The  bank  is  low  and  gradually 
slopes  into  the  water,  which  is  sufficiently  deep  a  short  distance  from 
the  shore  to  float  the  largest  vessel  on  the  lakes.  The  plant  was  fin- 
ished in  the  fall  of  1853,  and  was  of  sufficient  capacity  to  take  out  the 
largest  vessel  then  made  or  likely  to  be  made.  Connected  with  the 
railway  is  an  extensive  shipyard,  with  all  the  necessary  shops  and  ap- 
purtenances for  building  and  repairing  all  classes  of  craft.  The  com- 
pany operated  the  plant  successfully  until  i860,  when  it  was  leased  to 
E.  B.  Allen  &  Son,  who  continued  building  boats  and  propellers  for 
two  years  The  property  was  then  sold  to  H.  C.  Pearson,  who  oper- 
ated it  until  1870,  when  it  was  again  sold  to  the  Northern  Transporta- 
tion Company.  This  company  built  a  number  of  their  large  propellers 
there,  and  repaired  vessels  of  all  kinds,  doing  a  good  business  until  they 
went  into  bankruptcy  about  the  year  1879.  The  works  were  run  on 
repairs  only  until  they  were  burned  in  the  fall  of  1883.  In  1884  a  stock 
company  was  formed  under  the  name  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Marine  Rail- 
way Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000.  The  property  of  the 
old  company  was  purchased,  the  plant  rebuilt,  and  it  has  since  contin- 
ued to  do  repairing  of  all  kinds. 

The  Northern  Transportation  Company. — On  the  completion  of  the 
Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad  it  formed  with  others  a 
through  line  to  Boston,  greatly  stimulating  the  traffic  on  the  lakes. 
This  led  to  the  formation  of  the  company  in  1855  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  styled  the  Northern  Transportation  Company.  It 
was  reorganized  under  the  laws  of  Ohio  in  1862.  This  company  oper- 
ated two  lines  of  propellers,  the  boats  of  one  company  plying  between 
Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Erie,  and  those  of  the  other  between  Lake  Erie 
and  Lake  Michigan.  Fifteen  boats  were  at  first  employed  on  the  line, 
and  the  number  Vvas  soon  afterward  increased  to  twenty-one.  At  that 
time  the  boats  on  the  upper  lakes  were  much  larger  than  those  of  the 
N.  T.  Co  ,  and  could  not  pass  through  the  Welland  Canal  as  it  then 
existed.     A  scheme  was   started  in  1868  to   increase  the  capital  of  the 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  173 

company  to  $ioo,000,  in  shares  of  $iOO,  Philo  Chamberlain  being  pres- 
ident of  the  company.  Flaming  hand- bills  were  distributed  in  city  and 
village,  "  From  Boston  via  Ogdensburg  to  the  most  distant  port  on  the 
route."  The  bills  contained  a  fabulous  account  of  the  earnings  of  the 
line,  thus  preparing  the  way  for  what  was  to  follow.  The  claim  was 
made  that  more  boats  were  required  to  carry  the  grain  and  the  flour 
from  the  west  and  the  merchandise  from  the  east.  The  New  England 
business  passed  mostly  by  the  way  of  Ogdensburg,  therefore  an  increase 
in  this  line  would  greatly  benefit  all  places  on  the  route,  and  especially 
this  port.  The  company  owning  the  Marine  Railway  here  and  one  in 
Cleveland,  was  prepared  to  build  or  repair  their  boats  at  a  nominal 
cost.  All  of  this  had  the  appearance  of  prosperity.  The  additional 
stock  was  taken  by  parties  who  were  eager  to  benefit  the  places  in 
which  they  lived  as  well  as  their  own  pockets,  hence  certificates  were 
issued  by  the  company  from  half  a  share  up  to  any  amount  called  for, 
to  be  paid  by  installments.  The  company  continued  its  business  on  the 
same  plan  as  before  for  a  few  years,  without  any  apparent  increase, 
while  the  new  stock  was  being  paid  in  ;  but  meantime  no  dividends 
were  declared.  In  1875  the  company  collapsed.  The  property  went 
into  the  hands  of  a  receiver,  was  leased  to  the  Central  Vermont  Line  in 
1876,  and  was  run  under  the  management  of  that  company  about  three 
years ;  but  they  could  not  make  that  class  of  small  boats  pay  in  com- 
petition with  the  larger  ones  that  were  fast  coming  into  use,  and  there- 
fore gave  them  up.  The  whole  outfit  of  the  company  was  then  sold  to 
Philo  Chamberlain,  who  resold  the  boats  to  various  parties  in  1880, 
thus  closing  the  legitimate  business  of  the  Northern  Transportation 
Company. 

The  managers  of  this  company,  not  being  satisfied  with  the  amount 
already  swindled  from  the  people,  made  an  attempt  to  collect  the  face 
of  the  certificates  issued  in  December,  1868,  to  increase  the  stocky 
claiming  the  right  to  do  so  under  the  laws  of  Ohio.  Some  of  the  more 
timid  ones  settled  these  claims,  while  others  were  sued.  When  the 
hungry  attorneys  saw  there  would  be  no  more  money  voluntarily  paid 
them  they  proposed  to  settle  the  claim  in  each  case  for  a  portion  of 
their  legal  fees.  This  proposition  was  accepted  and  the  disgraceful 
affair   closed.     For  six  or  seven  years  after  the  closing  up  of  the  old 


174  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Northern  Transportation  line  there  was  no  American  line  of  propellers 
in  operation,  except  that  occasionally  a  few  boats  were  "  run  wild,"  as 
the  sailors  would  say. 

The  Ogdensbjirg  Transit  Company. — In  the  winter  of  1886-7  the 
managers  of  the  Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad  obtained 
the  privilege  by  act  of  Legislature  of  building  and  running  a  line  of 
boats  on  the  river  and  lakes  in  connection  with  the  road.  A  company 
was  formed  with  the  above  title,  and  several  boats  were  purchased  or 
leased  and  put  in  operation.  This  company  made  an  agreement  with 
the  Detroit  Dry  Dock  Company  to  build  them  three  boats.  The  first 
one,  named  Governor  Smith,  was  delivered  and  made  a  trip,  arriving  at 
Ogdensburg  September  12,  1889.  This  boat  is  254  feet  over  all,  forty- 
two  feet  beam,  sixteen  feet  eight  inches  depth  of  hold,  and  can  carry 
2,250  tons.  She  is  equipped  with  all  the  latest  improvements;  has 
steam  windlass,  capstan  and  running  gear,  and  the  rooms  are  heated  by 
steam.  She  has  compound  fore-and-aft  engines,  cylinders  thirty- eight 
by  fifty- two,  with  forty  inch  stroke  and  two  Scott  boilers.  She  makes 
twelve  to  fourteen  miles  an  hour,  and  carries  200  tons  of  coal.  Her 
load  was  70,000  bushels  of  corn  and  250  tons  of  deck  freight.  The 
other  boats  are  to  be  built  after  the  same  pattern.  These  boats  can 
carry  about  four  times  as  much  as  the  old  style  propellers,  at  about  the 
same  cost. 

Port  of  Transfer. — The  large  boats  employed  by  the  Ogdensburg 
Transit  Company  in  connection  with  the  Vermont  Central  Elevator  (the 
new  one  of  1,000,000  bushels  capacity  finished  in  July,  1890;  the  old 
elevator  was  burned  in  the  fall  after),  makes  Ogdensburg  preferable  to 
Kingston  for  transferring  grain.  The  freight  rates  from  the  various 
ports  in  the  west  to  this  place  are  nearly  as  low  as  they  are  to  Kingston, 
while  the  barge  rates  from  the  latter  place  to  Montreal  are  much  higher 
than  from  Ogdensburg  ;  besides,  grain  can  be  stored  at  the  Vermont 
Central  Elevators  and  await  the  arrival  of  foreign  vessels  at  Montreal, 
to  be  met  by  barges  on  short  notice.  Hence  the  new  export  route  has 
caused  some  sharp  bidding  as  to  rates  for  large  lots  of  grain  seeking  a 
foreign  market,  which  proves  advantageous  to  Ogdensburg. 

Northern  Railroad. — The  opening  of  the  State  road  through  to  Al- 
bany, and  a  stage  route  established  to  Canton  and  Plattsburg,  afTorded 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  175 

great  relief  to  the  little  settlement  at  Ogdensburg  at  that  early  day  ; 
but  as  population  and  business  increased,  a  still  greater  want  was  felt 
for  a  direct  communication  between  the  navigable  waters  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  seaboard,  but  more  especially  so  after  the  steamboat  . 
lines  were  in  successful  operation.  The  railroad  system  was  being  gen- 
erally discussed  about  this  period,  when  a  large  and  representative 
meeting  was  held  at  Montpelier,  Vt.,  February  17,  1830,  to  consider  a 
plan  which  had  been  favorably  reported  upon  by  a  committee  to  build 
a  railroad  from  Ogdensburg  via  Lake  Champlain  through  to  Boston. 
A  similar  meeting  was  held  in  Ogdensburg,  March  17  following,  and  a 
committee  of  twelve  appointed  to  collect  certain  information,  and  an 
application  was  also  made  to  Congress  for  aid  in  constructing  the  work, 
which  failed.  A  petition  was  next  forwarded  to  the  State  Legislature, 
but  this  also  failed.  Another  enthusiastic  meeting  was  held  at  Malone, 
December  17.  1831,  to  promote  the  object  in  view.  Meetings  of  this 
kind  were  continued  at  stated  periods  until  May  21.  1836,  when  "The 
Lake  Champlain  and  Ogdensburg  Railroad  Company  "  was  incorpo- 
rated with  a  capital  of  $8oo,000,  and  a  commission  named  to  open  books 
for  subscription  to  the  stock  ;  but  this  movement  failed  by  limitation. 
At  a  convention  which  met  at  Malone,  August  8  1838,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  collect  statistics  in  order  to  show  the  necessity  and 
uses  for  a  road.  The  reported  freight  tonnage  that  would  seek  an  out- 
let over  this  road  of  produce  from  the  farms  and  various  factories  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  as  given  by  this  committee,  would  amount  to  nearly 
$1 18,000  annually,  which  estimate  was  considered  by  some  very  ex- 
travagant ;  but  it  was  proved  to  be  far  below  the  actual  facts.  The 
other  two  counties  exhibited  similar  probable  results.  To  further 
strengthen  the  cause,  the  opinion  of  military  men  was  procured  as  to 
the  importance  of  the  road  to  the  nation  in  case  of  war.  All  these 
measures  failed,  as  they  were  met  by  the  powerful  opposition  of  the 
friends  of  the  Central  route.  Still  courageous,  at  the  session  of  1845,  ^ 
bill  to  incorporate  the  Northern  Road  was  introduced  and  passed  the 
Assembly,  but  was  delayed  in  the  Senate  till  near  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion, as  four  other  similar  bills  were  then  before  the  Legislature ;  but 
through  the  influence  of  friends  of  one  of  these  bills  (desiring  similar 
aid),  the  Northern  Road  was  incorporated  for  fifty  years  with  a  capital 


176  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  $200,000,  in  shares  of  fifty  dollars,  which  received  the  governor's 
signature  only  twenty  minutes  before  adjournment.  In  May,  1845, 
several  commissioners  were  named  (D.  C.  Judson,  of  Ogdensburg,  being 
one),  to  receive  stock,  when  great  efforts  were  made  to  secure  pledges 
to  the  same,  there  being  at  that  time  upwards  of  $10,000,000  railroad 
stock  on  the  market  In  June,  1846,  a  company  was  organized  in  Og- 
densburg, with  George  Parish  president,  to  let  contracts  for  grading  and 
building  the  road  bed.  Work  was  commenced  in  March,  1848,  at  the 
deep  cut  at  this  end  of  the  route,  which  is  239  feet  above  tide- water. 
The  summit  below  Chateaugay  is  1,146  feet,  and  at  Rouse's  Point 
eighty- four  feet  above  tide- water.  The  work  was  pushed  with  vigor, 
and  by  fall  a  portion  of  the  road  was  opened.  In  the  spring  this  work 
was  continued  with  the  same  energy  for  about  two  years  to  its  comple- 
tion, when  the  first  train  of  cars  passed  over  the  entire  road  September 
20,  1850,  arriving  at  Ogdensburg  at  4  P.  M.,  John  Scharier  being  the 
engineer.  This  was  followed  by  the  accommodation  train,  which  ar- 
rived about  eight  hours  later,  J.  R.  Ames  being  the  engineer. 

Word  has  been  passed  about  the  village  that  the  first  through  train 
with  the  officers  and  distinguished  guests  aboard,  would  come  through 
to  Ogdensburg  on  the  20th,  but  the  hour  of  arrival  could  not  be  given. 
In  absence  of  a  telegraph  the  following  plan  was  adopted  to  notify  the 
people  in  time  to  assemble  and  view  the  arrival  of  the  first  train  of  cars 
to  reach  Ogdensburg.  A  cannon  was  stationed  on  the  hill  above  the 
depot,  a  second  one  some  three  miles  below  on  the  road,  and  a  third 
one  (Long  Tom)  was  sent  on  a  platform  car  down  to  Lisbon  Center. 
When  the  train  came  in  sight  Long  Tom  was  fired,  then  the  second  and 
third  guns  were  discharged,  then  the  people  in  the  place,  many  of  whom 
were  from  the  country  and  Prescott,  assembled  at  the  depot  as  the  cars 
arrived,  covered  with  bunting,  amid  the  waving  of  flags,  shouts  of  joy, 
ringing  of  bells,  bands  playing  and  firing  of  cannon.  A  procession  was 
formed  and  marched  through  the  principal  streets,  with  music  and 
waving  banners.  A  supper  was  served  free  to  all  who  desired  it.  In 
the  evening  speeches  were  made  and  congratulations  extended,  during 
a  beautiful  display  of  fire-works.  This  was  truly  a  gala  day  for  the 
people  of  Ogdensburg  and  vicinity.  The  opening  of  the  Northern  road, 
connecting  with  others  reaching  to  the  seaboard,  was  of  greater  benefit 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  177 

to  this  section  of  country  than  all  other  improvements  that  came  either 
before  or  since.  Property  in  many  instances  advanced  500  per  cent, 
and  farming  lands  at  least  lOO  per  cent. 

The  advent  of  the  Northern  road  corrected  a  great  evil  by  doing 
away  with  the  barter  exchange  which  had  been  in  vogue  since  Nathan 
Ford  opened  a  store  in  the  old  barracks.  Farm  produce  was  exchanged 
principally  for  dry  goods  and  groceries  ;  all  classes  of  labor  were  paid  in 
"  store  pay ;  "  and  the  young  men  who  could  gatiier  a  dollar  or  two  in 
change  for  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  were  considered  lucky.  The 
farmer  who  did  not  begin  early  in  the  year  to  save  dimes  against  tax 
gathering  was  not  considered  wise.  Black  salts,  or  potash,  was  legal 
tender  in  those  days  and  with  West  India  pipe  staves  were  the  only 
produce  that  would  command  part  cash  in  payment.  The  railroad 
brought  the  cash  system  and  a  seaboard  market  to  the  farmer's  door, 
and  whatever  he  had  to  dispose  of  brought  cash.  Therefore,  the  men, 
such  as  Judge  Anthony  C.  Brown,  and  a  few  others  who  labored  under 
the  trying  and  discouraging  circumstances  for  a  series  of  years  to  ac- 
complish the  opening  of  this  thoroughfare,  may  be  truly  called  bene- 
factors, 

R.  W.  and  O.  Railroad. — It  has  been  said  that  the  extension  of  this 
road  from  Watertown  to  Norwood  originated  principally  through  the 
dissatisfaction  felt  by  the  people  of  Potsdam  and  Canton  with  not  hav- 
ing the  Northern  Railroad  pass  through  their  villages.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  at  this  period  all  railroad  lines  felt  more  or  less  the  necessity  of 
extending  or  building  branches  as  feeders  to  increase  their  business. 
The  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  charter  for  a  road  at  that  time  has  been 
very  much  lessened. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  this  road  held  at  Gouverneur  January 
3,  1852,  a  favorable  report  of  a  survey  having  been  presented,  a  com- 
pany was  organized  under  the  general  law.  From  this  time  vigorous 
efforts  were  made  to  secure  sufficient  stock,  $5,000  per  mile  according 
to  a  special  act  passed  April  7,  1852,  to  commence  grading  the  road. 
In  October  of  that  year,  the  necessary  stock  having  been  taken,  the  con- 
tract for  the  completion  of  the  road  called  "  the  Watertown  and  Pots- 
dam branch  "  was  given  to  a  Massachusetts  company,  the  contract 
stipulating  that  the   road  should   be  finished  by  July   i,  1854.     This 

23 


178  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

extension  completed  a  line  from  the  New  York  Central  at  Rome  to 
Watertown,  Cape  Vincent,  Canton,  Potsdam  and  Norwood,  connecting 
at  the  latter  place  with  the  Northern  road.  Although  the  road  passed 
through  a  fertile  country,  which  furnished  a  large  freight  and  passenger 
patronage,  it  soon  became  evident  that  for  the  interests  of  the  road,  a 
branch  should  be  extended  to  Ogdensburg.  The  construction  of  this 
latter  branch  having  been  decided  upon,  it  was  finished  in  September, 
1862,  thus  making  a  southern  outlet,  which  proved  a  great  convenience 
to  the  country  along  its  line  and  especially  to  Ogdensburg.  The  sev- 
eral Hues  north  from  Rome  were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  "  The 
Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdensburg  Railroad." 

Utica  and  Black  River  Railroad. — A  portion  of  the  line  of  this  road 
between  Carthage  and  Morristown  was  first  finished  and  called  the 
"  Black  River  and  Morristown  Railroad."  It  was  subsequently  con- 
solidated with  the  Utica  and  Black  River  Railroad,  and  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  last  named  company  it  was  found  necessary  to  extend 
the  road  to  Ogdensburg.  where  a  better  winter  ferry  could  be  secured, 
and  the  latter  extension  was  finished  in  the  summer  of  1878,  forming  a 
second  southern  outlet  for  the  city  of  Ogdensburg.  This  road  then 
came  into  direct  competition  with  the  Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdens- 
burg road,  causing  not  a  little  strife  in  securing  freight  and  passengers 
for  two  years,  when  the  two  lines  entered  into  an  agreement  and  pooled 
their  earnings.  In  1885  the  Utica  and  Black  River  road  was  leased  on 
a  long  term  to  the  Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdensburg  Company  and 
has  been  run  under  their  management  up  to  the  leasing  of  the  same  to 
the  New  York  Central  Railroad  Company.  The  interest  of  the  Rome, 
Watertown  and  Ogdensburg  Railroad,  also  of  the  Utica  and  Black 
River  and  Morristown  Companies,  was  transferred  to  the  New  York 
Central  Company,  who  took  possession  of  the  property  March  14,  1891, 
and  have  since  been  under  the  control  of  that  organization. 

The  Goiiverneiir  and  Oswegatchie  Railroad. — This  branch  road  is  the 
outcome  of  an  agitation  which  began  several  years  ago  by  Robert 
Dodge  and  others  interested  in  the  talc  mines  and  mills  along  or  near 
by  its  route.  In  the  fall  of  1891  the  firm  of  Mofifett,  Hodgkins  &  Clarke 
of  Syracuse,  through  the  encouragement  of  the  New  York  Central  peo- 
ple and  the  right  of  way  guaranteed  by  the   friends  of  the  road,  began 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS.  179 

to  grade  the  bed  along  the  route  over  which  it  was  to  pass  to  Edwards 
village.  The  road  was  finished  a'nd  turned  over  to  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral, August  I,  1893.  The  first  regular  train,  consisting  of  two  passen- 
ger coaches  and  four  freight  cars,  left  Edwards  at  seven  o'clock  A.  M., 
and  arrived  at  Gouverneur  at  nine  o'clock,  making  the  trip  in  two  hours 
including  the  stops  on  the  route.  The  Edwards  Cornet  Band  was 
aboard  and  discoursed  music  along  the  way.  People  from  Fine,  South 
Edwards,  and  the  neighborhood  surrounding  Edwards,  and  the  places 
along  the  road,  took  advantage  of  the  long  looked  for  opportunity  to  go 
to  Gouverneur  by  rail. 

Street  Railzvay. — Only  one  street  railway  has  been  put  in  operation 
in  the  county,  and  is  located  in  Ogdensburg.  A  company  was  organ- 
ized by  outside  parties  who  secured  the  right  of  way  from  the  Common 
Council ;  also  the  consent  of  the  freeholders  living  on  its  line  in  the  win- 
ter and  spring  of  1886.  Work  was  begun  on  the  track  on  the  1st  day 
of  July  following,  when  a  few  rods  were  laid  on  the  upper  end  of  New 
York  avenue  in  order  to  hold  the  franchise.  The  project  then  rested 
for  a  time,  as  a  hitch  occurred  between  the  company  and  a  few  citizens 
of  the  place  concerning  the  amount  of  stock  they  were  to  take.  The 
outcome  was  the  formation  of  the  Ogdensburg  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany who  purchased  from  the  projectors  their  entire  interest  in  the 
road.  The  work  of  construction  was  then  pushed  with  vigor  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  road,  from  the  ferry  dock  to  the  cemetery  on  the  Heuvel- 
ton  road,  was  finished  that  fall,  and  the  remainder,  from  the  upper  end 
of  New  York  avenue  to  the  railroad  bridge  on  Ford  street,  was  com- 
pleted in  the  early  part  of  1887.  Branches  were  laid  to  the  R.  W.  & 
O.  Railroad  depot ;  also  to  the  L.  C.  &  O.  depot.  It  is  also  intended 
by  the  company  to  extend  the  track  in  the  near  future  to  the  hospital 
grounds. 


180  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40. 

Cause  of  the  Uprising — Meetings,  Open  and  Secret — Seizure  of  the  Sir  Robert  Peel — 
The  Two  Mysterious  Schooners — Connection  of  the  United  States  with  the  Affair — Her 
Seizure — Arrival  of  United  States  Troops — Statement  of  Stephen  S.  Wright — Futile 
Attempts  of  Ogdensburgers  to  Relieve  the  Patriots — Their  Surrender — Animosity  of 
the  Canadians — The  Affair  of  the  Schooner  G.  S.  Weeks. 

THIS  unhappy  episode  which  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  Ogdens- 
burg  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice,  although  it  was  not 
wholly  enacted  on  American  soil.  It  caused  more  excitement  in  Og- 
densburg  than  at  any  other  point  on  the  frontier.  The  presence  and 
prompt  action  of  the  governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  such  of- 
ficers as  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  Col.  W.  B  Worth,  with  a  few  influential 
citizens  on  the  American  side,  and  of  Governor  Arthur,  Colonel  Young 
and  others  on  behalf  of  the  British  government,  checked  the  reckless 
people  of  both  nationalities,  and  happily  averted  a  storm  that  might 
have  otherwise  involved  the  most  serious  consequences. 

The  cause  which  led  to  this  trouble  in  Canada  sprang  principally  from 
the  different  views  strenuously  held  by  the  political  parties.  For  sev- 
eral years  in  the  Canadian  provinces  the  Reform  party  labored  to  extend 
the  elective  franchise  and  to  procure  a  responsible  elective  council. 
This  aroused  a  bitter  feeling,  and  in  November,  1837,  ^^^  press  of  the 
reformers  was  destroyed  by  a  mob,  which  only  increased  the  excite- 
ment and  at  length  necessitated  calling  on  the  military  and  the  arrest 
of  certain  prominent  leaders  of  the  Reform  party.  The  prisons  were 
filled  with  persons  charged  with  treason  ;  martial  law  was  proclaimed  in 
the  lower  Provinces  and  numerous  instances  of  wanton  violence  on  the 
part  of  the  soldiers  occurred.  Numbers  fled  to  the  States  for  an  asylum, 
and  the  popular  riots  that  ensued  were  only  aggravated  by  the  efforts 
made  to  suppress  them.  How  much  justice  there  may  have  been  in  the 
claims  of  the  reformers  we  will  not  attempt  to  state,  but  their  demands 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  181 

were  met  with  tyrannical  treatment.  Tliis  was  seized  upon  as  a  pre- 
text by  a  certain  class  of  citizens  and  refugees  in  the  States,  who  took 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  put  forward  their  own  private  schemes. 
They  planned  enterprises  for  their  personal  aggrandizement  and  pecun- 
iary gain,  which  they  had  neither  the  honor  nor  the  courage  to  sustain, 
when  personal  danger  threatened. 

Refugees  from  the  provinces  were  scattered  through  the  Northern 
States,  who  related  in  exciting  language  their  version  of  the  troubles, 
and  with  many  others  concurring,  they  inaugurated  movements,  having 
for  their  avowed  object  the  independence  of  the  Canadas. 

The  firing  of  the  steamer  Caroline,  moored  at  her  dock  at  Schlosser, 
below  Buffalo,  the  murdering  of  her  crew,  the  cutting  the  steamer  adrift 
and  sending  her  over  the  falls  of  Niagara  on  the  night  of  December  29, 
1837,  by  a  party  of  Canadians,  increased  the  excitement  to  an  extra- 
ordinary degree.  Public  meetings  were  held  throughout  the  country  to 
express  the  honest  indignation  of  the  people  at  this  outrage  and  to  in- 
voke the  executive  power  of  the  government  to  protect  the  rights  of 
citizens.  In  this  movement  there  was  no  sectional  or  political  feeling. 
The  subject  became  the  all-absorbing  topic  of  the  press,  and  every  mail 
was  eagerly  awaited  to  learn  the  news  from  the  seat  of  the  disturbance. 
On  the  1 2th  of  February,  1838,  William  McKenzie,  a  prominent  leader 
of  the  Canadian  Reform  party,  addressed  the  citizens  of  Ogdensburg 
upon  the  Canadian  question,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  following  day  a 
cannon  was  fired  several  times,  ostensibly  to  honor  the  speaker,  but 
with  the  eftect  of  assembling  crowds  of  excited  citizens.  That  evening 
several  persons  from  Prescott  came  over  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 
firing,  met  a  company  of  patriots  (so  called)  and  were  arrested  by  the 
latter  and  detained  until  morning.  This  illegal  proceeding  irritated  the 
Canadians  and  increased  the  growing  hostility. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1838,  the  State  arsenal  was  robbed.  Active 
measures  were  taken  to  assemble  arms  and  munitions  of  war  along  the 
frontier,  and  secret  organizations  styled  "  Hunter's  Lodges"  were  soon 
formed  in  each  large  village  to  organize  plans  of  resistance  and  to  cir- 
culate early  intelligence  of  new  movements. 

On  the  night  of  the  29th  of  May,  1838,  the  British  steamer  Sir 
Robert  Peel,  while  taking  fuel  at  Wells  Island   on  her  passage  up  the 


182  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

lake,  was  boarded  by  a  company  of  armed  men,  the  crew  and  passen- 
gers driven  on  shore  and  the  steamer  set  afloat  and  burned.  The  next 
day  the  steamer  Oneida  took  the  nineteen  passengers  off  the  island  and 
conveyed  them  to  Kingston.  An  outrage  so  flagrant  as  this  could  not 
pass  without  notice  of  government,  and  the  most  prompt  and  decisive 
measures  were  adopted  by  the  authorities  on  both  sides  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence for  the  arrest  of  the  perpetrators  of  the  act.  June  lo  William 
Johnson  as  commander-in  chief  of  the  naval  forces  of  Upper  Canada  in 
the  patriot  service,  issued  a  proclamation  acknowledging  the  act  of 
burning  the  Sir  Robert  Peel  and  stated  his  motives  for  so  doing. 

About  the  loth  of  November  it  was  noticed  that  two  schooners  were 
being  freighted  at  Oswego  from  canal  boats  that  had  arrived  from  Syr- 
acuse under  suspicious  circumstances.  After  being  laden  they  left  the 
harbor  taking  a  northerly  course.  The  steamer  United  States  was  in 
port  at  Oswego  undergoing  repairs,  which  were  not  completed  until 
Saturday,  the  loth.  The  United  States  left  Oswego  at  nine  o'clock 
Sunday  morning  following  and  continued  on  her  trip  down  the  lake. 
She  took  about  i  50  passengers,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  without  bag- 
gage, except  small  budgets,  and  two  or  three  had  trunks.  A  nail  keg 
on  board  accidently  broke  open  and  its  contents  proved  to  be  lead  bul- 
lets, which  rolled  about  the  deck.  The  steamer  arrived  at  Sackett's 
Harbor  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  took  on  board  about  thirty 
additional  passengers.  At  Cape  Vincent  she  took  on  eleven  more. 
On  reaching  a  point  near  the  foot  of  Long  Island  the  two  schooners 
that  had  left  Oswego  on  the  lOth  were  discovered,  and  Captain  Van 
Cleave,  by  request  of  a  passenger,  who  represented  that  the  vessels 
belonged  to  him,  and  were  freighted  with  merchandise  for  Ogdensburg, 
consented  to  take  them  in  tow.  The  steamer  touched  at  French  Creek 
(now  Clayton)  a  few  minutes  and  received  seven  or  eight  men  on  board. 
Soon  after  leaving  that  port  the  nature  of  the  business  of  the  passengers 
became  evident,  and  swords  and  pistols  were  openly  taken  from  boxes 
on  board  the  steamer  and  the  boxes  were  transferred  to  the  schooners, 
which  were  lashed  to  the  sides  of  the  steamer,  and  a  large  number  of 
men  came  on  board  the  latter  from  the  other  vessels. 

A  consultation  was  now  held  between  the  captain,  two  of  the  owners 
of  the  boat,  and  Mr.  Denio,  one  of  the  bank  commissioners,  who  was  a 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  183 

passenger,  to  determine  the  best  course  to  pursue.  It  was  decided  to 
stop  at  Morristown  and  send  a  messenger  to  the  marshal  at  Ogdens- 
burg,  informing  him  of  the  condition  of  affairs  and  the  character  of  the 
passengers.  Just  before  the  steamer  reached  Morristown  about  half  of 
the  passengers,  by  direction  of  one  acting  in  capacit}^  of  an  officer, 
entered  the  schooners,  when  the  latter  were  cut  loose  from  the  steamer 
and  dropped  astern  and  were  seen  no  more  by  those  on  the  boat  until 
their  arrival  next  morning  at  Ogdensburg.  It  now  became  certain 
that  Prescott  was  the  objective  point  of  the  expedition.  The  steamer 
United  States,  after  stopping  a  few  hours  at  Morristown,  resumed  her 
course  towards  Ogdensburg,  where  she  arrived  about  3  o'clock  Monday 
morning.  November  12,  1838.  As  usual,  the  fires  were  immediately 
put  out  on  entering  the  port  and  the  crew,  with  the  exception  of  the 
watch,  retired.  The  schooners,  which  had  been  dropped  above  Morris- 
town, reached  Prescott  during  the  night.  They  contained,  as  has  been 
inferred,  a  military  armament  under  command  of  Gen.  John  W.  Birge, 
but  ostensibly  commanded  by  one  Von  Schoultz,  a  Polish  exile  of  mili- 
tary fame. 

Upon  approaching  Prescott  one  of  the  schooners  was  made  fast  to  the 
upper  wharf  and  Von  Schoultz  ordered  his  men  to  land  and.  with  un- 
loaded muskets  and  fixed  bayonets,  to  march  into  the  village  and  take 
possession  of  the  fort  at  once.  A  hesitation  on  the  part  of  some  of  the 
leaders,  arising  from  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  mode  of  attack, 
caused  a  delay,  and  thus  the  opportunity  to  capture  the  place  and  fort 
was  lost.  The  schooner  Charlotte,  after  casting  off  from  the  upper 
wharf,  dropped  down  and  anchored  opposite  the  windmill,  and  the 
other  schooner  grounded  on  the  rush  bed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswe- 
gatchie. 

Early  the  next  morning  an  old  cast  iron  nine-pounder  cannon  be- 
longing to  the  village  of  Ogdensburg,  and  a  brass  four  pounder  belong- 
ing to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in  charge  of  the  artillery  company 
under  Captain  A.  B.  James,  were  seized  by  the  so-called  patriots  and 
conveyed  across  the  river  in  a  scow  to  the  windmill.  Meanwhile  the 
streets  of  Ogdensburg  were  filled  with  armed  men.  It  was  thought 
from  their  movements  that  they  intended  to  seize  the  steamer  United 
States.     The  marshal  of  the  district  was  absent.     The  collector,  Smith 


184  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Stilwell,  made  strenuous  efforts  to  hold  the  boat.'but  without  effect. 
The  leaders  of  the  patriots  began  the  muster  of  a  volunteer  company  to 
man  the  steamer,  openly  deriding  the  efforts  of  the  civil  authorities  in 
trying  to  prevent  them.  A  crew  having  been  obtained  and  steam  got 
up,  they  left  the  wharf,  greeted  by  loud  cheers  of  the  crowd,  and  went 
to  the  assistance  of  the  schooner  that  had  run  aground.  But  they  did 
not  succeed  in  floating  her,  and  the  steamer  returned  to  the  wharf 

Additional  hands  were  now  procured  to  navigate  the  steamer,  which 
had  also  got  aground  on  her  first  trip.  The  patriots  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  windmill  early  Monday  morning,  November  I2,  1838.  The 
mill  is  situated  about  a  mile  below  Prescott  on  the  main  road,  running 
parallel  to  and  near  the  St.  Lawrence.  Around  it  were  several  mas- 
sive stone  houses  and  plats  of  cedar  thickets.  The  mill  was  round  in 
shape,  and  the  walls  heavy  and  massive.  The  interior  was  divided  into 
several  stories.  It  had  formerly  been  used  as  a  grist  mill,  but  having 
been  idle  several  years,  the  machinery  had  fallen  into  ruin. 

The  Experiment,  a  British  steamer,  which  was  lying  at  the  time  at 
the  wharf  of  Prescott,  fired  upon  the  steamer  United  States  as  she 
passed  around  the  bar  in  going  to  the  windmill,  but  without  effect. 
The  United  States  made  several  trips  to  Windmill  Point  during  the  fore- 
noon, when  she  escorted  the  schooner  up  the  Oswegatchie  River,  where 
she  anchored  near  the  American  shore  and  near  the  other  schooner. 
The  firing  was  repeated  at  every  trip  made  by  the  United  States  with- 
out damage  to  the  boat,  excepting  on  the  last  trip,  just  as  the  steamer 
was  turning  into  the  Oswegatchie  channel  with  two  pilots,  a  tall  and  a 
short  man  standing  at  the  wheel,  a  cannon  shot  from  the  Experiment 
struck  the  water  and  glanced  upwards  through  the  wheel  house,  passed 
over  the  short  man  and  struck  the  other  pilot,  Solomon  Foster,  carry- 
ing away  a  portion  of  his  skull.  Upon  arriving  in  port  this  time  the 
United  States  steamer  lay  the  remainder  of  the  day  near  the  wharf 
During  this  time  the  steamer  was  under  orders  of  Oliver  W!  Birge,  the 
reputed  commander  of  the  invading  forces.  H.  Denio,  who  was  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  the  former,  was  requested  by  the  owners  of  the 
steamer  to  go  on  board  and  solicit  its  peaceable  surrender  without  de- 
lay.    After  consultion  this  was  cheerfully  done. 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  185 

Nathan  Garrow,  the  United  States  marshal,  arrived  fiom  Sackett's 
Harbor  on  Monday  evening  and  made  a  formal  seizure  of  the  steamer 
United  States,  and  had  her  machinery  taken  apart.  The  ferry  boat 
Paul  Pry  on  Monday  afternoon  went  over  to  the  stranded  schooner  in 
charge  of  the  patriots,  and  hauled  her  off,  when  she  passed  down  and 
took  a  position  near  the  other  vessel.  In  doing  this  the  Paul  Pry  en- 
countered a  brisk  fire  from  the  steamer  Experiment,  which  was  returned 
by  the  men  on  the  schooner  with  small  arms. 

During  Monday  there  were  frequent  crossings  of  the  river  in  small 
boats  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  prevent  it  by  the  authorities  of 
either  side.  On  the  following  morning  (November  13)  the  two  schoon- 
ers were  seized  about  10  o'clock  by  the  marshal.  At  this  time  they 
lay  in  American  waters,  about  forty  rods  from  the  abutment  of  the  old 
brewery  now  owned  by  Hanan  Brothers  The  vessel  that  was  grounded 
had  on  her  deck  three  cannons,  one  mounted  on  wheels  and  the  other 
two  on  small  plank  trucks  There  were  also  on  board  boxes  and  casks 
containing  guns  and  munitions  of  war.  The  other  vessel  had  on  only 
a  few  barrels  of  apples,  the  munitions  having  been  removed  from  her 
and  landed  at  the  windmill.  The  crew  and  boats  were  placed  in  charge 
of  Col.  \V.  J.  Worth  of  the  U.  S.  infantry,  who  arrived  on  the  steamer 
Telegraph,  and  they  were  subsequently  sent  to  Sackett's  Harbor  for 
safe  keeping.  The  communication,  which  had  been  kept  up  between 
the  patriots  and  the  American  shore,  was  suspended  upon  the  arrival  of 
Colonel  Worth  with  two  companies  of  U.  S.  troops. 

The  following  is  the  substance  of  what  occurred  on  the  Canadian 
shore,  as  related  by  one  of  the  participants,  Stephen  S.  Wright.  He 
gave  a  lengthy  narrative  of  the  events  in  1843,  after  his  return  from 
Van  Diemen's  land  : 

On  the  afternoon  of  November  11,  1838,  we  left  Sackett's  Harbor  about  400  strong 
on  board  the  steamer  United  States,  and  proceeded  down  the  river.  A  Mr.  Pendergrass 
(one  of  the  officious  emissaries  of  Canada)  told  them  that  the  upper  province  could  be 
taken  without  the  discharge  of  a  gun,  and  that  thousands  of  the  people  would  join  them 
as  soon  as  the  standard  of  liberty  was  raised  on  their  soil.  Up  to  this  time  they  did 
not  know  where  they  were  to  land  or  to  what  particular  point  they  were  bound,  and 
the  leaders  proved  themselves  utterly  unequal  to  the  task  of  directing  the  men  under 
their  control.  This  inability  on  their  part  caused  confusion,  and  ultimately  resulted  in 
the  ruin  of  those  whose  confidence  had  been  won  for  the  Canadians.  The  falsehoods 
24 


186  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  emissaries  from  secret  societies,  etc.,  led  us  to  volunteer  our  eflforts  to  achieve  the 
emancipation  of  an  oppressed  people,  under  the  guidance  of  men  who  lacked  both  the 
energy  and  common  sense  necessary  to  success. 

He  says  further  in  substance,  that  he,  with  his  verdant  comrades  and 
friends,  was  looking  at  the  bright  side  of  the  picture,  until  the  open  de- 
sertion of  the  cause  by  that  trinity  of  cowards,  Birge,  King,  and  Estis, 
together  with  Bill  Johnson  and  their  followers  ;  and  during  the  bloody 
days  of  the  I2th  to  the  i6th  of  November,  and  in  the  hospital  of  Kings- 
ton and  the  dark  prison  of  Fort  Henry  they  were  all  brought  to  their 
senses.     Continuing  Mr.  Wright  said  : 

On  Monday  morning  the  schooners  were  cut  loose  from  the  steamboat,  and  when 
near  Prescott  they  both  ran  aground.  One,  the  Charlotte,  soon  got  clear  and  landed  at 
Windmill  Point,  where  they  made  a  stand  at  the  mill  and  raised  their  flag  above  the 
buildings.  The  flag  bore  upon  its  face  the  device  of  an  eagle  and  twin  stars  upon  a 
ground  of  blue.  The  first  evening  was  spent  in  making  arrangements  for  the  morrow ; 
the  arms  and  munitions  were  landed,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  balls  and  other  neces- 
saries were  left,  amid  the  confusion  which  prevailed.  All  the  general  officers  had  de- 
ceived them,  save  Colonel  Von  Schoultz,  Woodruff  and  Abbey,  who  at  first  held  only 
minor  positions.  After  deliberate  consultation  they  elected  Yon  Schoultz  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  patriot  army,  which  had  dwindled  from  1,000  to  200  men,  who  then 
composed  the  ''  Spartan  Band."  About  midnight  Bill  Johnson  came  over  and  informed 
them  that  500  men  would  join  them  before  daylight.  The  first  night  no  eye  closed,  no 
hand  was  idle,  no  heart  was  faint. 

At  nine  o'clock  a.  m.  three  British  steamboats,  the  Coburg,  Victoria  and  Experiment 
came  down  from  Prescott,  anchored  opposite  the  mill  and  opened  fire  with  balls  and 
bombsaells ;  at  the  same  time  1,500  of  the  Canadian  militia  and  regulars  made  their  ap- 
pearance, the  Eighty-third  Regiment  occupying  the  center  and  the  militia  forming  the 
right  and  left  wings.  They  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  three  deep.  The  patriots 
formed  in  line  of  battle  one  deep,  spreading  from  two  to  three  yards  apart  so  as  to 
cover  the  enemy's  front.  They  were  protected  on  their  sides  by  stone  walls  and  stone 
buildings,  and  the  steep  river  banks  prevented  the  shot  and  shell  thrown  by  the  boat 
from  injuring  them,  the  missiles  passing  over  their  heads  and  creating  disaster  among 
the  British  laud  forces.  Before  the  engagement  began  a  six-pounder  was  placed  by  the 
patriots  between  the  mill  and  one  of  the  stone  buildings,  so  situated  that  in  case  of  re- 
treat it  would  deliver  a  raking  fire  from  four  different  points,  and  would  also  serve  as  a 
decoy  in  case  of  emergency.  The  patriots  orders  were  not  to  fire  a  gur^  under  any 
circumstances  until  assaulted  by  the  enemy.  The  British  advanced  to  within  twenty 
rods,  halted  and  opened  fire  by  platoons,  which  was  returned  by  the  patriots.  After 
some  twenty  minutes  the  Canadian  militia  fell  back  over  the  hill  and  left  the  regu- 
lars (the  Eighty-third)  alone.  They  fought  bravely  for  about  three  hours,  when  they 
also  retreated  behind  the  hill  and  left  the  field  in  possession  of  the  patriots.  The 
latter  were  comparatively  secure  in    their  position,  while  the  British  were  fully  ex- 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  187 

posed  io  the  open  field  and  suffer«d  severely  from  the  sharpshooters  posted  in  the 
upper  stories  of  the  mill.  The  British  oflScers  on  horseback  were  distinctly  seen,  even 
from  Ogdensburg,  to  fall  here  and  there  on  the  field,  and  the  soldiers'  ranks  were 
rapidly  thinned  out  under  the  unequal  contest.  The  retreat  was  followed  by  the 
patriots  for  a  short  time,  who  lost  a  few  men,  when  they  returned  to  the  mill;  but 
judge  of  their  surprise  and  desperate  situation  when  they  found  that  there  was  not  a 
solitary  ball  left  with  which  to  load  their  field  pieces,  rendering  the  guns  useless,  ex- 
cept as  the)'  could  be  loaded  with  broken  pieces  of  mill  irons  and  gravel  stones.  Xo 
sooner  had  the  patriots  retired  to  the  mill  than  the  British,  encouraged  by  a  vacant 
field,  rallied  and  attempted  to  take  the  stronghold  by  storm,  but  they  were  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss.^ 

In  the  morning  of  the  second  day  the  firing  was  continued  at  longer  range,  which 
gave  the  patriots  the  advantage,  as  their  rifles  could  do  effective  work,  while  the  Brit- 
ish musket  balls  fell  harmless  inside  of  the  lines.  An  incident  occurred  that  mornino' 
which  is  worthy  of  notice.  A  woman  who  lived  in  one  of  the  buildings  near  the  mill, 
and  whose  husband  had  left  her  during  the  battle,  started  with  her  daughter  of  seven- 
teen and  a  babe  of  six  months  old,  to  join  and  claim  protection  of  the  loyalist  army. 
When  the  little  family  started  the  patriot  commander  gave  orders  not  to  fire  in  that 
direction,  which  order  was  strictly  obeyed.  Yet,  when  she  arrived  within  ten  rods 
of  the  British  lines,  a  shot  was  fired  which  broke  the  jaw  of  the  daughter  and  another 
pierced  the  mother  and  her  child  to  the  heart,  and  both  found  an  untimely  grave  on  the 
field  of  battle — the  dead  child  clasped  in  the  arms  of  its  dying  mother,  an  example 
of  that  affection  which  is  stronger  than  death.  Comment  is  unnecessary ;  humanity 
recoils  from  the  recital  of  such  a  cold-blooded  massacre  of  the  innocent. 

During  the  assault  before  mentioned.  Lieutenant  Johnson,  of  the  Eighty-third  Regi- 
ment, with  about  thirty  men.  made  a  dash  and  endeavored  to  capture  the  patriots' 
decoy  cannon.  When  within  a  few  paces  of  it  Johnson  was  shot  down  by  riflemen 
in  the  mill  and  the  effort  was  then  abandoned.  That  night,  under  a  cover  of  darkness, 
one  of  the  patriots,  a  Pole,  stole  the  coat  and  cap  from  the  dead  lieutenant,  passed  him- 
self off  as  an  officer  and  escaped  through  the  British  camp,  reaching  the  American 
shore  in  safety.  The  same  night  also,  according  to  Wright's  statement,  they  received 
a  visit  from  Ogdensburg  by  the  cowards  who  came  over  to  bring  golden  promises 
of  men  and  ammunition  ;  but  Von  Schoultz  did  not  relish  their  encouragements.  He 
entreated  that  they  would  be  men  enough  to  send  a  boat  to  remove  the  wounded, 
which  numbered  twenty-eight,  as  they  could  not,  through  lack  of  necessaries,  admin- 
ister to  their  wants.  The  visitors  promised  that  before  daylight  all  the  wounded 
should  be  removed  and  directed  to  have  them  conveyed  to  the  shore  of  the  river. 
This  was  done,  and  the  wounded  men  lay  amid  storm  and  snow  for  seven  tedious 
hours,  waiting  for  the  promised  succor,  yet  no  aid  came  during  the  dark  vigils  of  that 
night  of  agony. 

The  morning  of  the  14th  dawned  in  snow  and  rain ;  the  fields  in  the  rear  were  stud- 
ded with  the  bodies  of  the  dead  ;    now  and    then  a  shot  was  exchanged,  and  then 

'  A  party  of  patriots  followed  the  retreating  British,  were  out-flanked,  and  some  fifteen  of  them 
captured. 


188  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

all  relapsed  into  silence.  During  the  night  of  the  14th  the  Canadian  militia,  like  so 
many  harpies,  tore  from  the  dead  bodies  all  the  clothing,  ravaging  the  field  in  the  dark- 
ness in  search  of  any  kind  of  plunder. 

On  the  night  of  the  16th,  says  Wright,  they  were  surprised  by  a  visit  from  Preston 
King  and  others.  They  came  in  the  steamboat  Paul  Pry  to  within  about  twenty-five 
rods  of  the  shore  and  landed  in  a  small  boat,  accompanied  by  two  or  three  of  the 
''extinguished  "  officers  from  Ogdensburg.  Von  Schoultz  now  expected  that  help  had 
come  to  remove  the  wounded  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  river  was  clear  of  craft  and 
it  seemed  that  now  was  their  chance  if  ever  to  escape.  King  then  promised  fairly 
that  he  would  return  to  the  boat  and  carry  away  the  wounded.  Von  Schoultz  then 
said  that  after  the  wounded  were  cared  for,  they  would  all  try  to  save  themselves 
by  retreating  down  the  river.  King  acted  confusedly,  staid  about  five  minutes  and 
then  departed,  went  aboard  the  Paul  Pry  and  fled  back  to  the  American  shore,  and  then 
circulated  a  falsehood  among  his  friends. 

On  the  17th  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  out  for  the  collection  of  the  dead  and  wounded, 
which  lasted  two  hours.  About  sunset  four  steamboats,  well  armed,  lay  in  front  of 
the  mill,  and  2,500  men  in  the  rear.  The  patriots,  thus  hemmed  in,  without  am- 
munition, betrayed,  deserted  and  disheartened,  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  British  host, 
as  their  bugle  rang  for  a  charge ;  the  flag  was  fired  upon  wounding  one  man.  Then 
the  patriots  returned  and  prepared  for  a  desperate  resistance.  The  British  advanced 
to  within  thirty  rods  and  halted,  when  Colonel  Dundas  sent  a  flag  summoning  them 
to  surrender  at  his  discretion.  A  council  was  held  and  they  saw  it  was  in  vain  to 
resist.  Von  Schoultz  said  that  not  for  himself  would  he  surrender,  but  for  the  sake 
of  those  brave  young  men  who  had  become  dupes  of  the  designing,  and  in  the  faint 
hope  of  saving  their  lives.  The  patriots  then  disarmed  and  marched  out,  defiling  be- 
tween ranks  of  the  Eighty-third.  Von  Schoultz  with  two  others  attempted  to  es- 
cape at  the  back  door  of  the  mil',  but  they  were  taken  by  the  militia  and  treated  in  a 
most  inhuman  and  brutal  manner.  They  were  stripped  of  nearly  every  vestige  of 
clothing  and  marched  to  Prescott  amid  jeers,  scoffs,  insults  and  reproaches  almost  be- 
yond description.  One  of  the  party,  Mr.  Wright  says,  for  some  slight  resistance,  was 
stabbed  with  a  dozen  bayonets  and  died  without  a  cry  for  mercy.  After  having 
been  buffeted,  spit  upon,  and  treated  with  all  the  indignities  possible,  they  were 
branded  as  Yankee  cut- throats,  assassins,  free-booters,  pirates,  brigands  and  buccaneers  ; 
they  were  crowded  with  all  their  wounded  in  the  forecastle  of  the  steamer  Brock- 
ville,  where  they  were  confined,  with  their  hands  tied  behind  them,  in  so  small  a  space 
that  they  could  neither  sit  nor  lie  down.  They  reached  Kingston  on  Saturday,  when 
all  the  able  bodied  men  were  sent  to  Fort  Henry,  and  the  wounded  were  placed  in 
a  damp,  fireless  room,  called  a  hospital. 

In  closing  Mr.  Wright  says: 

Are  the  Canadian  patriots  less  the  martyrs  of  liberty  because  victory  perched  not 
upon  their  banner  ?  Are  they  to  be  thus  branded  and  their  names  go  down  to  pos- 
terity to  please  or  justify  the  despotic  aristocrats?  No!  The  motives  of  those  who 
fought  at  the  battle  of  Prescott  were  pure  and  noble,  and  to  save  the  memories  of  the 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  189 

dead  from  cruel  aspersions,  this  feeble  effort  is  made  to  place  in  a  true  light  many  of 
the  actors  of  the  Canadian  revolution. 

Colonel  Dundas,  of  the  Eighty-third,  reported  I02  prisoners  taken 
at  the  Windmill,  sixteen  of  whom  were  wounded.  There  had  also  been 
several  taken  in  boats  and  on  the  field,  which  swelled  the  number  to  145, 
The  records  of  the  court  martial  show  that  two  died,  nineteen  were 
released,  fifty- nine  pardoned,  fifty-five  transported  to  Van  Diemen's 
land,  and  ten  of  the  officers  and  leaders  were  huncr. 

During  the  conflict,  which  was  closely  watched  from  the  American 
shore,  it  was  evident  that  the  brave  but  misguided  men  would  shortly 
be  overcome  in  this  unequal  contest.  Therefore,  on  the  morning  of 
the  15th,  Colonel  Worth  invited  Judge  Fine,  Preston  King,  Judge  Stil- 
well,  and  Socrates  N.  Sherman,  influential  citizens  of  Ogdensburg,  on 
board  the  steamer  Telegraph,  to  go  with  him  to  the  British  com- 
mander, Colonel  P.  Young,  and  ask  of  him  the  privilege  of  preventing 
further  bloodshed  by  removing  the  patriots  on  their  frontier.  The 
party  accordingly  visited  Prescott  and  were  politely  received  by  the 
British  officer,  who  accompanied  them  back  to  the  steamer,  where  a 
private  interview  was  held  between  the  two  colonels.  Colonel  Young 
pointedly  refused  the  favor  asked,  but  from  an  intimation  that  was 
dropped  it  was  learned  that  the  machinery  of  the  Experiment,  the 
Cobiirg  and  the  Victoria  was  damaged  and  they  had  gone  up  the  river 
for  repairs,  which  would  prevent  them  being  used  until  two  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  it  was  naturally  inferred  that  no  means  of  annoyance 
on  the  river  opposite  the  Windmill  would  be  in  possession  of  the  Brit- 
ish during  the  early  part  of  the  night.  This  opportunity  Colonel 
Worth  wished  to  have  improved,  and  having  consulted  some  of  the 
citizens  on  the  subject,  it  was  understood  that  early  in  the  evening  the 
Paul  Pry  would  be  at  the  service  of  a  party  of  volunteers  who  might 
safely  approach  the  Windmill  and  rescue  the  inmates,  if  they  would 
leave  the  place.  This  responsible  service  was  entrusted  to  Preston 
King,  then  postmaster  of  the  village.  At  that  time  the  principal  part 
of  the  business  section  of  the  village  was  situated  on  Water  street  be- 
tween the  ferry  dock  and  the  bridge.  The  Tremont  was  the  first  hotel 
in  the  village,  and  stood  in  Marble  Row,  just  opposite  the  Allen  block. 
The  American  (now  the   Sterling)   was  also  a  good  house.     At  these 


190  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

hotels  and  along  this  street  the  business  men  and  strangers  congregated 
on  important  occasions,  it  being  near  the  steamboat  landing.  On 
Thursday  afternoon,  the  15th,  the  village  was  filled  with  excited 
people,  as  the  British  forces  were  preparing  to  close  in  on  the  patriots 
and  their  escape  seemed  almost  impossible.  Preston  King  seemed  to 
iDr  more  excitable  than  ever,  and  went  up  and  down  the  street  in  front 
of  the  hotels  and  repeatedly  called  for  volunteers  to  go  with  him  at  the 
risk  of  their  lives  and  rescue  the  patriots  from  their  perilous  situation. 
A  sufficient  number  of  men  was  soon  raised  and  about  twelve  o'clock 
that  night  the  party  started  on  the  steamer  Paul  Pry  (using  oil  for  fuel) 
and  moved  slowly  down  the  river  to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  shore  op- 
posite the  windmill  and  anchored.  A  man  said  to  have  been  connected 
with  the  patriots  and  to  know  their  pass-word,  was  sent  ashore  with 
others  to  make  known  the  errand  of  the  party.  Mr.  King  soon  followed 
and  explained  the  folly  of  looking  for  reinforcements,  even  though  prom- 
ised, and  earnestly  requested  that  they  avail  themselves  of  the  only 
chance  to  escape  that  would  be  offered.  It  was  reported  that  the  men 
on  the  steamer  became  impatient  at  the  delay,  and  insisted  upon  the 
return  of  the  steamer  to  Ogdensbur'g.  Mr.  King  said  he  was  thus  re- 
luctantly compelled  to  return  without  having  accomplished  his  purpose, 
further  than  to  bring  six  or  seven  men  from  the  mill,  one  of  whom  had 
been  wounded. 

During  the  time  that  the  steamer  lay  near  the  windmill,  firing  along 
the  line  by  the  British  picket  guards  was  kept  up,  and  occasionally  a 
cannon  ball  came  whizzing  over  the  boat  and  dropped  into  the  river  be- 
yond, rendering  the  men  on  board  impatient  at  the  inaction,  and  subse- 
quently making  Mr.  King  very  nervous  and  gloomy.  The  steamer /*(a:?^/ 
Pry  had  scarcely  returned  to  port  when  the  British  armed  steamer  was 
seen  going  down  the  river,  and  all  chance  of  passing  between  the  Amer- 
ican shore  and  the  windmill  was  thus  cut  off. 

On  Thursday  evening  the  steamer  United  States,  having  been  refitted 
and  placed  in  charge  of  Captain  Vaughan,  sailing  master  of  the  navy, 
with  a  party  of  United  States  troops,  under  Captain  Wright,  started  for 
Sackett's  Harbor  with  the  patriot  schooners  in  tow.  The  schooners  had 
on  their  decks  the  cannon  which  had  formed  part  of  their  armament. 
Apprehending  that  they  would  meet  a  British  force,  which  was  expected 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  191 

from  Kingston  to  assist  in  capturing  the  party  at  the  windmill,  and  be- 
Heving  it  prudent  to  provide  against  any  emergency  that  might  arise, 
the  captain  caused  the  cannon  to  be  loaded  and  the  military  to  be  held 
in  readiness.  When  they  neared  Oak  Point  they  met  the  British 
steamer  Brockvillc  with  two  gunboats  in  tow.  The  United  States  was 
hailed  and  ordered  to  "  lie  to  and  send  a  boat  aboard."  The  peremp- 
tory and  insulting  tone  of  this  order  forbade  compliance  by  the  officer 
in  charge  of  the  flotilla,  and  the  reply  was  made  that  they  "  might  come 
aboard."  The  demand  was  repeated  and  again  answered  with  coolness 
and  laconic  brevity  highly  creditable  to  the  courage  and  ability  of  Cap- 
tain Wright.  The  United  States  having  passed  the  British  steamer,  the 
latter  turned  and  followed  some  distance,  but  no  further  notice  was 
taken  of  her  by  the  United  States,  and  she  shortly  resumed  her  original 
course. 

On  the  morning  of  Friday  the  i6th,  the  British  had  been  greatly  re- 
inforced by  regulars  and  by  gunboats  armed  with  heavy  ordnance,  and 
they  made  preparations  systematically  for  the  reduction  of  the  windmill. 
A  battery  of  heavy  guns  was  posted  back  of  the  mill,  a  gunboat  was 
stationed  below  the  mill  and  a  heavily  armed  steamer  above  it,  so  ar- 
ranged that  the  shots  from  the  three  points  would  not  interfere  with 
each  other,  and  all  beyond  rifle  shot,  yet  sufficiently  near  to  do  good 
execution.  What  followed  has  been  given  by  Mr.  Wright  regarding 
the  surrender,  trials,  pardons,  transportations,  executions,  etc. 

During  the  four  or  five  days  of  strange  and  exciting  proceedings 
Ogdensburg  was  filled  with  anxious  people  from  the  adjacent  country. 
The  high  banks  at  Mile  Point  below  the  village  (just  back  of  the  O.  & 
L.  C.  Railroad  depot  site,  then  partially  covered  with  trees),  were 
crowded  from  early  morning  until  dark  with  excited  people  watching 
the  struggle  going  on  between  the  little  band  of  patriots  and  the  British 
forces. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  was  in  session  at  Canton  at  the  time,  and 
the  cannonade  of  the  battle  was  distinctly  heard  at  that  place.  Some 
of  the  supervisors  were  warm  sympathizers  in  the  movement,  and  a  reso- 
lution was  drawn  up  expressing  such  sympathy  for  the  patriots  strug- 
gling against  tyranny  and  oppression,  but  it  was  not  adopted. 


192  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COIJNTY. 

Bill  Johnson,  the  avowed  leader  of  the  gang  who  burned  the  Sir 
Robert  Peel,  had  been  seen  on  the  streets  of  Ogdensburg  for  several 
days,  but  no  one  ventured  to  arrest  him  while  the  village  was  crowded 
with  people  of  his  kind.  The  day  after  the  surrender  of  the  band  at  the 
windmill  he  was  seen  to  leave  the  harbor  in  a  boat  with  his  son.  The 
deputy  collector  entered  a  boat  belonging  to  the  custom-house  depart- 
ment, hoisted  a  revenue  flag,  and,  in  company  with  several  others,  pur- 
sued him.  Johnson  landed  about  three  miles  above  the  village,  was 
pursued  and  finally  captured  ;  he  surrendered  on  condition  that  his  arms 
should  be  turned  over  to  his  son.  He  was  armed  with  a  Cochran  rifle, 
several  pistols,  and  a  bowie  knife.  The  merit  of  arresting  Johnson  has 
been  claimed  by  different  persons,  and  the  bounty  offered  for  his  ap- 
prehension is  said  to  have  been  paid  to  C.  T.  Buswell  and  A.  B.  James, 
who  pursued  him  on  horseback  as  soon  as  he  landed  and  were  present 
when  he  surrendered.  The  steamer  Oneida,  in  service  of  the  govern- 
ment, being  near  by  and  having  troops  on  board,  was  steered  towards 
the  point  where  the  boats  landed,  to  afford  any  assistance  that  might  be 
found  necessary.  The  prisoner  was  conveyed  on  board  the  steamer  and 
taken  to  Sackett's  Harbor. 

On  Monday  after  the  capture  of  the  patriots,  Hon.  John  Fine,  with 
Charles  G.  Myers,  visited  Kingston,  carried  a  contribution  of  several 
hundred  dollars  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  prisoners  and  offered  them 
legal  counsel.  There  being  no  railroads  at  that  time  and  the  steamboat 
season  being  closed,  they  applied  to  Colonel  Worth  to  send  them  over 
to  Kingston  and  furnish  them  with  a  letter  to  the  commanding  officer 
there  ;  both  requests  were  refused.  They  then  crossed  to  Prescott,  ap- 
plied to  Colonel  Young,  who  furnished  them  with  a  note  to  Colonel 
Dundas  at  Kingston.  A  citizen  of  Prescott  gave  them  the  use  of  a 
small  steamer  without  charge.  At  Kingston  they  found  several  Amer- 
icans from  Oswego  and  other  places  on  a  similar  errand.  The  sheriff 
refused  an  audience  with  the  prisoners  in  accordance  with  his  orders 
from  the  governor.  They  then  applied  to  Colonel  Dundas,  stating  that 
they  were  lawyers  for  the  prisoners  and  had  some  right  to  serve  them 
in  that  capacity,  having  been  employed  by  friends  of  the  prisoners  for 
that  purpose.  They  stated  that  it  was  the  boast  of  the  English  law, 
which  the  Americans  inherited   from  the  mother  country,  that  every 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40.  193 

one  was  presumed  innocent  of  crime  until  proved  guilty,  and  that  the 
prisoners  had  a  right  to  legal  advice  and  the  privilege  of  obtaining  wit- 
nesses for  their  defence.  Upon  this  the  colonel  took  them  to  the  prison, 
told  the  sheriff  that  he  would  take  the  responsibility,  and  several  were 
admitted  to  the  prison  rooms.  The  Ogdensburg  counselors  remarked 
to  the  boys  that  there  was  hope  in  their  cases  ;  that  the  power  of  Eng- 
land was  not  so  feeble  as  to  fear  the  loss  of  Canada  by  the  hands  of 
boys,  and  the  glory  of  England  would  not  be  enhanced  by  their  sacri- 
fice. They  were  advised  to  plead  their  youth  and  throw  themselves 
on  the  mercy  of  the  governor,  and  several  were  released,  as  has  been 
stated. 

The  issue  of  this  expedition  did  much  to  render  the  patriot  cause  un- 
popular, and  a  healthy  reaction  was  soon  felt  along  the  frontier  ;  but  a 
spirit  of  jealousy  and  hostility  had  been  engendered  that  led  to  much 
difficulty.  On  the  21st  of  December  the  village  trustees  resolved  to 
organize  a  company  (home  guards)  to  be  held  ready  at  a  minute's 
warning  to  act  in  preserving  order  and  to  repel,  if  necessary,  any  ag- 
gression. Resolutions  were  passed  to  petition  Congress  for  protec- 
tion of  the  frontier  and  asking  its  intervention  in  favor  of  the  patriot 
prisoners  ;  also  a  becoming  tribute  was  paid  to  the  valor  and  courage 
of  the  misguided  youths  who  had  been  seduced  into  aiding  the  move- 
ment 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1839,  another  public  meeting  was  called  by  a 
large  number  of  prominent  citizens  of  all  parties  and  was  addressed  by 
Major- General  Winfield  Scott  in  a  very  able  manner.  A  series  of  reso- 
lutions embodying  the  sentiment  of  the  considerate  of  all  parties  and 
appealing  to  all  good  citizens  to  aid  in  putting  an  end  to  these  proceed- 
ings, so  destructive  of  the  public  peace  and  so  perilous  to  our  national 
welfare,  were  passed.  A  bitter  feeling  towards  Americans  was  mani- 
fested by  the  Canadians  in  the  following  acts  :  The  steamer  United 
States,  Captain  Whitney,  left  Ogdensburg  on  the  evening  of  April  14, 
1839,  with  a  large  number  of  passengers,  and  as  she  was  passing  out 
into  the  channel,  from  six  to  ten  rounds  of  musket  shot  were  fired  at 
her  from  the  wharf  at  Prescott.  where  a  crowd  was  assembled.  On  the 
same  evening  she  was  fired  upon  from  the  wharf  at  Brockville.  These 
insulting  attacks   were  greatly  aggravated  by  a   high-handed   outrage 


194  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

committed  upon  the  schooner  G.  S.  Weeks,  Captain  Turner,  on  Friday, 
May  17,  1839.  She  stopped  at  Brockville  to  discharge  some  merchan 
disc.  The  usual  papers  had  been  sent  to  the  custom  house  and  a  per- 
mit to  unload  had  been  issued  by  the  deputy  collector.  There  was 
lying  on  the  deck  a  six-pounder  iron  cannon  belonging  to  the  State  of 
New  York  and  consigned  to  Captain  A.  B.  James,  to  replace  the  one 
seized  by  the  patriots.  Upon  discovering  this  cannon  an  attempt  was 
made  to  seize  it,  but  this  was  resisted  by  the  crew  until  the  collector  of 
the  district  came  up  and  took  possession  of  the  vessel  under  some  al- 
leged irregularity  in  her  papers.  The  gun  was  then  taken  by  the  mob, 
who  paraded  the  streets  with  it  and  fired  it  repeatedly.  Word  was  im- 
mediately sent  to  Colonel  Worth  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  who  promptly  re- 
paired to  the  place  in  the  steamer  Oneida  and  sent  a  respectful  inquiry 
to  learn  on  what  grounds  the  schooner  was  detained.  To  this  the 
deputy  collector  could  give  no  direct  answer  ;  but  from  what  he  could 
learn  Colonel  Worth  inferred  that  the  seizure  was  without  justification, 
and  he  resolved  to  vindicate  our  national  honor  in  the  recovery  of  the  can- 
non. On  Saturday  evening  he  went  to  Prescott  and  peremptorily  de- 
manded of  Colonel  Frasier  the  release  of  the  vessel  and  her  cargo  ;  to 
which  answer  was  made  at  ten  o'clock  the  next  day  that  the  vessel  and 
cargo  should  be  released,  but  doubt  was  expressed  whether  the  gun 
could  be  secured  from  the  mob.  Colonel  Worth  had  on  board  the 
steamer  Oneida  about  one  hundred  regulars,  who  were  supplied  with 
double  the  number  of  muskets  and  ammunition  sufficient  for  the  oc- 
casion. The  steamer  took  a  position  along  side  the  schooner  and  a  de- 
mand for  the  restoration  of  the  gun  was  sent  to  those  having  it  in 
charge.  The  wharves  and  block  houses  were  densely  crowded  with  an 
excited  and  furious  mob,  many  of  whom  were  armed,  and  all  partaking 
of  the  excitement  prevalent.  The  civil  authorities  endeavored  to  pro- 
cure the  restoration  of  the  piece,  but  were  incapable  of  persuading  or  com- 
pelling the  rabble  to  surrender  it.  Matters  remained  thus  for  several 
hours,  during  which  a  collision  was  momentarily  expected.  At  4  P.  M. 
a  steamer  from  Kingston,  with  British  regulars  aboard,  arrived,  which 
had  been  sent  for  by  the  magistrates  of  the  village,  and  by  their  aid 
several  leaders  of  the  mob  were  arrested  and  lodged  in  the  guard  house. 
Having  waited  sufficiently  long,  Colonel  Worth  notified   the  authorities 


THE  PATRIOT  WAR  OF  1837-40. 


i;J.) 


for  the  last  time  that  the  cannon  must  be  instantly  returned.  It  was 
done  with  the  utmost  haste,  and  the  schooner  proceeded  on  her  way  to 
Ogdensburg,  and  the  gun  which  had  caused  so  much  trouble  was  deliv- 
ered to  the  right  person. ^ 

On  Tuesda}',  June  25,  1839,  a  party  from  Prescott  attempted  to  ab- 
duct an  army  deserter  from  Ogdensburg,  but  their  plans  were  discov- 
ered and  the  leader  was  surrounded  by  a  large  crowd  of  people,  covered 
with  tar  and  feathers,  and  marched  back  to  his  boat  under  an  armed 
guard.  The  officer  of  the  gang  thus  treated  was  said  to  have  committed 
suicide  the  next  day. 

As  the  American  steam  packet  St.  Lazvrence  was  passing  down  the 
river  on  her  regular  trip  August  4,  1839,  she  was  fired  upon  by  an 
armed  British  schooner  lying  in  the  stream  opposite  Brockville,  for  the 
alleged  reason  that  she  disregarded  their  call  to  halt  and  show  her 
colors  This  being  communicated  to  Colonel  Worth,  an  explanation 
was  demanded,  and  a  feeble  attempt  made  to  justify  the  act  on  the 
ground  that  they  were  afraid  the  steamer  contained  patriots,  and  they 
wanted  to  know  to  what  nation  she  belonged,  etc. 

The  renewal  of  friendly  intercourse  began  soon  afterward.  The  Brit- 
ish steamers  touching  at  Ogdensburg  were  well  received,  which  had 
much  influence  in  allaying  the  animosity  that  existed  for  a  time  between 
the  border  inhabitants  of  the  two  nations. 

'  It  is  claimed  by  some  that  this  cannon  was  the  present  "  Long  Tom,"  which  is  not  the  historic 
French  gun  that  was  used  so  long  in  the  village  and  reported  to  have  been  taken  to  the  windmill 
by  the  patriots.  Others  claim,  with  an  appearance  of  truth,  that  the  present  gun  is  "  Long  Tom 
No.  2,"  which  was  captured  from  the  British  during  the  Revolution  at  Saratoga,  and  was  purchased 
from  a  junk  shop  in  Utica  in  the  winter  of  1S38-9  and  mounted  here. 


19G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION,  18G1-65. 

The  First  War  Meeting— Captain  Nevin's  C'^mpany — Other  Companies — Various 
Organizations  Containing  St.  Lawrence  County  Representatives — Drafts — Bounties  — 
Confederate  Raids  from  Canada — Major  General  Dix's  Order — Ogdensburg  Home 
Guards — The  Fenian  Movement — Ogdensburg  a  Center  of  Active  Operations— Misun- 
derstanding Regarding  the  Strength  of  the  Movement. 

AFTER  the  excitement  of  the  patriot  war,  which  event  necessitated 
the  marshahng  of  troops  in  various  parts  of  Northern  New  York, 
especially  in  the  streets  of  Ogdensburg,  peace  and  quietness  reigned  for 
a  long  period,  until  the  slave  oligarchy  of  the  South  openly  rebelled 
against  the  Union  and  emphasized  their  actions  by  firing  on  Fort  Sum- 
ter at  4  o'clock  A.  M.,  April  12,  1861.  It  will  not  be  expected  that  a 
lengthy  or  concise  history  of  the  movements  of  a  military  character  that 
occurred  in  St.  Lawrence  county  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  will 
be  given  in  a  work  of  this  character.  There  is  sufficient  data  on  this 
subject,  if  gathered  and  properly  put  together,  to  fill  a  volume,  which 
may  be  done  by  some  one  in  the  near  future.  Therefore  we  shall  en- 
deavor to  give  only  a  resume  of  the  leading  local  events  during  the 
great  struggle.  The  act  of  firing  on  Fort  Sumter  thoroughly  aroused 
the  patriotic  people  of  the  North,  and  they  assembled  spontaneously  at 
every. available  point,  not  only  to  show  their  loyalty,  but  to  discuss  the 
situation  and  devise  methods  for  future  action.  The  result  of  these  de- 
liberations, irrespective  of  political  parties,  was  a  determination  that  the 
Union  should  be  preserved. 

Fort  Sumter,  having  been  kept  under  continuous  fire  from  the  early 
morning  of  the  I2th,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebel  forces  on  Sunday 
morning  the  14th.  The  news  of  the  surrender  was  received  by  tele- 
graph in  Ogdensburg  on  Monday  morning  the  15th,  which  spread  like 
wild-fire  over  the  surrounding  country.  The  Daily  Joiirnal  issn^d  an 
extra   containing  the   news,  and   at  a  gathering  of  the  people   in  the 


WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  197 

Streets  enrollment  papers  asking  for  volunteers  for  six  months  were  pre- 
sented by  Henry  R.  James,  and  numerously  signed.  On  Monday  there 
were  in  Ogdensburg  a  large  number  of  people  from  the  surrounding 
towns  eager  to  learn  the  news,  whom  Mr.  James  consulted,  and  agreed 
to  meet  some  of  them  at  Depeyster  Corners  that  evening.  The  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  M.  E.  church,  which  was  well  filled  with  the  sturdy 
men  of  the  town.  Benjamin  Eastman  presiding.  Mr.  James  made  a 
stirring  speech,  in  which  he  urged  them  to  send  at  least  fourteen  men 
to  join  the  Ogdensburg  company,  which  they  were  endeavoring  to  raise 
in  the  various  towns  of  the  county.  The  chairman  called  on  several 
prominent  citizens  to  express  their  views  on  the  subject,  but  failed  to 
draw  them  out,  when  he  called  N.  M.  Curtis,  a  young  farmer  and  a  law 
student,  to  give  his  views  on  the  plan  proposed.  He  stated  his  objec- 
tion to  sending  a  company  for  six  months  only,  and  advised  the  prompt 
organization  of  a  regiment  in  the  county,  to  be  tendered  to  the  govern- 
ment to  serve  as  long  as  the  exigencies  of  the  country  might  require. 

He  then  gave  notice  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to  organize  a  com- 
pany in  Depeyster  and  adjoining  towns,  and  invited  all  favoring  it  to 
assemble  the  next  evening  at  Mason's  tavern,  where  he  would  secure  a 
room  to  meet  in. 

Similar  proceedings  were  entered  upon  in  Gouverneur,  Potsdam, 
Stockholm  and  other  towns. 

On  Wednesday  evening  the  17th  a  large  meeting  was  held  in  Eagle 
Hall  at  Ogdensburg,  Hon.  John  Fine  presiding.  The  meeting  was  ad- 
dressed by  many  prominent  men  of  the  village  and  county.  The  move- 
ment started  by  Mr.  James  and  others  on  the  15th,  having  been  aban- 
doned, steps  were  taken  to  organize  a  company,  command  of  which  was 
tendered  to  David  A.  Nevin,  who  had  that  day  returned  from  an  army 
post  in  Texas,  where  he  had  occupied  a  civil  position,  in  which  he  had 
improved  the  opportunity  to  acquire  much  information  respecting  mili- 
tary affairs.  Mr.  Neven  accepted  the  offer,  and  made  preparations  to  open 
a  recruiting  office.  A  second  meeting  was  called  at  Lyceum  Hall,  for 
the  purpose  of  stimulating  the  people  to  immediate  action.  Citizens, 
both  old  and  young,  paraded  the  streets  with  music  and  banners. 
Business  was  virtually  suspended  to  give  attention  to  the  all-absorbing 
question  of  the  day.      The  hall  was  filled  to  overflowing,  R.  W.  Judson 


198  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

presiding,  and  in  a  few  words  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting,  to  be 
the  raising  of  men  and  means  for  the  war.  The  chairman  led  with  a 
handsome  subscription,  and  others  followed  rapidh',  until  about  $3,000 
were  subscribed  and  forty-four  men  enlisted,  Isaac  T.  Merry  being  the 
first  one  to  sign  the  muster  roll.  Captain  Nevin's  company  was 
promptly  organized,  and  the  first  to  leave  for  Albany,  where  they  ar- 
rived on  the  24th  of  April,  and  became  A  of  the  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Vol. 
Inf.  Capt.  James  Pomeroy  organized  B  in  Potsdam  and  vicinity; 
Capt.  Frank  Palmer,  C  in  Plattsburg ;  Capt.  George  Parker,  D  in  Gou- 
verneur,  Fowler  and  Rossie ;  Capt.  John  L.  Stetson,  E  of  Plattsburg; 
Capt.  John  C.  Gilmour,  F  in  Potsdam  ;  Capt.  N.  M.  Curtis,  G  in  De- 
peyster,  Dekalb,  Macomb,  Morristown,  Hermon,  Oswegatchie  and  Ros- 
sie ;  Capt.  Warren  Gibson,  H  in  Stockholm  and  vicinity  ;  Capt.  Joel 
Seaver,  I  in  Malone,  and  Capt.  Wallace  W.  Wood,  K  of  Chazy.  The 
line  officers  selected  Thos.  A.  Davies,  of  New  York  city,  a  native  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  for  colonel ;  Samuel  Marsh  of  Potsdam,  for  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and  Buel  Palmer,  of  Plattsburg,  for  major.  The  foregoing 
officers  so  selected  were  approved  by  the  governor,  and  the  regiment 
was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  for  a  term  of  two  years  by  Cap- 
tains Lorenzo  Sitgreave  and  Frank  Wheaton  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  on 
the  15th  day  of  May,  1861,  and  designated  the  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Vol. 
Inf.  The  following  named  persons  succeeded  them  as  colonels  of  this 
regiment :  Joseph  Howland  and  Joel  J.  Seever. 

On  May  30th  the  regiment  was  sent  to  "  Camp  Morgan  "  near  Al- 
bany, and  while  there  were  partially  supplied  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  common  wall  tents.  Most  of  the  companies,  through  the  as- 
sistance of  friends,  received  colors  before  their  departure  for  Albany,  at 
which  place  they  received  clothing  and  general  outfit  from  the  State. 
The  regiment  left  Albany  June  27,  reached  Washington  on  the  29th, 
and  went  into  camp,  where  they  remained  nearly  a  fortnight  under  in- 
struction. 

Capt.  David  L.  Bartlett  organized  a  company  at  Ogdensburg,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  as  Company  K  of  the  Eighteenth 
N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  May  17,  1861,  with  Geo.  B.  Myres,  of  Ogdensburg,  as 
major. 

These  regiments  were  on  the  17th  of  July  following  sent  forward,  and 
a  portion  of  them  shortly  after  engaged  with  the  Fifth  Alabama  Regi- 


WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION.  199 

ment,  in  which  engagement  Sergeant  John  Allen,  of  Ogdensburg,  was 
killed,  this  being  the  first  casualty  of  the  war  from  the  numbers  that 
left  St.  Lawrence  county. 

During  the  fore  part  of  the  summer  of  i86i  a  number  of  men  from 
St.  Lawrence  county  enlisted  in  the  Fifteenth  Regiment,  organized  at 
Elmira. 

The  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  raised  chiefly  in  St.  Lawrence  and 
Franklin  counties,  was  organized  at  Ogdensburg,  and  mustered  into  the 
service  October,  i86i,  with  Wm.  B.  Hay  ward,  of  New  York  city,  as 
colonel.  The  following  named  are  those  who  succeeded  as  colonels  of 
this  regiment:   Geo   S.  Greene,  Wm.  B.  Goodrich  and  Abel  Godard. 

The  Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf  was  organized  and  mustered  into 
the  U.  S.  service  at  Potsdam,  January  i,  1862,  with  Jonah  Sanford  as 
colonel.     The   colonel  that  succeeded  him  was  Lewis  C.  Hunt. 

The  io6th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.  was  organized  and  mustered  into  the  U. 
U.  service  at  Ogdensburg,  September  29,  1862,  with  Schuyer  F.  Judd, 
colonel.  Those  succeeding  him  are  Edward  E.  James,  Frederic  E. 
Embie  and  Andrew  N.  McDonald. 

The  I42d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf  was  organized  and  mustered  into  the  U.  S. 
service  at  Ogdensburg,  September  29,  1862,  with  Roscius  W.  Judson 
colonel.  Those  succeeding  him  were  N.  Martin  Curtis  and  Albert  M. 
Barney. 

In  addition  to  the  above  organizations,  St.  Lawrence  county  fur- 
nished men  to  the  24th,  looth,  I02d,  164th  and  193d  Infantry;  to  the 
6th,  7th,  20th  and  24th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  volunteeis;  to  Batteries  D  and 
L,  First  N.  Y.  Artillery  (nearly  all  of  Battery  D  was  raised  in  Gouver- 
neur  and  western  part  of  St.  Lawrence  county),  to  the  2d,  13th,  14th 
and  i6th  Artillery,  and  the  50th  N.  Y.  Engineers. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  Hon.  William  A.  Wheeler  presented  to  the 
regiment  a  national  flag.  On  Tuesday,  October  29,  Col.  William  B. 
Hayward  (late  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Second,)  reported  at  camp  as 
commander  of  the  Sixtieth,  which  number  was  given  the  regiment.  Oc- 
tober 31,  Hon.  John  Fine  presented  a  State  banner  to  the  regiment,  on 
behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Ogdensburg.  The  regiment  left  camp  for  the 
seat  of  war  November  i,  1861,  and  shortly  after  reaching  Washington 
was  assigned  to  duty  in   guarding  the  railroad  between  Baltimore  and 


200  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Washington.  January  I2,  1862,  Colonel  Hayward  tendered  his  resig- 
nation to  the  war  department,  and  on  the  27th  Col.  George  Sears  Greene 
took  command;  he  was  promoted  in  May,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
William  B.  Goodrich  succeeded  to  the  command,  and  Edward  C.  Tames 
received  a  commission  as  major.  In  the  battle  of  Antietam  Colonel 
Goodrich  was  killed. 

There  were  enlisted  in  the  three  arms  of  the  service  and  drafted  up- 
wards of  5,000  men  in  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence.  Of  this  number  a 
large  portion  perished  on  the  field  or  in  hospitals,  and  some  in  the 
prison-pens  of  the  Confederacy. 

In  the  second  year  of  the  war  a  draft  was  ordered,  but  the  persons 
drafted  were  allowed  to  furnish  a  substitute  or  pay  the  government  $300. 
It  was  also  provided  that  any  person  liable  to  do  military  duty  had  the 
right  to  put  in  a  substitute,  which  would  be  credited  to  him  and  he 
thereby  be  exempt  from  subsequent  call.  A  great  many  thousand  dol 
lars  were  paid  in  the  county  by  the  drafted  men  and  for  substitutes  by 
those  who  were  subject  to  be  drawn. 

The  liability  of  being  drafted,  should  the  quota  of  the  towns  or  county 
be  not  filled,  so  agitated  the  people  that  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was 
assembled  on  the  19th  of  July,  1864,  when  the  board  took  action  and 
offered  large  bounties  for  volunteers  to  fill  the  calls  that  might  there- 
after be  made  on  the  county.  A  general  recruiting  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  Calvin  T.  Hulburd,  Hi'-am  H.  Peck,  Charles  Shep- 
hard,  George  Robinson,  and  John  R.  Brinckerhoff.  A  finance  commit- 
tee was  appointed  as  follows  :  Ela  N.  Merriam,  T.  S.  Clarkson  2d,  and 
Charles  Anthony.  County  bonds  were  issued,  consisting  of  $50,  $100 
and  up  to  $500,  at  the  legal  rate  of  interest  (seven  per  cent.) 

This  committee  issued  $1,098,350  in  bonds,  all  of  which  were  called 
in  within  a  few  years  thereafter.  The  interest  on  the  same  amounted 
to  $358,000.  This  generous  action  showed  the  determination  of  the 
people  to  carry  the  war  to  a  successful  termination,  no  matter  what  the 
cost  might  be. 

A  new  phase  was  added  to  the  general  excitement  of  the  war,  which 
partook  somewhat  of  terror,  when  the  news  was  received  that  thirty  or 
forty  Confederates  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  October  19,  1864,  had 
made  a  raid   on   the   three   banks  at  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and   after  taking 


THE  FENIAN  AFFAIR.  201 

about  $175,000,  had  mounted  their  horses,  shooting  right  and  left,  kill- 
ing and  wounding,  as  they  fled  for  Canada.  Following  this  came  the 
news  that  sixty  thousand  Southern  refugees  in  Canada  were  organizing 
raiding  parties  all  along  the  frontier  to  burn  and  pillage  the  American 
cities  and  villages  near  the  line,  their  principal  object  being  to  draw  the 
Union  forces  away  from  the  front  in  the  South,  as  the  southern  armies 
were  at  the  time  hard  pressed. 

The  people  in  Ogdensburg,  not  feeling  secure  in  their  possessions, 
especially  of  the  banks,  called  a  meeting  to  organize  a  force  to  protect 
the  place,  and  arrangements  were  made  to  form  a  company  of  home 
guards.  A  dispatch  received  from  Cornwall,  November  3,  left  little 
room  to  doubt  that  a  hostile  demonstration  was  intended  by  parties 
from  the  other  side  of  the  line,  and  a  large  number  of  citizens  were  un- 
der arms  that  night.  On  the  following  day  three  companies  of  home 
guards  were  organized,  and  some  fifty  or  sixty  men  were  detailed  to 
patrol  the  streets  all  night,  and  picket  guards  were  placed  along  the 
river  and  outskirts  of  the  village.  On  the  I2th  of  November  the  fol- 
lowing notice  appeared  in  the  Daily  Journal  : 

Companies  C  and  A  of  the  Independent  Home  Guards  (east  of  State  street)  will  meet 
for  drill  at  the  town  hall,  at  eight  o'clock  this  evening. 

Also  the  following : 

Another  of  the  St.  Albans  raiders  was  taken  at  Waterloo,  C.  E.,  on  Monday,  No- 
vember 7,  who  had  .f2,000  of  Franklin  county  bank  bills  in  his  possession. 

November  9,  the  course  of  Judge  Coursol,  of  Montreal,  in  granting 
the  application  of  Lieutenant  Young,  leader  of  the  confederate  raiders, 
to  be  permitted  to  send  to  Richmond  for  evidence  of  his  official  status, 
showed  plainly  that  the  prisoners  were  to  be  released.  The  case  for 
the  prosecution  of  the  St.  Albans  raiders  was  closed  on  Monday  the 
14th.  Lieutenant  Young  then  handed  in  a  statement  that  he  was  a 
commissioned  officer  in  the  confederate  service,  and  the  court  decided 
that  the  expedition  was  not  projected  in  Canada.  December  10,  Gen- 
eral Fry,  the  United  States  provost  marshal,  gave  orders  to  arrest  per- 
sons of  a  suspicious  character  who  were  lurking  around  without  any 
particular  business. 

Early  in  December  Major- General  Dix  issued  the  following  general 

order  No.  97. 
26 


202  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  guilty  St.  Albans  marauders  have  been  released  by  the  Canadian  authorities, 
therefore  all  military  commanders  ot  the  frontier  are  hereby  instructed,  in  case  further 
acts  of  depredation  and  murder  a^e  attempted,  whether  by  marauders  or  persons  acting 
under  orders  from  the  rebel  authorities  at  Richmond,  to  shoot  down  the  perpetrators  if 
possible  while  bearing  arms  against  United  States  authority,  or  if  it  be  necessary  to  ac- 
complish their  capture,  to  cross  the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
Said  commanders  are  hereby  directed  to  pursue  them  wherever  they  may  take  refuge, 
and  if  captured  thej^  are,  under  no  circumstances,  to  be  surrendered,  but  are  to  be  sent 
to  these  headquarters  for  trial  and  punishment  by  martial  law. 

Major  General  Dix. 

The  orders  of  Generals  Dix  and  Fry  gave  a  fresh  impettis  to  the  mih- 
tary  spirit  which  had  been  manifested  along  the  border,  and  the  com- 
panies already  formed  in  Ogdensburg  were  soon  filled  to  overflowing. 
Our  people  were  in  the  right  spirit  to  strike  back  in  case  they  were  as- 
saulted, being  now  clothed  with  authority  to  do  so. 

The  passport  system  was  now  established,  which  prevented  any  per- 
son crossing  from  Canada  into  the  States  without  having  a  permit  from 
the  proper  authority.  A  company  of  United  States  soldiers  (from  Mas- 
sachusetts) was  stationed  at  Ogdensburg  and  quartered  in  the  Parish 
stone  store,  to  enforce  this  order.  This  measure  was  somewhat  embar- 
rassing to  our  citizens ;  several  were  caught  on  the  Canadian  side,  not 
fully  understanding  the  requirements,  and  were  obliged  to  procure  a 
passport  from  the  American  consul  at  Prescott,  at  the  expense  of  five 
dollars,  before  they  could  again  set  foot  on  the  American  soil. 

The  following  quotation  from  the  New  York  Times,  of  December  i6, 
1864,  clearly  explains  the  necessity  for  such  a  measure: 

So  far  as  this  country  is  concerned  the  case  is  in  a  nut-shell.  If  Judge  Coursol's  ac- 
tion in  this  case  defines  the  position  and  action  of  the  Canadian  government,  the  south- 
ern rebels  are  quite  at  liberty  to  organize  raids  on  Canadian  soil  against  the  United 
States.  That  .^imply  converts  Canada,  so  far  as  this  war  is  concerned,  into  rebel  terri- 
tory, and  our  government,  by  General  Dix's  order,  promptly  declares  its  purpose  to  so 
regard  and  treat  it  m  case  of  necessity.  In  this  position  it  will  be  heartily  sustained  by 
the  great  body  of  the  people. 

The  prompt  action  of  our  government  and  the  display  of  such  a  mili- 
tary force  along  the  frontier,  brought  the  Canadian  officials  to  their 
senses,  as  the  following  correspondence  of  December  24  indicates: 

As  soon  as  the  first  recapture  of  the  St.  Albans  raiders  had  been  made,  the  Canadian 
authorities  at  Quebec  telegraphed  to  our  government  a  statement  of  the  facts,  accom- 
panied by  assurance  that  he  (Young)  had  been   dispatched  in  custody  of  a  competent 


THE  FENIAN  xVFFAlR.  203 

force  to  be  delivered  over  to  our  government.  This  settles  the  vexed  question  which 
has  sprung  up  on  account  of  the  decision  of  Justice  Coursol,  and  is  an  earnest  assur- 
ance that  the  colonial  government  is  determined  to  carry  out  all  its  obligations  to  our 
people  without  regard  lo  the  sympathy  of  a  few  of  its  subjects  or  the  ruling  of  petty 
officials.  Up  to  the  latest,  six  of  the  marauders  had  been  captured,  including  the  lead- 
ers, Young  and  Burley. 

The  three  Ogdensburg  companies  of  home  guards  served  without 
pay,  were  well  drilled  and  some  of  them  were  furnished  by  the  State 
with  arms  and  ammunition  of  the  most  effective  character.  The  banks 
and  a  few  individuals  in  Ogdensburg  employed  special  watchmen. 
These  companies,  not  being  sworn  into  the  United  States  service,  were 
free  to  make  their  own  rules  and  regulations  for  self-government.  The 
boys  claimed  that  the  many  good  and  enjoyable  times  that  they  had, 
such  as  disarming  the  pickets  found  asleep,  and  the  mock  trials  of  cer- 
tain characters  when  caught  on  a  lark  after  certain  hours,  amply  repaid 
them  for  the  fatigue  of  drill  and  night  watching. 

The  regulation  was  this :  that  no  person  should  be  allowed  on  the 
streets  without  a  pass  after  a  certain  hour  at  night ;  therefore  all  those 
who  were  out  without  a  permit  or  countersign,  were  sent  to  the  guard- 
house, where  they  could  stand  or  sit  on  the  soft  side  of  a  bench  until 
relieved  by  the  commanding  officer  in  the  morning.  The  tricks  which 
the  home  guards  played  upon  each  other,  and  occasionally  on  strangers, 
were  extremely  amusing,  and  their  soldiering  in  Ogdensburg  may  be 
considered  but  little  more  or  less  than  a  grand  farce. 

In  the  following  spring,  when  General  Lee  surrendered  his  army  to 
General  Grant,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1865,  the  great  Rebellion  collapsed. 
This  virtually  ended  the  necessity  for  further  military  action  in  Ogdens- 
burg. The  home  guards  were  soon  after  disbanded  and  the  passport 
system  suspended. 

Nations,  like  communities,  have  their  likes  and  dislikes.  In  the  case 
of  the  two  countries,  the  United  States  and  Canada,  having  radically 
different  forms  of  government,  separated  only  by  an  imaginary  line,  or 
a  narrow  belt  of  water,  the  liability  to  invasion  in  times  of  great  agita- 
tion by  marauding  bands  creates  a  feeling  of  distrust  in  the  settlements 
along  the  borders.  While  the  majority  of  the  community  on  either 
side  have  identical  interests  in  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  the  people 
in  their  respective  territories,  there  are  always  a  few  malcontents  found 


204  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  all  communities  ready  to  seize  upon  any  opportunity  to  create  strife 
by  aiding  and  abetting  unlawful  schemes.  While  they  recoil  from  the 
result  of  their  own  acts,  they  cunningly  lead  others  into  dangers  for 
which  they  themselves  are  responsible.  The  spirit  of  retaliation  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Canada,  as  manifested  at  this  point,  com- 
menced with  the  French  and  English  war  of  1754,  and  after  the  con- 
quest of  Canada  by  the  English  it  was  continued  by  the  tories  who  fled 
from  the  States,  to  that  country  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  The 
animosity  engendered  by  the  Revolution  of  1776  was  kept  alive  by  the 
war  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britian  which  began  in  181 2, 
and  it  apparently  died  out  soon  after  peace  was  declared  in  181 5. 

During  the  political  trouble  in  Canada  in  1837-8  the  refugees  from 
there  found  sympathizers  among  the  more  reckless  class  of  people  in 
the  States,  who  aided  them  to  certain  extent  in  carrying  out  their  un- 
lawful designs.  This  feud  stirred  up  a  feeling  of  resentment  among  a 
certain  class  of  the  English  and  Canadians,  which  feeling  again  cropped 
out  during  the  American  troubles  of  1861-65.  The  English  favored 
the  South  in  a  way  that  prolonged  the  struggle,  at  great  expense  of 
blood  and  treasure,  and  the  Canadian  officials  encouraged  and  shielded 
the  raiders  after  they  had  committed  acts  of  violence  on  our  northern 
borders. 

The  tables  were  soon  turned,  however,  for  as  soon  as  the  Union  sol- 
diers had  returned  from  the  front,  after  General  Lee's  surrender,  the 
spirit  of  retaliation  was  made  manifest  through  the  Fenian  movement 
of  1886.  Large  numbers  of  our  people  were  pleased  to  have  the  Fen- 
ians give  the  Canadians  a  big  scare,  but  were  not  desirous  of  having 
the  movement  carried  any  further,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  following 
account: 

Soon  after  the  close  of  our  civil  war,  rumors  were  set  afloat  that  the 
Fenians  were  raising  money  to  assist  in  liberating  Ireland  from  British 
rule.  Canada  was  quite  often  alluded  to  as  the  first  place  to  attack; 
very  little  notice  was  taken,  however,  of  this  talk.  The  country  was 
full  of  discharged  soldiers,  many  of  whom  were  roving  about  not  hav- 
ing as  yet  settled  down  to  steady  employment,  and  prompted  by  the 
spirit  of  retaliation,  were  ready  for  any  emergency  that  might  arise. 
This  condition  of  things  was  seized  by  the  Fenian  leaders  as  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  carry  out  their  long  cherished  designs. 


THE  FENIAN  AFFAIR.  205 

During  this  period  the  Fenians  had  gathered  through  their  secret 
organizations  a  large  amount  of  money  and  munitions  of  war,  which 
fact  attracted  very  little  notice  from  those  outside  of  the  brotherhood. 
The  movement  appeared  to  have  been  general  all  along  the  line;  but 
by  the  vigilance  of  the  United  States  officials  it  was  squelched  at  the 
time  by  the  seizure  of  their  arms  at  St.  Albans,  Rouse's  Point,  Malone, 
Ogdensburg,  Rome,  Oswego,  and  other  places,  and  by  the  raiders  be- 
ing prevented  from  crossing  into  Canada. 

It  had  been  noticed  that  during  the  latter  part  of  May,  1866,  several 
persons  in  Ogdensburg,  not  in  trade,  had  received  at  different  dates, 
boxes  marked  "  hardware  "  and  "  dry  goods,"  which  were  quietly 
stowed  away ;  also  that  several  meetings  were  held  in  certain  obscure 
places  without  attracting  very  much  attention. 

The  first  bold  movement  of  the  Fenians  in  this  vicinity  was  exhibited 
on  Friday,  June  i,  1866,  when  twenty- five  men  with  knapsacks,  came 
on  the  early  train  from  Rome  and  halted  at  De  Kalb  Junction,  then 
passed  on  by  way  of  Potsdam  to  Malone.  Next  came  one  hundred 
and  ten  men  from  Rome,  and  arrived  here  on  the  noon  train.  They 
brought  the  news  that  Fort  Erie  had  been  seized  by  the  Fenians  and 
that  the  telegraph  wires  had  been  cut.  A  dispatch  had  been  received 
from  Boston  to  the  effect  that  a  number  of  supposed  Fenians  had  left 
that  city  ticketed  to  Ogdensburg.  The  same  evening,  three  cars,  loaded 
with  boxes  containing  arms,  and  also  a  large  number  of  men,  passed 
De  Kalb  Junation  going  to  Malone.  On  the  night  train  there  was  an 
equal  number  of  men  and  munitions  of  war,  all  destined  for  the  same 
place. 

D.  M.  Chapin,  collector  of  the  port  of  Ogdensburg,  received  the  fol- 
lowing dispatch  from  U.  S.  Attorney  W.  A.  Dart : 

Have  a  military  force  in  readiness  to  prevent  any  invasion  that  may  be  attempted 
from  Ogdensburg  ;  fire  if  necessary,  be  diligent. 

Mr.  Chapin  issued  orders  to  Captain  Cornell,  commander  of  the 
United  States  revenue  cutter  Chase,  then  lying  in  the  harbor,  to  get  up 
steam  and  keep  in  readiness  to  act  on  a  moment's  warning  ;  also  to  send 
an  armed  boat  to  keep  a  vigilant  watch  of  the  ferry  boats,  and  in  case 
any  attempt  to  seize  them  was  made,  to  signal  the  Chase,  which  should 
use  force  if  necessary  to  prevent  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  neutrality. 


206  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Saturday  morning,  June  2,  news  was  received  that  400  Fenians  had 
gathered  at  St.  Albans,  and  that  Major-General  Sweeney,  the  reputed 
commander  of  their  forces  in  this  quarter  was  with  them. 

AH  day  Saturday  every  train  coming  from  either  way  brought  both 
men  and  arms  into  Malone,  where  General  Sweeney  made  his  head- 
quarters. Saturday  afternoon,  E.  W.  Benedict,  deputy  U.  S.  marshal, 
in  obedience  to  orders,  seized  at  the  O.  and  L.  C.  depot,  three  boxes, 
marked  machinery,  en  route  for  Malone.  On  opening  them  the  machin- 
ery proved  to  be  arms.  Each  train  from  Rome  brought  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  who  invariably  went  to  Malone.  Several 
cars  containing  arms  had  been  seized  and  detained  by  the  United  States 
marshal  between  Rome  and  Malone. 

On  Monday,  June  4,  General  Meade  with  250  U.  S.  soldiers,  arrived 
in  Ogdensburg  on  the  noon  train.  The  soldiers  were  quartered  at  the 
town  house  (now  academy)  and  at  the  Parish  stone  storehouse.  Gen- 
eral Meade  made  the  Seymour  House  his  headquarters.  In  the  evening 
about  1 1  o'clock  a  large  number  of  citizens,  well  sprinkled  with  Fenians, 
the  countenances  of  many  of  them  being  familiar  to  the  general,  gath- 
ered in  front  of  the  hotel,  where  a  large  bonfire  was  built,  when  Whit- 
man and  Clark's  minstrel  band  serenaded  General  Meade.  He  came  on 
the  balcony,  in  full  view  of  the  crowd,  and  responded  in  a  few  appro- 
priate and  pleasing  remarks. 

It  now  became  evident  that  the  Fenians  intended  to  invade  Canada, 
as  some  of  their  number  had  already  crossed  the  line  at  Fort  Erie  and 
had  had  a  brush  at  Ridgebay,  where  several  were  killed  and  some 
taken  prisoners  ;  therefore,  great  efforts  were  put  forth  to  prevent  a 
similar  occurrence  here. 

Several  cars  containing  arms  had  been  intercepted  that  day  by  the 
marshal  at  De  Kalb  Junction  and  Richville  stations;  also  six  or  eight 
Fenian  ofificers,  or  leaders,  had  been  taken  in  charge,  sent  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  confined  a  part  of  the  time  at  the  Seymour  House.  A  por- 
tion of  the  arms  had  also  been  sent  there  for  safe  keeping. 

The  United  States  troops,  sent  here  to  enforce  neutrality,  were 
thoroughly  demoralized,  and  public  sentiment  seemed  to  be  equally  so. 
A  squad  of  forty  soldiers  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  town  house  and 
ordered    to  load   with  ball  cartridges.      Later    they    were    sent  on    the 


THE  FENIAN  AFFAIR.  207 

evening  train  in  charge  of  an  officer  to  De  Kalb  Junction,  to  guard  the 
cars  in  that  vicinity  and  to  prevent  the  arms  from  being  taken  away; 
also  to  arrest  any  one  who  should  attempt  to  interfere  with  them.  The 
next  morning  forty  balls  were  picked  up  in  Ogdensburg  in  front  of  the 
town  house,  where  the  soldiers  had  loaded  their  guns,  they  having 
quietly  taken  them  from  the  cartridges  and  dropped  them  on  the  ground. 
Encouraged  by  his  fact  a  couple  of  leading  Fenian  sympathizers  of  the 
place  started  out  and  notified  some  of  their  countrymen  (farmers),  who 
with  their  teams  drove  to  Richville  that  night  and  quietly  carried  away 
the  arms  from  two  of  the  cars,  while  the  guards  were  on  the  opposite 
side,  at  a  safe  distance.  It  was  reported  by  some  of  the  teamsters  that 
after  they  had  got  under  way  they  heard  the  report  of  one  or  two  guns, 
but  did  not  hear  the  whiz  of  the  balls.  O.ie  of  the  wagons,  having 
broken  down  on  the  route  near  Brasher,  the  arms  in  charge  of  the  driver 
were  secreted  and  left  for  the  night.  On  their  being  discovered  the 
next  morning  two  soldiers  were  detailed  to  guard  them.  About  dark 
that  evening  a  farmer  drove  up  to  the  place,  having  several  lusty  fellows 
in  their  shirt  sleeves  with  him,  and  saluted  the  sentinel  thus: 

"  Sirs,  weevs  come  to  get  them  eare  boxes." 

The  guard  replied,  "  I  cannot  give  them  up  without  proper  orders. 
Show  your  authority."     The  farmer  pointing  to  his  chums  replied  : 

"  Be  gorry  them's  my  authority :  Jem,  take  hold  with  all  yez  and 
load  on  this  drefifel  quick  and  we'll  be  after  going,  or  yiz  '11  be  late  for 
supper." 

The  farmer's  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  while  the  guards  stood 
dumbfounded  and  made  no  attempt  to  restrain  them,  reporting  to  their 
superiors  that  they  had  been  overpowered. 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  June  the  steamer  Watertown,  armed 
with  two  big  guns,  and  manned  by  the  Garden  Island  naval  brigade, 
arrived  at  Ogdensburg  She  was  engaged  in  patrolling  the  St.  Law- 
rence River. 

President  Johnson  issued  a  proclamation  on  the  6th  of  June  against 
the  Fenian  raiders,  by  virtue  of  which  General  Meade  forbade  the 
transportation  to  the  front,  by  railroad  companies  or  any  other  public 
carriers  or  persons,  of  any  arms  or  munitions  of  war,  to  be  used  in  aid 
of  any  unlawful  combination  or  enterprise.  This  proclamation  had  a 
beneficial  efTect  and  allayed  the  excitement. 


208  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

It  had  been  stated  on  good  authority,  that  there  were  5,000  Fenians 
at  that  time  scattered  along  the  country  between  St.  Albans  and  Clay- 
ton. For  some  three  days  there  were  about  fifteen  hundred  of  them  in 
Ogdensburg,  depending,  in  a  measure,  on  the  citizens  for  food  and 
shelter,  and  it  may  be  said  to  their  credit,  that  during  their  stay  no  act 
of  violence  or  rowdyism  could  be  laid  to  their  charge.  The  only  dis- 
orderly action  committed  during  this  excitement  was  by  a  drunken 
soldier  belonging  to  the  department  at  the  town  house,  who  fired  his 
musket  on  Ford  street  with  ball  cartridge  about  10  o'clock  on  Friday 
night.  The  whistling  of  the  ball  was  distinctly  heard  by  several 
persons. 

The  Fenian  officers  held  as  prisoners,  with  most  of  the  rank  and  file, 
were  sent  away  on  Friday,  June  8,  in  charge  of  a  marshal  and  finally 
released.  We  doubt  if  a  single  person,  outside  of  Fenian  circles,  had 
the  least  conception  or  suspicion  of  the  power  of  the  organization,  or 
the  value  and  quantity  of  materials  they  had  gathered  for  the  purpose 
of  making  war  upon  the  British  American  provinces.  The  value  of  the 
arms  taken  from  them  and  brought  to  Ogdensburg  is  estimated  at 
$150,000,  beside  a  vast  quantity  of  small  arms,  ammunition,  stores,  etc., 
that  were  scattered  among  the  sympathizers  all  along  the  route. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  president's  proclamation,  which  killed  the  en- 
terprise, there  was  no  abatement  in  the  tide  of  action.  In  every  part  of  the 
border  of  the  country  the  movement  had  commenced.  Our  people  and 
government  for  a  time  regarded  the  whole  thing  as  a  stupendous 
swindle  ;  but  that  the  leaders  intended  to  fight,  the  large  quantity  of 
arms  and  munitions,  seized  by  the  United  States  officials  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  furnishes  the  best  evidence.  If  the  object  of  the 
leaders  had  been  to  further  dupe  the  Irish  people  and  obtain  more 
money,  they  would  not  have  expended  so  much  in  the  purchase  of  arms; 
therefore,  whatever  we  may  heretofore  have  thought  of  the  Fenians, 
candor  compels  us  to  admit  that  those  composing  the  Sweeney-Roberts 
wing  were  at  least  sincere  in  their  profession  and  really  intended  war. 
Of  course  the  whole  affair  from  its  conception  to  the  moment  when 
the  government  put  forth  its  strong  arm  to  crush  it,  had  been  illegal  in 
design  and  criminal  in  execution  ;  yet,  laboring  under  the  belief  that  the 
affair  was  devoid  of  sincerity,  virtually  all  the  people  had  indirectly  en- 


TELEGRAPH  LINES.  209 

couraged  it.  Therefore  it  was  an  exhibition  of  the  greatest  cowardice 
to  attempt  to  shirk  the  blame  and  responsibihty  and  cast  it  upon  those 
who  were  arrested  as  leaders,  when  but  for  the  encouragement  of  public 
opinion,  the  Fenian  raid  would  never  have  been  attempted. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 
PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS,  SOCIETIES,  CIVIL  LIST,  STATISTICS,  ETC. 

Telegraph  Lines  and  Companies — Telephone  Line — St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital — 
Agricultural  Societies — Dairymen's  Association  and  Boards  of  Trade — Civil  List — 
Statistics  of  Population. 

TELEGRAPH  LINES  AND  COMPANIES. 

THE  first  telegraph  stations  along  the  Hne  of  St.  Lawrence  county 
were  established  in  the  summer  of  1849  ^^  Prescott  and  Brock- 
ville.  This  line  extended  to  all  the  principal  cities  and  villages  of  Can- 
ada, as  well  as  'to  those  of  the  United  States.  These  stations,  though 
situated  in  Canada,  greatly  accommodated  the  business  men  on  this 
side,  and  were  much  appreciated.  The  New  York  line  was  extended 
from  Watertown  to  Ogdensburg,  by  way  of  the  old  Military  Road,  in 
the  summer  of  1850,  and  an  office  was  opened  m  the  latter  place,  it  be- 
ing the  only  station  in  the  county  that  year.  The  Vermont  and  Bos- 
ton line  was  extended  to  Ogdensburg,  by  way  of  Rouse's  Point,  in  the 
following  summer.  This  line  was  erected  a  part  of  the  way  along  the 
O.  &  L.  C.  Railroad,  and  the  remaining  distance  along  the  highway. 
A  few  years  later  telegraph  lines  were  extended  to  all  the  principal 
business  places,  and  offices  were  opened  throughout  the  county  by  The 
Great  Northwestern  Telegraph  Company  of  Canada.  This  line  con- 
nects with  the  Great  Western  Line,  which  now  does  the  greater  part  of 
the  business  of  the  county. 

There  is  also  a  line  in  operation  which  reaches  the  principal  cities  of 
the  country,  but  does  not  reach  so  many  of  the  smaller  towns.     This 

27 


210  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

line   is  called  The  Postal  Telegraph-Cable  Company,  and  is  connected 
with  the  Commercial  Cable  Line. 

The  prices  for  messages  to  all  parts  of  the  country  have  been  greatly 
reduced  since  the  introduction  of  the  telephone  lines. 

TELEPHONE  LINE. 

A  telephone  line  was  set   up  at  Ogdensburg  in  July,  1881,  and  used 
to  connect  business  places  of  the  city  ;  it  was  well  patronized.     The  line 
was  soon  after  extended  to  all  the  principal  business  places  in  the  county 
connecting  with  other  lines   in  the  adjacent  counties    and   with   many 
places  to  which  no  telegraph  lines  have  been  erected. 

THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  STATE  HOSPITAL. 

The  increase  in  the  number  of  sick  persons  that  are  judged  insane  has 
filled  the  various  asylums  of  the  State  to  the  extent  that  it  became 
necessary  either  to  enlarge  the  present  buildings  or  erect  others,  in  or- 
der to  properly  care  for  this  class  of  unfortunates.  This  fact  being 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  in  the  winter  of  1885-86, 
our  member,  Gen.  N,  M.  Curtis,  presented  a  bill,  which  became  a  law, 
to  the  effect  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  locate  an  asylum  site  in 
Northern  New  York,  and  to  make  a  report  of  their  findings  for  approval 
at  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature. 

During  the  summer  of  1886  the  committee  made  a  thorough  ex- 
amination of  the  various  places  in  this  northern  territory,  taking  into 
consideration  the  facility  of  procuring  building  materials,  the  quality  of 
soil,  of  water  supply,  and  convenience  of  access.  The  majority  of  the 
committee,  for  certain  reasons,  reported  in  favor  of  locating  the  asylum 
at  Plattsburg  ;  but  the  minority  report,  which  embraced  all  the  facts  in 
regard  to  the  plant,  etc.,  decided  on  a  site  just  below  Ogdensburg  as 
the  most  suitable  place,  all  things  considered. 

Considerable  discussion  arose  in  the  Assembly  upon  the  two  reports, 
which  were  ably  sustained  by  the  friends  of  each  from  their  respective 
standpoints.  At  length  the  reports  were  taken  before  the  Committee 
of  the  Whole,  and  the  matter  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  present  loca- 
tion, on  the  1 8th  day  of  May,  1887.     An  appropriation  of  $100,000  was 


STATE  HOSPITAL.  211 

made  for  the  purchase  of  the  grounds,  and  something  over  $300,000  to 
survey  the  same,  to  make  drafts  and  plans  for  the  necessary  buildings, 
and  to  commence  the  foundations  for  the  same. 

The  first  Board  of  Managers  appointed  by  the  governor  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Wm.  L.  Proctor,  George  Hall  and  John  Hannan,  of  Ogdensburg  ; 
W.  F.  Porter,  of  VVatertown  ;  James  D.  Tracy,  of  Canton  ;  George  W. 
Pratt,  of  Corning;  Thomas  Ryan,  of  Syracuse;  Oscar  M.  Wood,  of 
Dexter  ;  James  S.  Thurston,  of  New  York ;  and  George  S.  Weaver,  of 
Albany.  The  Board  of  Managers  held  a  meeting  at  Syracuse  on  the 
27th  day  of  October,  1887,  and  organized  by  selecting  W.  L.  Porter  as 
chairman  and  general  manager  ;  George  Hall  as  secretary  ;  and  Wm. 
J.  Averill  as  treasurer  of  the  institution. 

The  place  selected  was  formerly  known  by  the  name  of  "  Indian 
Point,"  which  was  given  it  by  the  early  "  voyageurs  "  in  1673.  It  is 
now  called  Point  Airy.  The  farm  commences  within  the  city  limits  of 
Ogdensburg.  on  its  northern  boundary,  and  extends  down  the  river  a 
mile  and  a  half,  and  one  mile  back,  forming  a  compact  tract  of  950 
acres,  which  cost  the  State  $90,500.  The  front  or  central  portion  of 
the  tract  extends  into  the  river  between  two  bays  about  two-thirds  of  a 
mile,  in  the  form  of  an  ellipse,  presenting  nearly  two  miles  of  water 
front,  and  at  the  upper  part  a  bluff  rises  thirty  to  forty  feet  above  the 
river. 

The  construction  of  the  hospital  buildings  differs  very  materially  from 
the  old  style  linear  plans,  such  as  were  used  in  three  and  four  story 
buildings  of  former  years.  The  buildings  are  constructed  on  what  is 
popularly  known  as  "  cottage  "  plan,  each  not  to  exceed  two  stories  in 
height.  There  are  now  (1893)  three  completed  groups  and  several  de- 
tached cottages,  with  the  necessary  outbuildings. 

At  the  extreme  point,  projecting  into  the  river,  a  wharf  is  built  to  ac- 
commodate boats  in  landing.  A  pump  house  has  been  built,  with  a 
suitable  engine  for  raising  water  for  domestic  purposes,  and  for  fount- 
ains that  will  be  placed  at  different  points  on  the  grounds.  The  water 
is  taken  from  the  river  a  short  distance  from  the  shore  where  the  cur- 
rent is  quite  strong,  and  forced  up  to  a  standpipe  near  the  boiler 
house,  whence  it  is  distributed  by  its  gravity  to  the  various  places  on 
the  grounds. 


212  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  Central  Hospital  Group  is  located  in  about  the  center  of  the 
point,  or  midway  between  the  two  bays  and  back  from  the  river  some 
1,700  feet.  The  group  consists  of  an  administration-  building,  a  one 
story  structure,  containing  medical  offices,  dispensary,  laboratory,  two 
sun  rooms,  and  transverse  and  longitudinal  halls;  two  reception  cottages, 
two  observation  cottciges,  two  cottages  for  convalescents,  two  cottages 
for  disturbed  patients,  therewith  containing  work  rooms  and  sleeping 
apartments  for  employees  ;  a  one  story  structure  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  thirty-five  employees,  comprising  in  all  fourteen  buildings,  all 
connected  by  corridors. 

Infirmary  Group  No.  i  is  situated  northeast  from  the  Central  Hos- 
pital about  1,200  feet.  The  group  consists  of  a  separate  building,  two 
stories  high,  for  the  accommodation  of  an  associate  physician  and  super- 
visor ;  four  one  story  pavilions,  each  containing  a  room  thirty-six  by 
one  hundred  feet.  On  the  east  and  west  sides  adjoining  these  pavilions 
are  two  buildings  two  stories  in  height.  North  of  the  lobbies  is  a  one 
story  structure  containing  two  associate  dining  rooms.  North  of  this 
is  a  one  story  building  containing  kitchen  and  pantries.  Still  north  of 
the  kitchen  is  a  two  story  building,  providing  accommodations  for  forty- 
five  patients,  also  store  rooms  and  dining  rooms  for  help.  There  are 
two  additional  infirmary  buildings,  two  stories  high,  located  at  either 
end  of  the  dining  rooms,  connected  therewith  by  circular  corridors. 
Adjoining  each  day  room  is  a  lavatory  and  bath  room.  There  are  two 
detached  buildings,  two  stories  high,  included  in  this  group,  one  on  the 
east  and  one  on  the  west  of  the  main  group,  and  adjacent  to  the  other 
buildings  described.  The  whole  group  will  comprise,  practically,  nine- 
teen buildings  and  three  connecting  corridors,  and  will  provide  accom- 
modations for  assistant  physician,  a  supervisor,  314  patients  and  forty 
attendants. 

The  Laundry  Building  is  a  structure  situated  one  hundred  feet  south 
of  the  Central  Hospital.  It  is  a  one  story  structure  of  sufficient  dimen- 
sions to  do  the  laundry  work  for  2,000  people.  It  contains  a  wash 
room,  an  ironing  room,  an  engine  room,  a  drying  room,  a  room  for  sort- 
ing clothes  and  for  storage  of  stock,  and  two  rooms  for  water  closets, 
besides  an  engine  room,  a  chimney  and  ventilating  stack  and  ironing 
chimney. 


STATE  HOSPITAL.  213 

The  Boiler  House  is  situated  back  of  the  Central  Group  and  south  of 
No.  I  Infirmary,  on  the  branch  railroad.  In  this  plant  is  placed  a  bench 
of  boilers  of  sufficient  capacity  to  warm  all  the  buildings  requiring  heat, 
also  to  furnish  power  to  ventilate  them.  There  is  an  electric  plant  built 
in  connection  with  the  heating  apparatus,  furnished  with  an  engine  and 
dynamos  to  light  the  grounds  and  buildings.  There  is  also  a  workshop 
connected  with  this  group,  wherein  to  make  repairs,  etc. 

The  Third  Group  is  situated  southwest  of  the  Central  and  was  built 
similar  to  the  other  groups.  The  building  was  completed  early  in  Jan- 
uary, 1893,  and  while  the  paint  was  dr^'ing  it  took  fire  and  the  whole 
of  the  interior  was  consumed,  also  injuring  the  walls  considerably  by 
discoloring  them.  An  appropriation  was  made  at  once  by  the  Legis- 
lature and  the   contract   let  to   rebuild,  which  has  been  completed. 

The  design  is  to  continue  the  work  on  the  same  plans  and  erect  other 
infirmary  groups  ;  also  a  large  amusement  hall,  and  several  detached 
cottages  for  special  purposes  and  for  the  help  required  in  the  various 
departments,  whenever  necessity  requires  it. 

The  outer  walls  of  the  buildings  are  mostly  of  native  blue  limestone, 
laid  in  broken  ashlar,  rock  faced,  backed  up  with  stone  and  faced  on  the 
inside  with  brick  bonded  in  with  stone,  with  a  dead  air  space  between 
the  outer  and  inner  walls.  The  buildings  are  mostly  trimmed  with 
Potsdam  red  sandstone.  A  few  of  the  buildings  are  faced  with  the 
Gouverneur  marble  and  Potdam  red  sandstone.  The  interior  division 
walls  of  the  basement  are  of  stone  masonry  and  laid  in  cement.  All 
the  division  walls  above  the  basement  are  of  brick,  in  v.hich  are  flues  for 
heating  the  apartments  ;  also  flues  for  removing  the  vitiated  air.  The 
window  jambs  and  all  projecting  angles  are  rounded,  and  all  walls  are 
plastered  with  cement.  No  hollow  spaces  are  formed  between  the  floors 
and  ceiling,  thus  avoiding  flues  for  conveying  fire  and  contaminating 
foul  air.  The  stairs  are  wide,  of  easy  grade,  and  located  at  convenient 
points  for  safety  of  egress,  and  the  work  surrounding  them  is  constructed 
of  fireproof  materials.  The  roofs  of  the  buildings  are  covered  with  the 
best  quality  of  black  slate,  and  extend  beyond  the  main  walls  over  the 
piazzas,  forming  roofs  therefor.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  planning 
the  buildings  so  that  they  will  be  permanent,  requiring  but  slight  re- 
pairs for  years  to  come.     Every  precaution   has  been  taken  in  un- 


214  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

derdraining  and  grading  the  grounds,  and  the  buildings  are  so  con- 
structed as  to  guarantee  the  best  sanitary  conditions  possible  to  the  in- 
mates. 

When  the  roads  and  walks  are  all  laid  out  and  properly  worked, 
through  the  native  groves,  and  additional  shrubbery  grown  around  the 
groups,  they  will  provide  many  sheltered  as  well  as  sunny  courts  and 
pleasant  resorts  for  the  patients,  as  well  as  their  friends  who  may  visit 
them  in  years  to  come.  Wide  and  extensive  driveways  with  boulevards 
are  now  being  worked  from  the  asylum  grounds  to  the  highway,  which 
are  to  connect  with  a  similar  road  now  being  worked  into  the  city, 
and  when  completed  will  give  the  citizens  a  very  pleasant  driving 
course. 

Friends  from  abroad  and  pleasure  seekers  who  may  visit  Ogdensburg 
with  a  view  of  going  to  the  asylum  grounds,  can  take  the  overland  route, 
either  by  stage,  street  car  or  private  conveyance,  or  may  take  the  Jittle 
steamer  which,  in  the  summer  season,  plies  between  the  city  and  the 
grounds  at  stated  hours.  By  either  conveyance  the  pleasure  seeker 
may  take  an  airing  and  visit  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  comfortable 
hospitals  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  United  States,  or  even  in  the  world. 

AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETIES. 

In  accordance  with  an  act  of  April  7,  18 19,  for  encouraging  and  pro- 
moting agriculture  and  domestic  manufacturers,  a  St.  Lawrence  County 
Society  was  formed  in  1822  and  received  from  the  State  $100.  The 
election  of  officers  was  to  be  held  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  February  of 
each  year,  and  the  fairs  held  on  the  third  Tuesdays  and  Wednesdays  of 
October  in  each  year.  The  membership  fee  was  fifty  cents  annually. 
The  fair  was  to  be  held  at  Canton,  Potsdam  and  Madrid  alternately. 
The  society  was  abandoned  the  second  year. 

A  second  society  was  formed  at  Ogdensburg  February  4,  1834,  with 
the  title  of  St.  Lawrence  County  Agricultural  Society.  Not  less  than 
two  fairs  were  to  be  held  annually  at  Ogdensburg  ;  membership  fee,  $i 
annually.  Its  first  officers  were  :  George  Parish,  president ;  H.  \"an 
Rensselaer,  Silas  Wright,  jr.,  and  J.  C.  Clarkson,  vice-presidents;  Smith 
Stihvell,   secretary.     At   the    first   fair   $227   were   distributed   among 


AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETIES.  215 

thirty- seven  competitors,  principally    on   stock.     This  society  also  ex- 
isted about  two  years. 

The  general  law  of  May  5,  1841,  allowed  the  county  $170  annually 
for  five  years,  and  led  to  the  formation  of  a  third  society,  of  which  R. 
N.  Harrison  was  president,  and  a  vice-president  was  appointed  from 
each  town.  The  first  fair  held  at  Cantonn  in  October  of  that  year  dis- 
tributed $361  in  sixty- six  premiums.  At  the  second  year's  fair  $171 
were  paid  to  fifty- eight  competitors,  when  the  society  disbanded. 

In  185  I  a  resolution  was  passed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  strongly 
favoring  another  attempt  to  organize  a  county  agricultural  society,  and 
several  meetings  w^ere  held,  when,  on  April  3,  1852,  Henry  Van  Rens- 
selaer was  chosen  president ;  H.  Orvis,  Jonah  Sanford,  and  Hiram 
Johnson,  vice-presidents  ;  and  Henry  G.  Foot,  secretary  ;  membership 
fee,  $1  annually.  The  first  fair  of  this  society  was  held  at  Canton, 
September  16  and  17,  1852,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village,  on  grounds 
leased  for  five  years,  and  enclosed  by  a  high  board  fence.  There  were 
396  entries  for  premiums,  very  many  of  which  were  highly  creditable 
to  the  county.  The  receipts  were  $1,274.81,  and  the  premiums  paid 
were  $299.  In  1856  additional  grounds  were  leased  and  the  track  ex- 
tended. In  1858  the  leased  grounds,  containing  thirty-eight  acres, 
were  purchased  for  the  society,  on  which  permanent  buildings  have 
been  erected,  consisting  of  floral,  dining,  vegetable  and  mechanical 
halls,  with  sheds  for  stock,  and  a  grand  stand  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  4,000  persons,  at  a  cost  of  about  $15,000. 

The  St.  Lawrence  County  Agricultural  Society  has  continued  to  hold 
fairs  from  three  to  four  days  in  the  month  of  September  for  the  past 
forty-two  years,  and  the  exhibitions  have  been  a  credit  to  the  farms  of 
the  county. 

The  early  success  of  this  society  stimulated  farmers  in  other  parts  of 
the  county  to  organize  similar  societies  to  encourage  and  develop  stock 
raising  and  agricultural  products. 

The  Gouverneur  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  the  year  1859, 
and  held  its  first  fair  in  September  of  that  year.  The  first  grounds  were 
leased  from  the  Averills  for  a  term  of  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
their  lease  the  society  purchased  of  Benjamin  Smith  twenty  acres  of  land 
near  the  northern  extremity  of  the  village  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.      A  half 


216  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

mile  trotting  course  was  made,  which  is  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind  ;  also, 
suitable  buildings  were  erected,  sheds,  etc.,  for  the  accommodation  of 
exhibitors,  and  a  large  grand  stand  which  will  accommodate  about  3,000 
persons,  all  being  enclosed  with  a  high  board  fence.  The  cost  of  the 
grounds  and  buildings  is  about  $10,000.  The  yearly  attendance  has 
always  been  large,  and  the  premium  lists  have  been  open  to  all,  far  and 
near.  No  effort  has  been  spared  by  the  officers  to  make  the  fairs  at- 
tractive, interesting  and  profitable  to  all. 

Tlie  Raquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  Agricultural  Society  was  organ- 
ized at  Potsdam  in  the  year  1870.  Its  operations  are  not  restricted  to 
any  particular  town,  but  it  receives  its  principal  support  from  Potsdam 
and  the  adjoining  towns  east  and  south.  Its  grounds,  which  are  just 
outside  of  the  village,  comprise  about  twenty  acres  of  land.  The  trot- 
ting course,  the  buildings  and  other  improvements  appertaining  to  mod- 
ern fair  grounds  are  said  to  have  cost  about  $22,000.  The  association 
pays  annually  upwards  of  $4,000  in  premiums.  The  yearly  attendance 
at  the  fairs  during  the  past  twenty-three  years  has  been  as  large  or 
larger  than  at  any  others  in  the  county. 

An  agricultural  fair  and  cattle  show  society  was  organized  at  Ham- 
mond about  the  year  1870.  There  being  no  railroad  reaching  the  place 
at  the  time,  the  fair  was  poorly  patronized-  and  the  society  was  given 
up  shortly  after.  An  agricultural  society  was  also  organized  about  the 
same  time  at  Waddington,  but  for  the  same  reasons  as  in  Hammond  the 
society  survived  but  a  short  time. 

The  International  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Association  was  or- 
ganized in  1856,  with  A.  P.  Morse,  of  Hammond,  president;  Charles 
Shepard,  of  Ogdensburg,  secretary  ;  and  George  N.  Seymour,  of  Og- 
densburg,  treasurer.  They  negotiated  with  the  Averills  for  the  pur- 
chase of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie 
River,  about  one  mile  south  of  Ogdensburg,  by  private  subscription. 
The  grounds  were  rough  and  stumpy,  but  the  tract  was  largely  cleared 
and  leveled  by  "  bees,"  or  volunteer  labor  of  farmers.  Suitable  build- 
ings were  erected,  including  a  grand  stand,  and  a  trotting  course  was 
made.  Annual  fairs  were  held  with  good  results  until  i860,  when  the 
association,  feeling  the  payments  of  interest  and  principal  too  much  of 
a  burden,  relinquished  the  grounds  and  dissolved  the  organization. 


AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETIES.  217 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  International  Association  The  Oswegatchie 
Fair  Groujid  Company  was  organized  and  incorporated  April  12,  i860, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $8,000,  divided  into  1,600  shares  of  $5  each, 
with  the  privilege  of  increasing  it  to  $15,000.  The  first  directors  were 
George  D,  V.  Seymour,  William  J.  Averill,  Peter  McGregor,  Chester 
Dyke,  and  Charles  G.  Myers.  The  society  after  a  few  years  was  dis- 
solved. 

The  Oswegatchie  Agricicltiiral  Society  was   organized  June  10,  1871, 
and   that  year  the  Legislature  constituted  Messrs.  D.  C.  Judson,  A.  B. 
James,  Z.  B.  Bridges,  J.  C    Houghton,    and  John  Pickens  superinten- 
dents of  fair  grounds,  and   authorized    them   to  issue  bonds  of  the  town 
of  Oswegatchie  to  the  amount  of  $15,000,  and  to  apply  the  proceeds  to 
the  purchase  of  grounds  and  the  erection   of  buildings.      In  1872  the 
amount  of  town  bonds  was  increased  to  $20,000,  which  were  negotiated 
at  par.     Twenty- seven  acres  of  land,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Os- 
wegatchie, in  the  south  part  of  the  city,  and  partly  within  the  corpora- 
tion,  were  purchased   for  the   sum   of  $7,500.     The  grounds  were  in- 
closed with  a  high  board  fence,  and  a  half  mile  track  was  built,  inclosing 
a  center  which  was  leveled  for  a  ball  ground.     The  buildings  erected  on 
the  grounds  consist  of  the  agricultural  hall,  62  by  32  feet ;   a  mechanics' 
hall,  100   by   40  feet;   dairy  hall,   65   by  32  feet;   floral  hall,  octagon 
shape,  75  feet  in  diameter,  with   a   gallery  18  feet  in  width  ;   a  dining 
hall,  under  the  grand  stand,  45  by  100  feet ;   a  kitchen,  18  by  16  feet; 
two  cattle  sheds,  each  300  feet  in  length  ;  a  horse  barn,  30  by  50  feet ; 
office,  16  by  18  feet ;   sheds,   26  by  50  feet  ;   wing,  26  by  36  feet ;  sev- 
eral open  pens  for  sheep  and  swine  ;  and  a  small  dwelling  for  a  janitor. 
The  expense  of  the  buildings,  improvements  of  the  grounds  and  super- 
intending the  same,  consumed  the  balance  of  the  money  raised  on  the 
bonds.     The  grounds  are  held  in  trust  for  the  town  by  the  superinten- 
dents, who  rent  them  to  the  agricultural  society,  which  was  formed  in 
1 87 1.     The  first  officers  of  the   society  were:   A.  B.  James,  president; 
J.    D.    Judson,   treasurer ;    A.  E.    Smith,   secretary  ;    J.   C.    Houghton, 
superintendent ;   and  T.   N.   Derby,   marshal.      The  annual  exhibitions 
have  been  well  patronized,  and  apparently  the  receipts  would  amply  pay 
expenses  ;   yet   for  the   first  seven  years  a  deficiency  was  reported   of 
nearly  $4,500,  which  was  made  up  by  contributions  and  assessments  on 

28 


218  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  life  members.  In  1890  the  society  went  down,  and  the  fairs  have 
been  continued  by  private  individuals,  the  town  having  voted  the  sum 
of  $500  to  repair  the  buildings  on  several  occasions  since. 

The  St  Lawrence  County  Dairy  men' s  Association  was  organized  Jan- 
uary 9,  1872,  by  the  dairymen  of  the  county,  for  the  purpose  of  promot- 
ing the  dairying  interest.  The  first  officers  elected  were  :  E.  H.  South- 
worth,  president ;  J.  H.  Cook,  treasurer ;  A.  T.  Martin,  secretary. 
There  was  also  named  one  person  in  each  town  as  vice-president. 
Meetings  were  held  in  some  of  the  towns  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month,  and  a  general  annual  convention  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Jan- 
uary, at  which  papers  were  read  and  addresses  made  on  the  general 
dairying  interest  of  the  farmer.  The  membership  reached  at  one  time 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  after  a  few  years  the  association  was  super- 
seded by  a  State  organization  of  a  similar  kind. 

The  St.  Lawrence  County  Dairymen' s  Board  of  Trade  was  the  out- 
growth of  the  Dairymen's  Association,  and  is  designed  to  be  mutual  in 
its  tendency,  co-operative  in  its  workings,  and  beneficial  in  its  results  by 
producing  a  system  by  which  each  individual  shall  receive  the  benefits 
of  the  combined  whole.  A  meeting  was  held  in  the  court-house  at 
Canton,  November  9,  1875,  when  the  subject  of  holding  market  days 
was  discussed,  which  resulted  in  the  appointment  of  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  M.  D.  Packard,  C.  H.  Brown,  John  May,  Andrew  Tuck,  Hon. 
G.  M.  Gleason,  Lucius  Crampton,  Gen.  N.  M.  Curtis,  Marvin  Holt  and 
H.  L.  Sweet,  to  make  arrangements  for  the  same.  On  January  5,  1876, 
the  committee  reported  to  an  adjourned  meeting,  and  recommended  the 
establishment  of  a  Board  of  Trade  in  the  county.  The  following  were 
the  officers  elected  :  Hon.  G.  M.  Gleason,  president;  H.  W.  Hale,  vice- 
president ;  A.  Langdon,  treasurer;  and  M.  R.  Wait,  secretary.  The 
directors  were  L.  Crampton,  H.  O.  Sweet,  O.  H.  Hale,  O.  C.  Gillson,  T. 
Mayne,  J.  Thompson,  and  George  H.  Rowland. 

A  constitution  and  code  of  by-laws  were  adopted,  locating  the  market 
place  at  Canton  ;  the  market  was  to  be  held  on  Fridays  of  each  week 
between  the  second  Friday  of  May  and  the  first  in  December  of  each 
year  thereafter.  The  membership  fee  was  placed  at  one  dollar  per  an- 
num, and  non-members  are  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  salesroom 
for  a  single  day  for  fifty  cents.      Butter  and  cheese  factories  are  admitted 


BOARD  OF  TRADE.  219 

to  the  privileges  of  the  board  and  of  the  salesroom  at  five  dollars  per 
annum.  The  sales  of  butter  and  cheese  on  this  board  have  averaged 
about  three-fourths  of  a  million  dollars  per  annum  up  to  the  present 
time. 

The  Ogdensburg  Dairymen' s  Board  of  Trade  was  organized  April  lo, 
1880,  with  a  constitution  and  by-laws  similar  to  those  of  the  county- 
board  just  described.  A  register  is  kept  and  a  bulletin  board  arranged 
in  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  room,  upon  which  is  posted  all  telegrams 
and  other  information  of  interest  received  from  the  various  market 
places.  Members  have  also  the  privilege  of  posting  upon  the  register 
a  notice  of  all  dairy  and  other  produce  which  they  may  have  for  sale. 
There  are  also  posted  the  quantities  of  cheese  and  butter  offered  by  the 
factories  and  creameries  represented  on  this  board.  The  first  officers  of 
the  board  were:  Charles  VVooster,  of  Hammond,  president;  Charles 
Ashley,  of  Ogdensburg.  treasurer  ;  W.  B.  Hutchinson,  of  Oswegatchie, 
secretary.  C.  B.  Herriman,  of  Ogdensburg,  has  held  the  office  of  presi- 
dent nearly  every  year  since  the  first.  It  was  through  his  suggestion 
that  a  resolution  was  passed  by  the  board,  calling  the  attention  of  the 
State  Legislature  to  the  necessity  ot  a  State  Dairymen's  Association, 
which  was  organized  soon  after  and  took  the  place  of  the  county  or- 
ganization. Cheese  is  the  principal  product  disposed  of  on  this  board, 
the  sales  amounting  to  about  $350,000  per  year. 

GoHverneur  Dairymen  s  Board  of  Trade  was  organized  in  1878.  H. 
B.  Keene  was  elected  president,  and  held  the  office  twelve  years  in 
succession,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  when  absent,  Hon.  Geo.  M. 
Gleason  was  president.  In  1882  efforts  were  made  to  establish  a  County 
Board  of  Trade,  to  meet  at  Dekalb  Junction  when  it  was  accomplished, 
and  meetings  were  held  there  about  one  year.  After  this  proving  a 
failure,  the  Gouverneur  board  met  at  its  old  quarters  in  the  village. 
The  board  has  been  continued  for  the  sale  of  both  butter  and  cheese, 
having  similar  rules  and  regulations  as  that  of  the  county  board.  The 
sales  have  been  large,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  nearly  half  a 
million  dollars  per  year. 


220 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


COUNTY     CLERKS. 


Louis  Hasbrouck March  1802 

Alexander  Richards, June  7,  181 1 

Louis  Hasbrouck March  3,  1813 

Myrtle  B.  Hitchcock March  4,  1817 

Joseph    York July  6,  1819 

My  tie   B.    Hitchcock Feb.    24,1821 

Myrtle  B.  Hitchcock Nov.  1822 

James  Gr.  Hopkins ''       1825 

William  A.  Root "       1831 

Alvin  C.  Low June  14,  1832 

John  Leslie  Russell July  8,  1843 

Martin  Thatcher Nov.    1843 


George  S.  Winslow Nov.  1849 

Benjamin  G.  Baldwin "       1855 

Mark  W.  Spaulding "       1858 

James  F.  Pierce "       1861 

Moses  Rich "       1864 

John  Miller "       1867 

Tiras  H.  Ferris "       1870 

Murray  N.  Ralph "       1876 

Alanson  A.  Matteson "       1879 

William  R.  Remington "       1882 

Thomas  M.  Wells Jan.  1,  1889 


COUNTY      TREASURERS. 


John  N.  Russell Nov.  1848 

Barzillai  Hodskin "     1854 

Harvey  N.  Redway "     1858 


Milton  D.  Packard Nov.  1875 

Arnold  E.  Smith "     1884 

M.  F.  Sackett "     1894 


MEMBERS     OF     ASSEMBLY. 

Only  one  in  Jefferson,  Lewis  and  St.  Lawrence. 

Henry  Coffeen Jan.  28,  1806     Moses    Kent Jan. 

Louis  Graves,  Jan.  28,  1808. 

In  St.  Lawrence. 

Alexander  Richards Jan.  17,  1809     David  E.  Judson Jan. 


Roswell  Hopkins. 

Roswell  Hopkins " 

Roswell  Hopkins " 

Roswell  Hopkins " 

Louis    Hasbrouck " 

David  A.  Ogden " 

William  W."  Bovven " 

William  W.  Bowen " 


30,  1810 


29,  1811 
27,  1812 
12.  1813 
25,  1814 
31,  1815 

30,  1816 
14,  1817 

St.  Lawrence  has  two  representatives. 

Baron  Steuben  Doty Jan.    2,  1827 

Sylvester    Gilbert " 

Moses   Rowlev '' 

Jabez  Willis..' " 

Jonah     Sanford " 

Harvey  D.  Smith " 

Jonah  Sanford " 

Asa  Sprague,  jr " 

Joseph  Freeman " 

Asa  Sprague,  jr *' 

William  Allen       " 

Edward  Dodge " 

William  Allen " 

Sylvester  Butrick " 

Sylvester  Butrick.    " 

Jabez  W^illis " 


1,  1828 

6,  1829 

•  (        u 

5,  1830 

(1         u 

4,  1831 

u  U 

3,  1832 
1,  1833 

7,  1834 


Joseph   York " 

Joseph  York " 

Joseph  York " 

William  H.  Vining '" 

Nathaniel  F.  Winslow. ......  " 

Nathaniel  F.  Winslow " 

Jacob  A.  Vanden  Heuvel ...  " 

Baron    Steuben  Doty '• 

Preston  King Jan. 

William  S.  Paddock " 

Preston  King '' 

William  S.  Paddock " 

Preston  King " 

W^illiam  S.  Paddock " 

Preston  King " 

Myron  G.  Peck " 

Myron  G.  Peck " 

Asa  Sprague '' 

Zenas  Clark " 

Asa    Sprague " 

Zenas  Clark   " 

Solomon  Pratt " 

Calvin  T.  Hulburd " 

George    Redington   " 


180/ 


27,  1818 

5,  1819 
4,  1820 
9,  1821 
1.  1822 
1,  1823 

6,  1824 
4,  1825 
3.  1826 


6,  1835 

U        (( 

5,  1836 
II  II 

3,  1837 
(t  (i 

2,  1838 

II  II 

1,  1839 

i(  II 

7,  1840 
II  II 

3,  1841 
i>  ii 

4,  1842 


CIVIL  LIST. 


221 


Calvin  T.  Hulburd Jan. 

George    Redington " 

Calvin   T.  Hulburd " 

George    Redington " 

Three  representatives : 

Phineas  Atwater Jan. 

Henry  Barber " 

Bishop  Perkins " 

Charles  G.  Myers " 

John  S.  Chipraan.  " 

Benjamin  Holmes " 

Harlow  Godard " 

Justus  B.  Pickit '• 

Noble  S.  Elderkin " 

Harlow  Godard " 

John    Horton '' 

Noble  S.  Elderkin •' 

Smith  Stilwell " 

John  Horton " 

Noble  S.  Elderkin " 

Smith  Stillwell " 

Benjamm  Smith " 

Parker  W.Rose " 

Barnabas  Hall '' 

Benjamin  Smith " 

Parker  W.  Rose " 

Barnabas  Hall " 

Silas  Baldwin " 

Levi  Miller " 

Asaph  Green " 

Silas  Baldwin " 

Levi  Miller '' 

Emory  W.  Abbott " 

Benjamin  Sauire " 

Daniel  P.  Rosejr " 

Emory  W.  Abbott " 

Benjamin  Squire " 

Erasmus  D.  Brooks " 

Harlow  Godard " 

William    Briggs " 

Oscar  F.  Shepard " 

Harlow  Godard " 

William  Briggs " 

Oscar  F.  Shepard " 

Charles  Richardson " 

Edwin  A.  Merritt " 

Clark  S.  Chittenden " 

Charles  Richardson " 

Edwin  A.  Merritt " 

Clark  S.  Chittenden " 

Ehas  P.  Townsley " 

James  Redington .    '' 

Calvin  T.  Hulburd " 

EliasP.  Townsley " 


3,  184.S  Asa  L.  Hazelton Jan.  7.  1845 

"     "  John  L.  Russell    "  "     " 

2,  1844  Asa  L.  Hazelton '■  G,  1846 

"     "  Bishop  Perkins "  "     " 

5,  1847  James  Redington Jan.  6,  1863 

'•     "  Abraham  X.^arker "  "     " 

"     "  George  Parker "  5.1864 

4,1848  James   Redington "  "'     " 

'•     "  Abraham  X.  Parker "  "     " 

"     "  George  Parker .."  3,1865 

2,  1849  James  Redington "  "     •' 

"     ''  Daniel  Shaw". "  "'     " 

"     "  George  M.  Gleason '■  2,1866 

1.1850  William  R.  Chamberlain "  "     '• 

"'     '■  Daniel    Shaw "  ■  "     " 

"     "  George  M.  Gleason "  1,1867 

7.1851  William  R.  Chamberlain "  "     " 

"     "  Richard  Bicknell "  -     " 

"     "  George  M.  Gleason "  7,  1868 

6.1852  Juhus  M.  Palmer "  "     " 

"     "  Alexander  H.  Andrews "  "     *' 

"     "  George  M.  Gleason   ''  5,  1869 

4,  1853  Julius  M.  Palmer "  "     " 

'•     "  Alexander  H.  Andrews "  "     " 

"     "  George  M.  Gleason "  3.  1870 

3.1854  Julius  M.  Palmer "  "     " 

"     •'  William   Bradford "  "     " 

"     "  George  Parker "  2,  1871 

2.1855  Dolphus  S.  Lynde "  "     " 

"     "  WilHam   Bradford "  "     " 

•'     "  Darius  A.  Moore "  2,1872 

1.1856  Dolphus  S.  Lynde .."  "     " 

"     "  Parker  W.  Rose "  "     " 

"     "  Darius  A.  Moore •'  7,1873 

6,  1857  Dolphus  S.  Lynde "  "     " 

"     "  Parker  W.  Rose "  "     " 

"     "  Seth  G.Pope "  6,1874 

5.1858  Dolphus  S.  Lynde "  "     " 

"     "  Jonah  Sanford "  "     " 

"     "  Seth  G.  Pope "  5,  1875 

5.1859  A.  Barton  Hepburn "  "     " 

"     "  Jonah  Sanford....    : "  "     " 

"     "  David  McFalls "  4,1876 

3,  1860  A.  Barton  Hepburn "  "     " 

"     •'  Lewis  C.  Lang "  "     " 

"     "  David  McFalls "  2,1877 

1,  1861  A.  Barton  Heoburn "  "     " 

"     "  Lewis  C.  Lang "  "     " 

"     "  George  F.  Rowland "  1,  1878 

7,  1862  A.  Barton  Hepburn "  "     " 

"     "  Rufus  S.  Palmer "  "     " 

"     "  Daniel  Peck "  7,  1879 

6,1863  A.Barton    Hepburn "  "     " 


222 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


', 

1879 

6, 

1880 

U 

ti 

it 

u 

4, 

1881 

(t 

(I 

3, 

1882 

(1 

cl 

2,  1883 


1,  1884 


6.  1885 

U  I. 


N.  Martin  Curtis ...  Jan. 

Andrew  Tuck " 

George  Z.  Erwin " 

N.  M.Curtis " 

William  H.  Kimbal " 

M.  H.  Flaherety " 

N.  M.  Curtis " 

William    H.  Kimbal " 

M.  H.  Flaherety " 

N.  M.  Curtis   " 

William  H.  Kimbal " 

William   Bradford " 

George  R.  Maltby " 

John  C.  Keeler " 

William   Bradford " 

George  R.  Maltby " 

John  C.  Keeler " 

Lewis  C.  Lang " 


1886 

it 

1887 


1888 

u 
ii 

1889 


1. 


1890 
1891 


Rufus  S.  Palmer Jan. 

Daniel   Peck " 

Worth  Chamberlin " 

Ebenezer  S.  Crapser " 

Daniel  Peck " 

Worth  ChamberHn " 

Ebenezer  Crapser " 

Abel  Godard " 

Worth  Chamberlin " 

George  Z.  Erwin " 

AbefGodard *' 

Morrell  D.  Beckwith " 

George  Z.  Erwin " 

N.  Martin  Curtis '' 

Morrell  D.  Beckwith " 

George  Z.  Erwin " 

X.  Martin  Curtis " 

Andrew  Tuck '' 

George  Z.  Erwin •' 

One  representative : 

George  R.  Maltby Jan.  1,  1892     George   R.  Maltby Jan.  1,  1893 

The  population  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1880  was  5,082,871 ;  in  1890  it  was 
5,997,853,  an  increase  of  914,982.  The  population  of  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1880  was 
85.997;  in  1890  it  was  85,048,  a  loss  in  ten  years  cf  949.  In  1890  there  were  in  the 
county  42,476  males,  and  42,552  females.  Of  these  35,648  males  were  American  born, 
and  6,818  males  foreign  born  :  also  35,497  females  American  born,  and  7,085  females 
foreign  born.     Colored  males,  60 ;  colored  females,  40. 

Of  school  age,  5  to  20:  American  born  males,  12,674  ;  females,  12,383.  Of  foreign 
born  males,  810;  females,  835.     Of  colored  males,  18;  females,  20. 

Of  native  males,  white,  between  the  ages  of  18  and  44 14,272 

Of  foreign     "          "             "                    "         "            '' 2,860 

Of  colored  males                   "                    "         "            " 30 

Of  native  males  21  years  and  over, 18,819 

Of  foreign  born  males,  21  years  and  over .  5,896 

Of  colored  males,  21  years  and  over   32 


POPULATION. 


223 


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224 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Populations  of  the  city  and  villages  in  St.  Lawrence  County 


(Dekalb) 


Brasher  Falls,  village 

Canton,  " 

Coltou, 

Richville, 

Gouverneur,  "      

Hermon,  "      

Madrid,  "      

Massena,  "      

Morristown,  *'      

Ogdensburg 

1st  Ward,  in  1890 2,721  ] 

2d  Ward,       "       3,324  [ 

3d  Ward,       "        2,295  f 

4th  Ward,      "       3,322  J 

Parishville,  village ...    

Potsdam,  ' '      

Norwood,  "       

Waddington,     "      


1880   1890 


513 
2,049 
606 
339 
2,071 
522 
761 


397 
10,341 


570 

2,580 

635 


3,458 

473 

605 

1,049 

472 

11,662 


496 
2,762 
1,221 

977 


578 
3,961 
1,463 

900 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
CLOSE  COMMUNION,    OR  SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

Lodges  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons — Royal  Arch  Masonry — Knights  Templar — 
Scottish  Rite — Order  of  the  Eastern  Star — Odd  Fellowship — Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic — Benevolent  Organizations — Knights  of  Labor — Grangers. 

To  tell  our  own  secrets  is  often  folly  ;  to  communicate  those  of  others  is  treachery. 


THE  word  "  secret "  is  subject  to  various  meanings,  and  is  often  ap- 
plied to  organizations  whose  doors  are  closed  to  outsiders.  A 
society  that  does  not  conceal  its  name,  time  and  place  of  meeting,  its 
membership,  aim  and  objects,  should  not  be  classed  with  such  as  hide 
these  facts  from  the  public  and  are  only  known  to  exist  by  some  overt 
act  of  their  own. 

The  oldest  and  perhaps  the  most  numerous   and  widespread  of  these 
societies  is  the  Masonic  Order,  which  is  too  well  known  to  require  de- 


MASONIC.  225 

scription  here,  further  then  to  give  the  dates  and  places  of  meeting  of 
each  lodge  in  the  county.  The  date  of  the  origin  of  this  order  is  un- 
known, but  is  considered  to  have  existed  from  time  immemorial.  The 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  organized  A.  D.  1781,  A.  L. 

5781- 

New  Oswegatchie  Lodge,   F.   and   A.  M.,   No.  520,   English   register, 

was  organized  at  "  Fort  la  Presentation  "  (French  Barracks),  now  Og- 
densburg,  in  1787,  while  in  possession  of  the  British  troops.  The  char- 
ter was  granted  to  the  officers  who  were  stationed  at  that  post  at  that 
time  to  form  a  (military)  lodge  under  the  usual  restrictions.  Sergeant 
Richard  Porter  was  the  officer  in  charge  when  the  British  evacuated  the 
fort,  June  i,  1796,  and  no  doubt  was  master  of  the  lodge  at  the  time 
and  carried  the  charter  away  with  him.^ 

Northern  Light  Lodge,  No.  11,  organized  at  De  Kalb,  September  17, 
1807.  The  history  of  this  lodge  differs  from  that  of  those  following,  as 
the  data  of  the  latter  were  obtained  from  Grand  Secretary  M.  L.  Ehlers, 
as  found  recorded  in  the  archives  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  The  Northern  Light  Lodge  was  not  so  recorded,  but  papers 
were  found  among  the  records  that  indicated  the  organization  about 
the  time  stated,  which  leaves  no  doubt  of  its  having  been  legally 
formed.  The  writer,  some  thirty  years  ago,  sat  in  open  lodge  with  one 
of  its  elder  members,  who  said  he  had  often  rode  on  horseback  twelve 
miles  through  the  woods  by  moonlight  to  attend  the  meetings.  This 
lodge  must  have  ceased  to  work  previous  to  1825,  as  the  name  was  ap- 
propriated by  one  at  Stockholm.  The  charter  was  carried  away  by 
some  one,  and  a  few  years  ago  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  Mason  in  the 
West,  who  sent  it  to  O.  D.  Barker,  near  Canton,  who  in  turn  gave  it 
in  charge  of  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  No.  iii,  where  it  now  remains.  It 
is  a  parchment,  10  by  12  inches  square,  with  the  following  inscription 
thereon  : 

Established  under  the  Auspices  of  (Prince  Edwin)  at  the  city  of  York  in  Great 
Britain,  in  the  year  of  Masonry  4926  (967  years  ago).  The  Most  Worshipful,  Hon.  De- 
witt  Clinton,  Esq.,  Grand  Master;  the  Right  Worshipful  Martin  Hoffman,  D.  G.  M.  ; 
the  Rt.  W.  John  Wood,  S.  G.  W. ;  the  Rt.  W.  Hon.  Phihp  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  J.  G.  W. ; 
Do  by  these  Presents  Approve,  Authorize  and  Empower  our  worthy  Brother  Solomon 

1  The  above  information  was  obtained  from  Jno.  H.  Graham,  past  grand  master  of  Masons  of 
Quebec,  L.  C. 
29 


226  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Rich  to  be  the  Master;  Isaac  Bunham,  S.W.  ;  Joseph  Woodhouse,  J.W.,  to  form  and 
hold  at  the  town  of  Dekalb,  in  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence,  to  be  distinguished  as  the 
Northern  Light  Lodge  No.  11. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  the  seal  of  our  Grand  Lodge  in  the  City  of  New  York  in 
North  America,  this  17th  day  of  Sept.,  a.  d.  1807,  a.  l.  5807. 

John  Wells,  Grand  Secretary. 

Hamilton  Lodge  No.  177  was   located    in   the   town   of  Madrid,  now 
Waddington,  formerly  called  Hamilton.      The  warrant  was  dated  March 

I,  1809.  The  names  of  the  first  officers  were  not  given,  but  the  lodge 
continued  to  work  with  fair  success  until  the  Morgan  flurry,  when  it 
ceased  to  meet,  and  in  June,  1832,  the  warrant  was  declared  forfeited 
by  the  Grand  Lodge.  Amasa  Pratt  was  the  treasurer  when  the  lodge 
ceased  to  meet,  and  it  was  supposed  that  through  fear  of  the  jewels  be- 
ing destroyed  by  the  "  antis,"  he  secreted  them.  A  few  years  later  he 
died  and  the  matter  was  forgotten.  About  1843,  when  the  workmen 
were  digging  a  trench  for  the  walls  of  an  addition  to  the  Hon.  George 
Redington's  house,  the  jewels  were  found.  Alexander  Miller,  a  Roman- 
ist, purchased  the  jewels  of  the  workmen  for  a  trifle,  and  quietly  disposed 
of  them  to  Bell  Brothers,  in  Ogdensburg,  for  old  silver. 

St.  Lawrence  Lodge  No.  186,  located  at  the  village  of  Ogdensburg, 
in  the  town  of  Oswegatchie  ;  warrant  dated  September  6,  1809.  Twelve 
Masons  joined  in  a  petition  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  which  was  recom- 
mended by  the  Northern  Light  Lodge  at  De  Kalb,  when  the  warrant 
was  granted  with  the  name  and  number  as  above  mentioned,  naming 
Palmer  Cleveland,  W.  M.  ;  Bethuel  Houghton,  S.  W.  ;  and  John  Tib- 
bits,  J.  W.  The  lodge  met  in  the  old  historic  court-house,  and  con- 
tinued its  meetings  during  the  war  times  of  1 8 1 2-1 5.  But  owing  to  the 
bitter  persecution  and  excitement  of  the  Morgan  affair,  at  its  regular 
meeting  of  February  19,  1827,  it  voted  to  surrender  its  charter.  The 
lodge  register  showed  a  membership  of  fifty-seven,  including  some  of 
the  best  citizens  of  the  place. 

Benevolence  Lodge  No.  193,  located  at  Hopkinton  ;  warrant  dated  Jan- 
uary 24,  181 1.  The  records  show  that  the  warrant  was  forfeited  in 
June,   1832. 

Canto7i  Lodge  No.  325,  located  at  Canton  ;   warrant  dated  September 

II,  1819.     Forfeited  in  June,  1835, 

Northern  Light  Lodge  No.  440,  located  at  Stockholm  ;  warrant 
dated  June  8,  1825.     Forfeited  in  June,  1832. 


MASONir.  227 

Scotch  Lodge  No.  500,  located  at  Rossie.  The  warrant  was  granted 
June  7,  1827,  just  as  the  Morgan  excitement  was  rising,  which  made  it 
difficult  for  the  lodge  to  grow  very  much,  and  after  two  years  it  went 
down.  In  October,  1832,  it  was  revived  and  struggled  for  existence 
two  years  longer,  when  they  surrendered  their  charter  in  June,  1834. 

During  the  Morgan  excitement,  which  lasted  some  ten  or  twelve 
years,  many  lodges  in  the  State  surrendered  or  forfeited  their  warrants, 
when  the  Grand  Lodge  renumbered  the  surviving  ones.  This  accounts 
for  the  discrepancy  in  numbers. 

North  Star  Lodge  No.  107  was  located  at  Lawrence.  A  dispensa- 
tion was  granted  b)^  the  Grand  Lodge  on  the  3d  of  September,  1844,  to 
Josiah  F.  Sanders,  master;  Otis  Farrar,  S.  W.  ;  and  Amasa  Harring- 
ton, J.  W..  to  run  to  May  15,  1845.  It  was  extended  to  the  same  of- 
ficers at  that  date  one  year  longer,  when  a  warrant  was  granted  June  5, 
1846.  This  lodge  was  subsequently  moved  to  Brushton,  Franklin 
county,  where  it  now  remains. 

St.  Lawrence  Lodge  No.  1 1 1,  located  at  Canton,  was  granted  a  war- 
rant June  10,  1846.  The  first  officers  were:  Elijah  Baker,  master; 
Daniel  Mack,  S.  W.  ;  and  Joseph  Ames,  J.  W. 

Ogdensburg  Lodge  No.  128,  located  at  Ogdensburg.  A  dispensa- 
tion was  granted  in  July,  1847,  to  George  Guest  as  master  ;  Sylvester 
Gilbert  as  S.  W.  ;  and  Royal  Vilas  as  J.  W.  A  warrant  was  granted 
to  them  on  June  7,  1848. 

Raqiiette  River  Lodge  No.  213.  A  warrant  was  granted  in  June, 
185 1,  to  Joshua  Blaisdell,  master;  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  S.  W. ;  and 
Jehiel  H.  Hyde,  J.  W.      Twenty-three  petitioners  asked  for  a  charter. 

Gouverneur  Lodge  No.  217,  located  at  Gouverneur.  A  warrant  was 
granted  June  9  185 1,  to  Benjamin  F.  Skinner,  master;  Josiah  Waid, 
S.  W.  ;  and  William  Holmes,  J.  W.  Twenty  Masons  petitioned  for  a 
charter. 

Grass  River  Lodge  No.  312,  located  at  Grass  River  (later  Columbia 
village),  now  Madrid.  The  warrant  was  granted  June  16,  1853,  to  H. 
B.  Richardson,  master ;  Caleb  Pierce,  S.  W.  ;  and  H.  K.  Belding,  J.  W. 
The  lodge  room  and  its  furniture  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  war- 
rant declared  forfeited  June  9,  1881. 

Black  Lake  Lodge  No.  319,  located  at  Edwardsville  in  the  town  of 
Morristown.     The  warrant  was  granted  to  Jacob  H.  Bellinger,  master; 


228  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Andrew  Gray,  S.  W.  ;  and  Abraham  Klock,  J.  W.,  June  lo,  1854. 
Eight  Masons  petitioned  for  the  charter.  At  the  June  meeting,  1876, 
the  Grand  Lodge  consented  to  the  removal  of  Black  Lake  Lodge  to 
Hammond  Corners,  and  in  1879  to  a  removal  to  Brier  Hill,  and  in  1891 
granted  permission  for  the  lodge  to  again  move  to  Morristown  village, 
where  it  now  remains. 

Waddiiigton  Lodge  No.  393,  located  at  Waddington  village,  in  the 
town  of  Waddington  (formerly  Hamilton  in  Madrid).  The  warrant 
was  granted  June  23,  1856,  to  John  Peacock,  master;  Henry  B.  Proc- 
tor, S.  W.  ;  and  Leonard  J.  Proctor,  J.  \V.  Nine  ]\Iasons  joined  in  the 
petition. 

Atnber  Lodge  No.  395,  located  at  Parish ville.  The  warrant  was 
granted  to  Leavitt  Hatch,  master ;  Samuel  Lincoln,  S.  W.  ;  and  Eben- 
ezer  C.  Culver,  J.  W.  Nine  Masons  joined  in  petitioning  the  Grand 
Lodge  for  the  charter. 

Norfolk  Lodge  No.  405,  located  at  Norfolk  village,  in  the  town  of 
Norfolk;  warrant  dated  July  7,  1856,  naming  Abram  N.  Thompson, 
master  ;  Lloyd  C  Yale,  S.  \V.  ;  and  Edward  M.  Shepard,  J.  W.  War- 
rant suspended  October,  1863  ;   forfeited  June,  1864. 

High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  located  at  Colton.  The  warrant  was 
granted  June  26,  1857,  to  Silas  Hawley,  master;  Alonzo  Squire.  S.  W.; 
and  John  B.  Willson,  J.  W.      Seven  petitioners  for  charter. 

Wildwood  Lodge  No,  477,  located  at  Edwards  village  in  the  town  of 
Edwards.  The  warrant  was  granted  July  6,  1859,  to  Amos  Newton, 
master  ;  Otis  Earl,  S.  W.,  and  Joseph  Brodie,  J.  W.  Eleven  Masons 
petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Deer  River  Lodge'Ho.  499,  located  at  Nicholville  in  the  easterly  part 
of  the  town  of  Lawrence.  The  warrant  was  granted  July  3,  i860,  to  J. 
F.  Sanders,  master;  Silas  L.  Slocum,  S.  W.  ;  and  Warren  Ives,  J.  W. 
Ten  Masons  joined  in  the  petition  for  a  charter. 

Hennon  Lodge^o.  500,  located  at  the  village  of  Hermon,  in  the  town 
of  Hermon.  The  warrant  was  granted  July  4,  i860,  to  Azariah  P. 
Sherwin,  master ;  William  D.  Gilmour,  S.  W.  ;  and  Edward  F.  Cheney, 
J.  W.      Nine  Masons  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Louisville  Lodge  No.  502,  located  at  Louisville.  The  warrent  was 
granted  June  6,  1861,  to  James  Miller,  master  ;  Justus  Barrett,  S.  W. ; 
and  Levi  Miller,  J.  W.     The  warrant  was  forfeited  in  1865. 


MASONIC.  229 

Massena  Lodge  No.  5  13,  located  at  the  village  of  Massena.  The  war- 
rant was  granted  June  19,  1861,  to  Martin  G.  Chamberlain,  master; 
Orson  Davis,  S.  W.  ;  and  W.  L.  P.  Garvin,  J.  W.  Seven  Masons  peti- 
tioned for  a  charter. 

Brasher  Lodge  No.  541,  located  at  Brasher  Falls.  The  warrant  was 
granted  June  10,  1864,  to  Henry  F.  Taylor,  master;  N.  W.  Barker,  S. 
W. ;   and  Chauncey  Buck,  J.  W.      Seven  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  located  at  Russell.  The  warrant  was  granted 
June  26,  1865,  to  Samuel  V.  Padget,  master;  Washington  L.  Derby, 
S.  W.  ;  and  Smith  Chase,  J.  W.  Ten  Masons  joined  in  the  petition  for 
a  charter. 

Depeyster  Lodge  No.  573,  located  at  Depeyster  Corners,  in  the  town 
of  Depeyster.  The  warrant  was  granted  July  4,  1864,  to  Jacob  H. 
Bellinger,  master ;  William  Perry,  S.  W.  ;  and  Gates  Curtis,  J.  W. 
Seven  Masons  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Elk  Lodge  No.  577,  located  at  Hopkinton.  The  warrant  was  granted 
July  8,  1865,  to  Henry  M.  Sprague,  master;  Lucius  Lockwood,  S.  W.; 
and  John  Herrin,  J.  W.      Nine  Masons  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Ricliville  Lodge  No.  633,  located  at  Richville,  in  the  town  of  De- 
kalb. The  warrant  was  granted  July  i,  1867,  to  Horace  White,  jr., 
master  ;  Carlos  W.  Lynde,  S.  W.  ;  and  James  Sanders,  J.  W.  Eight- 
een Masons  petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Oswegatchie  Lodge  No.  687,  located  at  Fine.  The  warrant  was 
granted  July  4,  1868,  to  Azariah  P.  Shervvin,  master;  Seth  Curtis,  S. 
W.  ;  and  Lorenzo  L.  Gay,  J.  W.  Eleven  Masons  petitioned  for  a  char- 
ter. 

What  Cheer  Lodge  No.  689,  located  at  Norfolk.  The  warrant  was 
granted  June  i,  1869,  to  David  W.  Branch,  master;  Levi  P.  Bedell,  S. 
W.  ;  and  Josiah  C.  Mould,  J.  W.  Fourteen  Masons  petitioned  for  a 
charter.  The  furniture  and  warrant  were  burned  in  1883.  A  dupli- 
cate warrant  was  granted  them  on  June  3,  1885.  The  lodge  voted  to 
move  to  Norwood,  to  which  consent  was  given  by  the  Grand  Lodge  in 
June,  1893.  Labor  was  resumed  at  Norwood  the  last  week  in  Septem- 
ber following. 

Acacian  Lodge  No.  705,  located  at  Ogdensburg.  The  warrant  was 
granted  June  19,  1870,  to  Charles  H.  Butrick,  master  ;  James  L.  Ray- 


230  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

mond,    S.   W.  ;    and  Wm.    L.    Proctor,    J.    W.     Twenty- three   Masons 
petitioned  for  a  charter. 

Fellowship  Lodge  No.  749,  located  at  Rensselaer  Falls.  The  warrant 
was  granted  June  15,  1874,  to  John  R.  Mills,  master;  Frank  B.  Dor- 
othy, S.  W.  ;  and  Patrick  McCormick,  J.  W..  Nine  Masons  petitioned 
for  a  charter. 

Gouver7ieiir  Masonic  Temple. — This  building,  which  is  approaching 
completion,  is  54  feet  in  width,  100  feet  deep,  and  four  stories  high. 
The  front  is  of  Gouverneur  marble  laid  in  broken  ashlar,  and  the  sides 
and  rear  of  brick.  The  lower  story  is  designated  for  stores  ;  the  second 
for  a  public  hall  and  offices-  the  third  and  fourth  for  Masonic  purposes, 
such  as  lodge  room,  banquet  hall,  drill  chamber,  library  and  the  various 
ante-rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the  several  Masonic  bodies  which 
are  to  meet  there.  A  commodious  stairway  leads  from  the  center  of 
the  front  to  the  second  floor,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  halls  and  of- 
fices. Other  easy  flights  of  stairs  lead  from  the  second  floor  to  the 
rooms  above.  The  building  is  to  be  furnished  with  modern  improve- 
ments and  heated  by  steam.  The  structure  will  cost  $20,000.  A  por- 
tion of  this  sum  was  contributed  by  members  of  the  order  and  the  re- 
mainder raised  by  loan.  It  is  expected  that  the  rentals  of  the  stores, 
offices  and  halls  will  pay  the  interest  on  the  loan  and  in  a  few  years 
liquidate  the  debt,  after  which  a  portion  of  the  income  will  be  devoted 
to  charitable  purposes. 

ROYAL  ARCH,  OR  ANCIENT  CRAFT  MASONRY. 

This  body  is  distinguished  by  grand  and  subordinate  chapters.  The 
date  of  its  origin  is  supposed  to  be  at  the  time  of  the  rebuilding  of  the 
second  Temple  of  Zerubbabel.  The  Grand  Chapter  of  the  State  of  New 
York  was  organized  in  1797. 

St.  Lawrence  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  No.  24  was  located  at  Massena.  The 
charter  was  dated  February  9,  1809.  The  first  officers'  names  were  not 
found,  or  brought  forward.  The  convocations  were  continued  until 
January,  1821,  when  by  vote  of  its  members  they  resolved  to  move  it 
to  Potsdam.  The  first  convocation  held  at  Potsdam  was  on  April  4 
following,  where  they  continued  to  work  until  December  3,  1828,  when 
the  charter  was  given    up.      On  the  application  of  several  companions 


MASONIC.  231 

the  Grand  Chapter  renewed  the  charter  July  5,  185  i.  The  first  convo- 
cation held  after  the  revival  was  July  17,  185  i,  and  meetings  have  been 
continued  to  the  pretent  time.  Present  officers  (1893)  are  :  Chapin  W. 
Hazelton,  H.  P.  ;   Harlan  S.  Perrigo,  K.  ;   and  Freeman  H.  Allen,  S. 

Ogdensbiirg  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  No.  63,  located  at  Ogdensburg.  The 
charter  was  granted  February  5,  18 19,  to  Palmer  Cleveland,  H.  P.  ; 
Sylvester  Gilbert,  K.  ;  and  Amos  Bacon,  S.  The  chapter  continued  to 
work  until  the  27th  of  December,  1827,  when  the  officers  were  elected 
and  installed,  but  in  consequence  of  the  anti-Masonic  feeling,  the  chap- 
ter closed  its  labors  for  a  period  of  twenty- one  years,  having  a  member- 
ship of  sixty- seven.  At  the  annual  convocation  held  at  Albany,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1849,  the  Grand  Chapter  renewed  the  warrant,  when  labor 
was  resumed  and  has  continued  ever  since. 

St.  Lawrence  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  No.  132,  located  at  Canton.  The 
warrant  was  granted  February  3,  1848,  to  Elijah  Baker,  high  priest; 
Daniel  Mack,  king  ;  and  Paul  Boynton,  scribe. 

Elk  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  No.  197,  located  at  Nicholville.  The  war- 
rant was  granted  February  7,  1867,  to  Josiah  F.  Sanders,  H.  P.;  Otis 
Farran,  K.;   and  Reuben  Jones,  scribe. 

Gouverneur  Chapter  R.  A.  M.  No.  233,  located  at  Gouverneur.  The 
warrant  was  granted  February  3,  1869,  to  George  B.  Winslow,  H.  P.  ; 
A.  C.  Norton,  K.  ;   and  Wm.  H.  Bowne,  S. 

Royal  and  Select  Masters.  A  warrant  was  issued  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Grand  Council  in  September,  1893,  to  John  McCarty,  Thrice  Ex- 
cellent Master  ;  Omer  A.  Hine,  next,  and  M.  Z.  Gates,  Capt.  of,  to 
form  a  lodge  at  Gouverneur,  N.  Y. 

'  KNIGHTS   TEMPLAR. 

The  order  of  Knights  Templar  dates  back  to  1064  A.  D.,  or  the  days 
of  the  Crusades.  In  England  an  encampment  was  established  at  Bristol 
by  the  Templars  who  returned  with  Richard  I.  from  Palestine  ;  also,  one 
was  established  at  Bath,  and  another  at  York.  From  these  have  ema- 
nated the  existing  encampments  in  the  British  Islands  and  in  the  United 
States,  which  are  lineal  descendants  of  the  ancient  order. 

St.  Lawrence  Commandery  K.  T.  No.  28,  was  organized  under  dis- 
pensation at  Canton,  in  July  1858.     The  dispensation  was  granted  to 


232  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Darius  Clark,  E.  C.  ;  William  H.  Sawyer,  G.  ;  and  Amasa  O.  Brown, 
C.  G.  The  dispensation  was  continued  the  second  year,  when  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Grand  Encampment  in  September,  1859,  a  war- 
rant was  granted  them.  On  the  iith  of  February,  i860,  the  records 
were  destroyed  by  fire.  Again  on  August  5,  1870,  the  asylum  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  including  the  charter.  A  second  warrant  was  granted 
them  in  October,  1872,  under  which  the  commandery  is  now  lield. 

Ogdensbiirg  Commandery  K.  T.  No.  54,  located  at  the  city  of  Og- 
densburg.  A  dispensation  was  granted  on  the  16th  of  January,  1873, 
to  E.  M.  Holbrook,  E.  C.  ;  Joseph  Thompson,  G.  ;  and  N.  M.  Curtis, 
C.  G.,  and  on  July  8,  following,  J.  B.  Chaffee,  grand  lecturer,  assisting, 
the  first  conclave  was  opened  and  several  members  received  into  the  or- 
der. At  the  annual  conclave  of  the  Grand  Commandery,  held  at  the 
city  of  New  York,  October  15,  1873,  a  warrant  was  granted  them,  and 
on  December  18  following  the  commandery  was  instituted  and  the  of- 
ficers installed.  At  the  Grand  Conclave  held  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Sep- 
tember, 1893,  a  dispensation  for  a  commander}'- was  recommended  to  be 
issued  to  D.  G.  Whitney,  as  E.  C;  John  Webb,  jr.,  as  G.,  and  Charles 
McCarty,  as  C.  G. 

SCOTTISH  RITE,  OR  ANCIENT  AND  ACCEPTED  RITE. 

This  rite  is  said  to  have  been  organized  in  France  early  in  the  eight- 
eenth century,  and  derived  its  title  from  claims  made  that  it  was  origin- 
ally instituted  in  Scotland,  which  claims  are  not  fully  established.  It  is 
next  to  the  York  Rite.  The  administrative  power  of  the  rite  is  depos- 
ited in  Supreme  Councils  of  Sovereign  Grand  Inspectors  General. 

The  Scottish  Rite  consists  of  thirty  three  degrees.  The  first  fourteen 
degrees  are  conferred  in  a  body  called  a  Lodge  of  Perfection,  which  in- 
cludes the  three  Blue  Lodge  degrees  The  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  de- 
grees are  conferred  in  a  body  called  a  Council  of  the  Princes  of  Jerusa- 
lem. The  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  degrees  are  conferred  in  a  body 
called  a  Chapter  of  Princes  of  Rose  Croix  The  nineteenth  up  to  the 
thirty-second  degrees  inclusive  are  conferred  in  a  body  designated  as  a 
Consistory  of  Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret,  but  the  three  last  are  con- 
ferred as  the  proxies  of  the  Supreme  Council.  The  Thirty- third,  or 
Sovereign    Grand   Inspector  General, — this   degree  is  given  in  a  body 


ODD  FELLOWSHIP.  233 

called  the  Supreme  Council,  which   is  the  administrative  head  of  this 
rite. 

St.  Lazvrence  Lodge  of  Perfection  was  organized  at  Potsdam  under 
dispensation,  October  9,  1888.  Charter  granted  September  19,  1889. 
It  was  removed  to  Canton,  November  24,  1890,  where  it  now  remains 
in  working  order. 

A  Council  of  the  Princes  of  Jerusalem,  and  a  Chapter  of  Princes  of 
Rose  Croix,  was  granted  by  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Ancient  Ac- 
cepted Scottish  Rite  for  the  Northern  Jurisdiction,  convened  at  Chicago, 
September  19,  1893,  to  be  formed  at  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  On  the  14th 
of  November,  the  two  bodies  were  duly  instituted  and  the  officers 
installed. 

ORDER  OF  THE  EASTERN  STAR. 

This  is  what  may  be  called  a  side  degree,  having  only  the  resem- 
blance of  Masonry.  The  order  was  originated  by  a  nobleman  in  France 
about  1770  It  was  placed  under  the  care  of  an  individual  Mason,  but 
is  outside  of  Masonic  jurisdiction.  Mothers,  wives,  sisters  and  daugh- 
ters of  Masons  are  eligible  to  receive  the  degree  ;  also  Master  Masons. 
The  order  was  introduced  into  the  United  States  shortly  after  its  or- 
ganization, but  its  headway  has  been  slow  and  unsteady. 

Si.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  60,  located  at  Depeyster,  was  organized 
about  1887. 

Empire  Chapter  No.  68,  located  at  Canton,  was  organized  June  6, 
1888. 

Maple  City  Chapter  ^o.  yi,  located  at  Ogdensburg,  was  organized 
by  dispensation  February  12,  1889,  and  a  warrant  granted  in  June  fol- 
lowing. 

Parish  Chapter  No.  91,  located  at  Parishville.  Warrant  was  granted 
June  6,  1893. 

Marble  City  Chapter  No.  92,  located  at  Gouverneur.  Warrant 
granted  June  6,  1893. 

ODD    FELLOWSHIP. 

This  order  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  and  started  in  England 
about  1750.      At   first   it    was   considered   only  as  a  "  take-off"  on  the 

30 


234  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Masonic  order,  who  at  their  banquets  addressed  each  other  as  jolly  good 
fellows.  Therefore  in  order  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Masons,  they 
dropped  the  words  jolly  good,  and  substituted  the  word  "odd."  Hence 
the  title,  Odd  Fellows. 

Odd  Fellowship  in  the  United  States  dates  from  the  following  cir- 
cumstances: Thomas  Wilder,  a  blacksmith,  and  four  of  his  companions, 
who  had  received  the  degrees  of  Odd  Fellowship  in  England,  organized 
a  lodge  in  Baltimore,  Md  ,  April  26,  1819.  Not  being  invested  with 
authority  from  the  grand  body  of  Odd  Fellows  in  England,  they  acted 
independently,  and  therefore  named  it  Washington  Lodge  No.  i  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

The  following  lodges  of  I.  O.  O.  F.  have  been  organized  in  St.  Law- 
rence county  : 

Ogdensburg  Lodge  No.  273    (since  No.  98)    instituted   February   24, 

1847. 
Mastaqua  Lodge  No.  274,  located  at  Potsdam.     Instituted  March  23, 

1847.* 

St.  Lawrence  Grand  Convent  Lodge  No.  43,  located  at  Canton,  June 
27,  1848.* 

Ouriga  Lodge  No.  319,  located  at  Madrid.  Instituted  August  6, 
1848.* 

Norjolk  Lodge  No.  243,  located  at  Norfolk.  Instituted  August  22, 
1849.* 

River  de  Grass  Lodge  No.  425,  located  at  Canton.  Instituted  Jan- 
uary 29,  1852.* 

Deer  River  Lodge  No.  434,  located  at  North  Lawrence.* 

St.  Regis  Lodge  No.  453,  located  at  Stockholm.* 

Gouverneicr  Lodge  No.  325,  located  at  Gouverneur. 

Brier  Llill  Lodge  No.  470,  located  at  Brier  Hill,  Morristown. 

Norwood  Lodge  No.  486.  located  at  Norwood,  Potsdam. 

Excelsior  Lodge  No.  548,  located  at  Potsdam. 

Elijah  White  Lodge  No.  590,  located  at  Ogdensburg. 

De  Kalb  Lodge  No.  617,  located  at  De  Kalb  Junction. 

Lawrenceville  Lodge  No.  619,  located  at  Lawrenceville. 

Winthrop  Lodge  No.  620,   located  at  Winthrop. 

*  Lodges  that  have  been  disbanded. 


BENEVOLENT  ORGANIZATIONS.  235 

Canton  Lodge  No   635,  located  at  Canton. 

Ogdensbnrg Encampment  I.  O.  O.  F.,  located  at  Ogdensburg.  Insti- 
tuted in  1 861. 

Ogdensburg  Company  of '' Cantons,''  located  at  Ogdensburg.  Uni- 
formed.     The  membership  was  fifty- three  in  1890. 

Degree  of  Rebekali  I.  O.  O.  F.,  located  at  Ogdensburg.  It  was  insti- 
tuted April  30,  1 89 1. 


St.  Jean  Baptistc  Society  was  organized  at  Ogdensburg  March  3, 
1873  ;  incorporated  June  10,  1875.  Eligibility:  The  applicant  must  be 
in  good  health,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  fifty  years,  of  French 
extraction,  and  a  communicant  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  and 
promise  to  remain  such.  The  entrance  fees  are  from  two  to  five  dollars, 
according  to  age  ;  dues  $3  per  year.  A  weekly  benefit  is  paid  to  a 
sick  member,  and  at  death  a  casket  is  furnished,  and  the  widow  or 
friends  draw  $200 

GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war  the  ofificers  and  soldiers  who 
served  in  the  Union  army  felt  the  necessity  of  an  organization,  whereby 
they  could  be  brought  into  closer  and  more  fraternal  relations  with  each 
other.  Therefore  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  was  created,  and 
charters  were  granted  to  local  posts  throughout  the  United  States. 

A  post,  No.  71,  was  organized  at  Ogdensburg  December  17,  1867. 
Other  posts  have  been  organized  in  St.  Lawrence  county  from  time  to 
time  as  follows :  At  Gouverneur,  Potsdam,  Canton,  Norwood,  Massena, 
Hermon.  Morristown,  Waddington,  Edwards,  Parishville,  Nicholville, 
North  Lawrence,  Heuvelton,  Colton,  and  Richville. 

BENEVOLENT    ORGANIZATIONS. 

There  are  various  mutual  benefit  associations  in  the  county,  as  fol- 
lows : 

The  Northern  Tier  Masonic  Relief  Association,  organized  May  3,  1872, 
at  Ogdensburg. 

Odd  Felloivs  Funeral  Aid  Society,  organized  at  Ogdensburg  in  1870. 


2.3fi  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Young  Mens  Catholic  Union,  organized  at  Ogdensburg,  January  13, 

1884. 

Royal  Arcannm.  organized  at  Ogdensburg,  June  23,  1877. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  A  branch  was  organized  at  Og- 
densburg, July  16,  1888. 

Foresters.  A  lodge  was  organized  recently  in  Ogdensburg,  and  two 
or  three  lodges  in  other  towns  in  the  county.  Most  of  these  organiza- 
tions have  a  ritual  and  pass  words. 

KNIGHTS    OF    LABOR. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  object  of  this  organization  is  to  educate  and 
direct  the  power  of  the  industrial  classes.  The  first  organization  was 
effected  at  Reading,  Pa.,  July  4,  1878,  which  became  the  highest  trib- 
unal of  the  order  in  the  United  States,  and  grants  charters  to  local  as- 
semblies. 

Local  Assembly  No.  1916  was  founded  at  Ogdensburg  in  May,  1882, 
with  700  charter  members. 

Local  Assembly  No.  9544  was  organized  at  Gouverneur  in  1884,  with 
200  charter  members. 

Local  Assembly  No.  1003  was  organized  at  Parishville  in  1886.  with 
fifty  charter  members. 

GRANGERS. 

An  organization  chiefly  composed  of  farmers,  whose  object,  apart 
from  sociability,  is  to  dispose  of  their  products  at  the  highest  market 
price  and  to  purchase  their  supplies  at  the  lowest  rates  or  wholesale 
prices,  without  paying  percentage  to  middlemen.  There  are  some  nine- 
teen lodges  of  Grangers  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 


ANCIENT  RELICS.  237 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
ANCIENT  RELICS. 

Evidences  in  St.  Lawrence  County  of  Pre-historic  Occupation — Trench  Enclo.sures — 
Mound  near  Ogdensburg — Nature  and  Uses  of  Implements  Found — Theories  Concern- 
ing the  Mound  Builders. 

'^r^'HE  "American  Physician"  says,  "it  has  been  asserted  that  all 
I  animals  tend  to  deteriorate  in  this  country  "  —  the  western  conti- 
nent. "  Archaeologists  give  abundant  proof  that  successive  races  had 
peopled  the  western  continent  before  our  own  occupied  it."  Professor 
Shaler  is  satisfied  that  this  continent  is  far  inferior  to  the  Old  World  in 
its  capacity  of  sustaining  a  dense  population. 

For  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  country  by  the 
white  people  it  was  very  common  to  find  on  or  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground  along  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  tributaries,  the 
broken  remains  of  rudely  formed  pottery,  such  as  pots,  images  and  pipes, 
mortars,  pestles,  arrow  and  spear  heads,  axes,  chisels,  gouges  and  or- 
naments of  various  kinds.  These  implements  were  made  of  clay,  stone, 
flint,  jasper,  chalcedony,  shale,  shells  and  bone.  The  Aborigines,  or 
Indians,  who  inhabited  the  land  on  its  discovery  by  the  Europeans, 
were  in  possession  of  similar  implements,  which  were  used  by  them,  in 
connection  with  the  bow  and  arrow,  in  the  chase  and  on  the  war  path. 
During  the  surveying  and  settling  of  this  part  of  the  country  there  were 
discovered  what  are  usually  termed  defensive  trench-enclosures.  There 
were  several  such  enclosures  known  to  have  existed  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  which  locality  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  haunt  of  these 
builders,  as  evinced  by  the  remains  of  their  rude  implements  and  orna- 
ments scattered  through  the  soil. 

One  of  these  enclosures  was  found  in  the  Black  Lake  settlement ;  an- 
other in  the  town  of  Macomb  near  the  State  road:  In  and  around  them 
were  found  beds  of  ashes,  fragments  of  pottery,  pipes  both    of  clay  and 


238  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

stone  with  short  clumsy  stems,  two  to  three  inches  long,  a  heavy  mas- 
sive bowl  and  a  small  cavity.  In  the  town  of  Potsdam,  on  the  road 
leading  to  Norfolk,  situated  on  an  elevated  ridge,  was  a  remarkable  en- 
closure. The  form  of  this  work  was  to  have  been  semi- circular,  the 
open  side  resting  on  a  swamp  to  the  west,  and  with  several  open  spaces 
or  gateways  occurring  at  irregular  intervals.  The  ditch,  which  was  ex- 
terior to  the  bank,  appears  to  have  furnished  the  earth  for  the  breast- 
work, which  was  on  the  inside  of  the  trench  and  enclosed  about  two 
acres.  When  discovered,  pine  stumps  were  standing  on  the  bank  four 
feet  in  diameter,  and  beds  of  ashes  have  been  found  under  their  roots, 
mingled  with  broken  pottery,  flint  arrow-heads,  and  other  relics  of  the 
builders.  In  the  town  of  Massena,  about  half  a  mile  west  of  Raquette 
River  bridge,  and  on  the  western  declivity  of  a  slope,  have  been  traced 
the  outlines  of  a  work  which  differs  considerably  from  the  others  de- 
scribed, and  was  by  far  the  best  preserved.  Its  form  is  irregular,  being 
somewhat  like  an  ox  bow,  with  its  open  side  toward  Raquette  River 
and  with  numerous  spaces  or  openings,  more  especially  on  the  southern 
side.  The  open  side  is  in  part  protected  by  a  ditch,  which  is  not  con- 
nected with  the  main  work,  being  separated  from  it  by  a  considerable 
interval  on  each  side.  The  relics  furnished  by  the  soil  in  this  vicinity 
do  not  differ  essentially  from  those  of  other  places.  The  stumps  were 
of  immense  size,  standing  on  the  banks  and  in  the  ditches,  clearly  in- 
dicating that  many  centuries  have  elapsed  since  these  stations  witnessed 
the  events  for  which  they  were  formed.  Not  far  from  this  work  was 
found  a  pipe,  formed  of  whitish  steatite,  or  soap  stone,  having  on  its 
bowl  and  stem  the  figure  of  a  serpent,  curiously  wrought,  with  its  head 
raised  a  little  above  the  level  of  the  bowl.  The  figure  of  the  serpent  has 
been  used  by  savages  of  all  nations,  apparently  without  the  knowledge 
of  each  other,  and  this  has  given  rise  to  the  opinion  that  it  originated  in 
some  religious  nation,  and  that  it  is  symbolical  of  some  idea  inherent  in 
the  human  mind.  Among  the  mounds  in  Ohio,  in  the  township  of 
Adams,  there  is  a  most  noted  work  that  re[)resents  a  huge  serpent.  The 
structure  is  built  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  with  stone  and  covered 
with  earth.  The  head  is  seventy  feet  long,  the  neck  seventy-five  feet, 
and  the  entire  length  eleven  hundred  and  sixteen  feet.  The  whole  fig- 
ure represents  a  serpent  uncoiling  itself  and  gliding  towards  a  frog  sit- 


ANCIENT  RELICS.  239 

ting  upon  the  point  of  a  spur,  and  just  as  it  is  in  the  act  of  seizing  it, 
the  frog  ejecting  an  egg  into  the  serpent's  mouth.  "  It  maybe  inferred 
that  here  is  a  representation  of  phalHc  worship,  the  frog  representing 
the  creation,  the  egg  the  productive,  and  the  serpent  the  destructive 
power  of  nature." 

Two  mounds  were  discovered  near  St.  Regis  village,  in  1818,  by  Col- 
onel Hawkins,  United  States  boundary  commissioner,  and  were  found 
to  contain  human  bones,  beds  of  ashes,  stone  implements,  and  various 
kinds  of  ornaments.  On  the  opposite  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  in 
making  the  canal  around  the  rapids,  a  mound  was  dug  through  which 
disclosed  relics  of  copper,  stone  implements,  and  various  ornaments. 
Among  the  latter  was  a  mask  of  the  human  face  in  terra  cotta  or  earthen 
ware,  which  seemed  to  have  belonged  to  some  image. 

A  mound  was  discovered  below  the  city  of  Ogdensburg,  on  the  State 
Hospital  farm,  in  the  fall  of  1888,  by  the  workmen  when  grading  the 
bed  for  a  branch  railroad  running  to  the  grounds.  The  mound  was  sit- 
uated about  ten  rods  south  of  the  boiler  house,  and  was  something  over 
one  hundred  feet  in  diameter  at  its  base,  gradually  rising  in  an  oval 
shape  to  its  summit,  which  was  six  feet  above  the  grade  of  the  road- 
bed. On  three  sides  of  this  mound  was  a  strip  of  low  ground,  or  what 
may  be  termed  a  wide  ditch,  which  has  in  the  course  of  time  been 
filled  with  debris.  To  all  appearance  the  mound  has  been  considerably 
flattened  by  time  and  cultivation,  and  many  centuries  must  have  elapsed 
since  it  was  used  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designated,  as  large 
pine  stumps  were  standing  on  it.  The  mound  being  opened  to  the 
depth  of  the  road-bed,  there  were  found  in  the  center  six  pot- shaped 
cavities,  three  feet  across  and  about  two  feet  deep,  filled  with  sand  and 
thoroughly  mixed  with  red  ochre.  The  cavities  were  equi- distant  from 
each  other,  forming  a  circle  about  twenty  feet  in  diameter.  Around 
the  outside  and  parallel  \vith  this  circle,  some  twenty  feet  distant,  were 
what  appeared  to  have  been  fire-pits,  or  altars,  at  short  intervals  from 
each  other,  containing  ashes,  charcoal  (which  by  time  had  dissolved  to 
dust),  and  what  appeared  to  be  decomposed  bones.  In  these  pot- 
shaped  receptacles  were  found  various  kinds  of  implements,  such  as 
hatchets,  axes,  spear  and  arrow-heads,  chisels,  fleshers  or  bark  peelers, 
gouges   and    other   curiously  shaped   articles.     The  hatchet  and  spear- 


240  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

heads  were  made  from  a  fine  quality  of  flint,  the  other  implements  were 
made  of  chalcedony,  jasper,  green  stone,  and  brown  hematite.  The 
hatchet,  tliough  made  of  flint,  had  a  clean  cut  handle  eye  through  it, 
an  expanding,  thin  cutting  edge,  or  bit,  and  a  hook-shaped  head.  All 
the  articles  were  beautifully  fashioned,  especially  the  hatchet  and  spear 
heads,  which  show  that  the  work  was  performed  by  skillful  hands.  It 
was  supposed  by  those  present  that  the  implements  were  Indian  relics, 
as  similar  ones  had  occasionally  been  picked  up  on  the  ground.  Most 
of  them  were  carried  away,  yet  some  of  the  articles  and  a  portion  of  the 
ochre  were  left  with  the  asylum  managers,  who  retained  them  as  curi- 
osities. No  special  effort  was  put  forth  to  investigate  the  place  in  search 
of  further  relics.  It  is  probable  if  a  thorough  examination  had  been 
made  beneath  the  circle  containing  the  ochre  pots,  still  more  interesting 
facts  might  have  been  developed.  The  workmen  making  this  discov- 
ery did  not  suspect  that  they  were  on  historic  grounds,  further  than  that 
it  was  known  to  have  been  the  site  of  an  Indian  village,  which  at  some 
time  had  no  doubt  been  the  scene  of  strife  and  blood-shed,  nor  were 
they  conscious  of  having  disturbed  one  of  the  sacred  retreats  of  a  pre- 
historic race,  whose  tears  of  joy  and  of  sorrow  may  have  been  shed  over 
the  ashes  which  now  serve  only  as  a  witness  of  their  former  presence. 
The  writer,  shortly  after,  on  being  informed  of  the  discovery  and  the 
nature  of  the  relics,  made  a  personal  visit  to  the  place,  and  learned  from 
Superintending  Architect  Aiken  all  the  facts  connected  with  the  dis- 
covery, and  concluded  that  the  mound  and  the  articles  found  therein 
were  not  the  work  of  the  natives,  but  that  of  a  pre  historic  race  known 
as  mound-builders,  and  in  order  to  fortify  himself  in  that  conclusion  he 
wrote  to  J.  B.  MacLean,  author  of  a  work  on  "  Mound  Builders,"  who 
has  had  great  experience  in  examining  the  mounds  in  the  west;  gave 
him  a  description  of  the  place  and  the  various  kinds  of  implements  and 
the  red  ochre  found  in  the  cavities ;  also  mentioned  the  trench  enclo- 
sures in  this  county.  Prof  MacLean's  opinion  was,  that  this  mound  be- 
low the  city  and  the  various  trench  enclosures  were  the  work  of  mound- 
builders.  He  stated  that  red  ochre  had  been  found  in  a  few  mounds  in 
Ohio.  He  also  replied  to  the  query  as  to  the  mound  builders  being  a 
race  of  giants  (which  seems  to  be  the  prevailing  opinion),  but  he  stated 
that  his  experience   in   exhuming   skeletons    had    been  to  the  contrary. 


ANCIENT  RELICS.  211 

and  so  far  as  he  had  been  informed,  the  human  race  has  not  diminished 
in  size  from  the  earliest  days  of  man. 

It  is  evident,  from  the  numerous  mounds  and  other  structures  in  Ohio 
and  in  various  other   parts  of  the  country,  that  at  some  remote  period 
this  continent  was  occupied  by  a  more  civilized  and  powerful  race  than 
the  Indians,  who  were  in  possession  of  the  land  when  discovered  by  the 
Europeans.     The  construction  of  their  works  proves  that  they  had  con- 
siderable engineering  skill.      The  square,  the  circle,  the  ellipse  and  the 
octagon  are  all  used  in  their  structures  and   the  proportions  are  always 
perfect.      Many  implements  and  ornaments  of  copper  and  silver,  besides 
the  ordinary  implements  of  stone   heretofore  mentioned,  were  found  in 
their  mounds.     There  must  also  have  been  a  large  quantity  of  such  im- 
plements scattered  over  the  country,  which  were  picked  up  and  appro- 
priated by  the  Indians,  as  they  were  not  known   to  have  manufactured 
stone  or  metal  implements,  but   only  crude   earthen  ware  and  a  coarse 
quality  of  arrow  points.     The  Indians  are   too   roving,  impatient,  and 
slothful  to  raise  mounds,  or  spend   the   time  required  in  such  persistent 
and  hard  labor  as  is  necessary  to  acquire  the  skill  for  producing  stone 
implements.      Flint  or  flinty  stone   is   not  hammered   to  shape.     The 
process  used  by  the  mound-builders  in  working  such   material   is  sup- 
posed to  be  as  follows.      First,  the  stone  is  pressed  by  lever-power  into 
shape  as  near  as   may  be,  then   gradually   heated  to  a   certain  degree 
(overheating  destroys  it)  and  with  a  bush  or  twig  having  a  pithy  heart, 
the  operator  dips  the   small   end    into  cold  water  and  applies  a  drop  to 
the  part  of  the  stone  or  flint  he  wishes  to  reduce.     The  cold  water  com- 
ing in  contact  with  the  heated  surface  of  the  stone,  causes  it  to  contract 
so  suddenly  that  a   thin   scale   flies   off.      In  this  way  the  stone,  under 
skillful  hands,  is  slowly  brought  to   the  desired  shape.      It  is  said  that 
no  pure  flint  is  found  in  America  suitable  to   make  the  delicate  spear- 
heads, hatchets,  and  ornamental  work,  such  as  are  found  in  the  mounds 
of  this  country.     The  pure  flint,  which  this  work   seems  to  have  been 
made  of,  is  found  in  the  chalk  beds  of  Europe,  and  it  is  reasonable  to 
presume  either  that  the  finer  quality  of  the  mound-builders'  implements, 
or  the  flint  that  they  were  made  from  was  imported    to   this  continent. 
The  theory  that  the  flint  or  the  implements  came  from  Europe  goes  to 
strengthen  the  one  advanced  in    the   early  part  of  this  work  as  well  as 

31 


242  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWREKCE  COUNTY. 

by  scientists  and  others,  that  the  two  continents  were  formerly  one,  and 
the  transportation  of  such  implements  or  stone  was  made  overland,  as 
the  people  of  that  day  with  such  rude  appliances  could  not  construct 
suitable  crafts  in  which  to  cross  the  ocean. 

The  question  naturally  arises,  in  what  period  of  the  world's  history 
did  the  mound-builders  occupy  this  country  ?  In  absence  of  recorded 
facts  we  must  base  our  conclusions  to  a  certain  extent  on  theories  in 
harmony  with  such  evidence  as  we  have.  Written  history  is  supposed 
to  have  commenced  about  the  latter  part  of  the  Bronze,  or  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Irott  Age.  Early  history  treats  of  bronze  implements 
which  were  in  use  in  various  parts  of  European  countries,  but  it  is  silent 
as  to  the  western  continent ;  hence,  the  continents  must  have  been  sep- 
arated long  previous  to  the  commencement  of  written  history.  Taking 
all  evidence  and  theories  on  the  subject  into  consideration,  the  mound- 
builders  must  have  occupied  a  country  during  the  latter  portion  of  the 
first  Epoch  or  the  Stone  Age,  which  at  one  time  may  have  embraced 
the  greater  part  of  Europe,  as  the  same  kind  of  implements,  made  from 
the  same  materials  were  found  buried  in  the  ground  and  in  the  rubbish 
of  caves  on  both  continents. 

The  discovery  of  copper  tools  and  ornaments  in  some  of  the  mounds 
on  the  western  continent,  is  good  evidence  that  the  mound-builders 
were  just  entering  upon  the  second  EpocJi,  or  the  Bronze  Age,  at  the 
time  they  were  cut  off,  or  disappeared  from  the  land  in  which  they 
dwelt. 

By  the  testimony  revealed  upon  opening  the  mound  at  the  State  Hos- 
pital grounds,  we  are  stimulated  to  search  the  pages  of  the  past,  that 
speaks  to  us  from  hieroglyphics  and  fragmentary  symbols,  for  light  that 
shall  connect  these  mound -builders  with  the  early  Hindoos.  The  posi- 
tion of  the  red  ochre  pots  so  peculiarly  placed  within  the  fire  altars  on 
either  side,  has  a  similarity  to  certain  symbols  of  an  ancient  order  in 
India.  It  may  be  inferred  that  these  imperishable  articles  were  de- 
signedly used  in  this  peculiar  figure  to  show  to  future  generations  their 
knowledge  and  their  connection  with  that  ancient  Hindoo  order.  There 
is  still  to  be  seen  a  subterranean  temple,  containing  many  relics  of  the 
early  Hindoo,  which  is  situated  in  the  city  of  Allahhabad,  occupying  a 
point  where  three  rivers  unite.     There   are  engraved  on  the  massive 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  243 

stones  in  the  walls  symbols  of  the  order  and  dates  from  an  extremely- 
remote  period.  These  emblems  have  been  kept  and  transmitted  from 
one  generation  to  another,  and  attest  the  fact,  if  fact  it  be,  "  that  the 
great  architect  of  King  Solomon's  temple  derived  much  of  his  mystic 
lore  from  this  institution." 

Sublime  truths  were  set  forth  in  the  language  of  allegory  and  meta- 
phor, which  came  down  the  stream  of  time  to  the  Egyptians,  and  from 
them  to  the  children  of  Israel,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  latter  had 
a  full  knowledge  of  the  symbolic  meaning  of  the  red  or  scarlet  cord. 
(See  Joshua,  chap.  2).  This  cord  Rahab  displayed  in  a  peculiar  form 
in  her  window  that  the  army  of  the  Lord,  in  passing  seven  times  by  her 
dwelling,  might  see  and  understand  what  had  been  promised  her. 
Therefore,  the  red  ochre,  symbolically  displayed  in  the  mound  below  the 
city,  may  have  a  significant  meaning  reaching  back  to  a  remote  period 
in  the  history  of  the  human  family. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE  COURTS,  THE  BENCH  AND  THE  BAR  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Origin  of  our  State  Laws— The  Original  Courts — The  Court  of  Appeals — The  Supreme 
Court — Justices  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  District — Court  of  Common  Pleas — Judges  and 
Justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas — The  County  Court — County  Judges — The 
Surrogate's  Court — District  Attorneys — Sheriffs — Biograjjhical. 

WHILE  it  is  true  that  the  judicial  system  of  the  State  of  New  York 
is  largely  copied  from  the  common  law  of  England,  it  is  also 
true,  as  will  be  apparent  upon  a  close  study  of  the  laws  and  practice 
here,  that  the  system  is  in  many  respects  an  original  growth.  This  is 
strikingly  manifest  in  the  simple  manner  of  entitling  a  criminal  process. 
In  this  State  it  is  the  people  against  the  criminal ;  in  England  it  is  Rex 
versus  the  criminal.  In  the  one  there  is  an  independent  judiciary, 
responsible  to  the  people  only ;  in  the  other  there  is  a  court  sub- 
servient to  the  king. 


244  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  great  principle  of  the  sovereignty  of  the  people,  even  over  our 
laws,  has  had  a  slow,  conservative,  yet  progressive  and  systematic 
unfolding  into  the  present  system.  In  the  early  history  of  the  State 
the  governor  was,  in  effect,  the  maker,  interpreter,  as  well  as  the 
executor  of  the  laws.  He  was  the  chief  judge  of  the  court  of  final 
resort,  while  his  councillors  were  commonly  his  subservient  followers. 
The  execution  of  English  and  colonial  statutes  rested  with  him,  as  did 
also  the  exercise  of  royal  authority  in  the  province;  and  it  was  not 
until  the  adoption  of  the  first  constitution  in  1777,  that  he  ceased  to 
contend  for  these  prerogatives  and  to  act  as  though  the  only  functions 
of  the  court  and  councillors  were  to  do  his  bidding  as  servants,  while 
the  Legislature  should  adopt  only  sucl>  laws  as  the  executive  should 
suggest  and  approve.  By  the  first  constitution  the  governor  was 
entirely  stripped  of  the  judicial  power  which  he  possessed  under 
the  colonial  rule,  and  this  power  was  vested  in  the  lieutenant-governor 
and  the  Senate,  and  also  in  the  chancellor  and  justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court ;  the  former  to  be  elected  by  the  people,  the  latter  to  be 
appointed  by  the  Council.  Under  this  constitution  there  was  the  first 
radical  separation  of  the  judicial  and  the  legislative  powers  and  the 
advancement  of  the  judiciary  to  a  position  of  a  co-ordinate  depart- 
ment of  the  government,  subject  only  to  the  limitation  consequent 
upon  the  appointment  of  its  members  by  the  Council.  This  restriction 
however,  was  soon  felt  to  be  incompatible,  though  it  was,  not 
until  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1846  that  the  last  connec- 
tion between  the  purely  political  and  the  judicial  parts  of  the  State 
government  was  abolished,  and  with  it  disappeared  the  last  remaining 
relic  of  the  colonial  period.  From  that  time  the  judiciary  became 
more  directly  representative  of  the  people.  The  development  of  the 
principle  of  responsibility  of  the  courts  to  the  people,  from  the  time 
when  all  of  its  members  were  subservient  to  the  beck  of  an  irresponsible 
master,  to  the  time  when  all  judges,  even  those  of  the  court  of  last 
resort,  are  voted  for  directly  by  the  people,  has  been  one  of  the  remark- 
able features  of  our  government. 

A  brief  review  of  the  history  of  our  courts,  past  and  present,  shows 
that  their  system  embraces  the  idea  of  administering  justice  by,  first, 
a  trial  before  a  magistrate  and  jury — arbiters   respectively  of  law  and 


7arrzp^'^''-  " 


cuy^ 


T^^^-^^Zyfyt^ 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  245 

fact — followed  by  a  review  by  a  higher  tribunal  of  the  facts  and  law,  and 
ultimately  of  the  law  by  a  court  of  final  resort.  Besides  the  original 
court  for  the  trial  of  impeachments  and  the  correction  of  errors,  pro- 
vided for  in  the  constitution  of  1777,  perpetuated  in  the  constitution  of 
1 82 1,  and  abolished  by  that  of  1846,  the  first  constitution  recognized 
the  supreme  court  of  the  judicature,  which  was  reorganized  in  1778,  the 
judges  being  appointed  by  the  Council  of  Appointment.  The  Court  of 
Exchequer  was  a  branch  of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  same  as  it  existed 
during  the  colonial  period,  and  was  reorganized  in  1786,  "  for  the  better 
levying  and  accounting  for  fines  forfeitures,  issues  and  amercements, 
and  debts  due  to  the  people  of  the  State."  It  was  abolished  in  1828. 
Circuit  courts  were  established  April  19,  1786,  to  be  held  by  justices  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  the  various  counties.  Under  the  second  consti- 
tution the  circuit  courcs  were  held  by  circuit  judges,  appointed  by  the 
governor,  there  being  then  eight  circuits  in  the  State.  The  constitu- 
tion of  1846  abolished  the  circuits  as  they  then  stood  and  provided  for 
the  holding  of  the  Circuit  Court  by  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
Courts  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  were  provided  by  an  act  passed  February 
22,  1778,  to  be  held  by  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  the  same 
time  with  the  Circuit.  Two  or  more  of  the  judges  and  assistant  judges 
of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  the  respective  counties,  were  to  sit  in 
the  Oyer  and  Terminer  with  the  justice.  Under  the  constitution  of 
1 82 1  the  Oyer  and  Terminer  was  held  by  the  circuit  judge.  The  Court 
of  Probates  was  created  in  1778,  by  the  act  of  March  16,  which  divested 
the  governor  of  the  powers  he  possessed  during  the  colonial  period  in 
the  Prerogative  and  Probate  Courts,  and  transferred  them  to  the  judge 
of  the  Court  of  Probates,  except  in  the  appointment  of  surrogates.  In 
1787  surrogates  were  empowered  to  be  appointed.  This  court  had 
appellate  jurisdiction  over  the  Surrogates'  Courts,  and  it  was  abolished 
in  1823,  its  jurisdiction  being  transferred  to  the  chancellor.  Our  surro- 
gates and  their  powers,  as  they  at  present  exist,  will  be  noticed  a  little 
further  on.  The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  continued  from  the 
colonial  period  by  the  first  constitution,  and  under  that  instrument  had 
a  large  number  of  judges,  as  high  as  twelve  being  on  the  bench  at  the 
same  time  in  some  counties.  By  an  act  of  March  27,  1818,  the  office 
of  assistant  justice  was  abolished  and  the  number  of  justices  limited  to 


246  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

five,  including  the  first  judge.  The  court  was  continued  without 
material  change  by  the  second  constitution  and  expired  witli  that  instru- 
ment in  1847. 

The  constitution  of  1846  provided  for  the  following  courts  :  A  Court 
of  Impeachments  to  take  the  place  of  the  former  tribunal  of  that 
nature,  and  composed  of  the  president  of  the  Senate,  the  senators  and 
the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  or  a  majority  of  them. 

The  Court  of  Appeals,  organized  at  first  with  eight  judges,  four 
chosen  by  the  people  for  eight- year  terms,  and  four  selected  from 
the  class  of  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  having  the  shortest  time  to 
serve.  By  the  article  in  relation  to  the  judiciary,  framed  by  the  con- 
vention of  1867-8,  and  adopted  by  the  people  in  November,  1869,  the 
Court  of  Appeals  was  reorganized,  making  it  to  consist  of  a  chief  judge 
and  six  associate  judges,  to  hold  their  ofiice  for  fourteen  years.  It  is  in 
constant  session  in  Albany,  except  as  it  takes  recess  upon  its  own 
motion.  It  has  full  power  to  correct  or  reverse  the  decisions  of  all 
inferior  courts  when  brought  before  it  for  review.  Four  judges  must 
agree  to  render  judgment;  if  four  do  not  agree  the  case  must  be 
reargued,  but  no  more  than  two  hearings  can  be  had,  and  when  four 
judges  do  not  concur,  the  judgment  of  the  court  below  stands  affirmed. 
Upon  the  reorganization  of  this  court  in  1869,  its  work  was  far  in 
arrears,  a  fact  which  led  to  the  establishment  in  1870  of  a  Commission 
of  Appeals,  which  continued  until  1875,  and  possessed  substantially  the 
powers  of  its  sister  court  and  designed  to  relieve  the  latter.  In  1888 
the  Legislature  passed  a  concurrent  resolution  that  section  6  of  article  6 
of  the  constitution  be  so  amended  that  upon  the  certificate  of  the  Court 
of  Appeals  to  the  governor  of  such  an  accumulation  of  causes  upon 
the  calendar  of  that  court  that  the  public  interests  were  suffering  by 
the  delay  in  their  adjudication,  the  governor  might  designate  seven 
justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  act  as  associate  judges  for  the 
time  being  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  to  form  a  second  division  of 
that  court,  and  to  be  dissolved  by  the  governor  when  the  pressure 
on  the  court  proper  was  relieved.  This  amendment  was  ratified  by 
the  people  of  the  State  and  led  to  the  appointment  of  the  present 
second  division  of  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

The    Supreme    Court,    as    it  now  exists,    is  a    combination  of  very 
diverse  elements.      The    Court   of  Chancery  (organized    1763,  and  con- 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  247 

tinued  with  some  modifications  until  1846),  the  Court  of  Exchequer, 
(before  described),  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  the  Probate  Court, 
the  Circuit  Court  and  the  Supreme  Court  proper,  have  all  contributed 
elements  to  build  up  this  important  branch  of  the  judiciary  system. 
The  last  union  of  these  elements  was  made  by  the  constitution  of 
1846.  when  the  old  Supreme  Court  and  the  Circuit  Courts  were  com- 
bined. In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  consisted  of  five  justices.  It  had  been  the  practice  to  hold 
four  terms  each  year,  two  in  Albany  and  two  in  New  York.  But 
previous  to  that  time  and  in  the  closing  years  of  the  last  century, 
through  the  establishment  of  the  circuit  system  it  was  enacted  that  the 
judges  should,  during  their  vacations,  hold  courts  in  the  various 
counties  of  the  State,  and  return  their  proceedings  to  the  Supreme 
Court  when  it  convened  again,  where  they  should  be  recorded  and 
judgment  rendered.  A  few  years  later  the  system  was  simplified  bv 
dividing  the  State  into  four  judicial  districts.  To  each  of  these  districts 
was  assigned  a  judge  whose  duty  it  was  to  hold  circuits  in  each  of  the 
counties  therein  at  least  once  in  each  year.  This  circuit  system  is  very 
similar  to  the  one  now  followed,  except  that  our  Special  Term  is  substi- 
tuted for  the  Court  of  Chancery.  After  the  constitution  of  1821  the 
State  was  divided  into  eight  judicial  districts,  each  being  provided  with 
a  circuit  judge,  in  whom  were  vested  certain  equity  powers  subject  to 
appeal  to  the  Court  of  Chancery,  while  the  Supreme  Court  proper  held 
much  the  same  position  as  the  present  General  Term.  In  1846  the  new 
constitution  abolished  the  Court  of  Chancery,  as  before  stated,  and  gave 
its  powers  to  the  Supreme  Court. 

Justices  of  the  Fourth  Judicial  District. — Amaziah  B.  James,  Ogdens- 
burgh,  two  terms  from  January  i,  1853,  to  December  31,  1869;  Will- 
iam H.  Sawyer,  Canton,  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  December  26,  1876, 
term  expired  December  31,  1877;  Charles  O.  Tappan.  Potsdam,  Jan- 
uary I,  1878,  to  January  i,  r89i,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Lester 
W.  Russell,  of  Canton. 

The  system  of  local  judicature  has  also  changed  to  correspond  with 
that  of  the  State  at  large.  The  old  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  organized 
contemporaneously  with  the  colonial  Court  for  the  Correction  of  Errors 
and   Appeals,  has    given  way   to    the    County  Court.      In  St.  Lawrence 


248  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

county,  it  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  act  erecting  the  county  (see 
Chapter  X  of  this  work),  the  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  to  be  held 
on  the  first  Tuesday  of  June,  1802.  On  that  day  Judge  Nathan  Ford 
appeared  at  the  old  barracks  in  Oswegatchie,  with  the  sheriff,  Thomas  J. 
Davis,  and  the  clerk,  ready  for  business.  No  associate  justices  appeared 
and  the  court  was  adjourned  to  five  o'clock  of  the  following  day.  Between 
that  time  and  Saturday  at  ten  o'clock  there  were  three  daily  adjournments; 
but  on  Saturday  there  was  a  full  bench,  as  follows  :  Nathan  Ford,  first 
judge;  Alexander  J.  Turner,  judge;  Stillman  Foote,  of  Canton,  and 
Jonn  Tibbits,  jr.,  assistant  justices.  Matthew  Perkins  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  before  this  court.  Louis  Hasbrouck  signed  the  record  as 
clerk.  The  second  term  of  the  court  was  held  November  9,  1802,  with 
the  same  persons  presiding  with  the  exception  that  Joseph  Edsall 
appeared  in  place  of  Stillman  Foote.  The  term  beginning  in  Novem- 
ber, 1804,  was  held  in  the  court  house  in  Ogdensburg.  At  the  term 
of  1805  a  license  was  granted  to  John  Fulton  to  run  a  ferry  across  the 
St.  Lawrence  River,  between  his  house  on  lot  No.  21,  in  Massena,  and 
the  house  of  George  Barnhart,  in  Canada,  and  also  to  run  a  ferry  across 
the  Grass  River. 

The  following  persons  held  the  position  of  first  judge  of  this  court : 
Nathan  Ford,  1802  to  1820.  David  A.  Ogden  to  1824.  John  Fine  to 
1825.  David  A.  Ogden  to  1829.  John  Fine  to  1838.  Horace  Allen 
and  John  Fine  from  1843  until  the  adoption  cf  the  new  constitution 
1846).  The  office  was  then  made  elective  and  at  a  special  election  in 
June,  1847,  Edwin  Dodge  was  chosen,  and  re  elected  in  1851. 

Those  who  held  the  office  of  judge  down  to  1845  were  as  follows, 
with  the  dates  of  their  appointment :  Alexander  J.  Turner,  Joseph 
Edsall,  March  10,  1862;  Russell  Attwater,  Benjamin  Raymond,  Alex- 
ander Richards  and  Joseph  Edsall,  April  8,  1803  ;  Roswell  Hopkins, 
March  27,  18 10;  Russell  Attwater,  Benjamin  Raymond,  Alexander 
Richards,  Roswell  Hopkins,  Robert  Livingston,  David  A.  Ogden, 
March  6,  181 1  ;  David  A.  Ogden,  Robert  Livingston,  June  5,  1812; 
Russell  Attwater,  Alexander  Richards,  Roswell  Hopkins,  Benjamin 
Raymond,  David  A.  Ogden,  Robert  Livingston,  April  5,  1814;  Russell 
Attwater,  Alexander  Richards,  Robert  Livingston,  Thomas  J. 
Davies,  N.   F,   Winslow,  April    15,    181 5  ;    Russell    Attwater,  Robert 


^.f^^^^^^^U^y-iy^i^yt^yCi^ 


THE  COUETS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  249 

Livingston,  T.  J.  Davies,  J.  Fenton,  A.  Richards,  March  i, 
1818;  Amasa  Hackley,  jr.,  Jason  Fenton.  Robert  Livingston,  Ansel 
Bailey,  Smith  Stilwell,  January  24,  1823  ;  Robert  Livingston,  J.  Fen- 
ton, Smith  Stilwell,  Ansel  Bailey,  March  28,  1828;  David  C.  Judson, 
Jabez  Willes,  Asa  Sprague,  jr. ,  Chauncey  Pettibone,  March  29,  1829; 
Minot  Jenison.  January  10,  1832;  Minot  Jenison,  January  13,  1837; 
Zenas  Clark,  March  27,  1835  !  Minot  Jenison,  January  21,  1837;  Edwin 
Dodge,  George  Redington,  Phineas  Attwater,  March  19,  1845. 
(According  to  Mr.  Hough  this  latter  list  may  be  incorrect,  as  James 
Averill,  appointed  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  1840,  Anthony 
Brown  and  Isaac  R.  Hopkins  are  known  to  have  filled  the  ofifice  at 
some  period.) 

Assistant  Justices. — By  appointment,  Stillman  Foote,  John  Tibbits, 
jr.,  March  10,  1802  ;  Luke  McCracken,  Robert  Livingston,  Daniel  W. 
Church,  March  5,1806;  Daniel  W.  Church,  Stillman  Foote,  April  8,  1808  ; 
John  Tibbits,  jr.,  Luke  McCracken,  Charles  Cox,  Daniel  W.  Church, 
Stillman  Foote,  David  Ford,  David  Robinson,  Reuben  Ashman,  March 
16,  181 1  ;  Charles  Cox,  June  5,  1812  ;  Daniel  W.  Church,  John 
Tibbits,  jr.,  Stillman  Foote,  David  Ford,  Daniel  Robinson,  Reuben 
Ashman.  April  5,  1814;  Reuben  Ashman,  Jason  Fenton,  D.  W. 
Church,  Richard  Townsend,  Zephaniah  French,  Timothy  Pope,  John 
Policy,  Charles  Hill,  Caleb  Hough,  jr.,  April  15,  1815  ;  Caleb  Hough, 
jr.,  Moses  A.  Bunnell,  John  Lyttle,  Reuben  Streeter,  N.  F.  Winslow, 
March  16,  18 18. 

The  old  Court  of  Common  Pleas  has  given  way  to  the  present  County 
Court  for  which  the  constitution  of  1846  provided  the  election  in  each 
county,  except  the  city  and  county  of  New  York,  of  one  county  judge, 
who  should  have  such  jurisdiction  in  cases  arising  in  Justices'  Courts  and 
in  special  cases  as  the  Legislature  might  provide;  but  should  have  no 
original  civil  jurisdiction,  except  in  such  special  cases.  It  has  also 
equity  jurisdiction  in  the  foreclosure  of  mortgages,  the  sale  of  real 
estate  of  infants,  partition  of  lands,  assignment  of  dower,  satisfaction  of 
judgments,  whenever  seventy-five  dollars  or  more  is  due  on  an  unsatis- 
fied execution,  and  the  care  and  custody  of  lunatics  and  habitual 
drunkards.  The  act  of  1869  continued  this  jurisdiction  and  gave  the 
court  original  jurisdiction   in   all   cases  where   the   defendants  reside  in 

32 


250  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  county  and  in  which  the  damages  shall  not  exceed  $i,000.  The 
term  of  office  of  county  judge  was  originally  four  years,  but  was  ex- 
tended to  six  years,  upon  election  of  successors  to  the  incumbents  then 
in. office,  the  new  tenure  beginning  January  i,  1871.  The  following 
persons  have  held  the  office  of  county  judge  in  St.  Lawrence  county  : 
Edwin  Dodge,  June,  1847,  to  December  31,  1855  ;  William  C.  Brown, 
January  i,  1856,  to  December  31,  1863  ;  Henry  L  Knowles,  January 
I,  1864,  to  December  31,  1871  ;  Charles  O.  Tappan,  November,  1871, 
to  December,  1877;  Leslie  W.  Russell,  November,  1877,  to  December 
31,  1883;   John  M.  Kellogg,  November,  1883,  to  the  present  time. 

The  constitution  of  1846  provided  that  two  justices  of  the  peace,  to 
be  designated  by  law,  should  be  associated  with  the  county  judge  to 
hold  Courts  of  Sessions,  with  such  criminal  jurisdiction  as  the  Legisla- 
ture should  prescribe.  Special  judges  are  elected  in  counties  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  county  judge  when  required.  The  following  have 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  sessions  in  this  county:  1847,  Joseph 
Barnes,  James  C.  Barter;  1849,  Joseph  Barnes,  C.  Billing;  1850,  Jos. 
Barnes,  Silas  Baldwin;  185  1-2,  Joseph  H.  Beard,  Silas  Baldwin,  (who 
held  through  1853-56,  with  others  whose  names  are  not  obtainable); 
1857-58,  Harlow  Godard,  Joseph  Barnes;  1859,  Silas  Baldwin,  Joseph 
Barnes;  i860,  Silas  Baldwin,  Roswell  Hopkins;  1861,  O.  D.  Edger- 
ton,  Harlow  Godard;  1862-64,  O.  D.  Edgerton,  Silas  Baldwin;  1865, 
Silas  Baldwin,  W.  Tanner;  1866,  W.  E.  Tanner,  Harlow  Godard; 
1867-68,  Silas  Baldwin,  George  G.  Simons;  1869-70,  Silas  Baldwin, 
A.  S.  Tucker;  1871-2,  Silas  Baldwin,  James  Miller;  1873-5,  Silas 
Baldwin,  W.  P.  Smith;  1876,  A.  S.Tucker,  Rufus  K.  Jackson;  1877, 
Cornelius  Carter,  A.  S.  Tucker;  1878,  Cornelius  Carter,  George 
Backus. 

Special  County  Judges.  — 1854-55,  William  H.  Wallace;  1856-57, 
William  H.  Sawyer;  1858,  Edward  Crary ;  1858-9,  Harvey  D.  Smith; 
i860,  Edward  H.  Neary ;  1 861-3,  Edward  Crary;  1864-6,  Samuel  B. 
M.  Beckwith  ;  1867-75,  Edward  H.  Neary  ;  1876-79,  Vasco  P.  Abbott  ; 
Gerrit  S.  Conger,  present  special  judge. 

The  Surrogate's  Court  has  undergone  less  change  during  its  history 
in  St.  Lawrence  county  than  any  of  the  others.  In  the  early  times, 
even  before  the  Dutch  supremacy  in  this  country  was  displaced  by  the 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  251 

English,  there  had  been  a  short-lived  Orphan's  Court.  The  English 
introduced  the  Prerogative  Court,  which  was  in  turn  superseded  by 
the  Court  of  Probates  after  the  Revolution.  Surrogates  were  then 
appointed  in  each  county,  having  much  the  same  powers  as  at  present, 
from  whose  judgment  appeals  to  the  Court  of  Probates  lay.  This  was 
the  system  down  to  1823,  when  the  Court  of  Chancery  took  the  place 
of  the  Court  of  Probates,  as  to  appeals,  the  office  of  surrogate  remain- 
ing as  before.  The  Surrogate's  Court  in  this  county  first  convened 
April  28,  1805.  with  Mathew  Perkins  as  surrogate.  On  that  occasion 
the  will  of  Ezekiel  Colburn  was  proven  by  Elisha  W.  Barber  and  David 
White,  witnesses,  and  admitted.  On  the  24th  of  August  of  the  same 
year,  the  will  of  John  Harris  was  admitted.  The  first  intestate  estate 
in  the  county  was  presented  to  that  court  and  administration  granted 
thereon  in  1 806;  it  being  the  estate  of  Royal  Chapman,  of  Madrid,  and 
Stephen  Eldridge  was  appointed  administrator.  Mathew  Perkins,  the 
first  surrogate,  died,  and  his  estate  was  administered  upon  by  his  suc- 
cessor, Andrew  McCollom.  The  surrogates  of  the  county  have  been 
as  follows:  Mathew  Perkins,  1802  until  his  death  ;  Andrew  McCollom, 
1809  to  1813;  Gouverneur  Ogden,  18 13  to  1820;  Silas  Wright,  jr., 
1821  to  1823;  Horace  Allen,  1824  to  1840;  James  Redington,  1840 
to  1844;  Charles  G.  Myers,  1844  to  1847;  Benjamin  B.  Baldwin,  1847 
to  1855  ;  James  Redington,  1856  to  1859  ;  Harvey  D.  Smith,  i860  to 
1863;  Stillman  Foote,  1864  to  1877  ;  D.  A.  Johnson,  1878  to  1883  ; 
V  P.  Abbott,  1883  to  January,  1893;  John  A.  Vance,  1893  to  the 
present  time. 

District  Attorney. — This  office  has  undergone  considerable  change. 
Early  in  the  century  the  State  was  divided  into  seven  districts,  for  each 
of  which  there  was  an  assistant  attorney- general.  The  present  office, 
as  distinct  from  the  attorney-generalship,  was  created  in  1801.  Since 
18 1 8  each  county  has  had  its  own  district  attorney,  the  name  being 
preserved  in  its  original  form.  The  district  attorneys  who  have  held 
the  office  in  this  county  are  as  follows:  Amos  Benedict.  Samuel 
Whittlesey,  Amos  Benedict,  Jesse  L.  Billings,  and  Ela  Collins,  while 
Lewis  and  Jefferson  counties  were  united  in  one  district  with  St.  Law- 
rence county.  Since  18 18  John  Scott,  who  was  succeeded  by  Bishop 
Perkins;  John  W.  Grant,  1840;   Wm.  A.  Dart,  1845.      When  the  office 


252  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

became  elective,  Charles  G.  Myers  was  the  first  incumbent,  elected  in 
June,  1847,  and  re-elected  in  1 851,  served  to  1853;  Thomas  V.  Russell, 
1854-60;  B.  H.  Vary,  1861-69;  Leslie  W.  Russell,  1870-72;  J.  R. 
Brinkerhoff,  1873-1878  ;  L.  C.  Lang,  1878-1885;  Charles  A.  Kellogg, 
1885-1S94;   Ledyard  P.  Hale,  present  incumbent. 

The  sheriffs  of  this  county,  with  the  terms  of  service,  have  been  as 
follows:  1802,  Elisha  Tibbitts;  1803-6,  Thomas  J.  Davies  ;  1807-IO, 
John  Boyd  ;  181  i-i  3,  Thomas  J.  Davies  ;  18 14-17,  Joseph  York;  1818- 
25,  David  C.  Judson  ;  1826-28,  Levi  Lockwood  ;  1829-31,  Minot  Jeni- 
son ;  1832-34,  Lemuel  Buck;  1835-37,  Jonathan  Hoyt ;  1838-40, 
Luman  Moody;  1841-43,  Benjamin  Squire;  1843-46,  Noble  S. 
Elderkin;  1847-49,  Josiah  Waid  ;  1S50-52,  Henry  Barber;  1853-55, 
Reuben  Nott;  1856-58,  Paine  Converse;  1859-61,  Shubael  R.  Gurley  ; 
1862-64,  Lorenzo  Chamberlain;  1865-67,  Edward  J.  Chapin  ;  1868- 
70,  William  E.  Tanner;  1871-73,  William  H.  Walling  ;  1874-76,  Ed- 
ward J.  Chapin;  1877-79,  Orson  O.  Wheeler;  1880-82,  Alexander 
Mathewson ;  1883-85,  Lorenzo  Smith;  1886,  L.Bailey;  1887-89,0. 
O.  Wheeler;  1889-92,  E  P.  Backus,  and  Loren  H.  Wilson  to  present 
time.^ 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Benjamin  G.  Baldwin. — He  was  born  in  Bradford,  Vt.,  and  died  at 
Potsdam  Junction  (Norwood)  January  21,  1873.  (See  history  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Norwood  in  later  pages  )  Mr.  Baldwin  was  prepared  for  college 
at  academies  in  Bradford  and  Hartford,  Vt.,  and  graduated  from  Dart- 
mouth college  in  the  class  of  1826.  After  a  brief  period  of  teaching  he 
began  the  study  of  law  in  White  Creek,  N.  Y.,  and  removed  to  Potsdam 
village  in  March,  1828.  There  he  finished  his  studies  with  Horace 
Allen,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1832.  He  practiced  with  Mr. 
Allen,  with  William  A.  Dart,  or  alone,  until  the  fall  of  1850,  when  he 
took  charge  of  the  station  on  the  new  Northern  Railroad  at  what  is 
now  Norwood.  There  he  founded  the  present  village  on  land  that 
largely  belonged  to  him.  In  June,  1847,  he  was  elected  surrogate,  and 
was  re-elected  in  185  i.      January  i,  1856,  he  began  a  three  years'  term 

I  Tlie  reader  will  find  an  account  of  the  several  court  houses  and  jails,  as  well  of  other  county 
buildings  and  institutions,  in  earlier  pages  of  this  history. 


\cu^  T-A^M^ 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  253 

as  clerk  of  this  county,  requiring  his  remoxal  to  Canton.  Returning  to 
Potsdam  Junction  at  the  close  of  his  term  he  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  was  appointed  register 
in  bankruptcy  of  the  congressional  district  comprising  the  counties  of 
St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin.  He  married  in  August,  1833,  Mary  Ann 
Lamphier,  who  died  in  October,  1835.  He  married  in  October,  1837, 
Emeline  Lamphier,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mr.  Baldwin's  life  was  a 
beautiful  example  of  Christian  benevolence  and  good  will  to  his  fellows, 
and  his  life  work  was  imbued  with  honesty  and  uprigiitness.  These 
added  bright  lustre  to  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer. 

John  Fine. — This  pioneer  in  St.  Lawrence  county  was  born  in  New 
York  August  26,  1794  He  entered  Columbia  College  in  1805  and 
graduated  in  1809,  ^'^d  afterwards  studied  law  and  attended  law  lec- 
tures at  Litchfield,  Conn.  He  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  county  in  181 5 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Louis  Hasbrouck.  In  1824  he  was 
appointed  first  judge  of  the  county  and  was  continued  such  by  reap- 
pointment until  March,  1839.  In  the  fall  of  1838  he  was  elected  to 
Congress.  In  1844  he  was  again  appointed  first  judge  and  held  the 
office  until  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  1847.  During  his 
long  career  on  the  bench  only  three  of  his  decisions  were  reversed.  In 
1848  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  Judge  Fine  received  the 
degree  of  A.M.  from  Columbia  College  in  18 12,  and  that  of  LL.D. 
from  Hamilton.  In  1847  ^"<^  1849  ^^^  ^^'^s  nominated  for  judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  but  was  unsuccessful.  From  1821  to  1833  he  was 
county  treasurer.  He  was  a  man  of  very  high  attainments,  and  in  the 
various  benevolent  movements  of  his  time  he  was  among  the  foremost. 
He  died  January  4,  1865. 

Silas  Wright. — This  illustrious  citizen  of  this  county  was  born  in 
Amherst,  Mass.,  May  24,  1795,  and  was  taken  by  his  parents  while  an 
infant  to  Weybridge,  Vt.  After  an  academic  course  he  attended  and 
graduated  from  Middlebury  College.  Having  studied  law  with  Henry 
C.  Martindale  at  Sandy  Hill,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  in  18 19  licensed  to  practice 
as  an  attorney  in  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  that  year  settled  in  Canton. 
Here  he  soon  acquired  a  good  law  practice  and  gained  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens  and  public  confidence.  He  was  appointed  surrogate 
in  1821,  and  was  made  postmaster  of  the  place;  he  also  held  other 


254  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRE^^CE  COUNTY. 

town  offices  and  passed  by  promotion  through  several  grades  of  mihtary 
position  to  that  of  brigadier- general.  As  a  magistrate  he  discouraged 
litigation,  and  as  a  lawyer  he  was  especially  eminent  for  his  success  in 
drawing  from  witnesses  the  statements  bearing  upon  cases,  without 
touching  their  feelings  by  rudeness  or  satire.  His  arguments  were 
always  lucid  and  logical,  and  carried  conviction  to  the  hearer.  In  all 
public  affairs  he  took  an  active  interest.  He  became  prominent  in 
politics,  and  in  the  fall  of  1823  his  friends,  without  his  knowledge,  pre- 
sented his  name  to  the  Republican  Convention  of  the  Fourth  Senatorial 
District,  at  which  he  was  unanimously  nominated  by  them.  His  vote 
in  the  county  was  1,419,  and  that  of  his  opponent  20.  While  in  the 
Senate  at  that  and  the  following  sessions,  Mr.  Wright  assumed  from 
the  first  a  conspicuous  and  influential  position.  In  1826  he  was  elected 
to  Congress,  and  was  made  a  member  of  a  committee  which  had  im- 
portant work  bearing  upon  the  then  leading  questions  of  tariff  At  the 
next  congressional  election  he  was  defeated  through  the  omission  of 
"jr."  in  his  name  on  some  of  the  ballots.  Early  in  1829  he  was 
appointed  comptroller  and  held  the  office  until  1833.  when  he  was 
chosen  United  States  senator,  taking  his  seat  in  that  august  body  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty  eight.  He  was  re-elected  in  1837.  -^^  ^^^^ 
National  Convention  of  1844  the  nomination  for  vice  president  was 
tendered  him,  but  he  declined.  In  1842  he  declined  the  proffered 
nomination  for  governor,  as  he  had  also  that  of  the  office  of  judge  in 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  In  1844  he  was  nominated  for 
governor  and  elected.  In  1846  he  was  defeated  for  the  same  office. 
At  the  close  of  his  official  term  Mr.  Wright  returned  to  Canton  and 
engaged  in  practical  agriculture,  an  occupation  for  which  he  had 
especial  fondness.  Among  the  names  of  many  eminent  citizens  who 
have  left  their  record  in  this  county,  that  of  Mr.  Wright  stands 
perhaps  at  the  head.  His  biography  forms  the  third  volume  of  Ham- 
mond's Political  History  of  New  York.  Mr.  Wright  died  suddenly  in 
the  summer  of  1847,  j^^^  after  accepting  an  appointment  to  deliver  an 
address  before  the  State  Agricultural  Society. 

David  A.  Ogden  was  a  son  of  Abraham  Ogden.  who  was  a  lawyer 
of  Newark,  N,  J.,  and  was  the  eldest  of  twelve  children  After  the  death 
of  their    father,   David    A.   and  Thomas    L.    Ogden,  brothers,  became 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR  255 

owners  of  the  lands  of  the  town  of  Madrid,  one-third  of  which  they 
sold  in  1803  to  Joshua  Waddington  David  A.  Ogden  studied  law 
with  his  father,  settled  in  New  York  and  began  practice  with  his  brother. 
They  formed  a  business  connection  with  Alexander  Hamilton,  which 
gave  them  prominence  and  terminated  with  the  memorable  duel  in 
which  Hamilton  was  killed.  Mr.  Ogden  continued  the  practice  of  law 
in  New  York  until  1812,  when  he  retired  and  carried  out  a  cherished 
plan  of  settling  on  the  island  opposite  the  village  of  Waddington.  There 
he  carried  on  farming  and  rural  employments.  He  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress, 1817  19,  and  held  the  office  of  first  judge  of  the  county  1821  24, 
in  which  positions  he  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. His  death  occurred  at  Montreal,  June  9,  1829,  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years. 

Thomas  J.  Davies,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  judiciary  of  this 
county,  although  not  a  lawyer,  was  a  native  of  Washington,  Conn.,  and 
came  here  in  1800,  taking  up  a  farm  eight  miles  from  Ogdensburg,  on 
Black  Lake.  He  soon  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  was 
the  first  acting  sheriff,  1 803-6,  and  181 1-13  ;  and  also  held  the  office  of 
county  judge  for  a  time.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  Judge 
Davies  died  on  his  farm  April  18,  1845. 

Nathan  Ford  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  He  was  a 
native  of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  born  December  8,  1763.  In  early  life  he 
secured  the  confidence  of  some  of  those  who  had  become  interested 
in  the  lands  of  Northern  New  York  and  came  hither  on  a  tour  of 
exploration.  He  was  appointed  first  judge  of  the  county  and  held 
the  office  many  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Federal.  He  died  in 
April,  1829,  after  a  life  of  usefulness.  (See  town  history  of  Oswe- 
gatchie). 

Louis  Hasbrouck  — He  was  one  of  the^early  attorneys  who  attained 
prominence;  was  born  at  New  Paltz,  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  April  22, 
1777,  and  was  educated  in  Nassau  Hall,  Princeton,  graduating  in  Sep- 
tember, 1797.  He  studied  law  in  New  York  and  was  admitted  at 
Albany  in  1801.  While  at  Albany  he  met  Judge  Ford,  who  persuaded 
him  to  settle  in  Ogdensburg,  which  he  did  and  was  appointed  first 
clerk  of  the  county,  which  office  he  held  through  two  long  periods.  In 
Ogdensburg  he  practiced  law  until  his  death  and  was   intimately  asso- 


25(5  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ciated  with  its  growth  and  prosperity.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest 
rectitude,  modest  and  unassuming,  he  was  respected  and  beloved  by 
all.  In  1832  he  was  elected  State  senator,  and  was  a  member  of  that 
body  at  the  time  of  his  death,  August  20,  1834. 

Roswell  Hopkins — Born  in  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1757;  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  settled  in  Arlington,  Vt..  and  at  the  time  of  the 
early  settlements  in  this  county,  he  removed  to  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Hopkinton,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  in  promoting  the 
growth  and  advancement  of  this  region.  He  was  appointed  a  judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  1800.  and  held  it  during  a  later  term. 
He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  four  successive  years,  18 10- 1 3,  and 
honored  the  office  with  integrity  and  ability.  He  died  September  5, 
1829. 

David  C.  Judson  was  not  a  lawyer,  but  held  distinguished  position 
on  the  bench  in  this  county.  He  came  with  his  father  to  this  region 
and  settled  on  Black  Lake.  In  181 1,  when  Thomas  J.  Davies  was 
appointed  sheriff,  Mr.  Judson  undertook  the  performance  of  the  duties 
of  that  office  for  him,  in  the  territory  east  of  the  east  line  of  Canton 
and  Lisbon.  For  this  purpose  he  located  at  Hamilton,  now  VVaddington. 
In  18 18,  he  was  appointed  sheriff.  Adhering  to  Mr.  Clinton  in  the 
division  of  Democratic  politics,  he  was  removed  from  the  office  upon 
the  triumph  of  the  Bucktails  in  1821.  He  was  at  once  nominated  and 
elected  to  the  State  Senate.  Under  the  new  constitution  in  1822  all 
legislative  and  judicial  offices  were  vacated,  and  Mr.  Judson  declined 
renomination.  Identifying  himself  prominently  with  the  movement  for 
the  removal  of  the  county  seat,  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in 
18 1 8  largely  on  that  issue.  From  1829  to  1840  he  was  one  of  the 
county  judges,  and  in  the  fall  of  1829  was  chosen  cashier  of  the  Ogdens- 
burg  Bank,  resigning  in  1840.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  was  appointed 
collector  of  the  district  of  Oswegatchie.  He  died  May  5,  1875.  in  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  the  whole  community. 

William  C.  Brown,  son  of  Hon.  Anthony  C.  Brown  (the  latter  an 
attorney  of  Ogdensburg),  was  born  in  1820.  He  studied  in  his  father's 
office  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  October,  1841.  In  December 
following  he  became  a   partner  with   Judge  Amaziah   B.    James,  which 


CK^9^^^u^ 


:> 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


zot 


continued  twelve  years,  when  the  latter  was  made  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  He  held  the  office  of  county  judge  from  January,  1856,  to  the 
beginning  of  1863.  In  this  year  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  Con- 
vention from  the  First  Assembly  District,  and  was  the  first  mayor  of 
Ogdensburg.  He  was  justly  distinguished  in  his  profession,  possessed 
a  clear,  comprehensive  and  logical  mind,  and  was  conspicuous  in  all 
good  works.      He  died  December  12,  1870. 

Charles  Y.  FuUington  was  born  in  Madrid,  February  3,  1864,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Canton  Union  School  and  at  the  St.  Lawrence  Univer- 
sity. He  read  law  with  the  Hon.  Worth  Chamberlain,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  two  years.  He  married  Belle,  daugh- 
ter of  R.  M.  Emerson,  of  Canton.  Charles  Y.  FuUington  is  a  son  of  W. 
B.  FuUington,  a  native  of  Madrid,  son  of  Ira  FuUington,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  town,  born  in  Vermont  in  1800. 

Calvin  Harrison  Smith  was  a  young  attorney  whose  promise  of  an 
eminent  career  was  blighted  by  death.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege in  i860,  studied  in  the  office  of  Bart  &  Tappan,  and  was  admitted 
in  1863.  He  assisted  William  A.  Dart  in  his  position  as  United  States 
district  attorney.  He  afterward  went  to  Chicago,  formed  promising 
business  connections  there,  and  was  just  entering  a  career  of  usefulness 
when  he  returned  to  Potsdam  and  died  July  24,  1868,  aged  twenty- 
four  years. 

John  R.  Brinkerhoff  was  born  in  Turin,  N.  Y.,  May  23,  1830,  and 
died  at  Lyons,  Kansas,  October  i,  1889.  He  studied  law  with  Thomas 
J.  Spriggs,  of  Lowville,  and  after  his  admission  removed  to  Norfolk, 
this  county.  He  was  conspicuous  in  the  war  period  in  raising  volun- 
teers ;  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  afterwards  a  Republican.  In 
1870  he  was  elected  district  attorney  and  held  the  office  nine  years.  He 
afterwards  ran  for  senator  and  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  He 
was  an  able  lawyer  and  a  vigorous  public  prosecutor.  In  1882  he  re- 
moved to  Kansas,  where  he  was   prominent  in    public  and   private  life. 

Silas  Baldwin. — This  eminent  member  of  the  bar  of  Lawrence  county 
was  born  in  Dorset,  Bennington  county,  Vt.,  May  15,  1797.      He  was 
educated  in  Middlebury  College,  graduating  in  1821,  read   law   in  Ver- 
mont and  settled  in  Canton  in  1824.      There   he   entered   the   office  of 
33 


258  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWREXCE  COUNTY. 

Silas  Wright,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  this  State  in  1828. 
Meanwhile  he  had  become  a  partner  with  Mr.  Wright.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  sessions  in  1850,  and  held  the  position  with  honor  and  ability 
until  1875.  Previous  to  his  incumbency  of  this  office  he  had  been  a 
justice  of  the  peace  after  1825  to  1842  ;  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Canton  several  terms,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1854-5.  He 
was  postmaster  of  Canton  1826  to  1833.  In  these  various  public  sta- 
tions Mr.  Baldwin  exemplified  the  life  of  the  good  citizen  and  consist- 
ent Christian.  He  was  married  in  February,  1826,  to  Harriet,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeduthun  Farwell;  she  died  in  1828,  and  in  1829  he  married 
Elizabeth  Strong.  Mr.  Baldwin  continued  his  labor  until  just  before 
his  death. 

Horace  Allen. — He  was  born  in  Williston,  \^t.,  April  24,  1789. 
Mainly  by  his  own  exertions  he  fitted  himself  for  college  and  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Vermont  in  18 12.  He  studied  law  in  Essex, 
N.  Y.,  and  began  practice  in  Potsdam  in  18 16.  He  promptly 
assumed  a  prominent  position,  not  only  at  the  bar,  but  in  the  pro- 
motion of  all  public  affairs.  In  the  year  1824  he  was  appointed 
surrogate  and  held  the  office  until  1840.  In  1838  he  was  appointed 
first  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  held  the  office  until 
1842.  He  was  also  postmaster  of  the  village  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Allen  died 
May  24,  1866. 

Bishop  Perkins  was  born  in  Becket,  Mass.,  September  5,  1787,  and 
died  November  22,  1866.  He  was  educated  in  Williams  College,  and 
studied  law  in  Troy  and  with  Joseph  Kirkland  of  Utica.  He  settled  in 
Lisbon  soon  after  the  war  of  18 12,  and  a  little  later  removed  to  Ogdens- 
burg.  He  succeeded  John  Scott  as  district  attorney  and  held  the  office 
with  honor  and  ability  about  twenty  years.  He  was  in  the  Assembly 
and  member  of  Congress,  where  his  services  were  conspicuous.  In 
politics  he  was  a  life-long  Democrat.  "  The  leading  trait  in  his  char- 
acter as  a  public  officer  was  his  unselfish  devotion  to  the  maintenance 
of  whatever  his  judgment  dictated  as  right."  The  bar  of  the  county 
erected  a  monument  on  his  grave  and  placed  upon  it  a  suitable  inscrip- 
tion. 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  259 

Charles  G.  Myers  was  born  in  Madrid,  in  this  county,  February  17, 
1810.  He  attended  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy.and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen entered  the  law  office  of  Gouverneur  and  William  Ogden,  at 
VVaddington,  and  was  admitted  in  October,  1832.  In  the  next  year  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  Ransom  Gillett,  at  Ogdensburg.  In 
1844  he  was  made  surrogate  and  served  four  years  ;  in  1848  was  mem- 
ber of  assembly  ;  in  1847  ^v^s  elected  district  attorney  and  re-elected, 
serving  until  January  i,  1854;  '"  1859  he  was  elected  attorney-gen- 
eral. He  was  conspicuous  in  the  war  period  as  a  member  of  the  Military 
Board  and  chairman  of  the  Military  Committee  of  his  district.  In  1873 
he  was  appointed  canal  appraiser.  A  Democrat  in  his  early  years,  he 
became  a  Republican  when  that  party  was  organized  and  remained 
such  until  his  death.  It  was  written  of  him  that  "  He  stood  a  peer 
among  his  associates,  having  great  consideration  for  others  ;  gentle- 
manly, unpretentious,"  and  with  admirable  social  qualities.  He  died 
March  31,  1890. 

Ransom  H.  Gillett  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  about  the 
year  1800.  He  settled  in  Canton  about  the  year  1823;  studied  law 
with  Hon.  Silas  Wright,  teaching  at  the  same  time  to  pay  his  expenses. 
Attended  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam  and  after  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  formed  a  partnership  with  Aaron  Hackley  He  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  Ogdensburg  in  1832,  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  was  elected  to  Congress  and  re-elected  the  two  following  terms. 
In  the  fall  of  1833  he  became  associated  with  Charles  G.  Myers.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  occupied  a  conspicuous  position  in  his 
party.  In  1845  he  removed  to  Washington.  In  1867  he  retired  from 
business  and  removed  to  his  former  home  in  Columbia  county.  He 
died  in  the  city  of  Washington  in  1877. 

David  M.  Chapin  was  born  on  the  ridge,  near  Ogdensburg,  April  22, 
1806  His  grandfather  was  John  Chapin,  who  settled  in  Ogdensburg  in 
1 800.  By  determined  effort  and  surmounting  many  obstacles  he  obtained 
a  good  education,  finishing  with  one  year  in  Hamilton  College.  Return- 
ing to  Ogdensburg  he  taught  a  select  school  three  years,  at  the  same  time 
studying  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  James  G.  Hopkins.  He  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1836.  He  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party  upon  its  organization  and  was  active  in 


260  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

its  interests.  In  April,  i86i,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
collector  of  customs  for  the  Oswegatchie  district  and  held  the  office 
until  1866.  While  not  eminent  as  a  lawyer,  Mr.  C.hapin  enjoyed  the 
unqualified  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Preston  King  was  a  member  of  the  bar  of  this  county,  though  he 
never  engaged  in  active  practice.  He  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  Octo- 
ber 14,  1806.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College  and  studied  law 
with  Judge  John  Fine.  In  1832  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Ogdensburg,  and  in  1834  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  where  he 
served  several  terms.  He  was  an  ardent  Democrat  and  was  led 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  hopeless  efibrt  of  the  so-called  "  Patriots," 
who  invaded  Canada.  In  1845  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  twice 
consecutively  was  re-elected.  He  became  one  of  the  prominent 
founders  of  the  Republican  party  and  in  1855  was  elected  by 
the  new  organization  to  the  office  of  secretary  of  state.  In  1857  he 
was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate,  where  he  held  high  rank.  He 
was  defeated  for  re-election  through  the  Greeley  movement.  He  was 
a  delegate  in  the  Baltimore  Convention  in  1864,  and  in  1865  was 
appointed  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York.  He  died  by  his  own 
hand  while  insane,  November  12,  1865.  In  all  of  his  varied  public 
career  Mr.  King  exhibited  eminent  qualifications  and  fuU}^  sustained 
his  high  character  as  a  man. 

John  A.  Vance,  surrogate  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  was  born  in  Osna- 
bruck,  Canada,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1836.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Ireland  and  came  to  this  country  before  the  year  1820,  locating 
in  Canada,  where  he  married  Ann  Hill.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. The  subject  of  this  sketch  secured  a  good  education  against 
obstacles  that  would  have  discouraged  one  of  less  perseverance  and 
determination.  At  the  early  age  of  fourteen  he  left  home  and  reached 
St.  Lawrence  county,  the  possessor  of  ten  shillings  in  money  and  a 
limited  wardrobe.  From  the  year  1850  to  1858,  he  was  in  attendance 
at  school  a  part  of  the  time,  the  remainder  being  devoted  to  teaching 
and  other  work  which  he  was  compelled  to  do  to  obtain  means  for  his 
support  and  expenses.  His  first  experience  as  a  teacher  was  in  Canada 
in  1853,  for  which  he  was  paid  six  dollars  and  a  half  a  month,  and 
"  boarded  around."      In   1859  ^^   entered  the   law   office  of  E,   &   N. 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  261 

Crary,  of  Potsdam,  where  he  studied  two  years  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  Answering  his  country's  call,  he  entered  the  service  as 
first  lieutenant  in  the  Sixteenth  New  York  Infantry.  In  the  fall  of 
1 86 1  he  was  detailed  to  the  Signal  Corps,  where  he  served  with  credit 
to  the  close  of  his  term  of  two  years.  Returning  to  Potsdam  he  renewed 
his  studies  and  in  1864  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  began  practice 
with  Edward  Crary,  which  connection  continued  five  years.  He  was 
then  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  held  the  office  eight  years,  con- 
tinuing his  practice  alone.  In  1882  he  was  elected  supervisor  and  held 
the  office  eleven  years,  during  three  of  which  he  was  chairman  of  the 
board  and  declined  further  election  to  the  office.  In  1892  he  was 
elected  surrogate  of  the  county  and  is  now  efficiently  performing  the 
duties  of  that  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
a  member  of  the  Local  Board  of  the  Normal  School.  By  persevering 
attention  to  his  labors,  public  and  private,  his  thorough  integrity  and 
his  legal  ability,  Mr.  V^ance  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
He  was  married  August  16,  1864,  to  Clarinda  Daggett,  of  Parishville, 
and  they  have  two  children. 

Amaziah  Bailey  James. — The  family  of  this  name  have  been  and  now 
are  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  Amaziah 
Bailey  James  was  born  on  the  1st  of  July,  18 12,  at  Stephentown,  Rens- 
selaer county,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  six  years  he  went  with  his  lather, 
Samuel  B.  James,  to  Western  New  York.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
he  began  learning  the  printing  trade  at  Batavia,  N.  Y,  and  followed 
that  vocation  for  a  number  of  years  thereafter,  and  came  to  Ogdens- 
burgini83i.  In  1836  he  married  Lucia  W.  Ripley.  To  them  were 
born  two  sons:  Henry  R.  and  Edward  C.  James.  In  1832  he  associated 
himself  with  others  in  publishing  The  Northern  Light,  an  anti-Masonic 
weekly  paper.  The  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  soon  afterward  to 
The  Times  and  Advertiser,  which  became  the  leading  Whig  paper  in 
the  county.  He  was  in  1836  captain  of  the  Ogdensburg  Artillery  and 
afterwards  was  promoted  to  major  of  militia.  At  the  time  of  the 
Patriot  war  in  Canada  he  performed  an  important  part  in  the  capture 
of  the  famous  Belle  Johnson  on  the  river  just  above  the  village.  Mr. 
James  studied  law  with  James  G.  Hopkins  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1838.     Always  conspicuous    in   current   political   affairs,  and  with  a 


262  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

character  above  reproach,  he  was  elected  to  the  Supreme  Bench  in 
1853  and  honorably  and  ably  filled  that  station  until  1876,  when  he 
resigned  to  accept  his  seat  in  Congress.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  one 
of  the  commissioners  from  the  State  of  New  York  to  the  Peace  Conven- 
tion at  Washington.  In  politics  Mr.  James  first  acted  with  the  anti- 
Masonic  movement,  but  upon  the  collapse  of  that  party  he  united  with 
the  Whigs  and  became  a  leader  in  the  county.  On  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party  he  heartily  joined  the  movement  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  its  councils  until  his  death.  While  serving  his  second 
term  in  Congress  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  his  death  took 
place  at  his  home  on  the  6th  of  July,  1883.  Possessing  all  the  elements 
of  a  good  lawyer  and  an  eminent  jurist,  he  became  a  successful  practi- 
tioner, rising  rapidly  to  the  head  of  his  profession.  Always  studious, 
he  acquired  a  fund  of  general  knowledge  in  art,  science,  agriculture, 
and  horticulture.  He  gave  his  support  to  all  measures  and  projects 
calculated  to  build  up  and  improve  the  city  of  his  home.  He  was  the 
one  individual  in  the  community  who  could  approach  every  man  and 
whom  every  man  felt  that  he  could  approach,  for  the  purpose  of  telling 
his  troubles,  always  receiving  counsel  and  services  which  never  failed 
to  prove  beneficial.  He  began  life  a  poor  boy.  The  misfortune  of 
poverty,  however,  had  no  discouragement  for  him.  Nature  gave  him 
the  elements  of  greatness,  provided  him  with  the  talent  to  acquire  and 
to  hold,  and  he  early  earned  a  competence.  In  his  death  the  com- 
munity lost  a  good  citizen,  a  brave  and  generous  man.  His  widow  sur- 
vives. 

Samuel  H.  Palmer  was  born  in  Colton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  August 
1.2,  1837.  His  family  is  a  branch  of  the  Connecticut  Palmers,  originally 
of  English  extraction,  whose  ancestry  dates  back  to  Walter  Palmer, 
who  came  to  this  country  with  John  Endicott  in  1620  and  in  1653  set- 
tled at  Stonington,  Conn.  In  1824  Mr.  Palmer's  parents  moved  to 
Parishville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  later  to  Colton  and  Madrid, 
where  the  years  of  his  boyhood  were  passed.  He  received  a  liberal 
education  in  the  schools  of  this  county,  including  the  Potsdam  Academy 
and  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  after  which  for  two  and  a  half 
years  he  taught  the  West  Side  Ogdensburg  school.  Mr.  Palmer  then 
took  up  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted   to  the    bar   in  1863.      Soon 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  263 

after  he  purchased  the  insurance  business  of  J.  H.  Fairchild,  which  he 
conducted  for  nine  years  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  sold  his 
interests  therein  to  A.  E.  Smith,  and  bought  an  interest  in  the  St.  Lazv- 
rence  Republican  z.i\di  the  Ogdensbiirg  Journal,  ]3.x\uS(Yy  i,  1874.  With 
these  papers  he  has  since  been  actively  identified,  owning  over  one- 
half  the  capital  stock  of  the  Republican  and  Journal  company  and 
occupying  the  position  of  manager  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Palmer  married 
June  I,  1867,  Mrs.  Martha  E.  (Packard)  Wright,  and  has  had  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Palmer  has  served  as  supervisor 
of  the  town  for  thirteen  years,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors for  three  years.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Ogdensburg,  serving  for  many  years  as  president  of  the 
board,  has  held  other  positions  of  local  importance  and  has  always  been 
recognized  as  an  active  and  influential  citizen  of  his  city  and  county. 

Judge  E.  H.  Neary  was  born  in  the  old  country  in  1834  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1848.  He  attended  the  schools  of  Og- 
densburg, graduating  from  Ogdensburg  Academy  in  1853.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  that  year  and  read  in  the  chambers  of 
Judge  James,  and  also  with  Brown  &  Spencer,  teaching  school  a  por- 
tion of  the  time.  January  i,  1856,  he  became  deputy  county  clerk  of 
St.  Lawrence  county,  which  position  he  occupied  for  three  years.  He 
then  came  to  Gouverneur  and  engaged  in  his  profession,  where  he  still 
remains.  In  i860  he  was  appointed  special  county  judge,  serving  in 
that  capacity  for  sixteen  years,  acting  also  as  United  States  commis- 
sioner. Notwithstanding  the  demands  of  his  profession,  Mr.  Neary  is 
deeply  interested  in  all  movements  for  the  good  of  his  town,  being  for 
many  years  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  seminary.  With  him  in 
his  law  practice  he  has  associated  his  son,  William  Neary,  a  graduate  of 
Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  class  of  1885,  and  who  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  1889.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  young  men  of  the 
town,  and  was  elected  town  clerk  in  1893. 

Gaylord  T.  Chaney  was  born  in  Rossie,  October  31,  1864,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  by  special  tutors  in  Boston.  He  taught 
school,  followed  surveying,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  V.. 
B.  White  until  1888,  and  started  the  Hermon  Observer.  He  sold  this 
and  went  West,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Colorado  in  1891.    Re- 


264  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

turning  to  Hermon  the  same  fall,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  this 
State  in  1892,  when  he  opened  his  present  office.  Mr.  Chaney  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  Hermon,  police  justice  and  village  clerk 
of  Hermon,  when  only  twenty  one  years  old,  and  is  at  present  justice 
of  sessions  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Mason  and 
serving  his  third  year  as  master  of  Hermon  Lodge  No.  500  He 
married  Sarah  A.  Partridge,  and  they  have  two  children,  Ceylon  G. 
and  Gertrude  M. 

Luther  E.  Wadleigh  was  born  at  Stocksboro,  Vt.,  February  22,  1837. 
He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Aaron  Wadleigh,  who  was  a  miller  and  mason  by 
trade,  but  on  Sundays  officiated  as  a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  died  in  1842  at  thirty- nine  years  of  age.  The  mother  of  Luther  E., 
Betsey  E.  Cole,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  They  had  five 
children,  one  of  whom  died  when  a  child,  and  three  of  the  family  are 
now  living:  Mrs.  Mary  Ward,  of  Kansas;  Willard  C,  a  farmer  of 
Stockholm,  and  Luther  E.  Luther  was  but  twelve  years  of  age  when 
he  started  for  himself  In  a  letter  to  our  subject  from  Brainbridge 
Wadleigh,  late  United  States  senator  of  New  Hampshire,  it  is  found 
that  the  great-grandfather  on  the  paternal  side  was  a  captain  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  grandfather,  Aaron  W.,  a  captain  in  the 
war  of  181 2,  and  the  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  the  Mayflower 
on  that  side.  The  education  of  Luther  E.  was  limited  to  the  common 
schools  and  a  few  terms  at  St.  Lawrence  Academy  ;  and  after  leaving 
school,  which  was  hastened  by  poor  health,  he  spent  a  year  on  the 
farm,  and  then  entered  the  office  of  Dart  &  Tappan,  where  he  was  for 
four  years  the  assistant  of  W.  A.  Dart  while  he  was  United  States 
district  attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York,  from  1861-65. 
In  the  spring  of  1 865  he  entered  Albany  Law  College,  where  he  spent 
a  year,  being  admitted  to  practice  in  November,  1865.  He  traveled 
through  the  west  and  ventured  a  settlement  there,  conducting  an  insur- 
ance business.  He  returned  here  in  the  fall  of  1866  and  immediately 
went  to  Hartford,  where  for  three  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Hartford  Fire  Insurance  Company  as  general  agent.  He  returned  to 
Potsdam  and  began  a  law  practice.  He  was  for  eight  years  a  magis- 
trate of  the  town  and  refused  a  third  term,  giving  his  time  to  increasing 
his  law  business.      He  has  occupied  his  present  office  since    1870.      Mr 


J 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  265 

Wadleigh  is  at  present  holding  his  third  term  as  president  of  the  Board 
ofTrustees  of  Potsdam.  He  married  in  1859  Hannah  H.,  daughter  of 
Captain  R.  W.  Seeley,  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Millie 
A.,  and  Ogden  O.,  a  student  in  his  father's  office,  and  a  graduate  of 
Normal  School  and  Syracuse  University,  and  now  taking  a  year's  law 
lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

John  Gilbert  Mclntyre  was  born  in  Massena,  December  i,  1839,  a 
son  of  Angus  Augustus  Mclntyre,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to 
this  country  about  1825.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  who 
lived  at  Massena  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  The  early  life  of  our 
subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  his  birth  on  a  farm.  He  was  educated 
in  the  district  and  select  schools  of  Massena,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam,  graduating  from 
that  institution  in  1861,  and  then  entered  Middlebury  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  and  A.M.  He  taught  as 
the  principal  of  the  academy  at  Northfield,  Vt.,  one  year,  and  then 
came  to  Potsdam  to  teach  in  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy  as  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  for  a  year  and  one  term,  studying  law  in  the 
meantime  in  the  office  of  Judge  H.  L.  Knov/les.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1867,  and  became  a  partner  of  the  Hon.  A.  X.  Parker.  The 
firm  of  Parker  &  Mclntyre  existed  until  Mr.  Parker  went  to  Congress, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Mclntyre  has  been  alone.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Potsdam,  and  is  now  trustee  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Local  Board  of  the  State  Normal  School.  He  married  in 
1869  Amelia  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  L.  H.  Dunton,  of  Stockholm. 

Norman  H.  Claflin  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockholm,  April  20, 
1858,  a  son  of  William,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  settled  in 
St.  Lawrence  county  in  1823.  He  always  followed  farming,  and  died 
in  Stockholm  on  his  farm  of  175  acres,  December  10,  1871,  aged  sixty 
years.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Julia  A.  Millington,  was  also  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  State  about  1830,  and  died 
November  28,  1867.  They  were  married  in  185 1  and  had  two  chil- 
dren:  Hattie  E.,  who  married  Fernando  S.  Wing,  of  Madrid,  in 
March,  1879,  and  immediately  moved  to  the  west,  where  she  died  soon 
after.     The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  homestead  farm. 

After  his  father's  death  he  went  to  Lawrenceville,  where  he  attended 
34 


266  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  academy  until  1875,  then  going  to  Fort  Edward,  where  he  finished 
his  preparatory  course,  entering  Madison  University  (now  Colgate)  in 
the  fall  of  1877.  He  was  a  teacher  in  Lawrenceville  Academy  from 
the  fall  of  1879  till  the  spring  of  the  following  year.  He  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  the  fall  of  1876,  in  the  office  of  D.  L.  Bugbee  at 
Lawrenceville,  and  while  teaching  in  the  academy  prosecuted  his  law 
study  in  the  same  ofiice,  and  in  the  fall  of  1880  entered  Albany  Law 
School,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  January  28,  1881,  as  an  attorney, 
and  admitted  as  counsellor  at  Binghamton,  May  9,  1884.  He  began 
his  practice  in  Norwood,  April  1881,  and  June  3,  formed  a  co-partner- 
ship with  W.  J.  Fletcher,  which  existed  until  June  12,  1887,  since 
which  time  Mr.  Claflin  has  been  alone.  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  1883  was  elected  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Norwood, 
which  office  he  held  two  years  and  was  again  elected  in  1892,  and  is 
president  of  the  present  board.  He  was  appointed  assistant  district 
attorney  January  i,  1888,  a  position  he  still  holds,  now  serving  his 
second  term.  He  married  August  ii,  1881,  Helen  A.,  daughter  of 
Barney  Whitney,  superintendent  of  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Harry  B.,  now  in  his  eleventh  year. 

Colonel  Edward  C.  James,  second  son  of  Hon.  A.  B.  and  Lucia  (Rip- 
ley) James,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg  in  May,  1841.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  that  place  till  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  entered 
Walnut  Hill  School  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  to  prepare  for  college.  The 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  however,  interrupted  his  plans.  He  entered 
the  field  for  his  country  in  August,  1861,  as  adjutant  of  the  Fiftieth 
N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Colonel  Charles  B.  Stuart.  He  served 
with  his  regiment  until  the  spring  of  1862,  when,  on  May  i,  while  par- 
ticipating in  McCIellan's  campaign  on  the  peninsula,  he  received  his 
commission  as  major  of  the  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  then 
stationed  at  the  Relay  House,  near  Baltimore,  Md.  In  July  of  the 
same  year  the  Sixtieth  became  a  part  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  under  General 
Banks,  and  took  part  in  most  of  the  operations  of  that  corps  during 
General  Pope's  campaign  in  Virginia.  In  August,  1862,  after  the  bat- 
tles of  Manassas  and  Chantilly,  Major  James  was  commissioned  lieuten- 
ant colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  joined  his  regiment  at  New  Creek,  W.  Va.      In  September,  1862, 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  267 

he  was  promoted  to  be  colonel  of  that  regiment.  He  commanded 
his  regiment  through  all  its  operations  in  Virginia.  Upon  the  ad- 
vance of  General  Lee  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  in  June  1863, 
Colonel  James  was  at  Martinsburg,  in  the  line  of  Lee's  march.  The 
Federal  forces  consisted  of  only  two  regiments  of  infantry,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  New  York  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
sixth  Ohio,  under  Colonel  Smith,  with  a  West  Virginia  Battery  and 
a  squadron  of  the  Ringgold  Cavalry.  Sunday  morning,  June  14, 
1863,  Lee's  army,  after  its  victory  at  Winchester,  came  suddenly 
upon  Martinsburg.  For  the  Federal  forces  to  attempt  to  retire  in 
daylight  meant  capture.  To  fight  against  such  overwhelming  odds 
meant,  practically,  annihilation.  Colonel  James  hit  upon  a  strategem. 
He  threw  out  all  but  two  of  his  infantry  companies  into  a  skirmish  line 
of  extensive  front.  The  enemy,  believing  they  had  come  upon  a  large 
force,  stopped  to  reconnoiter.  By  following  up  his  strategem  with 
well-timed  tactics,  Colonel  James  succeeded  in  halting  the  advance  of 
Lee's  army  for  the  entire  day.  At  nightfall,  under  a  furious  cannon- 
ade from  the  Rebel  batteries,  the  Federal  forces  escaped  by  the  Antie- 
tam  ford  of  the  Potomac  to  Harper's  Ferry,  without  loss.  The  surprise 
and  chagrin  of  the  Rebels  was  great  when  they  discovered,  too  late, 
that  they  had  been  outwitted.  The  incident,  however,  was  of  greater 
moment  than  its  mere  recital  would  imply.  This  was  a  short  time  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  delay  of  Lee's  army  a  whole  day 
at  Martinsburg,  probably  made  a  difference  in  the  positions  of  the 
armies,  date,  and  possibly  in  the  result  at  Gettysburg.  After  the  Mar- 
tinsburg incident  Colonel  James  and  his  regiment  was  stationed  on 
Maryland  Heights.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  Harper's  Ferry,  before 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  brigade  to  which  his  regiment  was 
attached  was  sent  to  Washington  with  the  stores  and  munitions  of  war 
from  Harper's  Ferry  and  Maryland  Heights,  amounting  to  millions  of 
dollars  in  value.  These  were  conveyed  safely  to  their  destination. 
Colonel  James  then  returned  to  the  field  and  participated  in  all  of  the 
operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  subsequent  to  Gettysburg.  In 
August,  1863,  he  was  honorably  discharged  through  disability  incurred 
in  the  service  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Ogdensburg.  In  the  same 
year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  began    the   practice  of  law  with 


2G8  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Stillman  Foote,  esq.,  then  surrogate  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1864.  This  partnership  continued  until  1874.  Colonel  James 
remained  in  Ogdensburg  seventeen  years,  and  conducted  a  law  business 
which  extended  over  the  whole  State.  He  then  removed  to  New  York 
city,  where  he  still  continues  to  practice  his  profession,  and  has  gained 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  eminent  advocates  of  that  city. 
He  is  counsel  for  the  Manhattan  Railway  Company  and  other  corpora- 
tions, and  socially  is  a  member  of  several  of  the  leading  clubs  of  New 
York  city.  Colonel  James  married  Sarah  W.  Perkins,  eldest  daughter 
of  Edward  H.  Perkins,  of  Athens,  Pa.,  November  16,  1864.  His  wife 
died  December  3,  1879,  leaving  two  daughters:  Lucia  and  Sarah 
Welles.  The  former  married  Dr.  Grant  C.  Madill,  of  Ogdensburg, 
September  6,  1893. 

George  Morton  was  born  in  Mallorytown,  Ont.,  June  23,  1859.  His 
father  moved  to  Canada  from  Rhode  Island  about  1839.  After  a 
residence  of  several  years  there  the  elder  Morton  returned  to  Ogdens- 
burg, where  he  assumed  charge  of  the  old  Tremont  Hotel,  which  in 
1886  was  burned.  After  the  fire  he  returned  to  Canada,  settling  in 
Belleville,  Ontario.  In  1870  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
grocery  trade.  George  Morton  entered  his  father's  establishment  as 
clerk,  where  he  remained  until  1873,  when  he  attended  a  full  course  in 
a  commercial  college.  He  then  returned  and  took  charge  of  his  father's 
books  for  two  years.  His  father  then  decided  on  having  his  son  take 
a  classical  course  and  sent  him  to  Albert  University,  but,  unfortunately, 
the  father  shortly  afterward  met  with  business  reverses  which  compelled 
George  to  employ  part  of  his  time  in  teaching  to  obtain  the  necessary 
funds  to  pay  his  tuition.  By  courage  and  marked  ability  he  succeeded 
in  both  paying  his  way  and  carrying  off  first  prize  in  classics,  graduating 
with  highest  honors  at  the  end  of  his  term.  In  fact,  so  brilliant  was 
his  record  that  the  faculty  rewarded  him  by  remitting  at  the  end  of  his 
term  a  part  of  his  tuition  fees.  Mr.  Morton  then  entered  the  law  office 
of  J.  J.  B.  Flint,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1881,  at  Osgood  Hall, 
Toronto,  After  practicing  one  year  he  removed  to  Ogdensburg  and 
entered  the  law  office  of  Daniel  Magone,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
that  gentleman  received    the    appointment   of  collector  of  the  port   of 


,.^^^  ^./t 


I 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  269 

New  York,  since  which  time  Mr.  Morton  has  been    actively  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession. 

C.  A.  Kellogg  was  born  in  Massena,  St.  Lawrence  county,  November 
30,  1850.  After  receiving  an  academic  education  he  commenced,  in 
1874,  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  L.  C.  Lang,  and  later  in  that  of 
L.  E.  Wadleigh,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877.  In  1878  he 
commenced  practice  in  Russell,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1 88 1  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  In  1885  he  was  elected  district 
attorney  and  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1888.  Mr.  Kellogg  married  in 
18 —  Flora  Barnes,  of  Russell,  and  they  have  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
He  is  identified  with  all  local  social  and  benevolent  institutions. 

F.  R.  Moreland  was  born  in  Ogdensburg.  January  25,  1853,  of 
Irish-American  parentage.  He  received  an  excellent  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  Ogdensburg  Institute,  read  law  with  George 
Morris,  of  Ogdensburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  For 
some  time  Mr.  Moreland  was  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  until  1885,  when  he  became  identified  with  agricultural 
legislation,  drafting  and  being  instrumental  in  having  a  number  of  the 
most  important  dairy  bills  passed  through  Congress.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  delivering  addresses  upon  these  subjects  in  many  of  the  States 
of  the  Union,  In  1 890  he  again  resumed  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Ogdensburg.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the  New  York  State 
Dairymen's  Association. 

John  C.  Keeler,  now  of  Canton,  an  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law, 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Carlos  C.  Keeler,  of  Malone,  Franklin  county,  in 
this  State.  Mr.  Keeler  was  educated  at  Franklin  Academy  in  Malone 
and  at  Williams  College  in  Massachusetts,  being  a  member  of  the  class 
of  ]  873.  After  leaving  college  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  University  at  Canton,  and  pursued  a  course  of  study  therein, 
until  the  discontinuance  of  that  department  a  few  months  afterwards. 
He  then  studied  law  and  was  a  law  clerk  in  the  office  of  Sawyer  & 
Russell,  in  Canton,  until  midsummer  of  1874,  when  he  went  to  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1874.     For  a  short  time  he  was  in  the  office  of  Hon.  James  G.  Jenkins, 


270  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

now  circuit  judge  of  the  United  States  Court  in  the  present  Milwaukee 
district,  but  in  December,  1874,  went  to  New  York  city  and  became 
an  employee  in  the  district  attorney's  office  of  that  city,  the  Hon. 
Benjamin  K.  Phelps  being  at  that  time  district  attorney  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Keeler  remained  in  the  district  attorney's  office  of  New  York  until 
the  summer  of  1877,  when  he  removed  to  Canton  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship in  the  practice  of  law  with  William  C.  Cooke,  late  of  Canton,  and 
Hon.  Worth  Chamberlain,  the  partnership  continuing  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Cooke  in  1879.  In  January,  1882,  Mr.  Keeler  was  appointed 
deputy  attorney-general  by  Hon.  Leslie  W.  Russell,  and  served  the 
State  in  that  capacity  during  Mr.  Russell's  term  as  attorney  general, 
and  had  during  that  time  charge  of  the  receiverships  of  insolvent  cor- 
porations, there  being  then  forty  of  those  trusts  in  progress  of  liquida- 
tion, many  of  which  were  finally  closed  out  and  final  dividends  paid 
during  Mr.  Russell's  incumbency  of  that  office.  In  January,  1884,  at 
the  solicitation  of  Hon.  A.  B.  Hepburn,  late  comptroller  of  the  cur- 
rency, and  now  president  of  the  Third  National  Bank  of  New  York  city, 
and  who  was  then  the  receiver  of  the  Continental  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, and  also  at  the  request  of  Hon.  Charles  H  Russell,  of  New  York, 
who  was  the  receiver  of  the  Knickerbocker  Life  Insurance  Company. 
Mr.  Keeler  went  to  New  York  as  counsel  for  those  receivers  and  assisted 
in  winding  up  the  affairs  of  those  trusts.  In  the  spring  of  1885,  Mr. 
Keeler  and  two  of  his  friends  went  to  Arizona,  with  the  intention  of 
organizing  and  conducting  a  cattle  ranch  in  that  territory,  but  found 
the  country  too  hot  for  "  tender- feet,"  and  in  the  summer  of  1885 
resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Canton,  where  he  has  since  remained 
and  practiced  law,  except  that  in  the  winters  of  1891  and  1892  he 
represented  the  Second  Assembly  District  of  St.  Lawrence  county  in 
the  Assembly.      Mr.  Keeler  is  married  and  has  two  children. 

George  E.  Van  Kennen  was  born  in  Norfolk,  September  11,  1861, 
of  German  parentage,  his  father  having  immigrated  to  this  country 
in  the  year  1842.  George  received  his  rudimentary  education  in 
the  public  schools,  after  which  he  took  a  classical  course  in  the  Pots- 
dam Normal  School,  and  graduated  from  Hamilton  College  in  1886 
with  high  honors.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  McNaughton  & 
Waterman,   where    he   remained  some  time.      He   then   went    into  the 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR  271 

office  of  Ma<^one  &  Spratt,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  from  this  office 
in  1888.  In  1890  Mr.  Van  Kennen  married  a  daughter  of  R.  H.  Hous- 
ton, and  they  have  one  son.  Mr.  \'an  Kennen  has  been  four  times 
elected  upon  the  Demoeratic  ticket  to  the  office  of  recorder  of  the  city 
of  Ogdensburg.  He  is  secreta'-y  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee, 
which  position  he  has  held  for  the  past  two  years  ;  is  president  of  the 
Oswegatchie  Club,  a  Mason  and  fellow  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  of 
Hamilton  College. 

F.  N.  Cleaveland  was  born  in  the  town  of  Russell,  March  6,  1855, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  Canton  Union  School  and  the  St. 
Lawrence  University,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  in  1877,  and  A.  M.  in  1882.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1879.  and  in  1883  was  appointed  deput}-  count}-  clerk,  which  office  he 
held  until  1889.  He  is  also  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
University.  In  1889  Mr.  Cleaveland  married  Abbie  S.  Kendall,  daugh- 
ter of  Paul  R.  Kendall,  and  they  have  one  child :  Dorothy  K.  Mr. 
Cleaveland's  father  was  Francis,  and  his  mother  Harriet  (Ellsworth) 
Cleaveland. 

G.  W.  Hurlbut  was  born  in  Depeyster,  March  20,  1852.  The  family 
is  of  Revolutionary  antecedents,  having  come  from  Connecticut. 
Thomas,  great  grandfather  of  G.  W.  Hurlbut,  a  native  of  Roxbury, 
Conn.,  participated  in  the  war  of  that  period,  and  Philo  Hurlbut,  a  son 
of  Thomas,  moved  from  Roxbury  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  settled 
at  Depeyster  in  1805.  Here  Horace,  father  of  G.  W.  Hurlbut  and  son 
of  Philo,  was  born.  He  died  in  189 1.  G  W.  Hurlbut  received  his 
education  in  the  Gouverneur  Academy,  Potsdam  Normal  School,  and 
graduated  in  law  from  the  Union  University  in  the  spring  of  1879, 
immediately  thereafter  commencing  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Ogdensburg  and  Heuvelton.  In  the  spring  of  1891  he  was  elected 
supervisor  upon  the  Republican  ticket,  re  elected  in  1892,  and  in  1893 
was  the  unanimous  candidate  of  both  parties.  He  married  in  1872 
Mary  J.  Smithers,  and  they  have  two  sons. 

Willis  J.  Fletcher  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockholm,  September 
18,  1855,  a  son  of  William,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
born  in   Walpole  in    18 18.      He  immigrated  to    St.    Lawrence  county 


272  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

when  about  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  took  up  a  tract  of  land 
in  Stockholm,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  July  1 1,  1877.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  Fidelia  Grandy,  he  married  in  Stockholm, 
where  she  died  April  11,  1880  The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was 
spent  on  the  homestead  farm  and  he  attended  the  common  schools, 
Norwood  High  School,  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  Potsdam  State  Nor- 
mal School,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1877.  After  teaching  a  while  he 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  L.  C.  Lang  at  Brasher 
Falls.  He  remained  with  him  three  years  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  May  6,  1881.  He  commenced  practice  in  June,  1881,  at  Nor- 
wood, in  company  with  N.  M.  Claflin  This  partnership  existed  six 
years  and  since  the  dissolution  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Fletcher  has  had  a  very 
successful  practice  alone.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  has 
been  active  in  every  campaign  since  1880.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  of  Norwood  Free  School  for  years,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Republican  Town  Committee  and  has  been  such  mem- 
ber for  the  past  six  years.  He  married  October  8,  1879,  Esther  A., 
daughter  of  O.  H.  Hale,  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Norfolk  at  the  present 
time,  and  had  two  daughters  :    Grace  Louise  and  Margaret  Gage. 

Fred  J.  Merriman  was  born  in  Somerville,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
July  9,  1856,  a  son  of  Lyman  Merriman,  a  farmer  of  Gouverneur.  The 
boyhood  of  the  subject  was  spent  in  the  towns  of  Rossie  and  Gouver- 
neur. His  parents  moved  on  the  farm  in  the  latter  town  when  Fred 
was  seven  years  of  age.  His  first  education  was  received  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to 
the  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Gouverneur.  His  first  occupation  was 
a  teacher,  which  he  began  in  his  nineteenth  year.  The  year  he  was 
twenty-one  he  went  to  VVatertown.  where  he  began  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  McCartin  &  Williams.  He  was  in  the  office  as  student 
and  clerk  about  four  and  one  half  years,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
January  9,  1880.  He  was  in  the  office  of  H.  M.  Wilbur  as  clerk  and 
practicing  for  himself  about  a  year  and  a  half,  and  with  Henry  Purcell, 
then  city  recorder,  a  year  and  a  half.  In  1884  he  moved  to  the  village 
of  Madrid,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  established  a  practice  that 
has  since  occupied  his  attention,     The  winter  of  1879  he  was  clerk  to 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  273 

the  Committee  on  Printing  and  Committee  on  Militia  in  the  Assembly 
chambers  at  Albany.  September  i,  1890,  Mr.  Merriman  was  ap- 
pointed by  A.  Von  Landburg  deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue  for 
the  third  division  of  the  Twenty-first  District,  consisting  of  the  counties 
of  Franklin,  St.  Lawrence,  Jefferson  and  Lewis,  an  office  he  filled  with 
satisfaction  to  his  superiors  and  credit  to  himself.  He  is  a  retired 
member  of  the  State  militia,  serving  five  years  in  the  39th  Separate 
Company,  and  retired  as  corporal.  He  married  September  2,  1886, 
Edith  T.,  daughter  of  the  late  O.  C.  Robinson,  of  Madrid.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Jessie  Viles. 

Robert  Emmet  Waterman,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg  in  1850.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  Ogdensburg  Institute  and  at  St.  Law- 
rence University,  Canton,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1872. 
He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Mr.  McNaughton,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1875.  He  entered  into  a  law  partnership  with  Mr.  Mc- 
Naughton in  1877  which  continued  until  1887,  when  Mr.  McNaughton 
retired  from  active  practice,  since  which  period  he  has  conducted  his 
business  separate.  Mr.  Waterman  married  Miss  Blodgett,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Blodgett.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Civil  Service  Board,  the  Og- 
densburg Club,  the  Oswegatchie  Democratic  Club,  the  State  Bar 
Association  and  one  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Anglers'  As- 
sociation of  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  City  Board  of  Health.  He  was  city  attorney  in  1891,  and  is  the 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  district  delegate  to  the  State  Con- 
stitutional Convention.  He  never  has  held  a  public  office  to  which  any 
pay  was  attached. 

David  R.  P.  Parker  was  born  in  Greene,  Androscoggin  county, 
Maine,  October  10,  1848,  and  was  educated  in  Monmouth  Academy, 
Monmouth,  Maine,  and  in  Nichols  Latin  School  and  Bates  College, 
Lewiston,  Maine.  He  came  to  Northern  New  York  in  1873.  He 
studied  law  one  year  with  J.  H.  Moore,  of  Potsdam,  and  two  years 
with  L.  M.  and  L.  K.  Soper  of  Ogdensburg,  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Albany  in  1879.  He  began  practice  in  Hermon  the  same  year.  In 
1880  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  the  late  William  Pickens,  of 
Heuvelton,  N.  Y.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  David  R.  Parker,  and 
the  family  dates  back  to  one  John  Parker,  who  came  over  in  the  May- 

35 


274  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

floiver  and  early  settled  on  the  Kennebec  River  in  the  now  town  of 
Arrousic,  and  of  whom  Mr  Parker  is  a  lineal  descendant.  By  his 
mother,  Jane  Cummings,  Mr.  Parker  is  descended  from  the  Scottish 
family  Cummings,  which  was  represented  by  three  brothers,  who 
settled  in  Massachusetts  in  the  early  history  of  New  England. 

Gustave  S.  Dorwin  was  born  in  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
June  26,  1862.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Potsdam  Normal 
School  and  Union  College,  after  which  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Ma- 
gone  &  Spratt,  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1886. 
In  1888  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ogdensburg. 
In  1889  Mr.  Dorwin  married  Mary  L.  Allen.  Mr.  Dorwin  has  served 
two  terms  as  city  recorder  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club, 
a  fellow  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  of  Union  College,  and  is  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  a  New  England  family  of  Revolutionary  ancestry. 

Theodore  H.  Swift  was  born  in  Potsdam  June  14,  1850,  a  son  of 
Hiram  Swift,  also  a  native  of  the  town.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Swift  was 
Aurilla,  daughter  of  Shadrach  Foster,  a  native  of  Vermont.  At  the 
time  of  her  marriage  she  was  a  resident  of  Massena.  Theodore  H.  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy, 
and  after  leaving  school  in  1868,  he  went  into  the  law  office  of  Dart  & 
Tappan.  He  graduated  in  June,  1871,  from  the  law  department  of 
St.  Lawrence  University,  Canton.  He  was  employed  in  the  office  of 
Tappan  &  Erwin  for  two  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1873  opened  an  office 
in  Potsdam,  where  he  conducted  practice  about  two  years  and  then 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  C.  E.  Sandford,  which  lasted  about  three 
years.  He  was  engaged  there  until  1880,  and  in  June  of  that  year  he 
removed  to  New  York,  where  he  conducted  a  very  successful  practice 
for  eight  years.  In  1885  he  was  employed  on  the  most  remarkable 
case  ever  tried  in  the  New  York  county  Surrogate's  Court,  the  Paine 
will  case,  where  he  was  engaged  as  attorney  and  counsel  for  the  admin- 
istrators of  the  James  H.  Paine  estate.  The  decision  in  this  case  was 
rendered  in  favor  of  the  administrators,  December  31,  1887,  the  last 
day  of  Daniel  G.  RoUins's  term  of  surrogate  of  New  York.  He  re- 
turned to  Potsdam  in  May,  1888,  and  entered  into  practice  with  his  old 
partner,  C.  E.  Sandford,  which   existed   until   May,  1892.      In   Decern- 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  27o 

ber,  1892,  he  was  joined  by  Frank  L.  Bell,  who  is  still  with  him.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  director  of  the  People's  National  Bank.  He  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  has  acquired  a  reputation  as  an 
orator  second  to  none  in  this  section.  He  married  in  1871,  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  John  L.  Perkins,  of  Parishville,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Hiram  H  ,  who  lives  at  home. 

Geo.  B.  Shepard  was  born  September  23,  1847.  He  received  his 
rudimentar}-  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  and  at 
private  institutions  here,  and  in  1862  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Foote 
&  James,  as  a  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Ballston  Spa, 
November  10,  1869;  since  which  time  he  has  never  discontinued 
practice ;  though  his  other  undertakings  have  interfered  with  active 
litigation. 

From  1873  lie  served  two  terms  as  clerk  of  Surrogate's  Court  of 
St.  Lawrence  county,  and  December  17,  1879,  was  appointed  United 
States  deputy  collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  St.  Lawrence  and  Frank- 
lin counties,  serving  as  such  until  the  office  was  filled  by  Democratic 
administration  ;  he  having  always  been  a  staunch  Republican, 

Mr.  Shepard's  paternal  grandfather,  Bohan  Shepard,  then  a  merchant 
of  St.  Albans,  Vt ,  in  1810  built  the  first  saw-mill  on  the  Raquette 
river  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  then  in  the  midst  of  the  wilder- 
ness; but  since  developed  to  an  immense  industry.  In  1827  his  son 
Charles  (Mr.  Shepard's  father),  after  being  engaged  a  few  years  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  at  New  York  and  Albany,  came  to  Ogdensburg  and 
went  into  the  business  of  general  merchandising  and  manufacturing 
lumber;  sending  rafts  of  timber  down  the  St.  Lawrence  River  rapids, 
and  lumber  and  produce  by  Durham  boats  to  Montreal;  and  through 
Erie  Canal  to  Albany  and  New  York.  On  the  return  trip  these  would 
bring  foreign  and  manufactured  goods  to  supply  the  interior  towns  of 
St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin  counties,  whose  place  of  supply  was  then 
Ogdensburg,  there  being  no  railroads.  For  a  number  of  years  preced- 
ing the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  until  the  boats  were  sold,  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  American  Express  line  of  steamers  plying 
between  Lewiston  and  Montreal;  of  which  line  the  New  York  and 
Northern  were  sold  to  the  United  States  government,  and  used  as 
transport   steamers  during  the  war.      He    was   a   Republican    from    the 


276  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

formation  of  that  party,  and  after  the  election  of  Lincoln  was  appointed 
United  States  internal  revenue  assessor  in  this  district,  and  afterwards 
to  a  position  in  the  United  States  Customs,  which  he  held  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  son.  Lieut.  Chas.  W.  Shepard  of  Co.  I,  io6th  Regi- 
ment New  York  Volunteers,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor 
June  1,  1864. 

Mr.  Shepard's  maternal  grandfather,  Capt.  Christopher  Riley,  37th 
Regiment  United  States  Infantry,  War  of  18 12,  was  born  at  Windham, 
Conn  ,  and  settled  in  Ogdensburg  in  1828,  as  land  agent  for  Thomas 
Denny  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Geo.  B.  Shepard  introduced  the  electric  telephone  in  St.  Law- 
rence county,  established  all  the  local  exchanges  and  built  the  con- 
necting county  lines ;  which  undertaking,  after  proving  a  business 
success,  was  consolidated  with  the  Central  New  York  Telephone  Com- 
pany of  Utica.  In  1878  he  built  the  brick  block  facing  Ford,  Catherine 
and  Water  streets,  in  which  his  office  is  still  located.  He  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Ogdensburg  street  railway,  a  charter  member  of 
the  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  several  local  enterprises. 
He  is  a  member  of  St  John's  Episcopal  Church  here,  and  served  as 
treasurer  for  that  society  a  number  of  years.  His  business  attention, 
at  present,  is  mostly  given  to  patent  law  and  promotion  of  patents ; 
though  he  has  several  estates  under  his  charge  and  the  business  inci- 
dental to  the  care  and  rental  of  eleven  stores  in  the  city. 

On   June    16,  1874.  he   married    Jane   E.   Kriiger,  granddaughter  of 
Christian  Kriiger,  a  banker  of  Hamburg,  Germany,  and  of  Louis  Has- 
brouck,  an   attorney  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  ;   and   has  four   daughters, 
only  children  living. 

Thomas  Newton  Murphy  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockholm, 
December  20,  1844,  a  son  of  John,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
emigrating  to  this  country  in  1828,  when  he  was  only  eighteen  years 
of  age.  He  took  up  a  tract  of  200  acres  in  the  town  of  Stockholm, 
where  he  reared  a  family  of  eight  children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his 
days.  He  died  December  18,  1855.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Betsey  Egerton,  was  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  181 1  and  is  still 
living,  now  a  resident  of  Hesperia,  Mich.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject 
was   spent  on  the  homestead  farm.      He  was  educated  in  the  common 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


277 


schools,  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  Fort 
Edward  Collegiate  Institute.  September  24,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  6th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  with 
them  until  the  war  closed,  at  the  expiration  of  the  three  year  term  re- 
enlisting  December  24,  1863.  He  was  in  the  great  battles  of  Second 
Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  Southwest,  was  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge, 
Ringgold,  Resaca,  Dallas.  New  Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and 
Pine  Knob.  At  the  latter  battle  Mr.  Murphy  lost  his  left  arm,  but 
five  months  later,  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  he  was  fighting  with  one 
arm.  After  his  return  home  he  finished  his  education  in  1868,  and 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  R.  Brinkerhofif  at 
Norfolk,  and  in  1871  entered  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he 
graduated  May  3,  1872.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Plattsburg  in 
company  with  Beckwith  &  Doby,  which  partnership  existed  but  a  short 
time,  and  November  i,  1872,  Mr.  Murphy  moved  to  Norwood,  where 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  N.  Judd.  He  was  with  him  two  years 
and  since  that  time  has  had  a  very  successful  practice  alone.  He  is  a 
staunch  Republican  and  is  now  one  of  the  trustees  of  Norwood  village, 
assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  town  of  Potsdam.  He  is  a 
member  of  Luther  Priest  Post,  No.  167,  G.  A  R  ,  past  commander  and 
now  quartermaster.  He  married,  May  6,  1873,  Adellie,  daughter  of 
Wright  Lansing  of  Plattsburg,  and  they  have  seven  children  :  Charles 
F.,  Henry  R.,  Jessie  M.,  Daisy  D..  Gertrude,  Thomas  N.  and  Mable  E. 

Henry  E.  Seaver  was  born  in  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.,  April  30,  i860. 
He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1881. 
In  1884  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  Canton,  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Albany  in  1886,  in  which  year  he  opened  his  office  in  Canton. 
In  1 891  Mr.  Seaver  married  Charlotte  E.  Dezell,  daughter  of  Robert 
Dezell  of  Waddington.  Our  subject  has  been  town  clerk  one  year  and 
has  served  as  police  justice  seven  years.  He  has  also  been  secretary  of 
the  county  fair  for  five  years. 

D.  B,  Lucey  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  August  17,  1858,  of  Irish- 
American  parentage.  He  received  his  elementary  education  in  the 
schools  of  this  county,  and  finished  at  Oswego  and  Potsdam  Normal 
Schools.      In  1883  he  accepted  the  position  of  principal  of  the  Ogdens- 


278  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

burg  Normal  School,  and  after  one  year  received  the  appointment  to 
the  class  of  natural  and  physical  sciences  in  the  academy.  During 
this  time  he  continued  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
September  i6,  1887.  In  the  following  June  (1888)  he  retired  from 
the  academy  and  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Judge  Kellogg, 
which  continued  until  1890,  when  he  retired  from  this  firm  to  form  a  co- 
partnership with  George  R.  Malby,  who  is  the  present  speaker  of  the 
Assembly  of  this  State.  Mr  Lucey  married,  June  30,  1891,  Mary  A. 
Tuck,  daughter  of  Andrew  Tuck  of  Lisbon.  Mr.  Lucey  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  and  has  for  several  years  past  been  second 
lieutenant  in  the  35th   Separate  Company  New  York  National  Guards. 

Joseph  George  was  born  in  Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  county,  in  1850, 
and  was  educated  at  Ogdensburg.  He  studied  law  with  Judge  Abbott 
and  Judge  Neary,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877,  and  began  practice 
in  Richville.  where  he  is  still  located.  His  father  was  Henry  George. 
In  1877  Mr.  George  married  Cornelia  A.  Graves,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Graves,  of  Gouverneur.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
bar  in   St.  Lawrence  county. 

E.  P.  Kingsbury  was  born  in  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  November  21,  1862. 
He  was  prepared  for  college  by  a  private  tutor,  after  which  he  attended 
Hamilton  College  for  three  years.  After  leaving  college  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Harrison  Hoyt,  of  Syracuse, 
with  whom  he  remained  one  year,  then  with  W.  Chapman,  of  Bingham- 
ton.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883,  ^t  the  General  Term  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  afterward  entered  the  law  office  of  Camp  &  Dun- 
nells,  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1885.  ^^  1886  he 
entered  the  office  of  Magone  &  Spratt,  of  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  Kings- 
bury married  Miss  Josephine  Fuller.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
Kingsbury  is  a  staunch  Democrat. 

Lawrence  Russell  was  born  in  Maiden,  Mass.,  July  27,  1867.  He  was 
educated  at  Canton  Union  School  till  fourteen  years  of  age,  then  attended 
St.  John's  School  for  one  year,  and  later  went  to  St.  Paul's  School, 
at  Concord,  N.  H.,  for  three  years.  He  was  then  a  year  in  the  law 
office  of  his  father,  Judge  Leslie  W.  Russell,  in  New  York.  Entering 
Williams  College   he  withdrew   to    go   to  Columbia    Law    School,  from 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  279 

which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1 889  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  February,  1890.  In  October  of  that  year  he  came  to  Canton  and 
opened  his  present  office,  being  the  third  generation  of  lawyers  in  the 
same  place,  his  father  and  grandfather  having  preceded  him.  Mr.  Rus 
sell  married  Mabel  Bostwick,  of  New  York,  daughter  of  Col.  C.  B. 
Bostwick,  in  April,   1893.      He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1892. 

J.  McNaughton  was  born  in  the  town  of  Essex,  Chittenden  county, 
Vt.,  July  3,  1823.  He  received  an  academic  education  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  1846  with  Ransom  H.  Gillett,  continuing  his  studies 
later  with  Bishop  Perkins,  from  whose  office  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1853.  In  1869  Mr.  McNaughton  formed  a  copartnership  with 
J.  S.  Grinnell,  now  of  Chicago,  which  continued  one  year.  Later  he 
formed  one  with  R.  E.  Waterman,  which  continued  several  years,  after 
which  he  retired  from  actual  practice.  Mr.  McNaughton  has  never 
accepted  public  office,  although  in  his  younger  days  he  served  as  deputy 
collector  of  customs  and  deputy  postmaster  (about  1847).  He  is  a 
staunch  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club. 

Charles  Nathanial  Bixby  was  born  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  Febru- 
ary 14,  1836.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Solomon,  was  a  native 
of  Vermont  and  immigrated  to  this  country  at  a  very  early  day,  bring- 
ing his  family  consisting  of  wife  and  seven  children.  The  family  first 
settled  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time 
and  moved  to  Parishville.  where  he  was  afterwards  drowned  in  the  St. 
Regis  river.  Nathaniel  Healy  Bixby,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Dudley,  Mass,  December  17,  1798  When  six  months  old  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Underbill,  Vt.,  thence  in  181 1  to  Madrid,  N.  Y., 
where  he  settled  in  the  Haskell  neighborhood.  About  the  year  18 19 
he  bought  land  in  Norfolk,  and  there  established  a  home.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1828,  he  married  Marcia  Haskell.  Charles  N.  Bixby,  esquire,  a 
lawyer  and  register  in  bankruptcy,  residing  at  Norwood,  is  his  only  son 
and  child.  His  first  wife  died  in  May,  1847,  and  in  1849  he  married 
Harriet  Wilson  of  Canton,  who  survives  him.  He  resided  on  his  farm 
in  Norfolk  until  the  fall  of  1870,  when  he  sold  it  and  purchased  a  house 
in  the  village  of  Morley.  where  he  remained  till  the  time  of  his  death, 
July  II,  1881,  aged  eighty-two  years,  seven  months  and  twenty-five 
days.     He  was  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  a  kind  husband,  father  and 


280  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

neighbor,  and  honest  in  his  dealings  with  all.  His  education  was  limit- 
ed, but  he  possessed  solid  character,  accumulated  a  competence  of  this 
world's  goods,  and  exerted  a  benign  and  wide  influence  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  on 
the  homestead  in  Norfolk,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam.  He  taught  school  for  a 
number  of  winters.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Brown  &  Spencer  at  Ogdensburg,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  at  the  same 
time  that  Louis  Hasbrouck  was  studying  in  the  same  office.  In  1865 
he  entered  Albany  Law  School,  and  completing  his  course  was  admitted 
to  practice  as  attorney  and  counsellor  in  May,  1866.  In  the  fall  of 
1867  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Courts  He 
was  for  six  months  after  admittance  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Knowles  & 
Bicknall  of  Potsdam,  and  in  April,  1867,  opened  an  office  in  Norwood, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice.  In  1869  he  was  appoint- 
ed register  in  bankruptcy  for  this  congressional  district,  and  still  holds 
the  office.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  ten  years  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Norwood  Union  School  and  Academy 
fifteen  years,  ten  years  of  that  time  president  of  the  board.  He  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees  and  has  held 
many  minor  offices.  He  married,  June  21,  1869,  Mary  Ann  Lamphire, 
niece  of  Mrs  B.  G  Baldwin,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, now  a  musical  student  of  the  State  Normal  School.  Mrs.  Bixby 
died  October  29,  1884. 

D.  M.  Robertson  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  December  i,  1829.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  and  the  Canton 
Law  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871,  and  opened  his 
present  office  in  the  same  year.  In  1861  Mr.  Robertson  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  6oth  New  York  Infantry,  and  served  nearly  two  years, 
enlisting  as  a  private,  and  returning  home  a  major.  In  1872  he  married 
Sarah  Thatcher,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Jessie  Robertson.  Major 
Robertson  has  been  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Veterans' 
Association  for  two  years ;  was  formerly  deputy  county  clerk  of  St. 
Lawrence  county;  was  for  several  years  superintendent  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence County  Agricultural  Society,  and  is  now,  and  has  been  for  three 
years,  president  of  the  Canton  Savings  and  Loan  Association. 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  281 

William  H.  Andrews,  one  of  nine  children  of  Hugh  and  Clarisa  An- 
drews, was  born  in  Parishville,  December  8,  1824.  Hugh,  the  father, 
was  born  in  Germany,  and  when  a  boy  came  to  America  with  his  fath- 
er, James,  locating  at  Alburg,  Vt ,  and  subsequently  removing  to  St. 
Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.  The  boyhood  of  William  H.  was  spent 
among  the  hardships  of  chopping,  logging,  lumbering,  and  in  the  clear- 
ing of  the  farm.  In  1843  ^^^  entered  the  Potsdam  Academy,  where 
he  finished  his  studies  in  1848,  teaching  school  in  the  mean  time.  In 
1849  he  came  to  Gouverneur,  as  teacher  of  writing  and  the  higher 
branches.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Charles  Anthony, 
esq..  May  29,  1849,  and  was  admitted  attorney  and  counsellor  to  prac- 
tice in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  185  i,  and  in 
1856,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Courts,  and  for 
forty-two  years,  has  practiced  his  profession  in  this  village.  While  in 
the  office  with  Charles  Anthony,  esq.,  in  1849,  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Dr.  Franklin  B.  Hough,  a  historian  of  note  and  also  an  expert 
in  mineralogy,  and  a  love  for  that  branch  of  science  which  has  never 
left  him,  one  of  the  results  of  which  is  a  collection  of  minerals  noted 
the  world  over.  Regarding  it,  Prof.  David  T.  Day  says  in  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey  of  1885,  on  the  Mineral  Resources  of  the 
United  States  :  "Mr.  William  H.  Andrews,  of  Gouverneur,  has  a  re- 
markable collection  of  2,200  specimens  of  polished  marbles,  serpentines, 
jaspers,  agates,  and  other  ornamental  stones,  principally  from  St.  Law- 
rence, Jefferson  and  adjoining  counties.  A  variety  of  other  minerals 
are  also  to  be  found  in  this  collection,  which,  though  the  polishing  is 
mainly  done  by  Mr.  Andrews  himself,  is  one  of  the  most  complete 
series  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States."  The  collection  now  numbers 
over  3,000  polished  specimens,  which  have  recently  been  labeled  and 
catalogued.  The  entire  collection  contains  some  14,000  to  15,000 
specimens  of  crystals  gathered  from  Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  America. 
Mr.  Andrews  cuts  and  polishes  all  kinds  of  gems  and  does  lapidary 
work  equal   to  the  skill  of  the  best  experts. 

Henry  E.  Seaver  was  born  in  Jamacia  Plain,  Mass.,  April  30,  1869. 
He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1881. 
In  1884  he  began  to  study  law  in  Canton,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1886,  in   which   year   he    opened    his  office  in   Canton.      In  1891   Mr. 

36 


282 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Sea,ver  married  Charlotte  E.  Dezell,  daughter  of  Robert  Dezell  of  Wad- 
diiigton.  He  has  been  town  clerk  one  year  and  has  served  as  police 
justice  seven  years.  He  has  also  been  secretary  of  the  County  Fair 
for  five  years. 

The  reader  of  the  few  foregoing  pages  has  learned  that  the  Bar  of  St. 
Lawrence  county  has  included  many  men  of  eminence  in  their  pro- 
fession, and  many  who  have  been  called  by  their  fellow  citizens  to  high 
station  in  the  councils  of  the  county,  the  State  and  the  nation.  The 
lawyers  of  this  county,  as  a  class,  have  been  characterized  as  unusually 
self-reliant  and  independent,  their  comparative  isolation  from  other 
more  central  parts  of  the  State,  compelling  them  to  rely  mainly  upon 
their  own  talents  and  energies  for  their  success,  intead  of  calling  the 
ready  aid  of  those  whose  reputation  at  least  would  have  been  of  great 
benefit.  At  the  present  time  it  can  be  safely  stated  that  the  bar  of  the 
county  is  wholly  able  to  cope  with  professional  antagonists  from  any 
other  interior  locality,  while  in  point  of  character  they  are  far  above  the 
average. 

The  St.  Lawrence  Bar  Association  was  organized  in  May,  1877, 
with  its  chief  objects  the  proper  and  closer  association  of  its  members, 
aiding  in  obtaining  proper  legislation,  maintaining  a  library,  etc.  In 
these  respects  it  is  auxiliary  to  the  State  association.  Its  meetings  have 
been  held  in  Canton.  The  first  officers  were  :  Hon  Charles  O.  Tap- 
pan,  president ;  Edwin  M.  Holbrook,  corresponding  secretary;  Delos 
McCurdy,  secretary  ;   V.  P.  Abbott,  treasurer. 

PRESENT  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY  BAR. 


BRASHER. 

Calvin  Hulburd. 
Lewis  C.  Lang. 

CANTON. 

Thomas  V.  Russell. 
Chamberlain  &  Caldwell. 

j  Worth  Chamberlain. 

I  Everett  Caldwell. 
Hale  &  Bowers. 

I  Ledyard  P.  Hale. 

)  George  H.  Bowers. 
William  A.  Poste. 
Horace  D.  Ellsworth. 


D.  M.  Robertson. 
John  C.  Keeler. 
Lawrence  Russell. 
A.  Z.  Squires. 
John  F.  Bugbee. 
John  T.  Rutherford. 
Carson  E.  Chamberlain. 
Frank  N.  Cleaveland. 
P.  R.  McMonagle 
A.  B.  Hepburn. 
Henry  E.  Seaver. 
Sawyer  &  Sawyer. 

S  Geo.  C.  Sawyer. 

/  Lawrence  C.  Sawyer. 
Nelson  L.  Robinson. 


COLTON. 

Charles  Anstead. 
Clarence  S.  Ferris. 

DEKALB 

E.  0.  Hurlbut. 

EDWARDS. 

Earl  Bancroft. 

GOUVERNEUR. 

Charles  Anthony. 
Parker  &  Parker. 

I  C.  A.  Parker. 

/  C.  Arthur  Parker. 


THE  COURTS  AND  THE  BENCH  AND  BAR. 


283 


Conger  &  Orvis. 

)  G.  S.  Conger. 

)  A.  W.  Orvis. 
Gleason  &  Johnson. 

\  George  M.  Gleason. 

/  Arthur  T.  Johnson. 

E.  H.  Neary. 
V.  r.  Abbott. 
Grace   E.  Robinson. 
WilHam  H.  Andrews. 
J.  B.  Preston. 

Jesse  T.  Reynolds. 
Fred  H.  Norton. 
William  Neary. 
Charles  N.  Reynolds. 
Herbert  G.  Aldrich. 
Archie  F.  McAllaster. 
Charles  M.  Hale. 

HERMON. 

D.  R.  p.  Parker. 
H.  W.  Day. 

LAWRENCE. 

George  B.  Stacy. 
N.  P.  Hays. 

MADRID. 

F.  J.  Merriman. 

MASSENA. 

C.  A.  Boynton. 
L.  S.  Dominy. 

NORWOOD. 

Charles  N.  Bixby. 


Thomas  N.  Murphy. 
Norman  M.  Claflin. 
Willis  J.  Fletcher. 
Frederick  R.  Smith. 

OGDENSBURG. 

E.  C.  James. 

A.  R.  Herriman. 
J.  M.  Kellogg. 
J.  Y.  Chapin. 
Daniel  Magone. 
Thomas  Spratt. 
George  B.  Shepard. 
C.  McO.  Myers. 
Chas  A.  Kellogg. 
L.  Hasbrouck. 
Charles  G.  Idler. 

F.  K.  Moreland. 
A.  E.  Smith. 

0.  F.  Partridge. 
M.  C.  Spratt. 
Nathan  T.  Lovejoy. 
George  M.  McGuire. 
Joseph  McNaughton. 
R.  E.  Waterman. 
R.  W.  Judson. 
Charles  G.  Egert. 
Wells  &  Wells. 

Nathaniel  Wells. 
Leslie  I.  Wells. 
Charles  R.  Westbrook. 
Edward  L.  Strong. 
Malby  &  Lucey. 

)  G.  R.  Malby. 

\  D.  B.  Lucey. 
Martin  O'Brian. 


0.  W^  Dodge. 
George  Morton. 
Gustave  S.  Dor  win. 
George  E.  Van  Kennen. 
E.  P.  Kingsbury. 
James  H.  Martin. 
P.  H.  McCarthy. 

HEUVELTON. 

Dan  S.  Giffin. 
George  W.  Hurlbut. 

PARISH  \MLLE. 

Nathan  W.  Bartlett. 

POTSDAM. 

Charles  0.  Tappan. 
A.  X.  Parker. 
John  G.  Mclntyre. 
George  Z.  Erwm. 
Luther  E.  Wadleigh. 
W.  M.  Hawkins. 
John  A.  Vance. 
Swift  &  Bell. 

)  Theo.  Swift. 

(  Frank  L.  Bel!. 
C.  E.  Sanford. 
E.  A.  Everett. 

RICnVILLE. 

Joseph  George. 

WADDINGTON. 

A.  B.  Shepard. 

C.  L.  Montgomery. 

Sellar  Leishman. 


Biographies  of  Charles  O.  Tappan,  William  A.  Dart,  George  Z. 
Erwin,  Daniel  Magone,  Leslie  W.  Russell,  H.  L.  Knowles,  L.  Has- 
brouck, C.  E.  Sanford,  Dan  S.  Giffin,  and  others  will  be  found  in  a  later 
department  of  this  volume. 


284  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XX. 
ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY  MEDICAL  PROFESSION. 

Organization  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society — Reorganization  of  Same 
— List  of  Presidents  of  the  Society — List  of  Re.«ident  and  Non-Resident  Members — St.. 
Lawrence  Homoeopathic  Medical  Society — Medical  Association  of  Northern  New  York 
— Biographies. 

THE  organization  of  the  medical  profession  into  societies  was  begun 
in  the  State  of  New  York  early  in  the  century,  under  a  law 
passed  for  that  purpose  in  i8o6.  There  were  not  at  that  time  very 
many  physicians  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  but  those  who  had  become 
residents  acted  promptly  under  the  law  and  organized  the  St.  Law- 
rence County  Medical  Society  on  the  14th  of  October,  1807.  At  the 
first  meeting  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  President,  Joseph 
W.  Smith;  vice-president,  I.  W.  Pier;  secretary,  W.  Noble;  treas- 
urer, B.  Holmes  ;  censors,  John  Seeley,  Powell   Davis  and    B.  Holmes. 

The  records  of  the  society  down  to  1856  are  lost,  but  by  diligent 
research  Mr.  Hough  was  able  to  collect  considerable  data  relating  to 
its  membership.  It  is  believed  that  regular  annual  meetings  were 
usually  held  previous  to  the  date  named,  and  it  is  known  that  many 
able  papers  were  read  by  members.  Through  the  labors  of  Dr.  Hough 
and  Dr.  Darius  Clark,  of  Canton,  who  was  secretary  in  1856  a  nearly 
or  quite  correct  list  of  the  members  up  to  that  year  was  collected 
which  has  been  supplemented  by  those  who  have  joined  since  as  ap- 
pears in  the  records. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1864,  between  which  date  and  the  year 
1856  the  society  was  in  a  state  of  suspension,  several  of  the  members  of 
the  old  organization  met  and  reorganized  by  electing  M.  S.  Parker, 
president;  S.  L.  Parmalee,  vice-president;  R.  R.  Sherman,  secretary; 
Jessie  Reynolds,  treasurer ;  N.  L.  Buck,  F.  P.  Sprague  and  LI.  A. 
Boland,  censors. 


^'^K.Carnnb  ell.  Sc.l-''-  -■ 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  285 

The  following  physicians  have  held  the  office  of  president  of  the 
society  since  its  first  organization  :  Joseph  W.  Smith,  Robert  McChes- 
ney,  Gideon  Sprague,  B.  Holmes,  E.  Baker,  S.  H,  McChesney,  S.  N. 
Sherman,  J.  A.  Mott,  S.  Ford,  W.  S.  Paddock,  Francis  Parker,  M.  S. 
Parker,  Lewis  Stowers,  Z.  B.  Bridges,  C.  C.  Bates,  B.  F.  Sherman,  S. 
L.  Parmalee,  Jesse  Reynolds,  Robert  Morris,  D.  McFauls,  A.  R. 
Gregor,  E.  H.  Bridges,  H.  A.  Boland,  L.  E.  Felton,  C.  C.  Barthol- 
omew, F.  Geare,  C.  M.  Wilson,  F.  R.  Sherman,  G.  G.  Munroe,  F.  H. 
Brewer,  B.  F.  Drury.  M.  E.  Smith,  W.  E    Whitford,  VV.  B.  Hanbridge, 

A.  C.  Drury,  A.  H.  Allen,  Wilbur  H.  Reynolds,  W.  Shanly  Daly,  and 
S.  E.  Brown,  the  present  incumbent.  The  officers  in  1893  are  John 
Sherman,  vice-president ;  B.  F.  Drury,  E.  H.  Bridges  and  Jesse  Rey- 
nolds, censors. 

The  following  lists  of  resident  and  non  resident  members  of  the 
society  is  as  nearly  full  as  it  can  be  made  under  the  circumstances  : 

RESIDENT    MEMBERS. 

1888,  Andrew  H.  Allen,  Gouverneur  ;  1877,  F.  A.  Anderson,   Massena ;   1876,  Lucius 

B.  Baker,  Russell;  1883,  John  N.  Bassett,  jr.,  Canton;  1882,  C.  W.  Bayley,  Rensselaer 
Falls;  1870,  C.C.Bartholomew,  Ogdensburg :  1864,  H.  A.  Boland,  Lawrenceville; 
Silas  J.  Bower.  Waddington  ;  1881.  F.  H.  Brewer,  Madrid  ;  1860,  Zina  B.  Bridges, 
Ogdensburg;  1867,  E.  H.   Bridges,    Ogdensburg;    1883,    Silas  E.  Brown,  Ogdensburg; 

1873,  H.  H.  Carpenter,  Lawrenceville;  1885,  S.  W.  Close,  Gouverneur;  1878,  G.  R. 
Cook,  Louisville;  1885,  M.  D.  Cook.  West  Stockholm;  1856,  W.  H.  Cruickshank,  Lis- 
bon Centre  ;  1885,  W.  Shanly  Daly,  Ogdensburg;  1868,  B.  F.  Drury,  Gouverneur; 
1884,  A.  C.  Drury,  Canton;  1881,  H.  E.  Dunton,  North  Lawrence;  1871,  Lucius  E. 
Felton,  Potsdam;   1882,  James  Q.  Flood,    Hopkinton;   1855,    James    S.  Gale,  Canton ; 

1874.  James  Garvin,  Morristown ;  1875,  A.  B.  Goodenough,  Edwards;  1864,  A.  R. 
Gregor,  Hammond ;  1887,  E.  H.  Hackett,  North  Lawrence ;  1876,  H.  T.  Hammond, 
Chase's  Mills;  1884,  W.  B.  Hanbidge,  Ogdensburg;  1880,  T.  R.  Hossie,  Gouverneur; 
1876,  0.  J.  Hutchins,  Canton;  1881,  A.  M.  Larkin,  Norwood  ;  1873,  Orrell  McFadden, 
Massena;  1867,  David  McFalls,  Gouverneur ;  1886,  W.  J.  S.  Millar,  Depeyster;  1879 
Geo.  G.  Munroe,  Crary's  Mills;  1866,  Robert  Morris.  Ogdensburg;  1874,  John  Mor- 
rison, Ogdensburg ;  1876,  Albert  L.Morgan,  Lisbon  Centre;  1843,  Martin  S.  Parker, 
Parishville  ;  1869,  Truman  A.  Pease,  Norwood  ;  1873,  James  A.  Phillips,  Morristown  ; 
1852,  John  C.Preston,  Canton;  1852,  Jesse  Reynolds,  Potsdam;  1867,  G.  W.Rey- 
nolds, Madrid;  1881,  Geo.  M.  Russell.  Potsdam  ;  1875,  David  M.  Seelee,  Morristown, 
1865,  E.  G.  Seymour,  Hermon  ;  1842,  B.F.Sherman,  Ogdensburg;  1879,  Moses  E 
Smith,  Heuvelton  ;  1881,  W.  C.  Smith,  Brasher  Falls ;  1888,  Geo.  B.  Smith,  Stockholm 
Depot;  1886,  H.  A.  Stearns,  Waddington;  1867,  E.  C.  Walsh,  Madrid;  1883,  Wra.  E- 
Whitford,  DeKalb  Junction;  1871,   C.  M.  Wilson,  Gouverneur;    1889,  David  M.  Foss, 


286  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Depeyster;  18S9,  Grant  C.  Madill,  Ogdensburg;  18S9,  Frank  D.  Allen,  Richville  ;  1890, 
Sidney  W.  Dodge,  Massena;  1891,  John  C.  Sherman,  Ogdensburg;  1891,  Fred  F. 
Drury,  Gouveneur";  1891,  J.  M.  Mosher,  Ogdensburg;  1891,  J.  H.  Brownlow,  Og- 
densburg; 1892,  P.  Monakey,  Gouverneur;  1892,  Thos.  F.  Connolly,  Ogdensburg;  1892, 
H.  S.  Stilwell,  Ogdensburg ;  1892,  John  W.  Benton,  Ogdensburg  ;  1892,  D.  M.  Taylor, 
Edwards;  1893,  Geo  H.  Dowsey,  Brasher  Falls;  1893,  R.  H.  Hutchings,  Ogdensburg; 
1890,  P.  M.  Wise,  Ogdensburg. 

NON-RESIDENT    MEMBERS. 

1882,  S.  0.  Alguire,  Cornwall,  Ont.,  Can. ;   1867,  C.  B.  Barber,  Bloomingdale ;   1884, 
Blake  Bigelow,  Malone;  1882.  M.  D.  B-iggs,  Chateaugay  ;  1864,  N.  S.  Buck,  Springfield, 

Mass  ,   1864,  Cornelius  H.  Buck,  ,  Mass.;   1878,   J    E.   Colburn,   Chicago,  111.; 

1846,  R.  L.  Clark,  ;   1879,   Henry  M.  Cox,  225  E.   118th  street.  New  York; 

1866,  Stuart  Crichton,  .  Cal. ;   1866,  F.  A.  Cutter,  formerly  at  Hopkinton  ;  1866, 

Ira  A.  Darling.  West  Bangor.  Franklin  county;  1852,   R.   Davidson, ;   1878, 

David  F.  Dayton,  Anthony,  Harper  county,  Kansas;   1870,   Isaac  Drake,   formerl}'  at 

Stockholm ;    1842,    I.  H.   Dnnton, ;  1875,   Sidney  H.    Foster,  formerly  at  West 

Stockholm;  1874,  D.  R.  Freeman,  formerly  at  Parishville ;  1878,  A.  P.  Grinnell,  Bur- 
lington Vt. ;   1847,     W.  F.  Galloway, ;   1873,  Frederic  Geare,  158  West  avenue. 

Rochester;  1878,  L.  M.   Giffin,   Boulder,   Colorado;   1842,    Geo.  Green, ;   1875, 

Charles  B.  Hawley,  San  Jose,  Cal.  ;  1858,  Charles  N.  Hewitt,  Redwing,  Minn. ;  1866, 
Samuel    A.  Holman.   North  Parma,  Munroe  county  ;    1880,  J.  S.  Howard,    Oswego  ; 

1866,  Eugene  A.   Hutchins,   Minneapolis,  Minn.  ;    1852,  J.  H.   Hyer, ;   1844,    C. 

F.  Ide, ;   1866,  J.  H.  Jackson,  Barre,  Washington    county,  Vt. ;   1864,  J.  A. 

Jackson,  Manchester,  N.  H. ;  1852,   G.  R.  Lowe, ;  1881,  M.  M.  Lown,  formerly 

at  Hopkinton;   1844,  W.  J.   Manley, ;   1843,  0.  H.   Mayhew, ;  1836,  H. 

Mazuzan, ;   1876,  C.  S.   Merrill,  West  Libert)^,    Iowa;   1886,    Chas.  N.  Miller, 

formerly  at  Ogdensburg;  1835,  Calvin  S.  MiUington, ;  1882,  W.  L.  Moon,  Fair- 
haven,  Vl. ;   1873,  Richard  S.   O'Connell,  formerly  at  Waddington  ;  1838,  D.  S.  OHn, 

;    1836,    Charles  Orvis, ;  1843,   T.    R.   Pangburn, ;  1852,   0.  F. 

Parker, ;    1863,  John,   Pierce,   Adams,    Jefferson  county;    1885,   W.  N.  Rand, 

Syracuse  ;    1848,  D.  A.  Raymond, ;    1887,  Wilbur  H.   Reynolds,  Ava,  Oneida 

county;  1832,  R.  M.  Rigdon,  — -— ■;  1869,  0.  G.  Ross,  Dickinson  Centre,  Frankhn 
county;    1840,  M.   G.    Sherman,   Michigan  City,  Indiana;    1843,  Asaph  B.  Sherman, 

Morrisburg,  Canada;  1832,  Benjamin   P.  Smith, ;    1878,  L.  T.   Sprague,  Peoria, 

111.;    1842,   C.A  J.  Sprague, ;  1842,  W.  H.    Sprague,  formerly  at    Nicholville ; 

1852,  F.  P.  Sprague,   formerly  at  Hopkinton ;    1852,  G.  S.  Sutherland, ;  1860, 

A.  C.  Taylor,  Malone,  Franklin  county ;  1879,  A.  Dixon  Wagner,  Dickinson's  Landing, 

Ont.;  1864,  John  Willson, ;  1842,  Wm.   Witherell, ;  1833.  Wood, 

;  1870,  W.  C.  Wood,   Lockport,  H.  A.  Poland,   dead ;  F.  R.   Brewer,  moved  to 

Utica ;  Zina  B.  Bridges,  dead;  W.  H.  Cruickshank,  dead;  Lucius  E.  Felton,  moved  to 
Hanford,  Cal. ;  A.  R.  Gregor,  dead ;  David  McFalls,  dead ;  Geo.  G.  Munroe,  moved  to 
Chicago,  111.;  Albert  L.  Morgan,  dead;  David  M.  Seelee,  dead;  E.  G.  Seymour,  dead ; 
W.  C.  Smith,  moved  west;  Geo.  B.  Smith,  moved  west;  C.  M.  Wilson,  moved  to  Park 
City,  Utah. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  287 

The  following  physicians  who  were  non-resident  members  have 
moved  back  into  the  county  : 

1875,  Chas.  B.  Hawley,  to  Gouverneur ;   1885,  N.  Rand,  to  Rossie. 

The  St.  Lazvrence  Homceopaihic  Medical  Society. — This  society  was 
organized  October  4,  1871,  with  the  following  officers  :  D.  E.  South- 
wick,  president;  Ezra  Parmalee,  vice  president;  H.  D.  Brown,  secre- 
tary ;  N.  N.  Child,  treasurer  ;  E.  R.  Belding,  Sanford  Hoag  and  J.  M. 
Dow,  censors.  The  society  embraces  in  its  jurisdiction  both  St.  Law- 
rence and  Franklin  counties.  Physicians  in  this  school  had  practiced 
in  Northern  New  York  many  years  previous  to  the  date  of  organiza- 
tion of  this  society,  and  when  Dr.  Southwick  made  his  annual  address 
in  [872,  he  sketched  the  early  history  of  homoeopathy  in  this  section. 
He  noted  the  fact  that  Dr.  Edward  Parmalee,  of  Morley,  was  the  first 
homoeopathist  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  had  practiced  in  the  old 
school  until  1856,  when  he  was  converted  to  the  new  school.      In    1857 

Dr. Austin    began    practice   in    Canton,  and    Dr.  Southwick   in 

Ogdensburg.      In  1890  Dr.  Johnson  changed  his  faith  from  the 

old  to  the  new  school  in  Depeyster,  and  afterward  removed  to  Illinois. 
About  the  same  time  Dr.  Swan  began  in  Richville,  and  Dr.  Willard  at 
Potsdam.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  H.  D.  Brown.  ^.  R. 
Belding  was  a  student  with  Dr.  Willard  and  settled  in  Malone,  Frank- 
lin county.  In  1864  Dr.  George  Dart  settled  in  Depeyster,  succeeding 
Dr.  Johnson,  and  removed  to  California  in  1870.  Dr.  N.  N.  Child 
located  in  Ogdensburg  in  1863.  The  membership  of  this  society  has 
always  been  small,  and  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  between  1880  and 
June,  1890,  no  meetings  were  held  at  which  business  was  transacted. 
On  the  last  named  date,  several  physicians,  among  whom  were  a  few 
from  Franklin  county,  held  a  meeting,  and  they  have  been  regularly 
kept  up  since.  The  name  of  the  society  now  stands  as  the  St.  Law- 
rence and  Franklin  Homoeopathic  Society,  and  has  for  1893  the  follow- 
ing officers :  Dexter  R.  Belding,  of  Franklin  county,  president;  Edson 
C.  Austin,  of  Norwood,  secretary;  H.  D.  Brown,  vice-president;  Wil- 
lard N.  Bell,  treasurer  ;  N.  N.  Childs,  F.  F.  Williams  and  W.  J.  Flint, 
censors. 

The  Medical  Association  of  Northern  New  York  is  composed  of 
physicians  of  the  old  school  practicing  in    that  portion  of  the  State,  as 


288  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

indicated  by  the  title  of  the  society  ;  but  members  are  admitted  from 
any  part  of  the  State,  provided  they  are  at  the  time  of  appHcation 
members  of  the  county  organization  where  they  reside.  Physicians  of 
the  Dominion  of  Canada  may  also  become  members  on  presentation  of 
a  diploma  of  some  regularly  incorporated  and  organized  medical  school. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Through  the  loss  of  the  records  of  the  medical  society  from  its 
organization  down  to  about  1850,  we  are  deprived  of  a  source  from 
which  we  might  have  drawn  personal  notes  of  many  of  the  early 
physicians  of  this  count}-.  As  it  is,  there  were  a  large  number,  some 
of  whom  attained  considerable  local  fame,  of  whom  very  little  is  now 
known,  except  that  they  faithfully  and  unselfishly  performed  their 
mission  in  healing  and  comforting  the  sick. 

Dr.  Pierce  Shepard  settled  in  the  town  of  Potsdam  as  early  as  1808, 
when  he  joined  the  medical  society.  Previous  to  his  arrival  the  sick 
had  been  cared  for  in  that  town  by  Dr  Elijah  Baker,  of  Canton.  Dr. 
Shepard  died  in  Potsdam. 

Dr.  W.  Noble  was  the  first  physician  in  Canton,  where  he  settled 
either*in  1805  or  1806.  He  had  a  large  practice  for  many  years  and 
died  in  Canton  in  1871. 

Darius  Clark. — This  distinguished  early  physician  of  Canton  was 
born  in  Weybridge,  Vt.,  April  7,  1798,  and  settled  for  a  time  in 
Malone,  Franklin  coimty,  some  time  before  1822,  where  he  began  to 
study  medicine  with  Dr.  Waterhouse.  In  1824  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  and  removed  to  Canton.  He  was  admitted  to  the  St.  Law- 
rence Medical  Society  the  same  year,  and  was  several  years  its  secretary. 
He  was  prominent  not  alone  in  his  profession,  but  in  public  affairs  and 
politics,  as  a  Democrat,  and  held  several  offices,  among  them  inspector 
of  State  prisons,  serving  six  years  He  married,  F"ebruary  5,  1826, 
Clarissa  Maria,  daughter  of  Elijah  Baker,  of  Canton,  and  they  had 
three  children.      Dr.  Clark  died  in  Canton,  January  23,  1871. 

Henry  Hewitt. — Dr.  Hewitt  was  born  in  New  London,  Conn.,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1797.  studied  medicine  in  Yale  College  and  began  practice  in  Ver- 
gennes,  Vt  ,  and  removed  to  Coventry  in    the  same   State,  where    he 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  280 

remained  until  1840,  when  he  removed  to  Potsdam.  He  was  a  pro- 
gressive, self-reliant  man,  and  while  he  continued  in  active  practice, 
was  among  the  foremost.  But  his  restless  energy  soon  took  him  into 
other  pursuits,  and  he  was  conspicuous  in  the  project  of  improving  the 
channel  of  the  Raquette  River,  as  related  in  the  history  of  the  town  cf 
Potsdam.  He  founded  what  became  known  as  the  town  of  Hewitt- 
ville,  where  he  built  and  carried  on  a  large  mill.  He  died  at  Potsdam, 
July  2,  1869. 

Robert  McChesney. — Dr.  McChesney  was  a  native  of  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  studied  his  profession  in  Cherry  Valley  and  Springfield,  N.  Y.  In 
18 10  he  removed  to  Madrid  and  in  the  following  year  to  Potsdam.  He 
continued  in  a  large  and  successful  practice  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1824. 

Dr.  Joseph  W.  Smith  was  probably  the  first  physician  to  settle  in  St. 
Lawrence  county,  at  a  time  when  the  duties  of  the  profession  were  of 
the  most  arduous  character,  and  the  financial  returns  were  compara- 
tively insigiiificant.  He  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Mass  ,  February  22, 
1 78 1,  studied  in  Vergennes,  Vt.,  in  1799  and  finished  in  Middlebury 
in  1802.  In  the  following  year  he  removed  to  Lisbon  and  began 
practice,  which  soon  called  him  to  attend  the  sick  in  several  surrounding 
towns.  It  is  said  that  he  was  known  to  travel  on  foot  in  the  night, 
carrying  a  torch,  to  Canton,  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles,  to  minister  to 
a  patient.  In  1807  he  removed  to  Ogdensburg,  and  became  the  first 
settled  physician  in  that  place.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the 
County  Medical  Society,  and  filled  the  office  much  of  the  time  until  his 
death.  He  also  held  the  office  of  loan  commissioner.  It  has  been 
written  of  him  :  "  Perhaps  no  physician  ever  had  the  universal  con- 
fidence both  of  his  professional  brethren  and  of  his  patients,  more  than 
Dr.  Smith.  To  the  poor  and  distressed  he  was  the  good  Samaritan, 
and  in  the  various  relations  of  life,  professional  and  private,  he  was 
ever  found  exemplary."      He  died  in  Ogdensburg  July  4,  1835. 

Richard   Townsend. — Dr.  Townsend    was    born    in    Hebron,  N.    Y., 

about  1798.      He  studied  medicine  in  his  early  life,  but  did  not  practice 

much    until    1813,  when  a   prevailing  epidemic  drew  him  perforce  into 

his  profession,  having  settled  in  Gouverneur  soon  after  1804.      He  gave 

37 


290  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

most  of  his  time  and  energy  to  farming,  and  was  much  esteemed  in  the 
community.  Later  in  his  Hfe  he  became  a  Quaker  and  died  in  that 
faith  near  Gouverneur  village  about  1826. 

Charles  Carroll  Benton,  born  August  20,  1818;  studied  medicine  in 
Watertown  about  three  years,  and  was  with  Prof.  William  E.  Horner 
of  Philadelphia  three  years,  and  later  with  Professor  Gibson  of  the  same 
city  four  years.  He  graduated  in  1850,  left  Philadelphia  in  1854  and 
made  a  long  tour  of  Europe,  visiting  the  hospitals  of  Paris,  London 
and  Edinburgh.  He  settled  at  Oxbow,  St.  Lawrence  county,  in  1854, 
and  practiced  there  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to  Ogdensburg  and 
continued  in  practice  until  near  his  death. 

Dr.  Geo.  W.  Barber  was  born  in  Wardsboro,  Vt.,  January  i,  1793. 
He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Ranney  of  Townshead,  Vt.,  after  which 
he  attended  the  medical  department  at  Dartmouth  College,  N.  H., 
from  which  he  graduated  and  received  his  diploma  in  1818.  He 
returned  to  Townshead  and  practiced  his  profession  four  jears.  In  the 
mean  time  he  married  Miss  Susan,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Kingsbury, 
of  the  same  place,  on  May  24,  1820.  She  was  born  there  on  January 
19,  1 80 1.  In  1824  Dr.  Barber  moved  with  his  wife  to  Depeyster,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  the  remainder  of  his  days,  thirty- 
four  years.  By  his  untiring  energy  and  devotion  to  the  sick,  he  soon 
became  the  family  physician  and  confidential  friend  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  early  day.  He  was  honored  with  the  various  offices  in  the  town, 
and  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  terms,  and 
did  the  principal  part  of  the  business  in  town,  drafting  wills,  deeds 
and  contracts.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  three  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Barber  died  March  23,  1858.  and  his  wife  survived  him 
several  years  and  died  September  4,  1867,  in  Brooklin,  Vt. 

The  Sherman  family  trace  their  origin  to  Henry  Sherman,  who  was 
born  in  Devon,  England,  in  15  16,  and  died  in  1590.  He  had  two  sons, 
Henry  and  Edward.  Edward  had  a  son  John,  whose  son  (also  John), 
born  in  1613,  came  to  New  England  and  died  in  1691.  Dr.  B.  F. 
Sherman  descended  from  him.  The  doctor's  father's  name  was  Asaph. 
His  grandfather  was  of  the  same  name.  Benjamin  Franklin  Sherman, 
a   brother   of  Socrates    N.    Sherman,  was  born  at  Barre,  Vt.,  May   24, 


I 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  291 

1817,  being  the  youngest  of  five  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  physicians. 
He,  like  most  lads  brought  up  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  spent  his 
boyhood  days  on  the  farm,  and  was  taught  frugality,  industry  and 
honest  economy.  He  pursued  his  professional  studies  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  and  graduated  February,  1841.  Mr.  Sherman  com- 
menced shortly  after  to  practice  medicine  at  Hammond,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  remained  some  two  years,  then  moved  to  Potsdam  and  practiced 
there  about  two  years.  In  1845  '^^  came  to  Ogdensburg  and  opened 
an  office,  where  he  has  continued  to  follow  his  profession  ever  since, 
being  now  the  oldest  practicing  physician  in  the  city  and  county.  In 
1847  he  married  Miss  Charlotte  Chipman  of  Waddington,  N.  Y.  They 
have  raised  a  family  of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Mr.  Sherman,  though  a  Republican,  is  not  a  politician,  but  has  strong 
and  clear  convictions  on  general  topics  of  the  day.  He  does  not  possess 
a  monkish  spirit  of  seclusion  from  the  world  or  the  shrinking  of  any  of 
the  social  or  political  responsibilities  that  bind  one  to  the  neighborhood, 
city  or  state.  He  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  our  city  schools 
and  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Mr. 
Sherman  was  also  appointed  by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1862,  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Examining  Surgeons  to  recommend  pensions  in  this  dis- 
trict, and  was  chairman  of  that  body  for  a  number  of  years.  He  still 
continues  to  follow  his  profession,  being  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of 
the  city,  is  hale  and  hearty  as  ever  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  He  has  practiced  fifty- three  years,  has  been  president  of  the 
New  York  State  Medical  Society,  organized  the  Northern  New  York 
Medical  Association,  has  been  president  of  the  St.  LaWrence  County 
Medical  Society,  vice-president  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society, 
and  has  been  president  of  the  Ogdensburg  Medical  Association  for 
twenty- five  years. 

Socrates  N.  Sherman,  brother  of  B.  F.,  was  born  in  Barre,  Vt.,  July  22, 
1 80 1.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left  the  farm  and  entered  the  office  of 
Dr.  Van  Sicklin,  in  his  native  town,  as  a  student  of  medicine.  He 
graduated  and  received  his  diploma  at  Castleton  Medical  College  in  1824. 
In  the  spring  of  1825  he  located  at  Heuvelton,  and  after  practicing 
medicine  a  few  months,  he  removed  to  Ogdensburg  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Smith,  the  foremost  physician  in  the  county. 


292  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Dr.  Sherman  applied  himself  devotedly  to  the  study  and  practice  of  his 
profession,  gaining  the  love,  respect  and  confidence  of  his  patients,  as 
well  as  of  the  public,  during  his  practice,  which  extended  over  this  and 
the  surrounding  towns,  and  he  soon   became  eminent  in  his  profession. 

In  February,  1828,  he  married  Miss  Lois  Low,  formerly  from  Ver- 
mont. In  politics  he  first  acted  with  the  Anti-Masonic  organization. 
At  the  collapse  of  that  party,  he  united  with  the  Whigs  and  became  a 
leader.  On  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  he  heartily  joined 
in  the  movement,  and  in  i860  was  elected  a  representative  in  Congress. 
His  congressional  career,  which  opened  favorably,  was  arrested  by  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  which  he  volunteered  as  surgeon  of  the  37th 
New  York  Volunteers.  He  was  on  the  Peninsula  in  1862,  and  was 
there  taken  very  sick.  He  was  ordered  to  Washington  to  save  his  life, 
but  afterwards  joined  the  regiment.  Subsequently  was  appointed 
United  States  surgeon  and  had  charge  of  a  large  hospital  in  West 
Virginia. 

Dr.  Sherman  was  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  our  extended  system 
of  free  and  graded  schools,  under  a  board  of  education  in  Ogdensburg. 
In  the  matter  of  religion  he  was  in  sympathy  with  the  Universalist, 
and  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  that  denomination. 

His  wife,  while  on  a  visit  with  him  in  the  South,  died  suddenly,  June 
14,  1864.  Dr.  Sherman  contracted  disease  while  in  the  service  of  his 
country  which  finally  terminated  his  life.  He  died  at  his  home  Feb- 
ruary I,  1873. 

A.  B.  Sherman  settled  in  Ogdensburg  about  1830,  and  was  a  clerk 
in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  S.  N.  Sherman,  his  brother.  He  bought  his 
brother's  interest  in  1835  and  two  years  later  closed  out  the  business. 
Graduated  as  a  physician  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  in  1838,  and  practiced 
in  Ogdensburg  with  his  brothers  until  1840.  He  removed  to  Rossie, 
and  about  two  years  later  to  Waddington,  where  he  remained  to  about 
1848,  when  he  removed  to  Morrisburg,  Canada. 

Frank  R.  Sherman,  son  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Sherman,  studied  with  his  fath- 
er and  graduated  in  the  scientific  department  of  Cornell  University 
and  in  Bellevue  Hospital  in  February,  1875.  He  practiced  a  year  in 
Ogdensburg,  removed  to  Michigan  City,  Ind.,  returned  and  died  in 
Hammond,  July  29,  1881,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  293 

J.  Chipman  Sherman,  son  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Sherman,  is  associated  in  prac- 
tice with  his  father,  i^e  was  born  July  28,  1849,  studied  in  Ogdens- 
burg  High  School  and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  University  of 
New  York.  He  is  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical 
Society. 

Robert  Morris  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  January  28,  18 10; 
settled  in  Hammond  in  18 19  and  studied  medicine  in  Albany  and  at- 
tended two  terms  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  graduating  in  Jan- 
uary, 1846.  He  practiced  four  years  in  Hammond  and  in  1850  settled 
in  Ogdensburg.  He  served  through  the  war  as  surgeon  of  the  Ninety- 
first  N.  Y.  Infantry. 

J.  H.  Benton  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  February  8, 
1823,  and  studied  medicine  in  Watertown  ;  attended  lectures  at  Wil- 
loughby  College  in  1848,  graduating  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1848.  He  practiced  two  years  in  West  Philadelphia 
and  settled  in  Ogdensburg  in  1851.  He  died  in  Ogdensburg, 
August  31,  1885. 

Dr.  David  E.  Southwick  was  born  in  Keesville,  Clinton  county,  N. 
Y.,  September  29,  1831,  and  received  his  rudimentary  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  by  private  tuition.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  Keesville  Academy  and  after  a  three  years'  course  in  that 
institution  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Blanchard,  of  his 
native  place.  The  following  year  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Ward, 
also  of  Keesville,  and  attended  a  course  of  medical  lectures  in  Albany. 
He  then  entered  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia, 
the  first  homoeopathic  college  established  in  this  country.  From  this 
institution  he  graduated  with  honors  in  1857.  I'-  this  year  he  came  to 
Ogdensburg  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  at- 
tained eminence.  He  was  the  pioneer  of  the  principles  of  homoe- 
opathy in  this  city  and  his  success  from  the  first  has  been  a  fine  vindica- 
tion of  the  principles  of  this  school  and  also  a  practical  encomium  on 
his  own  splendid  abilities  and  professional  skill.  An  epidemic  which 
broke  out  among  the  children  in  the  winter  of  1858  gave  the  doctor  an 
admirable  opportunity  to  illustrate  the  efficacy  of  his  medical  theory 
and  his  treatment  of  patients  was  so  singularly  successful  that  his  repu- 


294  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

tation  and  practice  were  at  once  permanently  established.  In  1864  I^""- 
Southwick  associated  Dr.  N.  N.  Child  with  him  and  the  partnership 
continued  till  187 1.  Dr.  Southwick  is  highly  popular  both  with  the 
members  of  the  medical  profession,  who  respect  and  admire  him  for  his 
knowledge,  skill  and  courtesy,  and  by  the  people  at  large  who  hold 
him  in  high  esteem  for  his  social  qualities,  his  sterling  principles  and 
the  fact  that  while  enjoying  a  large  and  ofttimes  taxing  practice,  he  is 
always  ready  to  give  his  best  services  to  the  poorest  as  well  as  the 
richest  patient.  Dr.  Southwick  has  never  gone  into  politics,  but  pro- 
fessionally is  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Institute,  the  State 
Medical  Society  and  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  of 
which  he  has  been  president.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  and  liberal  views, 
enterprising  and  patriotic,  locally  as  well  as  nationally.  His  character 
is  strong,  yet  unobtrusive,  and  all  his  intercourse  with  his  fellowmen  is 
marked  by  the  culture  of  a  gentleman  and  the  wisdom  of  knowledge. 
In  1 87 1  he  married  Sarah  Frances  Vilas,  daughter  of  Alden  and  Ellen 
Vilas,  of  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  Vilas  was  a  New  Englander  by  birth,  and 
one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  town  of  Oswegatchie.  He  was  a  son  of  Peter 
Vilas,  an  Englishman,  born  in  1804.  Mrs.  Vilas  was  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Chandler  of  Reading,  Vt.  Dr.  Southwick's  father 
was  Paul  Southwick,  who  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass,  May  15,  1797. 
His  ancestors  were  of  English  birth  and  were  among  the  early  New 
England  settlers.  Mrs.  Southwick,  the  .doctor's  mother,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1800.  She  died  while  he  was  quite  young.  His  father  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 

Dr.  Caleb  Pierce. — This  physician  was  a  son  of  Bestor  Pierce,  who 
has  been  noticed  in  the  history  of  Potsdam.  He  was  born  at  Royal- 
ton,  Vt.,  August  6,  1800,  and  was  six  years  old  when  his  father  removed 
to  Potsdam.  When  he  was  nineteen  he  went  to  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  and 
studied  medicine  with  two  professors  of  Dartmouth  College,  attending 
lectures  at  the  same  time,  and  received  his  diploma  in  1822.  In  1823 
he  settled  in  the  village  of  Madrid.  He  was  honored  with  the  offices 
of  president  and  vice  president  of  the  County  Medical  Society,  held  an 
honorary  diploma  from  the  Medical  College  at  Castleton,  and  the  degree 
of   M.  D.  from  Dartmouth  College.      He  was  prominent   in  the  affairs 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  295 

of  the  town  and  much  respected  in  the  community.      He  died  in  Madrid 
June  14,  1887. 

Charles  C.  Bartholomew  was  born  in  VVaddington,  Ma\-  16,  1846. 
He  studied  with  Dr.  J.  H.  Bartholomew,  in  Lansing,  Mich.,  attended 
one  term  at  Ann  Arbor  and  graduated  from  Bellevue  Hospital  in 
1870.  He  settled  in  Ogdensburg  and  soon  gained  an  excellent  repu- 
tation and  large  practice.  He  has  held  the  office  of  president  of 
the  County   Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Louis  Sanburn  studied  his  profession  in  Barre.  Vt.,  attended 
two  courses  of  lectures  at  Castleton  and  graduated  from  the  Burlington 
University  in  1825.  In  1826  he  settled  in  Heuvelton,  where  he  was 
for  many  years  a  prominent  physician.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
County  Medical  Society  in  1828,  and  was  several  times  a  delegate  to 
the  State  Society.  He  removed  to  Montana  and  died  there  at  the  age 
of  eighty- three. 

William  Floyd. — Dr.  Floyd  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Vt.,  October 
16,  1800,  and  settled  in  Norfolk,  St.  Lawrence  county,  in  1829.  There 
is  little  known  of  the  particulars  of  his  life,  excepting  that  he  was  a 
Free  Mason  of  good  standing,  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  and 
widely  respected  in  his  profession.  He  died  in  Norfolk,  but  the  date 
of  his  death  is  not  known. 

The  first  physician  in  the  town  of  Rossie  was  a  Dr.  Slade,  of 
whom  little  is  known.  He  settled  there  at  an  early  day  and  continued 
in  practice  until  1851.  when  he  removed  to  Florida  and  died. 

One  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  very  first,  physicians  in  the  town  of 
Hopkinton  was  Dr.  Stephen  Langworthy.  He  was  succeeded  in  that 
town  by  Dr.  Gideon  Sprague,  who  came  from  Addison  county.  Ver- 
mont, in  181 1,  and  joined  the  Medical  Society  in  18 14.  He  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  his  death  in  1859,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  F.   P.   Sprague. 

Francis  Parker. — Dr.  Parker  was  a  native  of  Clarendon,  Vt.,  where 
he  was  born  July  14,  1790.  He  studied  medicine  in  Cornwall,  Vt.,  and 
received  a  diploma  from  the  Vermont  State  Medical  Society  in  181  5. 
He  was  present  as  a  surgeon  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  in  the  war  of 


29G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

i8i2.  He  lived  in  Clinton  county  a  few  years  and  then  settled  in  the 
town  of  Parish,  where  he  practiced  until  his  death.  He  was  president 
of  the  County  Medical  Society  in  1840.      He  died  May  13,  1858. 

Robert  Campbell. — Dr.  Campbell  was  the  first  physician  in  the  town 
of  De  Kalb,  being  one  of  the  party  of  first  settlers  who  located  there  in 
1803.      Nothing  is  known  of  his  afterlife. 

Dr.  John  Seeley  succeeded  Dr.  Campbell  in  the  town  and  was  for 
many  years  a  successful  physician.  It  is  related  of  him  that  he  success- 
fully performed  the  operation  of  trepanning  on  a  man  who  was  injured 
at  the  raising  of  a  building  in  1804,  using  no  other  instrument  than  a 
steel  thimble,  which  he  made  into  an  annular  saw.  Dr.  Seeley  died  at 
Cooper's  Falls  on  the  24th  of  May,  1829. 

G.  Dart. — Dr.  Dart  was  a  homoeopathic  physician  of  the  town  of 
Depeyster.  He  first  attended  lectures  in  the  Rush  Medical  College  of 
Chicago  and  practiced  in  Depeyster  village  until  1875,  then  he  attended 
lectures  and  graduated  at  the  Detroit  Homoeopathic  College.  He 
returned  to  Depeyster  and  continued  practice  there  a  few  years  and 
moved  to  California    where  he  continued  to  practice  his  profession. 

Joseph  Boynton. — Dr.  Boynton  was  one  of  the  early  physicians  and 
the  first  to  settle  in  Morristown  He  was  from  Massachusetts.  He 
continued  in  practice  until  about  the  year  1834. 

Dr.  Solomon  P.  Sherwood  was  also  an  early  physician  in  Morristown 
and  became  a  member  of  the  County  Medical  Society  in  1820.  He 
removed  to  Jefferson  county,  but  returned  and  practiced  there  until 
1850,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois. 

Dr.  J.  S.  Morgan,  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Medical  College,  in  1825, 
settled  in  Morristown  in  1826.  In  1828  he  became  a  member  of  the 
County  Medical  Society,  and  continued  in  practice  more  than  fifty 
years.      He  died  in  1878. 

Dr.  Robert  Burns,  a  graduate  of  a  medical  college  at  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, located  at  Brier  Hill  at  an  early  day  and  practiced  there  with 
good  success  until  a  short  time  before  his  death.  He  joined  the  County 
Medical  Society  in  1848  and  died  in  Morristown  in  1862. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  297 

John  Bean  was  the  first  practicing  physician  in  the  town  of  Ham- 
mond, where  he  settled  as  early  as  1820.  He  continued  in  practice 
there  until  about  1856,  when  he  removed  to  Richville  and  died  a  few 
years  later.  With  him  was  associated  as  a  partner  for  a  time  a  Dr. 
Blackman. 

A.  R.  Gregor,  a  graduate  of  the  Geneva  Medical  College  in  1846, 
having  previously  attended  lectures  in  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
settled  in  the  village  of  Hammond  and  joined  the  County  Medical 
Society  in  1864,  and  later  was  made  an  honorary  member.  He  was 
superintendent  of  schools  in  1847  ^"^  ^'^^  coroner  from    1867  to  1875. 

William  S.  Paddock. — Dr.  Paddock  was  one  of  the  earliest  physicians 
in  the  town  of  Massena,  and  located  there  not  very  long  after  first 
settlement  of  the  town.  Through  his  long  life  he  continued  in  practice, 
and  gained  the  respect  of  the  community.  He  joined  the  County 
Medical  Society  in  18 16  and  held  the  ofiice  of  president  in  1839.  His 
death  took  place  in  Massena  May  6,  1859,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years. 

Joseph  H.  Ripley,  another  early  physician  of  Massena,  joined  the 
County  Society  in  1834,  and  practiced  in  the  town  more  than  forty 
years.  He  died  in  the  town  February  28,  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years. 

Dr.  E.  Whitney  settled  early  in  Massena,  became  a  member  of  the 
County  Medical   Society  in  1834,  and  died  in  the  town   May  20,  1884. 

Henry  D.  Laughlin. — Dr.  Laughlin  was  born  in  Hopkinton  Sep- 
tember 17,  1806,  and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Sprague  in  his  native 
town  and  Dr.  Allen,  of  Middlebury,  Vt.  He  practiced  seven  years  in 
Hopkinton  and  removed  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  continued  his  busi- 
ness more  than  thirty-five  years,  and  ranked  among  the  foremost  phy- 
sicians of  the  county.  He  died  in  Ogdensburg  June  20,  1865,  aged 
fifty- eight  years. 

P.  M.  Wise,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Erie  county,  N.  Y.,  March  7,  185  i, 
and  received  his  literary  education  in  the  district  schools  and  Parker 
Classical  Institute.  He  studied  medicine  in  the  University  of  Buffalo, 
and  was    graduated  from  that   institution  in    1872.      He  then  took    a 

38 


298  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

position  in  the  St.  Louis  City  Hospital,  where  he  remained  a  year.  It 
was  during  this  year  that  the  city  was  visited  with  an  epidemic  of  small- 
pox. Dr.  Wise  was  appointed  quarantine  physician,  and  his  admirable 
work  won  for  him  the  commendation  of  the  officials  and  the  people  of 
the  city. 

In  1873  Dr.  Wise  accepted  a  position  on  the  medical  staff  of  the 
Willard  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  a  State  institution  located  on  Seneca 
Lake,  New  York,  and  was  connected  with  that  institution  for  eighteen 
years,  during  the  last  six  of  which  he  was  superintendent. 

In  1886  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed  by  Governor  Hill 
to  locate  a  site  for  an  asylum  in  Northern  New  York,  and  along  with 
Commissioner  Latchworth  made  a  minority  report  in  favor  of  Ogdens- 
burg,  which,  notwithstanding  the  report  of  the  majority,  was  sub- 
sequently acted   upon. 

In  1890  Dr.  Wise  accepted  his  present  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital,  and  his  three  years  of  incumbency  has 
established  his  eminent  qualifications  for  the  position.  Not  only  has 
his  superior  mind  been  stored  with  all  the  learning  of  his  profession, 
but  a  practical  experience  of  twenty  years  in  his  special  work  and  the 
information  gained  by  travel  and  the  inspection  of  the  best  asylums  of 
Europe,  have  contributed  to  make  him  one  of  the  ablest  experts  in  this 
country  on  mental  diseases.  But  Dr.  Wise  possesses  attributes  of  heart 
commensurate  with  his  intellectual  attainments,  and  his  kindly  sympathy 
for  human  suffering,  combined  with  his  medical  knowledge  and  fine 
executive  abilities,  renders  him  the  one  man  absolutely  fitted  for  the 
responsible  position  he  occupies. 

The  St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital,  when  completed,  will  be  the 
largest  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Commenting  on  the  insti- 
tution and  its  superintendent,  the  Daily  Neivs  says  :  "  So  with  this 
kindly  man  at  its  head,  and  the  great  power  and  resources  of  the  State 
at  its  back,  the  St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital  is  performing  a  mighty 
work  for  the  amelioration  of  the  pain  and  ills  which  afflict  society's  most 
unfortunate  people." 

N.  N.  Child,  M.D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Compton,  Quebec,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1837.  H^  received  an  academic  education,  and  also  took  a 
classical  course.      At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  he  entered  the  office 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION^  299 

of  Dr,  H.  A.  Houghton,  of  Keesville,  Clinton  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  began 
the  stud}'  of  medicine.  He  remained  under  Dr.  Houghton's  tutorship 
for  three  years,  attending  lectures  at  intervals  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Vermont;  later  on  he  attended  a  preliminary 
and  regular  course  of  lectures  at  the  Berkshire  Medical  College  at 
Pittsfield,  Mass  ,  and  in  November,  '62,  entered  the  Homoeopathic  Med- 
ical College  of  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
March,  1863.  The  same  spring  he  came  to  Ogdensburg  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  for  eight  years  (from 
1863  to  1 871),  associated  with  Dr.  D.  E.  Southwick  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  since  that  time  has  been  actively  engaged  in  caring 
for  his  large  and  influential  practice  in  the  country  and  city.  Dr.  Child 
was  married  December  7,  i860,  to  Miss  Phoebe  Southwick,  of  Keese- 
ville,  N.  v.,  a  descendant  of  a  Revolutionary  family.  They  have  one 
daughter  married,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Huntley  ;  son,  Frank  S.,  died  at  twelve. 
Dr.  Child  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Thomas  Child,  who  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  His  father  was  Walter 
Child,  a  native  of  West  Boylston,  Mass.,  and  his  mother  was  Laura  B. 
Bonnell,  a  daughter  of  Seth  and  Rebecca  Bonnell.  Dr.  Child  is  emi- 
nently a  successful  practitioner,  and  enjo\'s  a  well  earned  competency, 
the  result  of  his  untiring  energ}'.  He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for 
his  uprightness  of  character,  his  quiet  and  unassuming  deportment,  as 
well  as  for  his  scientific  qualifications  and  great  success  in  the  field  of 
medicine;  being  recognized  as  the  leading  exponent  of  homoeopathy  in 
St.  Lawrence  county.  In  politics  Dr.  Child  is  a  Democrat,  and  is 
identified  with  leading  local  and  State  institutions,  both  political  and 
professional. 

He  was  appointed  examining  surgeon  upon  the  Pension  Board  a 
few  years  ago,  and  has  recently  been  appointed  to  the  same  position 
a  second  term,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  for 
some  time,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  the 
city.  Dr.  Child  is  a  gentleman  of  large  and  robust  frame,  combined 
with  a  courteous  and  affable  manner,  which  makes  him  much  respected 
and  esteemed,  as  a  family  physician,  a  public  officer  and  a  citizen. 

James  B.  Carpenter,  M.D.,  was  born  June  9,  1819,  at  Johnstown,  N. 
Y.      He  was  one  of  ten  children  of  Jonathan  and  Lucy  (Johnson)  Car- 


300  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

penter.  The  grandfather,  Jonathan  Carpenter,  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, coming  to  Montgomery  county  near  Johnstown  and  settHng  early 
in  Hfe.  James  B.  was  educated  at  Gouverneur  Academy,  studied 
medicine  with  Doctors  Davison  and  Brewster,  of  Theresa,  and  at  Castle- 
ton  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1847.  ^^  was  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Theresa  for  twenty  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Gouverneur  in  March,  1867,  where  he  now  lives.  He 
served  in  the  army  as  surgeon  for  about  two  years  with  the  35th  New 
York  Volunteers  ;  was  at  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Fredericksburg, 
the  Wilderness  and  many  others.  He  married,  August  3,  1848, 
Roxaline  Celia  Flower,  daughter  of  Nathan  M.,  and  sister  of  Gov. 
Roswell  P.  Flower.  She  died  July  9,  1887,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Francis  Amelia,  (now  Mrs.  Andrew  Irving  of  Baltimore). 

Jesse  Reynolds,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Chazy,  Clinton  county,  Decem- 
ber 10,  1823,  a  son  of  Assemblyman  Guy  Reynolds,  a  prominent  farm- 
er of  that  town.  The  tradition  of  the  ancestry  is  that  some  time  in  the 
eighteenth  century  seven  brothers  of  this  name  came  to  this  country 
from  Ireland  and  located  in  Rhode  Island.  The  first  of  the  family  in 
Vermont  was  Grindle  Reynolds,  father  of  Guy.  The  latter  married 
Elizabeth  l^yde  a  native  of  Vermont.  The  boyhood  of  Jesse  was  spent 
on  Grand  Island,  Vt.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
twenty-one  went  into  the  office  of  Hardy  H.  Reynolds,  M.  D.,  in  Al- 
burgh,  Vt.,  where  he  spent  three  years,  attending  lectures  at  old  Ver- 
mont Medical  College  at  Woodstock,  and  graduating  June  14,  1847. 
His  first  practice  was  at  South  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he 
spent  twelve  years.  In  February,  i860,  he  located  at  Potsdam,  where 
he  has  ever  since  practiced.  Dr.  Reynolds  was  the  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Health  in  1890-91,  was  a  member  of  the  first  local  board  of 
the  Potsdam  Normal  School,  and  the  only  one  of  that  board  living  in 
Potsdam  that  is  still  a  trustee.  Dr.  Reynolds  married  in  September, 
1852,  Louisa  Montgomery,  of  Canton,  who  died  in  March,  1871.  His 
second  wife  was  Lucy  A.  Leonard,  of  Canton,  who  died  in  November, 
1882.  The  present  Mrs.  Reynolds  was  Elizabeth  Hargrave  of  Madrid. 
Dr.  Reynolds  has  seven  children. 

B.  F.  Drury,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Canton,  January  6,  1837.     His  fath- 
er, Isaac  R.,  and  mother,  Elizabeth  (Van  Allen)  Drury,  were  natives  of 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  301 

Vermont,  as  was  also  the  grandfather,  Ebenezer.  He  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Hastings  at  De  Kalb,  at  Castleton,  and  BurHngton,  Vt.,  grad- 
uating from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Vermont  in 
1859.  He  practiced  in  Edwards  and  De  Kalb  until  the  fall  of  1876, 
when  he  came  to  Gouverneur  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, where  he  has  since  remained.  He  was  married  in  August, 
1859,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hudson)  Ritchie,  of 
De  Kalb.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Drury,  a  native  of  Scotland,  came  to  this 
country  in  early  life,  is  a  civil  engineer,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  De 
Kalb  for  many  years.  The  mother's  ancestry  were  of  English  descent. 
They  have  three  children :  Juliet  L.,  Frederick  F.,  and  Albert  N. 
Frederick  F.,  a  physician  and  surgeon,  received  his  education  at  Bur- 
lington, Vt.,  and  at  Bellevue  Medical  College,  New  York,  graduating 
from  Bellevue  in  April,  1891,  since  wh'ch  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  partnership  with  his  father,  in  Gouver- 
neur. 

Hervey  Dexter  Thatcher,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Newport,  N.  H.,  Decem- 
ber 28,  1835,  the  second  son  of  Calvin,  a  native  of  that  town.  He  attend- 
ed the  academies  at  Newport,  New  London  and  Washington,  N.  H.,  and 
Potsdam  and  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  Spending  one  and  a  half  years  as  a 
student  in  medicine  he  went  to  New  York  where  he  made  a  year's  en- 
gagement with  Ewen  Mclntyre,  president  of  the  New  York  College  of 
Pharmacy  to  fill  a  position  in  the  Broadway  Drug  Store.  Later  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine,  graduating  at  the  Ec- 
lectic College  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  in  the  spring  of  1859.  During  his 
student  life  he  taught  school  many  terms  to  procure  funds  with  which 
to  pursue  his  studies.  His  first  venture  in  a  professional  way  was  in 
the  little  town  of  Walton,  Ky.,  where  he  had  previously  taught  select 
school ;  his  stay  here  was  very  short  as  an  opening  offered  in  Canton, 
N.  Y.,  to  connect  himself  with  a  drug  store  at  that  point  and  at  the 
same  time  follow  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  remained  here  but  one 
year  or  until  the  great  fire  of  i860  destroyed  half  the  business  part  of 
the  town,  when  he  removed  to  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  where  for  more  than 
a  third  of  a  century  he  has  conducted  the  drug  store  of  which  he  is  still 
the  proprietor.  In  i860  he  formulated  Thatcher's  Orange  Butter  Color 
and  later   established  a  trade  for  it  in  every  State  and  in  the  Canadas. 


302  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  1886,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Barnhart,  he  originated  the  famous 
milk  jar  now  so  widely  distributed,  and  which  was  later,  with  the  butter 
color,  transferred  to  the  Barnhart  Bros.  In  1889  he  formulated  the 
Sugar  of  Milk  Baking  Powder,  taking  out  letters  patent  on  the  same 
in  1890,  the  exhibition  of  which  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition 
in  Chicago  made  such  a  favorable  impression  on  the  people.  The 
brick  structures  for  many  years  used  by  him  for  store  and  residence 
were  both  planned  and  built  by  him.  In  1865  he  married  Miss  O. 
Adelaide  Barnhart,  of  Barnhart's  Island,  N.  Y.  While  the  Thatcher 
ancestry  traces  back  with  unbroken  lineage  hundreds  of  years  through 
many  generations,  taking  the  first  pastor  of  old  South  Church,  Boston, 
Mass.,  the  rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  Salsbury,  England,  who  died 
in  1640,  yet  the  subject  of  our  sketch  builds  nowhere  but  on  the  untir- 
ing energy  and  perseverance  of  that  personality  that  pertains  to  self 
alone.  One's  own  work  is  the  only  standard  by  which  we  can  measure 
success. 

S.  W.  Close,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  May  2,  1857,  ^^^ 
came  to  Stockholm  when  quite  young.  He  studied  medicine  at  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York  and 
graduated  in  1885,  and  in  April  of  that  year  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Potsdam.  June  16,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Clara  A. 
Smith,  of  Gouverneur,  and  in  the  following  December  he  removed  to 
the  latter  town.  Dr.  Close  is  secretary  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County 
Medical  Society,  a  member  of  the  Northern  New  York  Medical  Asso- 
ciation and  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society.  He  is  also  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Erasmus  D.  Brooks  was  born  in  Shoreham,  Vt.,  March  6,  1818,  a 
son  of  Hosea  Brooks,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Colerain  in 
1 78 1,  and  was  but  a  boy  when  he  moved  into  Vermont.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  18 12  as  assistant  surgeon.  After  the  war  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Vermont,  and  in  18 19  removed  to  this 
county  and  located  at  Hopkinton,  where  he  remained  five  years  and 
then  moved  into  the  town  of  Stockholm.  Here  he  spent  three  and 
one-half  years  and  then  went  to  Parishville,  where  he  died  in  1853. 
His  wife  was  Phoebe  Post,  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  she  died  in  1864. 
Our  subject  had  the  advantage  of  a  good  education,  and  was  a  student 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  303 

of  Middlebury  College.  He  first  went  into  business  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  his  father  at  Parishville  when  he  was  about  sixteen.  He  re- 
mained there  until  1838,  when  he  settled  up  the  business  of  the  firm, 
and  the  next  year  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account  in  the  same 
village.  In  1858  he  removed  to  Potsdam,  and  in  1866  engaged  in  the 
dry  goods  business,  where  for  three  years  he  was  a  partner  with  H.  M. 
Story.  In  1870  Mr.  Brooks  erected  a  fine  brick  block  on  the  west  side 
of  Market  street,  where  he  opened  a  dry  goods  store  alone  in  the  fall 
of  1870.  Here  he  remained  until  December  i,  1891,  selling  the  busi- 
ness to  Glover  &  Orne,  who  now  conduct  it.  In  connection  with  his 
mercantile  business  Mr.  Brooks  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  has  held  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was 
elected  in  1848  supervisor  of  Parishville,  an  office  he  held  three  or  four 
years.  In  1857  he  was  elected  assemblyman  of  the  Third  District  of 
St.  Lawrence  county  in  the  Legislature.  In  1862  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  to  the  position  of  internal  revenue  collector  for  the 
Nineteenth  Congressional  District,  an  office  he  held  over  thirteen 
years,  resigning  to  take  effect  January  i,  1876.  Mr.  Brooks  was  for 
seven  or  eight  years  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Potsdam,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  board  part  of  the  time.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
village,  and  was  one  of  the  building  committee  of  the  Normal  School. 
Mr.  Brooks  married  in  1841  Permelia,  daughter  of  Col.  Jonah  Sandford, 
of  Hopkinton,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  but  one  of  whom,  Mrs. 
W.  A.  Landers,  widow,  is  now  living.  Mrs.  Brooks  died  October  16, 
1886. 

C.  B.  Hawley,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Millroche,  Canada,  while  the 
family  were  temporarily  living  there,  they  being  St.  Lawrence  county 
people.  Jesse  B.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Kings  county,  but  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  died 
at  Richville,  aged  eighty-nine  years.  His  Avife,  Rebecca  L.  (Hitch- 
cock) Hawley,  was  born  in  Franklin  county.  Dr.  Hawley  was  edu- 
gated  at  the  St.  Lawrence  University  and  the  Cincinnati  College  of 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery,  where  he  graduated  in  1871,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  towns 
of  Russell,  Richville  and  Gouverneur,  coming  to  the  latter  place  in 
1888.     In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was  appointed  coroner.      He   is  also   one 


304  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  Board  of  United  States  Examining  Surgeons  at  Ogdensburg. 
He  married  December  27,  1871,  Lucy,  daughter  of  Darius  and  Almira 
(Hoard)  Chapin,  of  Russell  They  have  two  sons.  Henry  Bartlett, 
student  at  St.  Lawrence  University,  and  Jessie  B.  They  have  also  an 
adopted  daughter,  Louise  Chapin  Hawley,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sparks, 
of  England. 

Andrew  H.  Allen,  one  of  nine  children  of  Lorenzo  D.  and  Mary 
(Cummings)  Allen,  was  born  at  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county.  The  ances- 
try on  the  father's  side  were  Herkimer  county  people,  the  Cummings 
family  having  been  originally  natives  of  Massachusetts.  Andrew  H. 
studied  at  Ives  Seminary,  Antwerp,  where  he  graduated  in  1877, 
teaching  school  for  several  seasons.  He  entered  Long  Island  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  1879.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Spragueville,  where  he  remained  two  years,  when  he  came  to  Gou- 
verneur  and  located  where  he  has  since  remained,  engaged  in  practice. 
He  married,  in  August,  1880,  Libbie  A.,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Ada 
(Hungerford)  Cheney,  of  Antwerp.  They  have  four  daughters,  E, 
Blanche,  Grace  M.,  Maud  B.  and  Bell  Allen. 

H.  S.  Stillwell,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  June  23,  1859.  ^^ 
received  a  liberal  education  in  the  St.  Lawrence  county  schools,  includ- 
ing the  Potsdam  Academy,  after  which  he  entered  upon  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  New  York  Cit\^  in  1887,  immediately  thereafter  commencing  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Ogdensburg,  where  he  has  since  acquired  a 
large  and  influential  patronage.  Dr.  Stillwell  married,  shortly  after 
receiving  his  degree,  Florence  E.  Witerhead,  of  Lowell,  Mass.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County  Medical  Society,  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  A. 
O.  U.  W.,  of  which  latter  organization  he  is  examining  physician.  Dr. 
Stillwell  is  also  health  officer  for  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  and  a  mem-  I 
ber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city.  ^  I 

S.  Dandurand,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Macon,  France,  May  5,  1862.  He 
studied  at  Juliette  College,  and  graduated  from  Victoria  Medical  Col- 
lege, Montreal,  in  1888.  He  first  began  practice  at  St.  Regis  Falls, 
but  came  to  Gouverneur  in  July,  1891,  where  he  now  enjoys  a  large 
practice  and  owns  a  leading  drug  store.    Previous  to  studying  medicine 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  305 

Dr.  Dandurand  was  for  seven  years  engaged    in  the  drug  business.      In 
1885  he  married  EHzabeth  Rancourt,  and  they  have  four  children. 

S.  E.  Brown,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  February  24,  1856.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  vicinity  and  the  Potsdam 
Normal  School,  eventually  graduating  in  medicine  from  the  University 
Medical  College,  New  York  City,  after  which  in  the  spring  of  1883  he 
located  in  Ogdensburg,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  prc)fession, 
in  the  prosecution  of  which  he  has  taken  a  leading  position  among  the 
representative  physicians  of  this  State.  He  was  appointed  by  the  gen- 
eral government,  marine  surgeon  and  United  States  medical  health 
officer,  and  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  coroner  of  this  county.  He 
is  also  medical  examiner  for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company.  Dr. 
Brown  is  also  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  a 
member'of  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  identified  with  the  numerous  other 
local  and  State  institutions.  Dr.  Brown  married  in  1885,  Mary  C. 
Bacon,  of  Brooklyn,  a  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Commander  Bacon  of 
the  United   States  Navy,  and  they  have  two  daughters. 

Dr.  Moses  E.  Smith  was  born  in  Morgan,  Vt.,  August  27,  1846,  a 
son  of  Russell  W.,  of  Lyman,  N.  H.,  born  March  29,  1819,  whose 
father,  Nathan,  was  born  June  8,  1793  and  died  August  25,  1834.  His 
wife  was  Dorcas  S.  Parker,  who  was  born  June  9,  1800.  Their  chil- 
dren were  :  Russell  W.,  born  March  29,  1819;  Chilson  P.,  born  July 
6,  1820,  died  1829;  Ira  B,  born  October  5,  1821,  died  1822;  Nathan 
W.,born  August  18,  1823;  Zilpha,  born  November  22,  1825  ;  Ethan, 
born  August  28,  1829,  died  1830;  and  Samuel  C.  P.,  born  January  25, 
183 1,  Dorcas  S.  Smith  married  second  time,  Samuel  Titus,  1843,  ^^^ 
had  one  child  Candice,  born  February  5,  1841,  and  died  April  24, 
1844.  Russell  W.  Smith,  father  of  our  subject,  went  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  to  work  in  the  lumber  woods  in  New  Hampshire,  and  later  to 
Vermont.  In  1843  he  married  Susan  Chase,  a  native  of  Strafford, 
N.  H.,  born  July  19,  1821,  a  daughter  of  John  Chase,  a  native  of  West 
Newbury,  Mass.,  born  July  3,  1790  and  died  January  8,  1866.  Rus- 
sell W.  Smith  and  wife  resided  in  Vermont  from  1843  to  1853,  then 
came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  settled  in  Hopkinton,  where  Russell 
died,  December  10,  1880,  and  his  widow  resides   with   her  son,  M.   E. 

Smith.     Their  children  were  as  follows:  Wilbur,  born  May  22,  1844; 
39 


306  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Moses  E.,  born  August  27,  1846  ;  Zorah,  born  June  26,  1848  ;  Willard 
R.,  born  June  13,  1850;  Ryley,  born  April  10,  1852,  died  May  li, 
1863;  Dorcas  A.,  born  June  7,  1855,  ^^i^^i  April  3,  1856;  Celon,  born 
January  24,  1858,  died  September  17,  1861.  Moses  E.  Smith  was 
seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Hopkinton,  and  at  twelve 
he  started  in  life  working  on  a  farm.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  and  in  1875  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Cook, 
of  Stockholm,  graduating  from  the  medical  department  of  the  Burling- 
ton University  in  1868.  In  the  same  year  he  came  to  Colton,  and 
except  five  years  in  Heuvelton,  has  since  had  a  successful  practice  in 
that  village.  March  5,  1879,  Dr.  Smith  married  Lorene  J.  Perkins, 
daughter  of  Amos  Perkins,  of  Stockholm.  They  have  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Myrtle  A.,  born  September  24,  1881  ;  Harold  M.,  born 
October  i,  1888.  Dr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  health 
commissioner  seven  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Medi- 
cal Association,  having  been  president  and  vice-president  of  the  society, 
and  delegate  to  the  State  society.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  North- 
ern New  York  Medical  Society. 

J.  A.  Hamelin,  was  born  in  Canada,  December  4,  1861.  He  received 
his  preliminary  education  at  Three  Rivers,  and  graduated  in  medicine 
from  the  Victoria  College,  Montreal  in  the  class  of  '89.  After  gradu- 
ating he  came  to  this  county  and  practiced  his  profession  for  a  time  at 
Spencer,  Mass.,  but  finding  a  better  opening  at  Ogdensburg  he  located 
there,  where  he  has  since  most  successfully  practiced.  Dr.  Hamelin 
married  in  1891,  and  has  one  child.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  Society,  of  which  he  is  the  physician,  and  also  is  prominent  in 
social  and  benevolent  institutions. 

T.  R.  Hossie,  M.  D.,  was  born  at  Perth,  Canada,  December  14,  1859, 
one  of  five  children  of  George  and  Margaret  (Brice)  Hossie.  He  was 
educated  at  Kingston,  Canada,  Queen's  University,  where  he  graduated 
in  April,  1878.  He  settled  in  Gouverneur  during  the  same  year,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  is  one 
of  the  stirring  men  of  the  town,  warmly  interested  in  politics  since 
1884,  and  for  two  years  master  of  Gouverneur  Lodge  of  Masons. 

Grant  Madill,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Stockton,  Cal,  July  6,  1864.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  Ogdensburg  Academy  and  in  New  York, 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  307 

and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  Bellevue  Hospital  College  in  1886. 
After  serving  two  years  in  the  Presbyterian  Hospital  in  New  York,  he 
in  1888  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Ogdensburg.  Dr. 
Madill  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  surgeons  of  the  State.  His 
ancestors  were  of  Revolutionary  stock,  and  are  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  this  county. 

John  W.  Benton,  M.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  Charles  C.  Benton,  was  born"in  Ox 
Bow,  November  15,  1864.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Ogdensburg, 
after  which  he  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania class  of  '86,  and  immediately  thereafter  commenced  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Ogdensburg.  Dr.  Benton  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree, 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  and  Ogdensburg  Clubs,  health  officer  of 
the  city,  and  an  influential  member  of  our  leading  social  and  benevolent 
circles.  His  father,  Charles  Carroll  Benton,  M.  D.,  was  also  a  native  of 
Ox  Bow  where  he  practices  medicine. 

Abram  N.  Thompson,  M.D.  (deceased),  was  born  at  St.  Armond, 
Canada,  February  5,  1828.  His  father  was  Abram  Thompson,  M.D., 
a  native  of  Edinburg,  Scotland,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated 
graduating  from  the  Medical  University  of  that  place  in  181 2.  He 
came  to  St.  Armond,  Canada,  when  a  young  man  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  where  he  resided  a  number  of  years,  and  here 
spent  his  last  days.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Hubbard,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Dr.  Thompson 
died  in  i860,  and  his  wife  in  1866.  Abram  N.  Thompson  was  reared 
in  the  village  of  St.  Armond,  Canada,  and  educated  in  St.  Armond  and 
Bakersfield  Academy  of  Vermont,  graduating  from  the  Vermont  Medi- 
cal College  at  Woodstock  in  185 1.  He  then  went  to  Phillipsburg, 
Canada,  and  practiced  his  profession  three  years.  He  married,  June  4, 
1855,  Harriet  E.  Maynard,  a  native  of  St.  Albans,  Vt,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Maria  (Baker)  Maynard,  of  Bakersfield,  Vt.  Dr.  Thomp- 
son and  wife  have  had  two  children,  Lizzie  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  and  Jessie  M.,  who  was  educated  at  Compton  and  Dun- 
ham Colleges.  She  married,  January  20,  1888,  John  C.  O'Brien,  a 
native  of  Norfolk,  who  was  born  July  9,  1856.  He  is  a  son  of  T.  H. 
O'Brien  and  Sallie  (Adams)  O'Brien,  of  Norfolk.  John  C.  O'Brien 
was   reared   on   a   farm    and  educated  in   the    common    schools.      Mr. 


308  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

O'Brien  is  a  farmer  and  produce  dealer.  Mr.  O'Brien  is  an  ardent 
politician,  and  has  always  been  a  Democrat  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Norfolk  Grange.  Mr.  O'Brien  and  wife  have  had  two  children  :  Harold 
T.  and  Howard  A.  In  1855  Dr.  Thompson  and  wife  came  to  Norwood 
where  he  remained  about  six  months  and  then  came  to  Norfolk,  where 
he  had  a  very  extensive  and  successful  practice  until  his  death.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  in  1873, 
and  also  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  which  her  husband  always  attended  and  supported.  Dr. 
Thompson  died  November  18,  1882,  and  Mrs.  Thompson  still  resides  in 
Norfolk. 

Edwin  C.  Walch,  M.D.,  CM.,  was  born  in  Lowe,  Canada,  October 
20,  1842,  a  son  of  Capt.  Robert  Thomas  Walch,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  18 17.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  at  fifteen  years  of  age  he  entered  Huntington 
Academy,  and  at  twenty  years  of  age  entered  McGill  University  at 
Montreal,  where  for  three  }'ears  he  was  in  the  art  faculty.  In  1863  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  above  university  and  graduated 
May  6,  1867.  He  remained  in  Montreal  about  six  months,  and  Sep- 
tember 12  of  the  same  year  located  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  where  within 
five  years  he  had  built  up  a  lucrative  practice.  Dr.  Walch  is  a  member 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Association,  and  is  a  director  of 
the  Madrid  Woolen  Mills,  in  which  he  has  been  interested  since  1882, 
having  been  for  ten  years  the  manager.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees.  Dr.  Walch 
married,  January  7,  1874,  Maggie,  daughter  of  William  Wears,  of 
Massena,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Bessie  Verena. 

E.  W.  Setree,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  England,  April  7,  1847.  ^^  ^^'^s 
liberally  educated  in  the  institutions  of  the  old  country,  and  graduated 
in  medicine  from  McGill  University,  Montreal,  in  the  class  of  1878.  He 
immediately  thereafter  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Heuvelton,  where  he  has  since  been  located,  enjoying  the  leading  pat- 
ronage of  the  locality.  He  married,  in  1879,  Lucy  Maclaren,  and  they 
have  three  children.      Dr.  Setree   is  a  skillful,    learned    and    honorable 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  309 

practitioner,   and    enjoys  the   confidence    and    esteem   of   the    medical 
fraternity  as  well  also  of  the  general  public. 

Jesse  Reynolds,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Chazy,  Clinton  county,  December 
10,  1823,  a  son  of  Guy  Reynolds,  a  prominent  farmer  of  that  town. 
The  tradition  ancestry  is  that  sometime  in  the  eighteenth  century  seven 
brothers  of  this  name  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland  and  located  in 
Rhode  Island.  The  first  of  the  family  in  Vermont  was  Giindle  Rey- 
nolds, father  of  Guy.  The  latter  married  Elizabeth  Hyde,  a  native  of 
Vermont.  The  boyhood  of  Jesse  was  spent  at  Grand  Island,  Vt.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
went  into  the  office  of  Hardy  H.  Reynolds,  M.D.,  in  Alburgh,  Vt.,  where 
he  spent  three  years,  attending  lectures  at  old  Vermont  Medical  College 
at  Woodstock,  and  graduating  June  14,  1847.  His  first  practice  was  at 
South  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he  spent  twelve  years.  In 
February,  i860,  he  located  in  Potsdam,  where  he  has  ever  since  prac- 
ticed. Dr.  Reynolds  was  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Health  in  1890- 
91,  was  a  member  of  the  first  Local  Board  of  the  Potsdam  State  Nornal 
School,  and  the  only  one  of  that  first  board  now  living  in  Potsdam,  that 
is  still  a  trustee.  Dr.  Reynolds  married,  in  September,  1852,  Lorena 
Montgomery,  of  Canton,  who  died  in  March,  1871.  His  second  wife 
was  Lucy  A.  Leonard,  of  Canton,  who  died  in  November,  1882.  The 
present  Mrs.  Reynolds  was  Elizabeth  Hargrave,  of  Madrid.  Dr.  R.ey- 
nold  has  seven  children. 

Freeman  A.  Pease,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Brasher,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1842.  The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  of  this  family  in  the  coun- 
try is  Captain  John  Pease,  who  was  a  native  of  England  and  immigrated 
to  this  country  about  1620,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  Ebenezer 
Pease,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  grandfather, 
Abel  Pease,  was  born  in  Vermont  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  located  in  the  town  of  Lawrence 
about  1828.  He  built  the  first  farm  house  in  the  village  of  North  Law- 
rence, and  it  was  there  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  the  balance  of  his 
days.  He  died  in  1868,  aged  eighty- seven  years.  He  was  the  father 
of  twelve  children,  of  which  Abel,  father  of  our  subject,  is  the  fourth 
son.     He  was  born  in  Vermont,  April  5,  1818.    He  has  always  followed 


310  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

mechanical  pursuits  and  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty  years  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Norwood.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Sally  Clark,  was  a  native 
of  Grand  Isle  county,  Vt.,  a  daughter  of  Freeman  Clark,  a  prominent 
figure  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State  a  number  of  years.  Dr.  Pease 
was  one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Lucius  L  ,'of  Norwood  ;  William  H.,  a  farmer  of  Canton  ;  and  Freeman 
A.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Lawrence, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  Lawrenceville  Academy.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  while  teaching  in  Lawrenceville 
Academy  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Jackson.  Li  1846,  after  one 
year's  study  of  medicine  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  193d  regiment,  N. 
Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  appointed  hospital  steward,  which 
position  he  filled  at  the  Post  Hospital,  Cumberland  City,  Md.,  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Returning  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  entered  the 
University  of  Vermont  at  Burlington,  graduating  with  the  degree  of  M. 
D.,  June  15,  1867.  He  commenced  practice  in  Norwood  July  13,  1867, 
and  has  ever  since  been  here.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Lawrence  Coun- 
ty Medical  Society  and  also  of  the  Northern  N.  Y.  Medical  Association. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  Norwood  lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  is  now  a 
member  of  Luther  Priest  Post  G.  A.  R.,  No.  167,  and  has  held  the  office 
of  surgeon.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Norwood, 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  health  officer  of  Norwood  village.  Dr.  Pease 
married,  June  10,  1868,  Helen  M.  Lester,  of  Parishville,  and  they  had 
two  sons,  one  died  at  seven  years  of  age  ;  and  Leslie  Allan  is  practicing 
law  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Pease  died  August  30,  1884,  and  he  mar- 
ried second,  October  6,  1886,  Ella  A.,  daughter  of  John  Walker,  of 
Sherbrook,  Quebec. 

James  Garvin,  M.  D.,was  born  in  Kings  county,  Ireland,  in  1828,  and 
came  to  America  in  1848.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  William 
Robinson  of  Antwerp,  and  was  graduated  in  1853.  In  that  year  he  | 
came  to  Black  Lake  and  has  resided  forty  years  in  Morristown,  twenty- 
five  of  which  has  been  spent  in  this  place.  He  was  postmaster  under 
Cleveland's  first  administration.  In  1858  Dr.  Garvin  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  Brewer,  and  they  have  a  family  of  two  sons  and  five 
daughters:  John  B.,  James  W.,  Mary,  Carrie,  Ellen,  Laura  and  Grace. 
Dr.  Garvin  takes  a  lively  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  has  been  a 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  311 

member  of  the  Morristown  Board  of  Education  from  its  formation  to 
the  present  time.      He  has  also  held  other  local  offices. 

James  M.  Marsh,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  June  27,  1862,  a  son 
of  Morgan  Marsh,  a  farmer  of  that  town.  Dr.  Marsh  was  educated  at 
the  common  schools  and  graduated  from  the  Potsdam  State  Normal 
School  in  February,  1887.  He  studied  medicine  first  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  J.  E.  Britton  of  Potsdam,  and  in  October,  1887,  entered  New  York 
Homceopathic  College  of  Medicine,  from  which  he  graduated  April  17, 
1890.  He  was  for  a  year  in  the  Williamsburg  Dispensary,  and  then 
spent  eighteen  months  in  Colton,  St  Lawrence  county.  December  i, 
1892,  he  bought  out  the  practice  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Britton  in  Potsdam, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice,  which  acquired  consider- 
able proportion,  holding  the  best  part  Dr.  Britton  had  and  acquiring 
considerable  new.  He  married  in  1887,  Nora  Grossman  of  Antwerp, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Emma  L. 

Dr.  Hiram  D.  Brown  was  born  in  Canada,  September  21,  1833,  the 
son  of  Amos  Brown,  a  mechanic  and  speculator,  born  in  Vermont.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Olive  Bartlett,  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  The 
early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  Canada.  He  was  educated  in 
Derby  and  Brownington  Academies  in  Vermont.  He  was  sixteen 
years  of  age  when  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  ;  the  first  year 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  S.  A.  Skinner  and  afterwards  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
H.  H.  Carpenter.  In  1856  he  entered  Berkshire  Medical  College,  at 
Pittsfield,  graduating  two  years  later,  the  winter  of  1858.  He  began 
practice  in  Rochester,  Vt.,  in  company  with  Dr.  C.  B.  Currier,  now 
dean  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Medical  College.  He  practiced  in  Roches- 
ter for  a  year  and  then  in  Moretown  three  years.  December  12,  1862, 
he  moved  to  Potsdam  where  he  has  ever  since  practiced.  While  with 
Dr.  Currier  he  took  up  the  study  of  homoeopathy  and  February  11, 
1878,  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Homceopathic  Medical  Society  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  old  St.  Lawrence  Coun- 
ty Medical  Society,  and  its  first  secretary. 

P.  Monackey,  INI.  D.,  was  born  in  Canada,  April  18,  1857.  He  re- 
ceived his  elementary  education  in  St.  Mary's  College,  Montreal,  and 
studied  medicine  in  Victoria  College  in  that  town,  graduating  in  1885. 


312  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  December  of  that  year  he  came  to  Gouverneur  and  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1883  he  married  Aldegronde 
Jodoin,  and  they  have  two  children.  Dr.  Monackey  is  a  member  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  and  is  an  active  Democrat. 
He  is  an  able  speaker  and  took  the  stump  successfully  for  his  party  in 
the  presidential  campaign  of  1892. 

Aaron  M.  Larkin,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Beekmantown,  Clinton  county, 
N.  Y.,  April  5,  1842,  a  son  of  Lorenzo  D.  Larkin,  also  a  native  of  Clin- 
ton county,  a  farmer  and  speculator.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Agnes 
Mason,  was  also  from  Clinton  county.  They  were  married  in  1841,  and 
had  three  children.  A  daughter,  Adeliza  M.,  died  in  Winona,  Minn., 
in  1866,  at  twenty-three  years  of  age.  Another  sister,  Martha  C,  is  the 
wife  of  Edwin  D.  McBanker,  of  Beekmantown.  Mrs.  Larkin  died 
December  10,  1848.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the 
homestead  farm,  and  in  attending  the  common  schools.  His  education 
was  finished  at  the  old  Plattsburg  Academy,  and  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  L.  F.  Bidwell,  and  after  his  death  studied  with  Dr. 
T.  B.  Nichols,  of  Plattsburg.  In  1866  he  entered  Vermont  University 
at   Burlington,   and  completed   his   course  in  medical   study  June    18, 

1868.  Being  of  poor  health  he  did  not  commence  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine until  1870.  His  first  location  was  at  West  Chazy,  Clinton  county, 
where  he  practiced  eight  years,  and  in  1878  moved  to  Norwood  and 
took  the  place  of  Dr.  John  A.  Wilbur,  and  has  ever  since  been  located 
here.  He  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice,  and  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  in  this  town. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Norwood  Academy 
for  the  last  six  years,  a  Mason  ten  years,  pastmaster  of  What  Cheer 
Lodge  No.  689,  a  member  of  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24,  and  St. 
Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Norwood 
Lodge  No.  486,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  twelve  years,  Ogdensburg  Encampment 
No.  32,  and  Canton  Amaranth   No.   12.      Dr.  Larkin  married.  May  26, 

1869,  Gertrude  E.  Atwood,  of  West  Chazy,  N  Y.,  and  they  have  two 
children:  Lorenzo  D.,  a  student  in  pharmacy  with  M.  W.  Collins  & 
Son,  Norwood,  and  William  A.,  a  student  of  the  academy. 

Alfred  Drury,    M.D.,  was   born   in    Canton,  May  15,    1849,  ^"^    was 
educated  at  Potsdam  Normal  School.      He  taught  school,  while  study- 


TPIE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  313 

ing  medicine,  for  about  five  years,  and  studied  with  Dr.  A.  G.  Goss.  of 
South  Canton,  also  in  the  University  of  Vermont,  graduating  in  1876. 
Then,  after  practicing  five  years,  he  took  a  course  in  the  University  of 
New  York,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1882,  and  the  next  year  came 
to  Canton.  Dr.  Drury  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  of  which  he  has  also  been  president.  He  took  a  post  graduate 
course  at  Harvard  College,  and  is  considered  a  medical  authority.  In 
1878  Dr.  Drury  married  Frances  A.  Parmelee,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Grace  and  Charles. 

B.  C.  Cheesman,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  December  19, 
1856.  He  studied  at  Adams  Collegiate  Institute,  and  at  the  Baltimore 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  and  graduated  in  1880.  In  that 
year  he  began  practice  in  Jefferson  county.  He  has  been  in  Gouverneur 
two  years.  Dr.  Cheesman  is  a  member  of  the  Jefferson  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  is  a  Master  Mason,  and  was  formerly  a  Forester.  His 
father  was  Clifford  Cheesman,  a  native  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  his 
mother  Angeline  Wheeler. 

John  N.  Bassett,  jr.,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Canton,  August  ii,  1850. 
He  was  educated  at  the  Canton  Union  School  and  the  St.  Lawrence 
University,  and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Seymour  at  Hermon,  and  in 
the  University  of  New  York,  graduating  in  March,  1882  ;  he  then 
opened  his  present  office  in  Canton,  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  practice.  In  1882  Dr.  Bassett  married  Lillian  A. 
Wright,  and  they  have  one  son  living,  Harry  Wright  Bassett.  Dr. 
Bassett  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  eleven  years, 
and  was  president  of  the  board  for  two  years.  He  also  served  as  coroner 
for  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical 
Society. 

Dr.  Silas  J.  Bower,  was  born  in  Kalptville,  Canada,  March  17,  1843. 
His  father,  Joseph  Bower,  was  a  son  of  William  Bower,  a  native  of 
Scotland.  The  latter  was  a  graduate  of  Oxford  University.  He  studied 
medicine  and  about  1 800  came  to  America,  where  he  was  a  surgeon  in  the 
British  Army,  but  resigned  his  commission,  took  up  land  in  Canada,  and 
for  some  time  was  engaged  in  teaching.  He  died  at  South  Gore,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four.     Joseph  Bower  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  Canada,  in 

40 


314  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1813,  and  ill  early  life  was  engaged  in  building  canals.  He  finally 
entered  the  general  mercantile  business,  which  he  followed  for  some 
time.  He  was  coroner  of  Williamsburg,  and  was  a  member  of  |the 
militia  during  the  Patriot  War,  having  been  at  the  Battle  of  the  Wind- 
mill. He  married,  in  Kalptville,  Canada,  Mary  A.  Huntington, 
daughter  of  Silas  Huntington,  of  Kalptville,  and  they  had  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  ten  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Bower  died  in 
Kalptville,  September  7,  1870,  where  his  wife  now  resides  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  Our  subject,  while  receiving  his  education,  assisted 
his  father  in  the  mercantile  business.  He  took  a  medical  course  in  the 
McGill  University,  graduating  in  May,  1865.  He  then  came  to 
Waddington  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  after  a 
year  returned  to  Kalptville,  where  he  remained  one  year  and  a  half. 
Later  he  came  again  to  Waddington,  where  he  has  since  had  a  very 
successful  practice.  June  8,  1869,  Dr.  Bower  married  Frances  M. 
Clark,  daughter  of  William  Clark,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who 
came  to  Waddington  when  a  young  man.  He  was  a  carriage  maker, 
and  for  over  fifty  years  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Clark  House  in  Wad- 
dington. He  died  some  years  ago.  Dr.  Bower  and  wife  have  had  four 
children  :  William  J.,  a  graduate  of  St.  Lawrence  University,  is  in 
an  abstract  office  in  Youngstown,  Ohio;  Edith  C.  resides  at  home; 
Charles  P.  is  deceased  ;  and  Henry  H.  resides  at  home.  In  politics  Dr. 
Bower  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Waddington  Lodge  No.  393,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  master.  He  attends  and  supports  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

Ira  J.  Fuller,  M.D.,  was  born  in  West  Parishville,  November  13,  1857. 
He  was  the  son  of  J.  Chauncey  and  Chloe  Fuller.  He  took  a  course 
of  study  in  the  Potsdam  Normal  School,  but  did  not  wait  to  graduate 
before  entering  college.  He  received  his  diploma  from  the  University 
of  Vermont,  and  in  1888  he  took  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  the  same 
institution.  Dr.  Fuller  taught  school  six  years..  He  was  principal  of 
the  Heuvelton  Union  Free  School  two  years,  and  also  of  the  Rensselaer- 
ville  Academy.  Shortly  after  receiving  his  degree  he  commenced 
practice  in  Spragueville.  In  the  same  year  he  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  P.  H.  Wheater,  of  Heuvelton.     In  politics  Dr.  Fuller  is  an  active  Re- 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  315 

publican,  and  at   present  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  County  Com- 
mittee, and  also  one  of  its  executive  committee. 

De  Witt  Clinton  Douglass  was  born  in  Chateaugay,  Franklin  county, 
November  8,  1826.  His  father,  George  VV.,  was  a  native  of  this  State, 
and  served  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  in  the  War  of  181 2.  He  con- 
ducted the  mills  of  Chazy  and  Chateaugay.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Patty  M.  Manning,  was  a  native  of  Canada.  De  Witt  C.  was  next  to 
the  youngest  of  eight  children.  He  was  educated  at  Malone  Academy, 
and  in  1847  entered  Castleton  (Vt.)  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.D.  in  1849.  He  followed  the  practice 
of  his  profession  a  short  time  in  Northern  Vermont,  then  returning  to 
his  home  to  assist  his  father  in  his  increasing  business.  He  remained 
in  Chateaugay  until  1857,  and  then  moved  to  Brasher,  where  he  owned 
and  conducted  a  grist  mill  until  1863.  During  the  time  he  and  his 
brother,  George  M.  Douglas,  bought  the  Norfolk  mill,  and  in  1863, 
they  together  bought  the  Horton  mills  and  property  in  this  village. 
They  conducted  the  flour  and  saw-mill  until  1872,  when  he  sold  the 
former  to  his  brother  and  invested  in  real  estate  in  Florida.  He  trans- 
ferred a  wilderness  into  an  orange  grove,  which  he  has  divided,  and, 
after  selling  two  groves,  now  owns  about  thirty  acres.  He  devotes  his 
time  to  orange  culture  in  winter  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  in 
Madrid  in  summer.  In  politics  Mr.  Douglass  has  always  been  a 
staunch  Republican,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  to  public  office, 
devoting  his  whole  time  to  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  and  has  twice  barely  escaped  with  his  life  from  the  edifice, 
once  when  he  fell  with  a  staging,  and  again  at  the  time  of  the  fire. 
Mr  Douglass  married,  in  1853,  Alma  J.,  daughter  of  John  B.  Jackson, 
a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  many  years  a  resident  of  Chateaugay, 
Malone  and  Canton.  He  was  for  fourteen  years  wood  and  lumber 
agent  for  the  O.  &  L.  C.  Railroad. 

C.  B.  Hawley,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Millroche,  Canada,  while  the  family 
were  temporarily  living  there,  they  being  St.  Lawrence  county  people. 
Jesse  B.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Kings  county,  but  spent  most  of  his  life 
in  the  town  of  Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  died  in  Richville, 
aged  eighty-nine  years.  His  wife,  Rebecca  L.  (Hitchcock)  Hawley, 
was  born  in   Franklin  county.     The    grandfather,   John    Hawley,   also 


31G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  Madrid.  Subject  was  educated  at  the  St, 
Lawrence  University,  medical  department  Michigan  State  University, 
and  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and  Surgery,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1 87 1,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  towns  of  Russell,  Richville  and  Gouverneur,  com- 
ing to  the  latter  place  in  1888.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was  elected 
coroner  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  Board  of  United  States  Exam- 
ining Surgeons  at  Ogdensburg,  May,  1891,  and  resigned  March  4, 
1893.  Remarried,  December  27,  1871,  Lucy,  daughter  of  Darius  and 
Almira  (Hoard)  Chapin,  of  Russell.  They  have  two  sons,  Henry  Bart- 
lett,  student  at  St.  Lawrence  University,  and  Jesse  B.  They  have  also 
an  adopted  daughter,  Louise  Chapin  Hawley. 

H.  K.  Kerr,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Dundas  county,  Ontario,  January  27, 
1857.  He  received  his  literary  education  at  the  Kemptville  High 
School  and  the  Kingston  Collegiate  Institute.  He  studied  medicine  at 
Trinity  Medical  College,  Toronto,  and  graduated  in  1891  in  that  insti- 
tution, also  in  the  University  of  Trinity  College  and  the  University  of 
Toronto.  He  then  came  to  Hammond  and  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  In  1886  Mr.  Kerr  married 
Miss  Anna  Eugenia  Franklin.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters. 

Daniel  W.  Finnimore,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Morley,  December  24,  1854, 
a  son  of  Joshua  W.  Finnimore,  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Bristol, 
April  8.  1823,  who  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country.  In  1832  they 
located  at  Lisbon,  where  William  P.,  father  of  Joshua,  worked  at  black- 
smithing.  The  family  moved  to  Morley  in  1835,  where  William  P. 
built  a  shop  and  established  a  trade.  In  1845  he  made  a  venture  in  real 
estate,  and  kept  increasing  his  possessions  until  at  his  death,  December 
24,  1 89 1,  he  owned  over  1,000  acres  in  this  county.  He  married,  in 
1847,  Margaret  S.  Glass,  of  Lisbon,  and  they  had  six  children,  four  now 
living.  Daniel  W.,  the  only  son,  has  always  made  his  home  in  this 
county.  He  was  educated  at  Canton  Academy  and  taught  for  two 
years,  then  entered  the  office  of  Drs.  J.  H.  &  C.  C.  Benton,  at  Ogdens- 
burg, where  he  read  medicine  for  two  years.  During  this  time  he 
attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1880-81, 
and  his  diploma  and  degree  were  received  from  the  Fort  Wayne  (Ind.) 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  317 

College  of  Medicine,  March  i,  1883.  In  1884  he  was  elected  professor 
of  materia  medica  and  therapeutics  in  the  college  from  which  he  grad- 
uated, and  at  the  end  of  the  year  he  resigned  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  and  surgery  in  this  village.  After  practicing  some  time 
he  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  New  York  Post- Graduate  School, 
and  then  began  practice  in  Potsdam,  where  he  has  ever  since  remained. 
Dr.  Finnimore,  in  addition  to  his  professional  duties,  conducts  a  large 
farm  of  over  200  acres,  in  which  is  also  located  a  plant  for  the  manu- 
facture of  brick,  tile  and  flower  pots,  where  he  employs  about  thirty 
hands.  He  has  also  there  a  large  fruit  and  vegetable  supply  garden. 
He  is  also  a  partner  in  the  clothing  firm  of  C.  E.  SoUe  &  Co.  He 
married,  in  1891,  Ella  C,  daughter  of  Luther  Everett,  of  Lawrence. 

R.  G.  Peek  was  born  in  England,  September  28,  1856.  He  received 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Kingston, 
Ontario,  after  which  he  attended  Queen's  College,  Kingston,  and 
graduated  with  the  degree  B.A.  from  Trinity  Medical  College,  Toronto, 
Ont ,  in  1 891.  Prior  to  graduating  in  medicine  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Conference,  and  preached  for  a  time,  but  preferring  medi- 
cine, soon  continued  his  studies  until  he  graduated,  since  which  time  he 
has  actively  followed  his  profession.  Dr.  Peek  married,  in  1891,  Naomi 
Plows,  of  Toronto.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
Good  Templars,  and  Foresters,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young 
physicians  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Patrick  Henry  Shea,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Kenmare,  ten  miles  from  the 
beautiful  lakes  of  Killarney,  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  October  10,  1847. 
Being  deprived  in  childhood,  by  death,  of  a  mother's  care,  he,  with  his 
father  and  younger  brother,  came  to  this  country  when  only  nine  years 
of  age. 

His  father  soon  married  again,  and  his  stepmother  not  entertaining 
the  most  ardent  affection,  he  at  the  tender  age  of  ten  years,  determined 
to  make  his  own  way  in  life.  He  labored  on  the  farm  summers,  attended 
the  common  schools  winters,  and  thus  continued  until  January  4,  1864, 
when  he  enlisted  at  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in 
the  14th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteer  Heavy  Artillery,  being  soon 
transferred  with  the  rest  of  his  company  to  the  13th  New  York  Volun- 
teer Heavy  Artillery. 


318  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

He  served  in  that  regiment,  in  Company  H.  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  after  which  he  was  attached  to  Company  M,  6th  New  York  Vol- 
unteer Heavy  Artillery,  and  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  August  24.   1865. 

Returning  immediately  to  Watertown,  he  then,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  determined  to  obtain  a  good  education,  and  for  that  purpose, 
entered  at  once  the  Ogdensburg  Educational  Institute,  subsequently 
Canton  Academy  and  finally  Falley  Seminary,  at  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  receiv- 
ine  at  these  then  noted  schools  a  most  excellent  academic  education. 
His  worth  and  ability  as  a  student  may  be  appreciated  when  President 
Richmond  Fiske,  D.D.,  offered  him  a  complimentary  free  scholarship  in 
St.  Lawrence  University.  John  P.  Grififin,  A.M.,  principal  of  Falley 
Seminary,  said  of  him,  when  a  student  in  that  far  famed  institution  of 
learning,  "  I  am  more  than  pleased  with  him.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
faithful,  diligent  and  well  behaved  students  I  ever  knew." 

He  taught  in  the  public  schools  for  five  years  under  a  first  grade  cer- 
tificate. He  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1873  with  Dr.  J.  C. 
Preston,  of  Canton,  and  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Vermont  in  1876.  He  attended  a  post-graduate  course 
in  the  following  year  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Morley,  in 
this  town  in  1878,  and  removed  to  Canton  village  in  1881,  where  he  has 
been  in  practice  ever  since.  He  has  been  the  county  physician  all 
the  time  of  his  practice  in  Canton  village,  except  one  year,  and  he 
now  holds  that  appointment.  He  is  one  of  the  chartered  members 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Canton,  and  is  surgeon  of  the  same.  He 
married  Miss  Alice  A.  Graham,  and  they  have  one  son,  John  Augus- 
tine Shea. 

Dr.  James  S.  McKay  was  born  July  12,  1859,  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  of 
Scotch  Irish  descent.  His  father  was  in  the  lumber  business  over  forty 
years  in  Canada.  Dr.  AIcKay  was  educated  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Ottawa.  His  medical  education  was  obtained  at  McGill 
College.  Montreal,  and  Rush  College,  Chicago.  In  1885  he  settled  in 
Potsdam,  where  he  has  built  up  a  very  lucrative  practice  and  made 
many  friends.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  Health  Board  work 
of  this  village  and  has  made  a  special  study  of  sanitary  science. 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  319 

John  B.  Brooker,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  England,  June  26,  1848.  He 
was  early  apprenticed  to  a  chemist,  druggist  and  dentist,  and  subse- 
quently took  up  the  study  of  medicine  at  Winchester  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1869.  ^^  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to 
America,  and  after  practicing  eleven  years  in  Jefiferson  county,  came 
to  Hammond  in  1 88 1 .    In  1 8^0  he  married  Sarah  Mitchell,  who  died  July 

26,  1878.  Of  her  children  only  one  is  living,  Mary  Maggie  Louise.  In 
1879  Dr.  Brooker  married  his  present  wife,  Mary  (Harvey)  Brooker. 
His  father  was  John  Brooker  and  his  mother  Annie  Brooker,  who  died 
while  he  was  yet  an  infant. 

Don  Melville  Hooks,  physician  and  surgeon  was  born  in  Constantia, 
Oswego  county,  March  29,  1868.  His  parents  moved  to  Central 
Square  when  he  was  two  years  old,  and  there  he  received  his  education 
in  Central  Square  Academy.  He  taught  school  two  years  and  followed 
various  other  employments  until  the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  gradu- 
ating April  4,  1893.  May  22,  1893,  he  took  the  place  of  Dr.  Brower  in 
Madrid,  where  he  is  rapidly  building  up  a  practice  that  promises  to  be 
one  of  the  best  of  the  local  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Fraternity,  connected  with  Central  Square  Lodge,  No.  622. 

VV.  B  Finnegan,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Louisville,  and  received  his  early 
education  at  Massena  Academy,  fie  studied  medicine  at  Ann  Harbor, 
Mich.,  and  graduated  in  1882.  He  began  practice  in  Michigan  but  re- 
turned to  his  native  county  in  1884,  locating  in  Edwardsville,  where  he 
has  built  up  a  large  practice.  His  parents  were  Irish  by  birth,  and 
settled  in  Canada,  subsequently  moving  to  Edwardsville,  St.  Lawrence 
county. 

Morris  Beckstead,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Dundee  county,  Ontario,  May 

27,  1854.  He  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  schools  of  that 
vicinity  and  Morrisburg,  after  which  he  attended  the  Kingston  Medical 
School,  and  graduated  from  McGill  University,  Montreal,  in  1878, 
immediately  thereafter  commencing  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Crysler,  Ontario,  and  one  year  later  moved  to  Lisbon  Centre,  where  he 
has  since  continued  in  active  and  successful  practice.  Dr.  Beckstead  is 
of   German   and    English    descent.      His   parents   were   New   England 


320  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

loyalists,  who  settled  in  Ontario  about  1812.  In  1882  the  doctor  mar- 
ried Alma  Lytle,  of  this  county,  and  they  have  two  children.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Masonic  brotherhood,  County  Medical  Association, 
etc.,  and  is  a  very  popular  physician. 

Cornelius  A.  Barnett,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Waddington,  May  i,  1862, 
a  son  of  Jeremiah,  a  farmer  of  that  town,  who  soon  after  moved  into 
the  town  of  Potsdam  with  his  family.  Dr.  Barnett  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  in  1883  graduated  from  the  Potsdam  State 
Normal  School.  From  1883  to  1885  he  taught  in  the  city  schools  of 
Ogdensburg,  and  the  following  two  years  was  principal  of  the  public 
schools  of  Tuckahoe,  Westchester  county.  During  these  last  two  years 
he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Nordquist  of  that  place,  and  in  1887  he 
entered  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Harbor.  After  two  years 
there  he  went  to  Bellevue.  Hospital  Medical  College,  graduating  March 
10,  1890.  He  opened  practice  in  Potsdam  the  same  year,  where  he 
has  built  up  a  very  lucrative  practice  and  made  many  friends.  He 
married  in  1887  Blanche,  daughter  of  Robert  Lowry,  esq.,  of  Ogdens- 
burg. She  died  two  years  later,  leaving  a  daughter,  Blanche.  Dr. 
Barnett  married  again  in  1892  Maud,  daughter  of  Jacob  P.  Lobdell,  a 
farmer  of  this  town,  formerly  a  merchant  of  Madrid.  During  his 
student  days  and  since,  the  doctor  has  given  a  great  deal  of  attention  to 
the  causation  of  disease  and  has  done  much  original  work  along  these 
lines.  July  i,  1893.  he  was  appointed  chief  divisional  inspector  for  the 
State  Board  of  Health,  by  Gov.  Flower,  which  position  he  now  fills. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON.  321 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON— ORGANIZED  IN  1801. 

THE  town  of  Lisbon  lies  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  northwest  of 
the  center  of  the  county.  Its  soil  is  fertile  and  well  adapted  to 
the  growth  of  the  various  grains  and  fruits  raised  in  this  latitude,  but 
more  especially  for  grass.  The  surface  is  usually  level,  slightly  un- 
dulating in  places,  and  is  watered  by  the  ten  miles  of  river  front,  and 
in  the  rear  by  numerous  brooks,  springs  and  creeks.  The  Grass  River 
crosses  the  southeast  corner  and  has  numerous  tributaries  rising  in  the 
town.  The  islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence  opposite  the  town  near  the 
American  shore,  such  as  Isle  aux  Galloup,  the  historic  Chimney  Island, 
Tick  and  Lalone's  Islands,  are  parts  of  the  town  of  Lisbon,  which  in- 
creases the  acreage  over  several  of  the  other  towns  of  the  county. 

The  organization  of  the  town  of  Lisbon  differs  somewhat  from  that 
of  the  other  towns  of  the  county.  Previous  to  its  organization  the  ten 
townships  were  attached  to  the  counties  of  Montgomery,  Oneida  and 
Herkimer,  to  which  places  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  go  to  transact 
legal  business.  With  a  view  of  overcoming  this  difficulty  and  in  ex- 
pectation of  securing  the  county  seat  for  the  new  county  to  be  soon 
erected,  twenty-three  of  the  settlers  presented  a  petition  to  the  Legisla- 
ture February  9,  1801,  praying  that  the  ten  townships  be  erected  into  a 
town  named  Lisbon,  to  be  attached  to  Clinton  county.  An  act  con- 
forming to  this  petition  was  passed  March  6,  1801,  and  the  new 
town  was  attached  to  Clinton  county.  The  first  town  meeting  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Alexander  J.  Turner,  and  the  following  officers 
elected  :  Alexander  J,  Turner,  supervisor  ;  John  Tibbets,  town  clerk  ; 
John  Tibbets,  jr.,  Benjamin  Stewart,  Joseph  Edsall,  Seth  Raney,  Will- 
iam Shaw,  assessors;  Calvin  Hubbard,  Jacob  Redington,  Benjamin 
Stewart,  Wesson  Briggs,  Jacob  Pohlman,  commissioners  of  highwa3's  ; 
Peter  Sharp,  Joseph    Furman,  John  Thurber,  constables  ;   Peter  Sharp, 

41 


322  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

collector  ;  Uri  Barber,  Benjamin  Bartlett,  John  Lyon,  poor  masters  ; 
Samuel  Allen,  Benjamin  Galloway,  William  Shaw,  Benjamin  A.  Stew- 
art, Joseph  Edsall,  Reuben  Fields,  Adam  Milyer,  Joseph  Thurber, 
pathmasters  ;  Uri  Barber,  George  Hilman,  John  Tibbets,  jr.,  Asa  Fur- 
man,  John  Sharp,  fence  viewers;  John  Tibbets,  jr.,  Benjaman  A.  Stew- 
art, trustees  of  glebe. 

It  will  be  seen  that  there  were  not  sufficient  men  in  the  ten  town- 
ships qualified  to  hold  office,  as  some  held  from  one  to  three  offices  and 
were  scattered  over  the  entire  territory.  The  settlers  in  the  various 
townships  had  to  go  to  Lisbon  (Galloupville)  to  vote  at  the  fall  election, 
and  the  poll  list  shows  that  the  firm  of  Ogden  &  Ford  was  considered 
freeholders  of  the  value  of  one  hundred  pounds  or  upwards,  and  the  re- 
maining settlers  of  the  ten  townships  numbered  just  twenty  one  and 
were  assessed  as  renting  real  estate  worth  at  least  forty  shillings  per 
annum. 

John  Tibbets,  of  Troy,  had  purchased  of  Alexander  Macomb,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1789,  a  tract  of  9,600  acres  of  land  lying  on  the  St  Lawrence 
and  near  the  western  border  above  the  Galloup  Islands,  in  Lisbon,  for 
the  sum  of  £860  New  York  currency.  He  mortgaged  the  same  for 
part  payment,  with  the  condition  that  no  interest  should  be  charged  if 
kept  out  of  the  peaceable  possession  thereof  by  Indians,  or  by  reason  of 
any  claims  which  the  Indians  might  have.  The  records  show  that  no 
interest  was  paid  from  1791  to  1796  inclusive,  for  this  reason. 

Samuel  Allen  was  the  first  to  commence  a  settlement  on  the  banks 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  river  in  Lisbon.  He  with  his  family  and  others 
came  from  Vermont.  Allen  settled  just  below  the  Galloup  rapids,  in 
February,  1797,  but  sold  out  in  1802  and  went  to  Madrid. 

Andrew  O'Neill  came  from  Canada,  but  originally  from  Ireland  ;  he 
crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  in  October,  1799,  and  settled  on  a  farm  now 
owned  by  his  son  Andrew,  about  two  miles  below  the  village  of  Galloup- 
ville. The  following  summer  Mrs.  O'Neill  was  about  to  be  confined, 
and  as  there  were  no  neighbors  near  the  place,  she  crossed  over  to 
Canada  and  stopped  with  her  friends  until  her  troubles  were  over.  The 
town  was  then  being  surveyed  for  the  proprietors  by  Reuben  Sher- 
wood. Tibbets's  tract  was  principally  surveyed  by  Daniel  Church. 
Mr.  O'Neill  employed  men  from  Canada  to  build  him  a  log  house  near 


THE  TOWN  OF  LISBOK.  323 

the  river  side.  He  afterwards  erected  a  large  frame  dwelling  which 
served  him  during  his  lifetime,  and  which  his  son  in  after  years  used  as 
a  granary  ;  this  he  has  carefully  preserved  in  memory  of  his  boyhood 
days. 

The  first  birth  of  a  white  child  was  that  of  a  daughter  in  the  family 
of  John  Tibbets,  September  14,  1800,  and  was  named  Dorcas.  She 
eventually  became  the  wife  of  Amos  Bacon,  a  business  man  for  many 
years  in  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  Tibbets  was  a  descendant  of  the  old  Puri- 
tan stock,  his  ancestors  having  emigrated  from  England  at  a  very  early 
period. 

Early  in  February,  1800,  Alexander  J.  Turner,  of  Salem,  Washing- 
ton county,  came  into  the  town  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  and  located 
half  a  mile  above  the  Galloup  Falls,  on  the  first  three  river  lots  joining 
Tibbets's  tract.  Mr.  Turner  came  here  as  agent  for  the  land  proprietors 
and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  1805,  when  Louis  Hasbrouck  suc- 
ceeded him.  Mr.  Turner  died  in  the  following  year.  He  was  a  judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  formed  one  of  the  bench  at  the 
first  organization  of  the  court.  Peter  Sharp  and  Peter  Hinton,  from 
Schoharie,  came  in  1800,  took  up  farms  and  erected  houses  near  the 
Galloup  Falls.  John  Tibbets,  of  Troy,  the  land  owner,  came  in  and 
settled  on  his  tract  in  the  spring  of  1800.  The  following  year  Reuben 
Turner,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  William  Shaw,  Lemuel  Hoskins,  Will- 
iam Lyttle.  James  Aikins,  and  Matthew  Steward,  of  Becket,  Mass., 
Wesson  Briggs  and  Hezekiah  Pierce  also  came  into  the  town  and  settled 
on  farms.  The  three  latter  were  connected  by  marriage  with  the  family 
of  Tibbets.  John  Tibbets  and  wife,  John  Tibbets,  jr.,  and  wife,  and 
Wesson  Briggs  and  wife,  started  from  Schenectady  up  the  Mohawk  in 
an  open  boat,  with  their  eftects,  for  Tibbets's  tract  in  Lisbon.  After  a 
voyage  of  thirt^^-five  days,  by  way  of  Indian  creek,  Oswego  River, 
Lake  Ontario,  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  they  arrived  safely  about  the  ist 
of  June,  1800,  at  a  point  about  five  miles  below  Ogdensburg.  The 
party  at  once  erected  a  rude  log  cabin  on  lands  recently  owned  by 
Deacon  William  Briggs,  where  the  three  families  lived  until  better 
accommodations  could  be  provided.  The  entire  country  was  then  an 
unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  with  Indians  and  infested  with  wild 
beasts.      They,  with  other  families,  shared  the  hardships  and  privations 


324  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

incident  to  the  pioneer's  life.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  kind  neighbors 
they  found  in  the  Tory  famiHes,  who  settled  on  the  opposite  shore  in 
Canada  during  the  Revolution,  and  who  aided  them  in  every  possible 
way,  their  sufferings  would  have  been  far  greater.  In  1802  the  sons 
of  William  Lyttle,  John,  Samuel,  William  and  James  ;  also  Richard  and 
John  Flack,  Mr.  Crosset,  Isaac  and  Elihu  Grey,  John  McCrea  and 
sons,  John,  jr.,  Samuel  and  Alexander,  and  several  others  arrived  in 
town  during  the  following  two  or  three  years.  Among  them  was 
Robert  Livingston,  who  held  the  office  of  county  judge  from  1810  to 
1829.  He  also  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years, 
and  was  several  times  elected  supervisor  of  the  town.  He  was  one  of 
the  principal  supporters  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Lisbon.  He  was 
grandfather  of  that  famous  orator  and  sceptic,  Robert  L.  IngersoU,  who 
passed  his  boyhood  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

John  Lyttle,  son  of  William  Lyttle,  was  a  captain  of  a  rifle  company 
in  the  War  of  181 2,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  that  war  and  the 
defence  of  Ogdensburg.  He  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  a  resident  of  Lisbon  nearly  forty  years.  He  died 
June  28,  1843. 

In  1803  Dr.  J.  W.  Smith  came  from  Chester,  Mass.,  and  located  at 
Galloupville,  where  he  first  practiced  medicine,  and  soon  extended  his 
business  into  surrounding  towns.  He  removed  to  Ogdensburg  in  1807. 
Dr.  W.  Carpenter  also  settled  in  Lisbon  at  an  early  day,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  William  A.  Campfield,  who  came  from  Ogdensburg. 
The  latter  had  a  long  and  successful  practice. 

During  the  War  of  1812  Mrs.  James  Flack  felt  unsafe  so  near  the 
scene  of  active  hostilities,  and  mounted  a  horse,  took  her  four  months 
old  child  and  rode  to  Plattsburg,  and  thence  to  Hebron,  Washington 
county.  Mr.  Flack,  father  of  Garret,  became  an  extensive  lumberman 
in  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Mrs.  Truman  Reynolds,  of  Lisbon,  with  her  two  children,  was  in  the 
barracks  at  Ogdensburg,  with  her  soldier  husband,  when  the  British 
captured  the  fort  in  February,  18 14.  She,  with  others,  was  allowed  to 
hastily  pass  out  on  the  ice,  whence  she  witnessed  the  burning  of  the 
shelter  she  had  so  suddenly  left.  The  following  summer  she  rode  on 
horseback  to  Sackett's  Harbor  to  visit  her  husband,  who  was  stationed 


THE  TOWl^  OF  LISBON.  325 

there.  William  H.  Reynolds,  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  a  life  resident  of  Lisbon,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  was  one  of  the 
children  with  the  mother  in  the  barracks  just  before  it  was  burned  ;  the 
other,  a  little  girl,  eventually  became  the  wife  of  James  North. 

Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  having  become  the  owner  of  a  tract  of  land, 
March  3,  1795,  running  from  the  Galloup  Rapids  back  into  the  town  of 
Canton,  began  improvements  in  that  fall  by  building  mills  thereon.  D. 
W.  Church  was  employed  to  erect  the  mills,  and  in  the  summer  of  1804 
a  wing  dam  was  run  out  from  the  shore  sufficient  to  form  a  head  of 
three  or  four  feet.  A  frame  building,  fifty  by  seventy  feet  and  three 
stories  high  was  put  up,  in  which  was  a  saw  mill  and  two  run  of  rock 
stone  ;  this  was  the  first  mill  in  the  town.  The  mill  was  driven  by  two 
flutters,  or  undershot  wheels,  twenty  odd  feet  long.  The  building  was 
painted  red,  and  long  bore  the  name  of  "  The  Red  Mills,"  which  name 
soon  superseded  the  name  of  "  Galloupville."  Shortly  afterward  the 
son,  Henry  Van  Rensselaer,  came  into  possession  of  the  property,  and 
in  September,  1836,  he  rebuilt  the  mill  in  stone,  with  a  view  of  erecting 
a  stone  dam  from  the  main  shore  to  the  island,  a  distance  of  1,200  feet. 
The  estimated  cost  was  $50,000,  and  a  fall  of  six  to  eight  feet  would 
thus  give  sufficient  power  to  drive  mills  and  factories  of  all  kinds  re- 
quired. He  obtained  an  act,  passed  April  6,  1850,  authorizing  him,  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  to  erect  the  dam  for  hydraulic  purposes.  He  also 
obtained  a  permit  from  the  Canadian  authorities  to  dam  the  water  to 
flow  around  the  island  into  the  Canadian  channel.  The  dam  was  not 
built,  as  the  mills  were  burned  soon  afterward,  the  ice  destroyed  the 
wing  dam  a  few  years  later,  and  the  project  was  abandoned  as  it  was 
found  impracticable  to  build  a  stone  dam  for  the  sum  estimated  by  the 
engineer. 

As  the  settlement  increased  the  necessity  for  a  mill  to  grind  prov- 
ender was  more  apparent,  and  Samuel  and  Joseph  Smithers  obtained 
a  lease  of  a  strip  of  land  along  the  shore  on  Livingston's  Point  and 
the  Lalone  Island,  in  the  year  1874,  for  ninety- nine  years.  They  built 
a  wing  dam  about  half  way  to  the  island  and  secured  about  five  feet 
head,  and  erected  a  saw-mill  and  grist  mill,  with  a  shingle  mill.  George 
Sparrowhawk  and  Hugh  Lalone  had  an  interest  in  the  saw- mill  at  one 
time.  After  a  few  years  the  mills  were  destroyed  by  fire  and  were  not 
rebuilt. 


326  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

At  one  time  Galloupville,  or  "  The  Red  Mills,"  was  quite  a  business 
place,  and  contained  the  only  post  office  in  the  town  ;  besides  a  hotel, 
stores,  blacksmith  and  other  shops,  doctors,  lawyers,  mechanics  and 
laborers.      After  the  mills  went  down  the  village  was  soon  abandoned. 

Flackville  took  its  rise  at  the  building  of  the  turnpike  from  Ogdens- 
burg  to  Parishville  in  1818.  Thomas  Craig  built  a  small  hotel  there, 
and  John  P.  Flack  built  an  ashery,  a  store  and  a  carriage  shop.  James 
Flack  purchased  the  hotel  and  rebuilt  it  on  a  larger  scale,  greatly  im- 
proving the  place,  and  from  him  it  took  its  name.  A  post-office  was 
established  there,  two  churches  were  soon  erected — Methodist  and 
Presbyterian — and  the  place  soon  became  the  business  center  for  that 
part  of  the  town. 

Lisbon  Centre. — Previous  to  the  laying  out  and  working  of  the 
Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad  in  1848,  which  railroad 
crosses  the  town  of  Lisbon  diagonally,  there  was  only  a  farm  house  on 
the  Flackville  road  near  where  the  railroad  crossed  it.  This  house  with 
a  small  farm  was  owned  by  James  Rowen,  who  permitted  the  building 
of  a  blacksmith  shop  near  the  railroad  for  the  repair  of  the  laborers' 
tools  ;  the  shop  was  conducted  by  Robert  Armstrong  Samuel  Wells 
built  a  small  boarding  house  or  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  the  work- 
ing men  on  the  road  and  shortly  afterward  built  a  larger  one  of  stone. 
A  Mr.  Dix,  of  Ogdensburg,  built  a  store.  The  railroad  company  built 
the  present  depot,  and  Joseph  E.  Robinson  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
station.  Mr.  Robinson  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  September  6, 
18 14.  At  his  majority  he  went  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  B.  &  O.  railroad  several  years,  after  which  he  became 
a  contractor  on  the  public  works  at  Cumberland.  He  married  a  Miss 
Collins  in  the  spring  of  1846.  A  few  years  later  he  returned  to  his 
eastern  home  and  engaged  in  the  construction  department  of  railroad 
building.  A  few  years  later  he  was  employed  on  the  O.  &  L.  C.  road 
during  its  construction  from  1848  to  1850,  thereby  acquiring  the  title 
of  "Boss  Robinson."  He  lived  in  one  end  of  the  depot,  keeping  gro- 
cery store  with  the  assistance  of  his  son  for  more  than  fifteen  years. 
During  this  time  he  purchased  a  farm  near  by  on  which  he  spent  his 
remaining  days;  he  died  February  15,  1888.  The  place  being  located  , 
near  the  center  of  the  town  gave  it  the  name  of  Lisbon  Centre.    As  busi- 


THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON.  327 

ness  increased,  more  stores,  shops  and  houses  were  built,  and  at  the 
present  time  (1893)  there  is  a  population  of  about  two  hundred,  four 
stores  that  keep  a  general  stock,  a  millinery  shop,  a  cabinet  shop,  a  shoe 
shop,  a  carriage  shop,  three  blacksmith  shops,  a  hotel,  post-office,  a 
physician,  a  splendid  town  hall  in  place  of  the  former  one,  and  three 
fine  churches.  A  steam  saw  mill  was  built  just  south  of  the  village  and 
operated  a  few  years  by  G.  W.  Flack  and  his  brother  about  1865  ;  they 
also  sawed  shingles  and  ground  provender.  The  mill  was  burned  and 
in  1873  John  Kent  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill  in  the  village,  which  was 
driven  by  a  thirty-five  horse  power  engine  The  mill  did  a  fair  business 
a  few  years  when  it  was  burned. 

E.  Billing  built  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill  at  his  place  near  the  river 
in  1878,  which  was  sold  a  few  years  later  to  James  North,  who  removed 
the  machinery  to  his  place  near  the  Centre,  where  it  has  since  been 
successfully  operated. 

During  the  epidemic  which  pervaded  the  country  in  18 13,  great 
numbers  died  and  Lisbon  is  said  to  have  sufifered  more  severely  than 
any  other  town  in  the  county.  The  unusual  cold  summers  of  18 16- 17 
caused  great  sufifering  in  consequence  of  short  crops  and  want  of  pro- 
visions. Corn  sold  for  $2.50  per  bushel,  potatoes,  $1.00  and  wheat  in 
the  same  proportion.  The  wild  game  about  here  and  the  fish  caught 
in  the  St.  Lawrence  constituted  a  large  part  of  the  food  used. 

The  Indians  located  on  Indian  Point,  previously  mentioned,  were  very 
lawless  and  troublesome,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Lisbon  gladly  united 
with  those  of  Oswegatchie  in  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  to  have  them 
removed,  which  was  accomplished  in  1807.  During  the  war  of  1812-15 
there  was  very  little  hostile  demonstration  in  the  town  of  Lisbon  ;  yet 
threats  and  rumors  of  raids  kept  the  people  in  constant  fear.  During 
the  fall  of  1 813  a  company  of  about  sixty  dragoons  were  established  at 
the  house  of  Peter  Wells,  four  or  five  miles  back  from  the  river  on  the 
Canton  road.  About  a  dozen  of  these  rode  out  to  Galloupville,  stopped 
at  Scott's  hotel  and  placed  several  sentries  around  the  house  During 
the  night  a  party  of  200  men  from  Canada  landed  on  Tibbets's  Point, 
came  down  and  surprised  the  sentinels  and  surrounded  the  house.  It  is 
said  that  the  dragoons  made  a  very  gallant  resistance,  but  were  over- 
powered   by  the  unequal  numbers.      During  the  melee  several  escaped 


328  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

to  the  woods.  One  named  Smith  was  shot  and  another  named  Mercer 
was  wounded  and  brutally  stabbed  with  bayonets  several  times  after 
resistance  ceased,  and  he  was  left  for  dead,  but  subsequently  recovered  ; 
it  was  found  impossible  for  the  British  to  take  Smith  and  Mercer  alive. 
Two  dragoons,  Scott,  the  landlord,  and  his  son,  and  all  the  horses  that 
that  could  be  found  were  taken  to  Canada. 

During  the  cholera  epidemic  in  1832  a  board  of  health  was  formed, 
with  Dr.  Wooster  Carpenter  as  health  officer.  The  river  opposite  the 
house  of  Obadiah  Piatt,  and  not  less  than  three  hundred  yards  from  the 
shore,  was  assigned  as  quarantine  ground  for  craft  from  Canada. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1828,  a  circulating  library  was  incorporated  in 
Lisbon,  with  Wm.  Marshal,  Andrew  O'Neil,  Albert  Tyler,  John  Glass, 
Joshua  G.  Pike,  James  Douglass  and  James  Moncrief,  trustees. 

In  the  early  days  the  usual  bounty  of  $5.00  for  destroying  wolves, 
bear  and  panthers,  was  offered  by  the  town  authorities.  In  the  Avar 
times  of  18 12- 15  no  special  town  meetings  were  called  to  offer  bounties 
to  induce  the  people  to  enlist,  yet  this  town  nobly  responded  to  the 
calls  of  the  nation.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  several  meetings 
were  called  as  follows  :      At  a  special   town  meeting   held    August  30, 

1862,  a  bounty  of  $50.00  was  voted  to  each  volunteer  from  the 
town,  who  should  enlist  on  or  after  the  22d  day  of  the  same  month. 
On  the  24th  of  December,  1863,  a  bounty  of  $400.00  was  voted  to 
each  volunteer  from  the  town,  and  certificates  of  indebtedness  were 
issued  to  those  who  enlisted  on  or  after  the  date  of  the  meeting  to  fill 
the  quota  of  the  town  on  the  call  of  the  president,  dated   October  17, 

1863.  At  a  special  meeting  August  13,  1864,  subsequent  to  the  presi- 
dent's of  July  18,  1864,  for  500,000  men,  bounties  of  $300  each  were 
voted  to  volunteers  from  Lisbon  who  had  enlisted  or  re- enlisted  between 
July  13,  1863  and  January  i,  1864.  At  a  special  meeting  held  Febru- 
ary 28,  1865,  a  bounty  of  $100  each  was  voted  to  "volunteers,  recruits 
and  substitutes,"  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  of  Lisbon  on  the  call  of 
December  19,  1864.  All  meetings  and  their  proceedings  in  regard  to 
bounties,  other  than  the  above  mentioned,  were  rendered  by  these  acts 
null  and  void.^ 

lit  may  be  said  here  in  this  first  town  history  of  the  volume  that  the  action  of  Lisbon 
regarding  the  payment  of  bounties  to  volunteers  was  substantially  repeated  in  the  other  towns  of 
the  county  and  at  approximate  dates. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON.  329 

A  town  hall  was  erected  in  Lisbon  Centre  a  number  of  years  ago, 
which  in  course  of  time  became  inadequate  for  its  purposes,  and  hence 
in  1889  a  new  one  of  more  modern  style  and  commodious  size  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $4000. 

The  New  York  State  Hospital,  which  is  in  process  of  building  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  town,  is  described  in  an  earlier  chapter  of  this 
work. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  so  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  a  portion  of  the  early  records  of  the  town  having  been  lost. 
Alexander  J.  Turner,  the  first  supervisor  elected  in  1801,  was  re-elected 
several  years  thereafter,  when  Robert  Livingston  is  supposed  to  have 
been  elected  and  served  a  few  terms;  then  followed:  1814-15,  George 
C.  Conant;  1816- 17,  James  Thompson  ;  181 8,  Bishop  Perkins;  1819-20, 
Robert  Livingston;  1821-28,  Wesson  Briggs  ;  1829,  John  Thompson; 
1830-35,  George  C.  Conant;  1836,  Joseph  Chambers;  1837,  G.  C. 
Conant;  1838-39,  David  C.  Gray;  1840-41,  Charles  Norway;  1842, 
William  H.  Reynolds;  1843,  D.  C.  Gray;  1844,  G.  C  Conant;  1845- 
49,  Wm.  Brigggs  ;  1850-51,  Aaron  Rolf;  1582-53,  David  G.  Lyttle  ; 
1854-56,  Wm.  Briggs;  1857-61,  Ira  Wallace;  1862-69,  Alexander  A. 
Martin;  1870,  Samuel  Wells  ;  1 871,  Alex.  A.Martin;  1872-76,  Andrew 
Tuck;  1877,  Samuel  Wells;  1878-83,  James  W.  Bailie;  1884-93,  My- 
ron T.  Stocking. 

Religions  Belief  and  Organizations. — In  all  ages  and  from  the  rec- 
ords of  whatever  country  we  may  seek  information,  among  the  numer- 
ous tribes  and  nations  of  the  earth,  and  even  among  the  relics  of  ex- 
tinct races,  we  shall  find  some  external  evidence  of  their  belief  and 
adoration  of  a  Supreme  Being.  Priests,  sacrificial  altars,  religious  cere- 
monies, and  temples  or  palaces  consecrated  to  religious  worship,  all  bear 
conclusive  testimony  that  men  are  naturally  religious  beings.  Long 
before  Jehovah  had  made  special  manifestations  to  his  chosen  people, 
the  Jews,  and  while  the  minds  of  men  were  more  or  less  obscured  by 
dense  moral  ignorance,  unable  to  penetrate  the  future,  we  find  them 
consulting  divinity  by  oracles  and  seeking  to  propitiate  his  anger  or 
merit  his  protection  by  prayers,  vows  and  offerings.  Neither  the 
prejudice  of  passions,  the  false  reasoning  of  philosophy,  nor  the  ex- 
ample of  men  in  power  have  been  able  to  destroy  or  weaken  this  tend- 
42 


330  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ency  of  the  human  mind  to  reverence  and  worship  an  omnipotent,  om- 
niscient deity. 

Such  inclination  can  proceed  only  from  first  principles,  which  form  a 
part  of  the  nature  of  man;  from  tendencies  implanted  in  the  heart  of 
man,  and  had  he  persisted  in  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  these  first 
principles,  his  moral  progress  would  most  certainly  have  hastened  the 
dawn  of  the  millenium.  But  the  errors  of  his  mind  and  the  vices  of  his 
heart — sad  effects  of  the  corruption  of  humanity — have  strangely  dis- 
figured the  original  beauty  of  his  primitive  nature.  After  men  had  re- 
lapsed into  idolatry  and  wickedness,  as  evidenced  by  the  impious  at- 
tempt to  build  a  tower  of  Babel,  God  called  Abram,  a  man  of  faith,  out 
of  the  land  of  the  Chaldees,  to  be  the  ancestor  of  a  race  chosen  for  an 
exalted  destiny,  the  father  of  a  multitude  in  whom  ''all  families  of  the 
earth  should  be  blessed."  The  last  words  involve  the  crowning  bless- 
ings of  the  Old  Covenant,  the  Promise  of  the  Messiah.  Agreeably  to 
this  call,  Abram  accompanied  by  his  wife  Sarai,  his  nephew  Lot  and 
their  servants,  crossed  the  Rivers  Euphrates  and  Jordan  and  reached  the 
valley  of  Shechem,  where  he  built  the  first  altar  to  the  Lord.  Here  he 
received  the  second  promise :  that  his  seed  should  possess  the  land. 
These  promises  in  the  course  of  time  were  fulfilled,  and  through  that 
faith  and  obedience  to  the  Lord  which  were  so  exemplified  by  Abram, 
the  Jewish  people  established  a  church  which,  in  its  spiritual  and  exter- 
nal splendor,  wielded  an  influence  among  the  nations  worthy  of  imi- 
tation. 

But  through  the  influence  of  the  usurpers,  the  Herodian  families,  and 
the  introduction  of  foreign  customs,  the  temporal  dominion  of  the 
Herods  opened  the  way  to  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish  nationality. 
Following  close  on  this  state  of  affairs  came  the  cry  from  the  wilderness, 
"Prepare  ye  the  way,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,"  and  God, 
through  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  was  made  manifest  in  the  flesh. 

After  Christ's  public  ministry  in  teaching  the  covenant,  his  death  and 
ascension,  the  Christian  church  became  established  by  his  disciples, 
which  church  has  been  continued  by  the  followers  of  the  Master,  under 
the  names  of  the  various  denominations,  down  to  the  present  time. 

It  always  has  been  and  no  doubt  will  be  true  for  all  time  to  come, 
that  man   will   worship  a  Supreme  Being  in  some  way  (expressed  in 


THE  TOWN  OP  LISBON.  331 

creeds)  peculiar  to  their  understanding  ;  therefore  it  is  proper  for  them 
to  enter  into  covenant  relations  with  each  other  for  mutual  benefit  and 
protection. 

In  presenting  the  following  sketches  of  church  history  in  Lisbon,  and 
in  those  of  other  towns  in  later  pages,  especial  care  has  been  taken  to 
represent  the  facts  without  color  "or  prejudice,  as  gleaned  from  the  rec- 
ords and  from  such  other  sources  as  were  deemed  reliable.  Each 
society  seems  to  have  been  organized  at  a  time  when  most  needed  to 
assist  and  direct  those  of  a  certain  class  to  a  higher  and  better  standard 
of  religious  truth.  Contemplating  the  good  that  has  been  done  by  the 
various  denominations,  we  may  truly  say  that  the  guiding  hand  of 
Providence  has  led  his  people  through  these  many  years  (since  the 
reign  of  the  red  man  of  the  forest),  and  has  thus  raised  the  standard  of 
his  kingdom  among  us,  which  we  trust  will  be  continued  with  the  same 
liberality  and  unity  of  spirit  to  the  end  of  time. 

The  foregoing  may  be  applied  to  each  church  organization,  brief 
sketches  of  which  will  be  given  in  the  history  of  the  several  towns  in 
the  order  of  their  organization. 

Presbyterian,  or  what  may  be  termed  close  communion,  psalm  sing- 
ing united  Presbyterians,  was  the  character  of  the  first  religious  organi- 
zation in  this  county,  and  it  was  effected  through  the  efforts  of  Rev. 
Alexander  Proudfit,  who  was  up  from  Salem,  N.  Y.,  visiting  old  neigh- 
bors at  Galloupville.  They  having  no  religious  meetings  in  the  place, 
he  conducted  services  for  them  several  Sabbaths,  and  succeeded  in  or- 
ganizing a  church  November  15,  1802.  The  following  named  persons 
were  some  of  the  congregation,  and  also  trustees  of  the  society:  A.  J. 
Turner,  John  Tibbits,  jr.,  John  Farewell,  William  Shaw,  Benjamin 
Stewart,  and  Reuben  Turner.  Rev.  Mr.  Sheriff,  a  Scotchman,  became 
their  first  pastor  in  1804.  A  frame  church  was  built  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, where  the  society  continued  to  meet  for  a  number  of  years.  After 
most  of  the  people  had  moved  away  or  back  into  the  interior  of  the 
town  the  church  members  became  scattered  and  were  soon  disorga- 
nized. A  place  called  Wells's  Hill,  about  half  a  mile  north  of  what  is 
now  Lisbon  Centre,  was  quite  a  point  for  business,  and  the  few  mem- 
bers living  there  made  an  effort  to  revive  the  church  and  succeeded  in 


332  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

reorganizing  it  on   February    28,  1827,  with   George    C.  Conant,   John 
Thompson  and  Joseph  Martin  as  trustees. 

This  was  in  the  days  of  cheap  whisky,  fifteen  to  twenty  cents  per 
gallon,  and  it  was  considered  necessary  for  even  a  poor  man  not  having 
a  farrow  cow,  to  keep  the  "  extract "  on  hand  to  assist  in  welcoming 
his  friends.  It  was  said  to  Dr.  Hough  by  one  of  the  church  members, 
that  the  church  edifice,  including  all  the  work  of  raising  funds  and  the 
labor  of  building,  cost  a  barrel  of  whisky.'  The  second  church,  like  the 
first  one,  was  a  good  structure,  but  much  larger  and  more  substantially 
built.  A  gallery  was  constructed  on  both  sides  and  across  the  end  of 
the  church,  where  seats  were  rented  by  the  year.  A  portion  of  the 
pews  below  were  sold  out  and  were  transferable.  The  pulpit  was  raised 
about  eight  feet  from  the  floor,  so  the  speaker  could  have  an  eye  on  all 
the  congregation,  both  above  and  below.  The  style  of  the  pews,  like 
those  in  all  churches  of  that  day  in  the  country,  was  box-shape  and  so 
high  that  youngsters  could  not  look  over  the  sides,  and  which  came  up 
to  the  ears  of  the  older  ones. 

The  pews  had  solid  doors  which  were  opened  only  to  allow  passing 
in  or  out,  and  some  had  locks  to  prevent  lawless  persons  from  using 
them.  It  was  a  rule  of  the  church  that  dogs,  which  persisted  in  going 
to  meeting,  were  to  be  shut  in  the  pews  during  service. 

The  society  continued  its  work  in  this  place  with  good  results  until  a 
majority  of  the  members  found  it  necessary  to  build  a  new  edifice  and 
change  its  location.  The  society  built  their  present  frame  church  at 
Lisbon  Centre  in  a  more  modern  style  in  1856;  it  will  seat  250  per- 
sons. The  Rev.  Andrew  Henry  is  their  present  pastor  and  the  mem- 
bership is  175. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  Methodists  held  meet- 
ings occasionally  in  private  houses  as  early  as  1805,  but  a  church 
proper  was  not  organized  until  April  25,  1822,  with  Daniel  Akin,  Asa 
Baldwin,  David  Wells,  Robert  Briggs,  and  Luke  McCracken,  trustees. 
It  was  reorganized  April  3,  1847,  with  George  Fulton,  Joseph  Lang- 
tree,    David    Akin,    Stephen    Mackley,    and    Isaac    Stocking,    trustees. 

1  It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  this  particular  church  was  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  in 
those  early  days.  The  free  use  of  whisky  was  considered  essential  to  good  health,  or  to  ward  off 
the  prevailing  disease,  "  fever  and  ague,"  caused  no  doubt  by  the  decaying  wood  stumps  and 
vegetable  matter  then  so  abundant  in  the  settlements. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LISBON.  333 

Meetings  were  held  principally  on  the  river  road  in  school  houses  down 
to  1862,  when  a  church  was  built  at  Galloupville.  It  is  a  wooden 
structure  capable  of  seating  200  persons  and  cost  about  $650.  Rev. 
Aaron  Thompson  is  the  present  pastor  and  the  membership  is  forty- 
four. 

The  Second  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  at  Flackville  January  9, 
1850,  with  Dwight  Spencer,  Joseph  H.  Langtree,  Isaac  Stocking,  Ly- 
man N.  Sackett,  and  Henry  Soper,  trustees.  A  frame  church  was 
erected  in  185 1,  which  has  since  been  repaired  and  furnished.  The 
present  membership  is  ninety-five,  and  Rev.  Aaron  Thompson  is  pastor 
of  this  church  also. 

S/.  Luke' s  CJmrcJi  [Episcopal). — Episcopal  missionaries  labored  in 
Lisbon  as  early  as  18 16,  but  a  church  was  not  organized  until  October 
13,  1837.  The  first  rector  is  said  to  have  been  Rev.  Mr.  Bryton  ;  the 
first  wardens  were  Obadiah  Piatt  and  Samuel  Patterson.  The  first 
vestrymen  were  Hugh  Leach,  Robert  Leach,  Henry  Hunt,  Simeon  Dil- 
lingham, John  Clark,  William  Spears,  and  Wooster  Carpenter.  The 
present  neat  stone  church  at  Galloupville,  on  the  lot  formerly  occupied 
by  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  was  built  in  1856,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000, 
a  part  of  the  money  having  been  raised  in  New  York  by  Mrs.  Gen. 
Thomas  Davies.  Rev.  J.  D.  Morrison,  of  Ogdensburg,  officiated 
nearly  every  Sabbath  afternoon  for  a  number  of  years.  At  present 
Rev.  A.  McDonald,  of  Waddington,  is  ofificiating  there  ;  the  present 
membership  is  about  twenty. 

First  Reform,  or  Covenanter,  Presbyterian  CJuirch. — This  church 
was  first  started  by  a  few  people  who  met  in  private  houses  for  prayer 
and  conference  about  1825,  in  the  Craig  neighborhood.  William  Craig 
is  said  to  have  been  the  originator  of  the  movement.  In  1830  Rev.  J. 
W.  Stewart,  of  Argyle,  N.  Y.,  visited  Lisbon  and  remained  six  months. 
During  his  stay  he  organized  a  church  with  fifty  members.  William 
Glass  and  John  Smith  were  ordained  ruling  elders.  In  1831  William 
Craig  and  Robert  Gray  were  added  to  the  session,  and  in  the  mean 
time  a  frame  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  Craig's  Corners.  In 
1833  a  division  occurred  in  the  General  Synod  to  which  they  belonged, 
over  the  right  of  franchise.  The  question  was  taken  up  by  the  mem- 
bers of  this  church,  a  portion  contending  that  it   was  not  right  to  vote 


334  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

for  officers  of  the  government,  if  God  was  not  acknowledged  in  the  con- 
stitution. The  other  portion  held  that  it  was  not  only  right,  but  was 
the  duty  of  an  American  citizen  to  vote.  On  this  question  the  church 
divided,  when  the  former  portion,  designated  the  "  old  light  covenant- 
ers," withdrew  and  built  a  frame  church  at  Glass's  Corners,  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  the  old  church.  Here  they  have  con- 
tinued to  labor  to  the  present  day,  prospering  fairly  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Rev.  W.  J.  McFarland.  Their  peculiar  views  have  had  a  tend- 
ency to  weaken  their  membership,  as  those  who  desire  to  exercise  the 
right  of  franchise,  stimulated  by  the  heated  political  discussions  of  a 
political  campaign,  withdraw  from  the  church  from  time  to  time,  while 
others  for  similar  reasons  are  slow  to  join  them. 

The  New  Light,  or  Reformed,  Covenanter  Presbyterians,  comprising 
the  remaining  members,  reorganized,  elected  officers  and  continued  to 
worship  in  the  old  house  at  Craig's  Corners,  though  greatly  weakened 
by  the  division  and  feud,  which  was  not  readily  healed.  In  1841  their 
church  was  mysteriously  burned,  ending  in  a  law  suit  which  nearly  dis- 
organized the  society.  In  185  i  a  few  of  the  members  who  had  kept  the 
society  from  disbanding,  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Henry  Gordon,  at  a 
salary  of  $350  a  year.  The  new  pastor  so  stimulated  the  members  that 
during  the  following  year  they  built  the  present  frame  church  at  Flack- 
ville,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  greatly  increased  in  membership.  Rev. 
H.  J.  McClave  is  the  present  pastor. 

Second  Nezv  Light,  or  Reforined  Covenanter  Church. — The  success 
of  the  New  Lights,  under  Rev.  H.  Gordon's  preaching,  extended  to 
other  neighborhoods,  where  a  society  was  formed  shortly  after  that  of 
Flackville,  and  a  small  frame  house  of  worship  was  built  in  the  extreme 
eastern  part  of  the  town,  near  the  line  of  Waddington,  about  1855. 
Their  present  membership  is  about  forty,  and  they  are  supplied  by  Rev. 
Archibald  Thompson,  of  Madrid. 

The  First  Congregational  Chnrch. — This  church  was  the  outgrowth 
of  a  revival,  conducted  by  Rev.  Lewis  A.  Weeks,  in  the  summer  of  1842. 
On  November  26  following,  a  church  was  organized  with  fifty  two 
members.  The  society  was  incorporated  March  3,  1843,  William 
Briggs,  John  Dings,  James  Martin,  Thomas  McCarter,  James  Norway 
and    William    H.    Reynolds,    trustees.      In    1844-5    they   built   a    neat 


?-<. 


THE  TOVTN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  335 

wooden  church  at  a  cost  of  $i,200,  on  Lot  No.  5,  situated  about  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  Centre.  The  society  has  a  parsonage  on  a  lot  contain- 
ing eleven  acres  of  land.  The  church  has  been  enlarged  and  is  now 
undergoing  extensive  repairs,  including  circular  seats  and  other  modern 
improvements.  The  Rev.  Morgan  L.  Eastman  served  this  church  more 
than  twenty- one  years.     Rev.  R.  C.  Day  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  First  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  was  formed  February  14, 
1843,  with  a  membership  of  100.  The  first  trustees  were  Joseph  Piatt, 
David  Akin,  Isaac  Storms,  Thomas  Martin  and  John  Martin.  Its  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Lyndon  King.  They  erected  a  frame  church  in  1843 
at  a  cost  of  $800,  located  on  lot  3,  range  2,  of  mile  square  lots,  or  about 
two  miles  east  from  Lisbon  Centre.  In  1890  the  society  decided  to 
chancre  the  location  of  the  church  to  Lisbon  Centre.    A  lot  was  secured 

o 

and  during  the  following  year  a  beautiful  frame  house  of  worship  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  On  the  completion  of  this  church  the 
members  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  one  decided  to  continue  services 
there.  Rev.  J.  R.  Wylie  is  th-;  pastor,  and  preaches  in  the  old  church 
Sabbath  mornings  and  in  the  new  one  in  the  evenings.  The  member- 
ship of  the  body  is  fifty  five. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE— ORGANIZED  IN  1802. 

THIS  town  was  one  of  three,  incorporated  with  the  county  March 
3,  1802,  and  was  taken  from  Lisbon's  jurisdiction.  It  comprises 
the  original  township  No.  8,  fronting  ten  miles  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
River,  and  covering  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie,  from  which  river  its 
name  was  taken.  The  town  included  the  military  station,  Fort  Oswe- 
gatchie, so  named  by  the  British,  which  place  was  used  by  N.  Ford  for 
the  first  few  years  as  a  base  of  operations  in  the  settlement  of  the 
county.  The  first  settlement  made  at  this  point  has  been  given  in  the 
county  portion  of  this  work,  wherein  it  is  fully  described.  The  first 
settlers,  apart  from   the  Ford   party,  was  Captain   Joseph  Thurber  and 


336  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

his  two  sons,  Kelsey  and  John  R.,  and  Mrs.  Thurber.  The  family- 
moved  from  New  Hampshire  to  Plattsburg,  and  shortly  after  removed 
to  Augusta,  Canada.  From  here  they  moved  to  the  American  side 
and  settled  on  the  west  side  of  Black  Lake,  some  four  miles  above 
Ogdensburg,  in  the  summer  of  1797,  where  some  of  his  descendants 
now  reside.i 

Mr.  Jacob  Pohlman,  formerly  from  Germany,  a  millwright,  whom  Mr. 
Ford  met  at  Albany,  and  employed  in  1797,  to  work  on  his  grist  mill 
at  Oswegatchie,  shortly  after  settled  on  lands  near  the  Narrows,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  A  few  years  later  David  Rose, 
David  Judson,  Thomas  J.  Davis,  and  several  other  families  moved  into 
the  neighborhood  and  settled  on  farms. 

The  Settlement,  on  the  river  road  towards  Morristown,  began  about 
the  same  time,  Mr.  Thomas  Lee  being  the  pioneer  settler.  Capt. 
David  Griffin,  Adam  Mills  and  Elijah  Carley  also  located  on  this  road, 
and  several  other  families  moved  into  the  neighborhood  soon  after. 
Settlements  were  made  on  the  central  road  or  midway  between  the  lake 
and  river. 

Francis  Bromaghim,  in  1798,  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  a  mile  square, 
about  five  miles  above  Ogdensburg,  and  one  and  a  half  miles  back  from 
the  St.  Lawrence.  Within  a  i&w  years,  Harvey  Lyon,  Uriah  Van 
Waters,  James  Roberts,  and  several  other  families  moved  into  the 
neighborhood,  which  has  since  been  known  as  the  Bromaghim  Settle- 
ment. It  was  several  years  before  roads  were  laid  out  and  worked  to 
this  place.  In  the  mean  time,  the  people  were  guided  through  the 
woods,  to  and  from,  by  blazed  trees.  Wolves  were  very  plentiful  at 
this  time,  which  is  shown  by  the  following  incident.  In  the  spring  of 
1799,  two  of  Bromaghim's  boys,  Peter  and  William,  the  oldest  about  I 
seventeen  years  of  age,  went  to  Ogdensburg  to  fish  for  suckers  below 
the  dam.  Each,  having  caught  a  fine  string  of  fish,  started  for  home, 
but  darkness  overtook  them  before  they  got  a  quarter  of  the  way  back. 
While  groping  their  way  along  the  foot-path,  they  heard  the  snarl  of 
wolves,  and  could  just  discern  their  gaunt  forms  moving  about  in  the  fad- 
ing twilight.     As  they  hastened  on,  a  howl  now  and  again  went  up  from 

1  Mr.  Clark  F.  Nichols  and  wife  came  to  the  settlement  from  Vermont  in  the  summer  of  1798, 
with  a  yoke  of  oxen.  Mrs.  Nichols  rode  most  of  the  way  on  the  back  of  one  of  the  oxen,  with  a 
few  goods  carried  on  the  back  of  the  other  ox,  saddles  having  been  fitted  for  the  occasion. 


THE  TOWN  OF  08WEGATCHIE.  337 

the  wolves,  apparently  calling  others  to  the  place,  as  other  howls  were 
heard  in  answer  at  different  points  in  the  distance.  Shortly  after  their 
number  and  boldness  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  they  were  afraid 
of  being  attacked,  when  one  of  the  boys  taking  a  fish  from  his  string, 
threw  it  as  far  as  possible  behind  him.  The  wolves  made  a  fierce 
scramble  for  the  fish,  and  while  fighting  over  and  devouring  it,  the  boys 
made  good  time  on  the  home  stretch.  Yet  it  was  not  long  before  the 
wolves  renewed  the  eager  chase,  when  the  process  of  throwing  fish 
was  repeated  until  the  two  strings  were  exhausted.  Being  still  a  mile 
from  home,  it  seemed  only  a  matter  of  a  few  moments  ere  they  would 
fall  a  prey  to  the  ravenous  beasts,  which  fate  was  only  prevented  by  the 
timely  arrival  of  their  father,  bearing  a  large  torch  and  accompanied  by 
two  fierce  dogs.  By  tiiis  time  a  large  pack  of  wolves  had  gathered 
about  them  and  were  only  held  at  bay  by  the  torch  and  the  dogs  ;  yet 
they  often  ventured  so  near  that  their  eyes  could  be  seen  glistening  in 
the  dark.  The  wolves  followed  them  home  and  kept  up  a  continuous 
howl  about  the  place  until  daylight. 

The  Bromaghim  home  was  always  open  to  strangers.  At  the  siege 
of  Ogdensburg  in  1812-14,  about  thirty  of  the  soldiers  stopped  there  a 
few  days  on  their  retreat.  Several  of  the  wounded  soldiers  remained 
until  they  recovered,  which  was  in  the  spring  following.  The  father  of 
Henry  Lovejoy,  who  came  over  from  Canada  when  a  boy  twelve  years 
of  age,  was  working  for  Mr.  Bromaghim  at  the  time,  and  helped  to 
dress  the  wounds  of  the  soldiers.  He  subsequently  married  one  of  the 
Bromaghim  daughters  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  by,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death.      The  place  is  now  occupied   by  his  son  Henry. 

The  first  death  among  the  American  settlers  was  that  of  Mrs.  John 
Lyon,  who  came  in  with  the  Ford  party.  The  first  marriage  among 
the  settlers  was  that  of  James  Chambers  to  Elizabeth  Thurber,  of  Black 
Lake,  in  the  fall  of  1797.  -^s  there  was  no  clergyman  or  magistrate  on 
the  American  side,  nearer  than  Fort  Stanwix,  the  party  crossed  over  to 
Canada  in  a  canoe,  where  they  were  legally  married. 

When  Mr.  Ford  took  possession  of  the  property  at  Fort  Oswegatchie 

there  were  several  French  families  living  there,  who  tilled  small  patches 

of  the  land  cleared  by  Father  Piquet.      But  the   English  made   no   use 

of  the  clearings,  which    had   become  mostly  grown  over  with   bushes, 
43 


338  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

making  a  lurking  place  for  wild  animals.  The  following  incident  is  said 
to  have  happened  shortly  after  Ford's  arrival,  and  was  some  time 
after  described  in  the  Palladium,  the  first  paper  printed  in  the  place. 
The  occupants  of  the  settlement  procured  water  for  domestic  purposes 
at  the  "  Cold  Spring,"  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  barracks,  near 
the  west  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie  River,  or  just  above  the  site  of  the 
present  upper  iron  bridge.  On  a  summer  afternoon  two  French  women, 
one  having  a  babe  wrapped  up  in  Indian  style,  started  out  for  water 
and  to  pick  berries  for  supper.  On  arriving  at  the  spring,  the  child  was 
carefully  laid  in  a  comfortable  place  in  the  shade  of  the  bush,  where  it 
soon  fell  asleep,  while  the  women  entered  upon  their  task.  They  dili- 
gently moved  about  from  one  cluster  of  bushes  to  another,  and  had 
nearly  filled  their  baskets,  when  a  sudden  screech  from  the  child  alarmed 
the  women.  They  hastened  to  the  spot,  and  when  the  mother  caught 
a  glimpse  of  her  babe  in  the  mouth  of  a  panther  that  was  trotting 
leisurely  along  an  Indian  path  leading  to  Black  Lake,  she  gave  such  a 
scream  as  only  a  mother  can  when  seeing  her  child  in  peril,  threw  up 
her  "  capine,"  and  cried  out  "  A  mon  dieu,  mon  enfant."  The  two 
women  followed  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  animal,  screaming  at  the  top 
of  their  voices;  yet  the  panther  held  on  to  the  child,  and  hastened  on 
toward  the  swamp.  A  man  from  the  barracks,  with  dog  and  gun,  was 
on  the  hill  above  them  in  search  of  a  deer  for  his  evening  meal.  Hear- 
ing the  cries  of  the  women,  he  at  once  hastened  to  their  relief.  The 
dog  being  in  advance,  overtook  the  panther  on  the  brow  of  the  hill 
overlooking  the  swamp  below.  The  panther,  now  hard  pressed  by  the 
dog  and  women,  leaped  upon  the  leaning  trunk  of  a  low- branched  elm, 
and  walked  out  on  a  projecting  limb  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground. 
When  the  man  came  up  the  panther  was  holding  the  child  by  its  clothes, 
with  its  head  downward,  watching  the  dog.  The  mother  was  standing 
by,  wringing  her  hands  in  agony  of  mind,  as  she  listened  to  the  pitiful 
moaning  of  her  babe.  The  man,  taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance, 
brought  his  rifle  to  bear  on  the  panther  and  fired.  At  the  crack  of  the 
gun  the  child  dropped  on  the  limb  and  rolled  from  one  branch  to  another 
to  the  ground,  when  the  panther  leaped  to  the  earth  and  started  for  the 
swamp.  The  mother,  seeing  her  babe  drop  and  the  panther  leap  from 
the  tree  and  run  away,  cried  out  "  Mon  enfant  tue,"  and  fell  insensible  on 


THE  TOWN  OP  OSWEGATCHIE.  339 

the  ground.  Her  companion  hastened  to  the  babe  and  found  that, 
except  a  few  scratches  made  by  the  panther's  teeth,  and  dust  in  its  eyes, 
it  was  all  right.  She  then  turned  to  assist  the  mother,  who  was  soon 
restored  to  consciousness,  and  was  overjoyed  to  find  her  child  once 
more  safe  in  her  arms. 

The  panther  made  a  few  leaps  down  the  bank  and  was  overhauled 
b}'  the  dog,  but  the  unerring  bullet  of  the  hunter  had  done  its  work. 

The  rapid  increase  of  the  settlements  on  either  side  of  Ogdensburg 
soon  cut  off  the  runways  of  wild  beasts,  and  drove  them  further  back 
into   the  larger  body  of  woods. 

The  settlement  at  Heuvelton  was  commenced  several  years  later  than 
the  Black  Lake  and  River  road  settlements,  principally  on  account  of 
the  impassable  roads  leading  to  the  place.  In  the  fall  of  i8o2  Mr. 
Ford  wrote  Mr.  Ogden.  informing  him  that  he  had  got  all  the  worst 
places  cross-wayed  from  Ogdensburg  by  the  way  of  Heuvelton  to  the 
Mohawk  River,  and  he  had  finished  the  bridge  over  the  east  branch 
(now  Heuvelton)  and  had  three  settlers  out  upon  the  road  fifteen  miles 
from  Ogdensburg,  and  several  more  were  intending  to  go  soon.  Mr. 
Ford  was  very  anxious  to  have  the  place,  then  called  "  East  Branch," 
(where  the  State  road  crossed  the  Oswegatchie  River),  settled.  He 
had  a  village  plat  surveyed  by  Judge  Edsall,  of  Madrid,  before  it  had 
an  inhabitant,  and  he  named  the  place  Fordsburgh.  He  succeeded  in 
getting  Truman  Bristol,  with  other  families  named  Havens,  Jones 
and  Osburne  to  move  in  and  they  made  some  improvements  in  1805. 
In  the  fall  of  1806  Jairus  Remington,  formerly  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter, a  native  of  Massachusetts,  but  then  from  Putney,  Vt.,  moved  in  by 
way  of  the  Black  River  country,  with  his  family,  and  began  keeping  a 
public  house  on  the  site  where  the  Pickens  dwelling  house  now  stands. 
The  first  bridge  crossed  the  river  at  that  point.  Mr.  Remington  had 
been  on  several  times  before,  and  had  made  an  arrangement  with  Judge 
Ford  to  establish  an  inn  at  this  place,  where  it  was  very  much  needed 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  travelers  who  were  coming  into  the 
country  by  the  State  road,  then  lately  opened. 

In  1808  Judge  Pinney  and  family  and  a  Mr.  Redfield  and  family 
came  in  and  settled.  In  181 1  David  Burroughs,  from  Shaftsbury,  Vt., 
arrived.      Later   on    several   families,    mostly   from   Vermont,   took  up 


340  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

their  residence  there  as  follows:  William  Thurston,  George  Seemon, 
Grove  T.  Howard,  Alpheus  Wright,  Amos  H.  Hulett,  Robert  Fifield, 
Dexter  B.  Edgel,^  and  others.  Jacob  A.  Vanden  Heuvel  (whose  name 
was  subequently  changed  to  Van  Heuvel)  settled  in  the  place  in  1820. 
He  purchased  the  unsold  village  plat  and  an  extension  tract  of  land  ad- 
joining, erected  a  grist  mill,  built  a  church  and  made  numerous  other 
improvements.  A  dam  and  saw  mill  had  previously  been  erected  by 
Pvlr.  Remington,  which  he  purchased.  The  name  of  the  village  was 
changed  in  1832  to  Heuvel  in  compliment  to  the  new  proprietor,  and 
later  it  was  again  changed  to  Heuvelton. 

The  first  bridge  built  in  this  place  in  1802,  was  carried  away  by  the 
spring  flood,  and  a  second  one  was  built  in  1805,  and  a  third  one  in 
1832.  This  one  was  built  on  the  present  site;  the  other  two  were 
located  several  rods  above.  The  fourth,  a  covered  bridge,  was  built  in 
1847,  ^^^  was  carried  away  by  a  flood  in  the  spring  of  1862,  and  a 
fifth  bridge  (covered)  was  built  that  summer,  which  was  also  carried  off 
by  a  freshet  in  the  spring  of  1874,  when  the  present  iron  arch  bridge 
was  built  that  summer. 

A  wooden  bridge  was  built  across  the  Oswegatchie  at  the  eel-weir 
about  1840.  A  covered  bridge  was  built  on  its  site  about  1858.  In 
1887  $1000  was  laid  out  in  repairs  on  the  bridge.  The  bridge  was 
condemned  in  1889,  and  November  2d  following  a  vote  of  the  town 
naming  and  authorizing  a  committee  of  five  (approved  by  the  board  of 
Supervisors),  to  issue  town  bonds,  not  to  exceed  $10,000,  and  to  build 
an  iron  bridge  at  the  eel-weir.  In  the  meantime  the  town  commissioner 
of  Highways,  J.  E.Wagoner,  bargained  with  the  Berlin  Bridge  Company 
for  an  iron  bridge  to  cost  $9,200,  without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of 
the  town  committee,  who  commenced  to  carry  out  the  contract.  The 
town  committee  served  an  injunction  on  them,  and  purchased  a  King 
bridge  for  $6,ooo,  and  commenced  its  erection,  when  the  Berlin  Com- 
pany served  an  injunction  on  them.  A  series  of  law  suits  followed, 
which  ended  in  establishing  the  right  of  the  town  committee  to  build  the  I 
bridge,  which  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1892. 

In  the  winter  of  1878  several  owners  of  lands  located  in  the  town  of    I 
Depeyster,  united  and  built  a  bridge,  supported  on  piles  driven  into  the 

'  Mr.  Edpel  was  killed  by  lightning  while  sitting  in  McNally's  grocery  store  in  Ogdensburg  in 
the  summer  of  1853. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  341 

mud,  across  Black  Lake,  near  the  Wall  farm.  In  1879  the  town  of 
Oswegatchie  voted  to  pay  the  parties  $350,  in  consideration  that  the 
public  may  use  it. 

The  first  school  taught  in  this  settlement  was  a  small  one  by  Mr. 
Dyer  Badger  in  the  winter  of  1808.  After  the  State  road  was  made 
passable  it  became  the  principal  highway  for  strangers  or  emigrants 
from  the  east  to  reach  this  part  of  the  country.  Heuvelton  was  for  a 
number  of  )'ears  at  first  one  of  the  noted  stopping  places  on  the  route. 
The  so-called  taverns  of  that  day  were  provided  with  large  bar-  rooms, 
where  the  noted  characters  of  the  settlements  (who  claimed  to  have 
their  eye  teeth  cut)  passed  most  of  their  evenings  and  stormy  days, 
especially  in  the  winter  season.  Here,  before  the  strangers  and  a  few 
back-woodsmen,  the  "smart"  Alecs  had  an  opportunity  to  display 
their  knowledge  of  the  country,  as  well  as  to  get  free  drinks  with 
friends.  They  also  amused  them  still  further  by  badgering  each  other 
in  billingsgate  style,  which  vocabulary  of  blackguardism  emanating 
from  the  Erie  Canal  scum  was  frequently  indulged  in  by  the  graduates 
of  that  school.  Heuvelton  was  not  the  only  place  where  such  ribaldry 
was  practiced.  This  custom  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  settlements  was 
general  and  largely  indulged  in  by  many  who  passed  for  good  people. 
Even  opposing  lawyers  would  indulge  in  abusive  language  to  each  other 
before  commencing  to  try  a  case,  in  order  to  sharpen  their  wits.  They 
thought  it  was  smart  and  witty,  and  was  looked  upon  as  such  by  the 
masses  of  the  people  who  considered  it  only  an  innocent  pastime.  But 
the  custom  passed  away  with  that  generation. 

The  place,  soon  after  Van  Heuvel  came,  increased  quite  rapidly,  as 
he  freely  spent  the  large  fortune  he  brought  with  him.  Being  brought 
up  in  the  city  of  New  York,  his  business  experience  there  did  not  fit 
him  to  compete  successfully  with  the  affairs  of  a  new  country.  He  was 
a  man  of  considerable  literary  ability,  but  was  ignorant  or  stupid  in  the 
common  things  of  every- day  life.  For  example,  it  was  said  that  when 
visiting  one  of  his  tenants  in  the  sugar  making  season,  and  seeing  the 
sap  freely  flowing  from  some  of  the  maple  trees,  he  asked  the  man  why 
he  did  not  tap  all  the  trees,  pointing  to  a  clump  of  basswood,  beech 
and  hemlocks.  After  receiving  a  satisfactory  reply,  and  learning  that 
the  man  had  earned  over  two   dollars  per  day   making  sugar,  but  was 


342  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

about  to  stop  making,  he  said  to  him  :  **  At  that  rate  you  could  soon 
pay  for  your  laud.  Why  don't  you  keep  on  making  sugar  the  year 
round  ?"  At  another  time  while  on  a  visit  to  a  field  where  the  man 
was  plowing  among  the  stumps,  Mr.  Van  Heuvel  for  amusement  kicked 
over  some  of  the  small  rotten  ones  and  said  to  the  man,  "This  is  only 
fun  to  clear  land."  He  then  came  to  a  good  sized  pine  stump  and  made 
two  or  three  ineffectual  kicks,  when  he  stepped  back  a  kw  paces  and 
rushed  forward  with  a  determination  to  level  the  stump;  but  instead  of 
it  giving  away  as  he  expected,  he  went  over  backward  to  the  ground. 
Picking  himself  up  he  rubbed  his  leg  and  with  a  disappointed  look  left 
the  field.  After  Mr.  Van  Heuvel  had  spent  his  fortune  in  trying  to 
build  up  the  place  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  declining  years  with  a 
friend  near  New  York. 

John  Pickens,  a  successful  merchant  and  general  trader,  built  a  fine 
brick  dwelling  and  a  stone  block  of  stores  about  1858.  N.  Giffin  car- 
ried on  a  tannery  for  a  number  of  years,  and  about  i860  he  erected  a 
stone  grist  mill  at  the  southerly  end  of  the  bridge,  which  was  driven  by 
steam.  He  abandoned  the  enterpise  after  a  few  years  and  the  building 
has  since  been  used  for  a  cheese  factory.  Just  below  this  building,  on 
the  river  bank,  J.  Palmer  built  a  steam  saw  mill  which  has  since  been 
abandoned.  A  steam  grist  or  provender  mill  is  now  operated  in  the 
Giffin  tannery  at  the  northerly  end  of  the  bridge  by  Anderson  &  Mc 
Fadden.  The  water  saw  mill  and  sash  shop  is  now  run  by  Thomas 
Clarkson.  The  old  grist  mill,  equipped  with  rollers,  is  now  owned  and 
run  by  J.  C.  Colon.  There  are  at  present  four  blacksmith  shops,  seven 
grocers,  two  dry  goods  stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two  shoe  shops,  one 
harness  shop,  one  jeweler  shop,  one  meat  market,  one  drug  store,  one 
millener  and  dressmaker,  one  justice  of  the  peace  and  two  lawyers.  The 
population  of  the  village  is  about  500. 

The  details  of  the  settlement  at  Fort  Oswegatchie  by  Nathan  Ford, 
down  to  the  completion  of  the  gristmill  and  saw  mills,  has  been  given 
in  another  part  of  this  work.  Mr.  Ford  would  not  sell  farms  very  near 
the  barracks,  as  he  wished  to  keep  it  for  his  dominion,  and  those  seek- 
ing farming  land  were  directed  to  the  settlements  outside  already 
begun  ;  yet,  a  few  desired  to  remain  in  the  place.  Therefore,  in  the 
third  year  from  his  arrival,  in  1799,  he  had  a  village   plat  surveyed   on 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  343 

the  east  side  of  the  Oswegatchie,  as  shown  in  the  cut  on  page  145,  ex- 
tending from  the  river  northerly  to  Paterson  street,  and  easterly  from 
the  St.  Lawrence  to  Jersey  avenue.  He  named  the  village  Ogdensburg, 
in  honor  of  the  land  proprietor,  Samuel  Ogden,  of  New  York.  That 
portion  of  the  road  laid  out  from  the  bridge  site  down  the  St.  Lawrence 
was  named  "  Ford  "  street,  and  the  one  crossing  it  running  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  towards  Heuvelton  was  called  "  Euphemia  "  street ;  this  name 
was  changed  in  1824  to  ''  State  "  street,  as  it  was  the  starting  point  of 
the  "  State  road."  For  the  names  of  the  other  streets  and  avenues,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  present  city  map,  as  many  of  them  were  then 
named  after  the  daughters  or  friends  of  the  Ford  families.  A  burial 
place  was  selected  on  the  elevated  ground  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the 
Oswegatchie,  now  called  Hamilton  Park,  the  bodies  some  years  since 
having  been  removed  to  the  present  cemetery.  In  1800  the  village  was 
fairly  commenced,  a  few  lots  having  been  taken  up  and  small  buildings 
erected.  A  fulling  mill  was  put  in  operation  and  an  ashery  erected  ;  and 
in  the  following  summer  a  road  was  surveyed  through  to  Black  River, 
and  one  from  Heuvelton  to  Louisville. 

One  of  the  happy  events  that  took  place  in  the  fall  of  iSoi,  during  a 
salt  famine,  was  the  arrival  of  a  vessel  from  Oswego  with  120  barrels  of 
of  salt,  which  proved  a  great  boon  to  the  settlers.  In  the  following  year 
(1802)  Mr.  Ford  erected  a  tannery  and  commenced  to  tan  hides,  both 
of  cattle  and  of  wild  animals,  for  the  settlers.  He  also  built  a  still  of 
150  gallons  capacity  and  rectifier  of  50  gallons,  which  size  he  thought 
would  be  sufficient  to  supply  the  demands  of  the  people  for  a  few 
years. 

In  the  summer  of  1803  several  of  Mr.  Ogden's  friends  from  New 
York  visited  the  new  settlement,  and  stopped  with  Mr.  Ford.  Among 
them  was  the  noted  American  author,  Washington  Irving,  then  a  young 
man.  While  here  he  signed  several  deeds,  as  a  witness,  given  by  Mr. 
Ford  to  the  settlers.  Mr.  Irving  was  ever  on  the  alert  for  a  fit  subject 
to  write  about,  and  he  considered  it  a  good  opportunity,  while  in  the 
Northern  wilderness,  to  study  the  character  and  habits  of  the  Indian. 
Taking  a  guide  one  day  they  rowed  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  about  a  mile 
above  the  barracks,  to  an  Indian  camp  on  the  shore  of  the  river.  He 
noticed  in  front  of  one  of  the  wigwams,  a  comely  young  squaw  cooking 


344  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

a  leg  of  venison  in  a  kettle,  which  was  suspended  on  a  tram  over  a  fire, 
supported  by  branches  stuck  in  the  ground.  Her  Indian  was  lounging 
in  front  of  the  door  of  the  wigwam  smoking  his  pipe.  Mr.  Irving 
approached  tlie  squaw  and  endeavored  to  enter  into  conversation  with 
her,  but  she  was  silent,  and  gave  her  whole  attention  to  recruiting  the 
fire.  He  then  turned  and  spoke  to  the  Indian,  who  excitedly  answered 
in  a  grufTand  incoherent  manner.  At  this  moment  the  squaw,  through 
her  nervousness  in  turning  the  venison,  loosened  the  prop  that  sup- 
ported the  tram,  which  tipped  the  contents  of  the  kettle  into  the  fire. 
Mr.  Irving,  in  true  politeness,  hastened  to  assist  her  in  readjusting  the 
tram.  This  act  enraged  the  Indian,  who  stepped  behind  Mr.  Irving 
and  dealt  him  a  blow  on  the  head  with  a  club,  felling  him  to  the  ground. 
The  Indian  then  grabbed  his  squaw,  threw  her  into  the  wigwam,  and 
started  off  on  a  lope  into  the  woods.  The  guide  assisted  Mr.  Irving  to 
his  feet,  conducted  him  to  the  boat  and  rowed  back  to  the  barracks. 
Mr.  Irving  concluded  that  he  had  studied  Indian  character  sufficiently 
for  one  day. 

Indian  stories  were  very  common  with  the  early  settlers.  One  of  a 
romantic  kind,  which  terminated  near  the  moutii  of  the  Oswegatchie, 
soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  given  from  memory 
by  one  who  read  the  story  some  years  ago,  in  a  printed  pamphlet.  A 
party  from  Albany,  early  in  summer  held  a  picnic  on  an  island  in  the 
Hudson  river,  above  the  town.  On  leaving  for  home,  about  dark,  a  girl 
of  sixteen,  named  Isabella  Wilton,  having  left  her  shawl  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  island,  returned  alone  for  it.  An  Indian  had  taken  the  shawl, 
and  when  the  girl  came  up  he  threw  it  over  her  head,  thrust  her  in  his 
canoe  and  paddled  away.  Her  not  returning  in  due  time  created  a  sus- 
picion that  she  had  been  captured.  Her  brother  and  a  friend,  well 
armed  and  provisioned,  started  out  to  search  for  her.  It  was  many 
weeks  before  they  struck  the  trail,  which  lead  them  by  way  of  Cran- 
berry and  Black  Lakes  to  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie  River.  Just  as 
they  came  up  to  the  shore  of  the  Oswegatchie,  above  the  barracks, 
they  discovered  an  Indian  with  the  girl  in  a  canoe  landing  on  the  oppo- 
site side  about  where  the  Morgan  store  now  stands.  As  the  girl 
stepped  ashore  they  made  a  motion  which  was  recognized  for  her  to 
stand  one  side.    The  Indian  not  observing  the  move,  attempted  to  draw 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  345 

his  canoe  on  the  land,  when  he  was  shot  dead  by  the  friend  of  the  girl 
across  the  river.  They  crossed  over,  buried  the  Indian  on  the  bank 
near  by,  and  from  the  girl  learned  the  circumstances  of  her  capture. 
She  had  been  kept  a  number  of  weeks  at  his  wigwam  near  a  spring  by 
a  pine  tree,  up  a  creek  that  emptied  into  the  St.  Lawrence,  about  where 
the  elevator  now  stands,  or  at  a  point  between  Knox  and  Green  streets. 
The  girl  was  taken  home  and  eventually  became  the  wife  of  the  friend 
who  assisted  in  rescuing  her.  In  the  summer  of  1845  ^r  1846,  this  girl, 
now  a  gray-haired  matron,  came  with  a  party  of  excursionists,  on  the 
steamer  Lady  of  the  Lake  from  Lewistown  to  Ogdensburg,  and  to  them 
she  related  the  story  of  her  capture.  The  place  having  changed  from  a 
wilderness  to  a  thriving  village,  she  found  it  difficult  to  locate  the  spot 
where  the  Indian  was  buried  ;  but  after  taking  observations  from  Light- 
house Point  and  the  ruined  walls  of  the  old  French  barracks,  she  stated 
that  the  place  could  not  be  far  from  where  a  man  was  at  work  digging 
a  hole  for  a  hitching. post.  Some  of  the  party  stepped  forward  to  the 
spot  just  as  the  man  threw  out  some  human  bones,  which  were  said  to  be 
those  of  the  Indian  in  question,  proving  to  the  satisfaction  of  those 
present  the  truthfulness  of  the  lady's  statements.  Many  will  no  doubt 
remember  the  article  appearing  at  the  time  in  the  Frontier  Sentinel, 
which  gave  the  substance  of  this  story,  and  the  finding  of  the  Indian's 
bones. 

The  reckless  manner  in  which  the  Indians  sometimes  conducted 
themselves,  when  camping  near  the  settlements,  caused  the  early  set- 
tlers to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency  that  might  suddenly  arise. 
Therefore  every  family  kept  fire-arms  and  plenty  of  ammunition  on 
hand,  and  never  ventured  far  from  home  without  having  an  axe  and 
their  trusty  gun  along  to  protect  themselves,  and  more  especially  to 
procure  game,    which   was  so  plentiful  near  the  settlements. 

The  following  incident  is  one  of  many  that  came  to  light  in  after 
years,  when  the  Indians  had  been  far  removed  so  that  their  revenge 
could  not  be  inflicted  upon  the  settlers  or  their  friends.  The  pioneers 
did  not  claim  to  be  professional  hunters,  and  never  boasted  of  their  ex- 
ploits, as  do  the  hunters  and  fishermen  of  the  present  day.  The  facts 
were  sufficient,  but  through  the  necessity  of  procuring  food,  which  con- 
sisted largely  of  fresh  and  dried  venison,  the  men,  as  well  as  the  women, 

44 


346  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

became  experts  in  that  line.  Two  men  were  out  one  summer  day 
about  1806,  prospecting  in  the  vicinity  of  Plover  Hill.  They 
had  shot  a  fine  deer  and  taken  the  hide  from  the  fore  quarters,  which 
part  was  seldom  used,  hanging  it,  with  the  saddles,  or  hind  quarters, 
on  a  limb  of  a  tree  beyond  the  reach  of  wild  beasts,  after  which  they 
amused  themselves  picking  berries.  One  of  them,  who  had  recently 
come  from  the  Eastern  States,  and  was  not  fully  conversant  with  pio- 
neer life,  leaned  his  rifle  against  a  tree  and  began  to  feast  himself  with 
the  tempting  fruit,  and  before  he  was  aware  of  the  fact  he  had  wan- 
dered quite  a  distance  from  his  gun  towards  the  site  of  what  has  since 
been  called  Camp  Wheeler. 

The  settlers  had  frequently  been  warned  by  the  Indians  not  to  in- 
trude on  what  they  claimed  as  their  hunting  grounds,  and  threatened 
with  vengeance  if  they  continued  to  do  so.  The  report  of  the  gun  in 
shooting  the  deer  had  attracted  an  Indian  to  the  spot,  who  stealthily 
watched  the  movements  of  the  two  settlers.  When  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity arrived,  the  Indian  with  a  war  whoop  started,  with  tomahawk 
in  one  hand  and  long  knife  in  the  other,  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  man  who 
had  left  his  gun  leaning  against  a  tree.  The  surprised  man  ran  in  the 
direction  of  his  comrade,  who,  taking  in  the  situation,  cocked  his  gun 
and  drew  a  bead  on  his  companion.  The  Indian  was  fast  gaining  on 
the  latter,  keeping  in  range  directly  behind  him,  and  it  seemed  only  a 
matter  of  a  few  moments  when  he  would  be  able  to  strike  his  victim 
down.  Thus  was  the  chase  becoming  more  and  more  exciting,  when 
the  fleeing  man  suddenly  jumped  one  side,  bringing  the  range  of  the 
rifle  to  bear  on  the  Indian.  Quick  as  thought  the  rifle  cracked  and 
down  dropped  the  big  brave  at  the  feet  of  his  would-be  victim.  Now 
came  the  dilemma.  Life  had  been  taken,  and  though  in  self-defense, 
that  plea  would  not  be  acceptable  to  the  Indian's  friends,  and  the  only 
way  to  escape  retaliation  was  to  keep  the  knowledge  of  the  act  within 
their  own  breasts.  They  then  made  a  detour  and  satisfied  themselves 
that  there  was  no  one  in  sight.  The  next  move  was  to  conceal  the 
body  from  the  searching  eye  of  the  Indians.  Near  by  they  discovered 
a  large  tree  that  had  recently  blown  down,  the  roots  having  taken  up  a 
large  quantity  of  earth  and  left  a  deep  hole.  Into  this  cavity  they  de- 
posited the  dead  Indian  with  his  tomahawk  and    knife;  then  chopped 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  347 

the  trunk  off  near  the  roots,  when  the  stump  fell  back  into  its  original 
bed,  covering  the  body  from  sight.  After  strewing  leaves  around  the 
stump,  they  returned  to  the  settlement,  taking  their  venison  with  them. 
A  few  days  later,  the  friends  of  the  dead  Indian  made  diligent  search 
through  the  woods  and  along  the  river  banks,  watched  the  movements 
and  asked  the  inhabitants  as  to  their  knowledge  of  their  missing  friend, 
but  no  tidings  were  obtained  and  the  matter  was  soon  forgotten. 

The  Ford  mansion  was  begun  in  the  summer  of  1805,  and  com- 
pleted the  next  year.  Mr.  Ford  had  been  too  busy  the  preceding 
eight  years,  in  laying  out  new  roads  and  opening  up  new  settlements,  to 
look  after  his  own  comforts.  As  he  stated,  the  county  seat  had  been 
settled,  the  village  was  growing,  the  settlements  were  increasing  and 
every  thing  looked  prosperous  and  was  moving  with  far  less  friction 
than  before.  He  did  not  wish  to  locate  his  house  in  the  village,  where 
it  would  soon  be  surrounded  by  strangers,  but  rather  sought  seclusion, 
so  that  he  could  entertain  his  friends  from  New  York  and  Montreal  in 
quietness.  He  therefore  located  his  mansion  on  the  elevated  grounds 
just  bade  and  a  little  west  of  the  old  barracks,  in  which  he  had  previ- 
ously lived  At  this  point  he  could  have  a  fine  view  of  the  village, 
the  mills  and  the  beautiful  St.  Lawrence.  The  mansion  property  con- 
tained what  now  comprises  the  Second  Ward  of  the  city.  The  house 
was  built  of  stone,  one  and  a  half  stories  high,  with  two  wings  facing 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  was  considered  the  best  house  of  its  day  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  This  mansion  served  himself  and  his  brother 
David  for  a  residence  about  thirty  years.  It  was  afterwards  used 
as  a  hotel,  during  which  time  the  late  ex- President  U.  S.  Grant  was  its 
guest  for  a  short  time  when  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  house 
with  the  block  on  which  it  stands  was  sold  to  the  French  Catholic  So- 
ciety in    1858. 

The  acts  of  Nathan  Ford  were  prominent  in  the  town  and  county 
affairs,  as  indicated  in  these  pages  up  to  the  time  of  his  last  illness.  He 
had  spent  the  best  part  of  his  life  in  planting  a  little  colony  on  the 
shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  had  grown  to  a  populous  town,  thus 
transforming  a  howling  wilderness,  traversed  only  by  savages  and  wild 
beasts  into  cultivated  farms  with  comfortable  dwellings,  the  homes  of  an 
intelligent,  happy  and    prosperous  people.      For  several   years    before 


348 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


his  death  his  constitution  had  been  yielding  to  the  insidious  approaches 
of  consumption  ;  yet  the  vigor  of  his  mind  remained  unimpaired.  From 
the  first  he  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  first  Christian  (non  secta- 
rian) organization,  in  1805.  He  enjoined  upon  all  of  his  friends  to  culti- 
vate peace  among  themselves,  and  not  allow  jealousies  or  dissensions  to 
creep  in  among  them  ;  that  each  should  try  to  surpass  in  giving  up  his 
own  individual  or  sectarian  wishes  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  A 
short  time  before  his  death  he  said  :  "  I  am  drawing  near  the  close  of 
life;  I  look  forward  to  the  salvation  purchased  by  Christ,  as  abundant- 
ly sufficient  to  save  all  who  will  put  their  trust  in  him." 


■^MufN^' 


THE   FORD  VAULT. 


Mr.  Ford  was  born  in  Morristown,  N.  J.,  December  8,  1763.  He 
died  March  29,  1829.  Thus  passed  away  the  founder  of  Ogdensburg, 
His  whole  life  was  spent  for  the  good  of  others.  He  was  odd,  or 
quaint,  in  some  of  his  expressions,  yet  honest,  benevolent  and  generous 
to  a  fault,  and  firm  in  his  convictions  of  what  he  deemed  to  be  right  and 
just. 

Mr.  Ford  had  a  provision  in  his  will,  that  within  two  years  after  his 
demise,  a  vault  should   be    built  on  the  brow  of  the  west  bank  of  the 


I 


'^:::^^^^/. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  349 

Oswegatchie  River,  above  the  mill  dam,  near  the  private  burial  plot 
where  several  of  the  Ford  family  were  by  that  time  interred  ;  also  that 
the  bodies  be  taken  up,  including  his  own,  and  be  deposited  therein. 
The  provisions  of  the  will  were  carried  out  in  the  fall  of  1829.  Several 
members  of  the  Ford  families,  who  have  died  since,  have  been  placed  in 
the  vault.  The  plot  contains  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land,  in  shape 
ail  irregular  triangle,  and  is  inclosed  with  a  substantial  stone  wall  with 
an  iron  gate.  The  place  is  suitably  ornamented  with  trees  and 
shrubbery.  The  vault  now  contains  nineteen  caskets,  four  of  which  are 
small  ones.  The  one  containing  the  remains  of  Nathan  Ford  rests  on  a 
stone  slab  in  the  center  at  the  rear  end  of  the  vault,  and  beside  this 
rest  those  of  his  brother  David,  and  an  uncle.  The  remaining  caskets 
rest  on  stone  shelves  two  tiers  high  on  each  side.  The  caskets  are  of 
wood,  and  under  the  corroding  influence  of  time,  are  crumbling  in 
pieces. 

Up  to  a  certain  date,  as  before  stated,  the  communication  between 
the  east  and  the  west  side  of  the  Oswegatchie  was  either  by  boat  or  on 
the  ice.  In  the  summer  of  1808  Mr.  Aldrich  was  engaged  to  build  a 
wooden  bridge  across  the  river  on  the  site  first  laid  out,  for  the  sum  of 
$1,500,  part  of  which  was  paid  by  subscription,  under  a  warrantee  that 
the  structure  would  stand  good  for  five  years.  The  abutments  were 
built  of  logs,  filled  in  with  stones  and  earth  ;  three  piers  were  sunk  at 
equidistance  between,  built  of  logs  notched  together  and  filled  in  with 
stone.  On  these  supports  the  timber  structure  was  built.  These  piers 
below  the  water  served  for  the  second  bridge,  which  was  built  in  the 
summer  of  1829,  and  also  for  a  third  one,  built  in  1847  by  legislative 
provisions.  In  the  fall  of  1866  the  present  iron  bridge  was  built. 
The  contract  price  of  this  iron  bridge,  apart  from  the  pier  and  abut- 
ments, was  $22,000.  The  expense  of  planking  and  repairs  has  averaged 
about  $500  per  year.  The  old  piers  were  removed  and  a  new  one  built 
in  the  center  of  the  river,  the  bottom  being  built  of  a  log  crib,  with 
stone  center,  and  solid  masonry  laid  on  the  crib. 

The  bridge  above  the  dam  was  first  build  of  wood,  principally  of 
hemlock,  in  1867,  which  lasted  a  short  time  only,  and  was  replaced  by 
the  present  iron  bridge  in  the  fall  of  1874. 


350  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  the  fall  of  i8o8  David  Parish  purchased  the  unsold  portion  of  the 
village  plat,  and  immediately  took  measures  to  create,  at  this  point,  a 
commercial  interest  that  should  compete  with  any  other  port  on  the 
river  or  lakes.  The  same  fall  the  firm  of  Rosseel  &  Co.  was  formed, 
sustained  by  the  capital  of  Mr.  Parish.  The  company  brought  on 
$40,000  worth  of  goods  for  mercantile  operations,  which  were  displayed 
in  a  temporary  store  until  a  permanent  building  could  be  built.  That 
same  fall  Mr.  Parish  sent  men  on  from  New  York,  and  began  to  build 
two  schooners,  one  of  which  was  launched  on  the  4th  of  July,  1809; 
the  ceremony  formed  a  part  of  the  exercises  of  the  celebration  of  the 
day.  A  Mr.  Ogden,  a  lawyer  from  New  Jersey,  delivered  the  oration 
at  the  court  house,  and  a  dinner  was  prepared  in  the  beautiful  walnut 
grove,  which  was  standing  directly  opposite  the  site  of  the  present 
Allen  hard  Vv  are  block. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1809  Mr,  Rosseel  proceeded  to  Montreal, 
where  he  engaged  forty  Canadians  to  work  by  the  month,  and  brought 
them  up  to  Ogdeiisburg  in  two  bateaux,  with  blankets,  and  peas  for 
soup.  The  stone  building,  which  has  been  known  as  the  Parish  Stone 
Store,  was  commenced.  May  7,  1809,  under  the  direction  of  D.  W, 
Church,  and  the  Parish  brick  house,  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Wash- 
ington streets,  was  commenced  in  June  following.  The  bricks  for  this 
house  were  made  on  the  northeast  corner  lot  of  Washington  and  Isabella 
streets  This  house  was  the  northern  home  of  the  Parishes  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  It  was  surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall  in  part,  and  an 
equally  high  board  fence.  At  the  corner  of  State  and  Washington 
streets,  above  the  wall,  was  an  arbor  which  commanded  an  unobstructed 
view  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  A  small  door  or  gate  in  the  high  stone  wall 
on  State  street,  opened  into  the  grounds,  w^hich  were  studded  with  trees, 
giving  it  the  appearance  of  a  small  park.  The  paved  court  and  kitchen 
garden  were  on  Washington  street,  while  the  gardener's  house  and  the 
fine  stables  were  on  Caroline  street.  All  had  an  old  baronial  air,  and 
one  could  easily  imagine  the  entire  place  brought  bodily  from  some 
foreign  country  and  set  down  in  the  midst  of  this  quiet  town.  George 
Parish  occupied  the  house  for  a  number  of  years,  while  attending  to  his 
business  affairs  in  several  of  the  towns  of  the  county.  Mr.  Parish 
occasionally  made  excursions  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  and  on  one 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  351 

of  them  he  brought  back  to  his  mansion  Madam  Vespucci,  where,  in 
retreat  from  the  world,  she  lived  several  years.  She  came  to  this  country 
in  1839  on  a  mission  which  caused  a  great  sensation  at  the  time.  She 
was  called  "the  beautiful  Italiano,"  "the  Tuscan  beauty"  and  "the 
fair  Florentine."  She  figured  largely  among  the  elite  of  Washington 
society,  where  she  was  courted,  feted  and  honored  by  all  for  a  time. 
She  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Amerigo  Vespucci,  after  whom  this 
country  was  named.  After  Mr.  Parish  received  his  title,  Baron  Von 
Seftonberg,  of  Germany,  he  removed  to  that  country,  and  died  some 
years  later.  Madam  Vespucci  retained  possession  of  the  mansion  a 
few  years,  when  she  returned  to  Europe,  and  died  in  Paris.  The 
grounds  of  the  old  red  villa,  as  it  was  some  times  called,  were  cut  up 
into  lots  and  sold,  with  other  property  belonging  to  Parish,  soon  after 
she  left. 

Joseph  York  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  who  came  here  from  Clar- 
enden,  Mass.,  in  1805.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  three  years,  and  for  four 
more  years  was.  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  resided  at  the  old  court 
house  when  the  British  took  Ogdensburg.  (See  chapter  on  War  of 
1812-15). 

Hon.  Henry  Van  Rensselaer  was  also  one  of  the  active  men  in  the 
town  and  county.  He  was  the  fourth  son  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
who  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Lisbon  and  Canton  in  1795. 
After  returning  from  a  campaign  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Henry  came 
to  Ogdensburg  in  1832,  to  look  after  his  father's  land  estate.  He  suc- 
ceeded to  the  ownership  and  opened  an  ofifice  in  the  old  county  clerk's 
building  for  the  sale  of  lands.  He  purchased  the  Washington  Ford's 
property,  and  built  additional  wings,  stables,  gardens,  etc.,  which  were 
burned  in  1846;  his  house,  in  1854,  was  struck  by  lightning  and  con- 
sumed. He  sold  his  property  and  returned  to  New  York  shortly  after. 
In  1 86 1  he  entered  the  United  States  service,  was  attached  to  General 
Scott's  staff,   and  died  at   Cincinnati  in    1864. 

The  village  of  Ogdensburg  was  incorporated  April  5,  1817,  and  was 
divided  October  27,  1837,  into  four  wards,  as  follows  :  First  Ward  con- 
stituted that  part  of  the  village  lying  north  of  State  street  and  northerly 
of  Ford  street.  Second  Ward — that  part  lying  easterly  of  Ford  and 
westerly  of  State  streets,  on  the  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie.      Third  Ward 


352  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

— that  part  lying  easterly  of  State  street  and  southerly  of  Ford  street. 
FoiirtJi  Ward — that  part  l\'ing  easterly  of  State  street  and  northerly  of 
Ford  street — all  being  on  the  east  side  of  the  Oswegatchie.  The  village 
charter  was  amended  April  29,  1839,  and  again  June  2,  185  i.  By  this 
act  the  boundary  of  the  the  village  plat  was  extended  easterly  to  the 
Tibbets  tract  in  Lisbon,  and  westerly  across  the  Oswegatchie  to  the 
lands  of  Henry  Van  Rensselaer,  and  about  one  mile  back  from  the  St. 
Lawrence.  It  was  divided  into  three  wards,  as  follows  :  First  Ward 
included  all  the  territory  between  the  Oswegatchie  River  and  Gertrude 
street  (which  name  was  changed  to  Franklin,  May  27,  1824).  Second 
Ward  included  all  west  of  the  Oswegatchie.  Third  Ward  included  all 
the  territory  below  Franklin  street.  The  officers  of  the  village  consisted 
of  a  president,  one  trustee  and  an  assessor  from  each  ward,  a  police 
justice,  a  collector,  and  one  or  more  constables  ;  a  chief  engineer  and 
two  assistants,  and  one  or  more  street  commissioners  ;  all  to  be  elected 
annually  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April.  A  fire  department  was  organ- 
ized in  1820,  and  a  company  formed  in  July,  1827.  In  1853  the  village 
owned  three  hand  fire  engines ;  a  fourth  was  owned  by  private  indi- 
viduals and  a  fifth  later  on  by  the  O    and  L    C.  Railroad  Company. 

In  the  summer  of  1838  a  market  house  was  built  on  leased  grounds, 
known  as  Diamond  Square,  on  Catharine  street,  size  24  by  80  feet. 
The  stalls  were  sold  from  $9.00  to  $15.50  each  per  year.  The  year 
previous  to  the  erection  of  the  market  the  board  fixed  the  price  of  bread 
as  follows  :  One  pound  loaf,  6^^  cents;  two  pound  loaf,  12^  cents; 
and  a  four  pound  loaf,  25  cents. 

A  town  clock  was  placed  in  the  steeple  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
December  3,  1841,  at  a  cost  of  $375,  exclusive  of  freight  and  putting  up. 

The  village  charter  was  amended  December  27,  1843,  and  at  the 
following  annual  meeting  (  April  12  )  the  village  was  reported  to  be  out 
of  debt,  with  a  surplus  of  $41.93. 

In  the  summer  of  1847  an  engine  house  was  built  on  a  lot  near  the 
academy,  22  by  40  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $220,  and  a  new  fire  engine  was 
purchased  at  $300.  At  the  first  election  under  the  new  charter,  held 
June  20,  1 85 1,  three  trustees  were  elected  in  place  of  only  one  pre- 
viously, and  a  police  justice  at  a  salary  of  $200  per  year,  which  was 
subsequently  raised  to  $300,  and  later  to   $400.     The   street   commis- 


THE  TOWN  OF  08WEGATCHIE.  353 

sioners'  pay  was  to  be  $1.25  per  day  for  actual  services  rendered. 
January  25,  1853,  a  by-law  was  passed,  making  it  unlawful  to  erect 
wooden  buildings  in  certain  places,  and  tw^o  ferries  to  Prescott  were  es- 
tablished. July  10,  1854,  permission  was  given  to  the  gas  company  to 
erect  gas  works  and  lay  pipes  in  the  streets  ;  also  $200  were  raised  to 
light  the  streets  one  year,  and  thirty-eight  places  were  designated  for 
lamp  posts.  There  were  at  the  charter  election  of  that  year,  841  votes 
cast  in  the  First  Ward,  868  in  the  Second,  and  855  in  the  Third. 

September  12,  1854,  Robert  Willson,  the  notorious  firebug,  presented 
a  bill  for  damages  done  his  property  at  a  fire  set  by  himself,  for  $4.50, 
which  was  allowed. 

April  13,  1855,  the  present  cemetery  lot  on  State  road  was  pur- 
chased of  John  Goodrich  at  $1,300.  At  the  same  time  the  old  bury- 
ing ground  was  transferred  to  the  village,  and  in  1861  it  was  trans- 
formed into  a  park.  The  Mansion  Square  park  was  established  in 
August,  185  I.  In  May,  1857,  Ford  street  was  ordered  to  be  macad- 
amized and  $4,000  were  raised  for  the  purpose.  Also  $3,000  raised  to 
purchase  a  steam  fire  engine. 

April  19,  1859,  the  hay  and  wood  market  was  established  on  Isabella 
street. 

Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Oswego  canal  the  communication  be- 
tween Ogdensburg,  Montreal  and  Quebec  by  boats  and  rafts  was  large, 
which  in  1832  spread  the  Asiatic  cholera  in  the  summer  rapidly.  The 
first  case  of  cholera  occurred  in  Quebec  June  8  ;  at  Montreal  on  the 
14th,  and  in  Ogdensburg  on  the  17th.  The  first  fatal  case  occurred  on 
the  2 1st  of  June,  a  Frenchman  of  dissipated  habits.  Cases  followed  in 
quick  succession  ;  first  here,  to-morrow  at  a  point  half  a  mile  distant, 
and  next  day  in  a  new  quarter  equally  remote.  Quarantine  grounds 
were  established,  at  first  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie,  and  after- 
wards at  Mile  Point,  the  site  of  the  present  O.  &  L.  C.  depot,  where 
cratt  from  Canada  were  to  be  detained  fifteen  days  The  precise  data 
of  the  mortality  of  the  cholera  at  Ogdensburg  were  not  preserved  by  the 
physicians  and  the  records  of  the  board  of  health  were  lost.  The  num- 
ber of  cases  reported  was  about  160,  and  of  deaths  forty-nine.  In 
1834  the  cholera  reappeared,  but  only  about  a  dozen  cases  were  re- 
ported, of  whom  seven  died.  The  only  visitation  of  Asiatic  cholera 
45 


354  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

since  then  was  in  1854,  when  it  was  very  severe.  It  was  introduced  in 
Ogdensburg  by  emigrants  from  Europe  on  board  of  vessels  passing  up 
the  St.  Lawrence  River.  The  report  of  the  health  officers  was  105 
deaths  in  the  village,  mostly  among  the  railroad  laborers  and  others  of 
a  similar  class.  The  mortality  was  fully  fifty  per  cent,  of  those  at- 
tacked. 

A  most  destructive  fire  occurred  at  Ogdensburg  on  the  night  of  the 
i6th  of  April,  1839,  by  which  a  large  portion  of  the  business  places  in 
the  village  was  burned.  The  loss  was  nearly  $100,000.  The  irritation 
caused  by  the  Patriot  war  along  the  frontier  led  to  the  suspicion  that 
the  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of 
September,  1852,  another  fire  occurred,  consuming  a  large  amount  of 
property  on  Ford  and  Isabella  streets,  extending  from  the  store  of  G. 
N.  Seymour  nearly  to  Washington  street.  Shortly  after  this  two  other 
fires  occurred  which  burned  a  large  amount  of  property  on  Ford  street, 
including  the  5/.  Lawrence  Herald  and  the  Republican  printing  offices, 
and  the  entire  premises  belonging  to  the  Hasbrouck  estate  with  the  his- 
toric house  and  barn  shown  on  page  134.  The  people  became  satisfied 
that  a  fire  bug  was  at  work,  and  a  watch  was  instituted  which  soon  re- 
sulted in  E.  W.  Benedict  detecting  a  man  setting  fire  to  a  building 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  criminal  proved  to  be  Robert 
Willson,  whose  wife  was  also  engaged  with  him  in  stealing  and  secreting 
goods.  The  two  were  convicted  of  arson  and  sent  to  State  prison, 
where  both  of  them  died.  Mrs.  Willson  was  sent  for  five  years,  and 
died  in  the  fourth  year  ;  Mr.  Willson  was  sent  to  prison  for  life.  Mr. 
Benedict  was  rewarded  by  the  grateful  citizens  of  Ogdensburg  with  a 
gold  watch  and  various  sums  of  money  for  his  persistent  efforts  in 
searching  out  and  detecting  the  culprit. 

Capital  Crimes  or  Executions. — The  people  of  Ogdensburg  and  vicin- 
ity, unlike  some  frontier  towns  having  a  mixed  population,  have  always 
been  noted  as  law-abiding  citizens.  This  may  be  accounted  for  from 
the  fact  that  the  pioneers  were  men  of  culture,  and  had  a  healthy  in- 
fluence on  the  community  ;  therefore  the  place  was  never  disgraced  by 
a  resort  to  lynch  law  for  gross  outrages.  The  first  and  only  death  pen- 
alty inflicted  in  Ogdensburg  was  upon  the  person  of  Louis  Conard, 
otherwise  called  Jean  Baptist  Gerteau.  His  crime  was  the  killing  of 
Mrs.  Scarborough,  her  infant  child    and  a   French  lad,  named  Macue, 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  355 

his  own  brother-in-law.  The  deed  was  committed  in  the  town  of  Louis- 
ville, about  a  mile  from  Massena  village,  early  on  the  morning  of  Feb- 
ruary 22,  i8i6.  Mr.  Michael  Scarborough  had  incautiously  displayed 
a  large  sum  of  money  in  the  presence  of  Gerteau  (who  was  living  in  the 
neighborhood)  and  had  gone  away  from  home  on  business.  Gerteau 
slept  in  a  barn  that  night  and  at  day  dawn  arose  and  entered  the  house 
cautiously,  exchanging  a  scythe  for  an  axe  which  he  found  by  the  door, 
passed  through  the  room  where  Macue  was  sleeping  in  a  bed  on  the 
floor,  and  entered  the  room  where  Mrs.  Scarborough  with  her  two  chil- 
dren were  sleeping.  He  took  the  money  from  its  place  in  the  corner 
of  a  drawer  and  might  have  made  his  escape  unobserved,  but  fearing 
detection,  he  slew  his  victims  with  the  axe,  and,  after  feasting  himself 
on  cakes  and  sweetmeats,  took  the  money,  amounting  to  some  $22, 
fastened  the  door  of  the  house  and  fled  by  a  circuitous  route  towards  St. 
Regis.  About  sunrise  some  neighbors,  on  going  to  the  house,  were  sur- 
prised to  find  the  door  fastened  and  a  track  in  the  new-fallen  snow 
leading  from  the  house.  Looking  into  the  window  they  observed  the 
corpse  of  one  of  the  victims,  and  the  door  was  forced  open  and  the  alarm 
given. 

A  party  started  on  the  murdurer's  track,  and  occasional  traces  of  blood 
mixed  with  snow  were  discovered,  as  though  it  had  been  washed  from 
the  hands  and  clothing.  The  ruflian  was  overtaken  about  two  miles 
from  St.  Regis,  and  on  being  brought  back  to  the  scene  of  slaughter, 
he  acknowledged  the  crime  and  related  the  details  of  the  shocking  bar- 
barity. He  was  taken  to  jail  at  Ogdensburg  and  tried  at  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  July  3,  18 16,  William  Van  Ness,  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  presiding.  Nathan  Ford  was  the 
first  judge;  Russell  Atwater  and  Robert  Livingston,  judges;  Caleb 
Hough  and  Jason  Fenton,  justices.  The  grand  jury  presented  three 
separate  indictments  on  the  first  day  of  their  session,  and  upon  being 
arraigned  the  prisoner  pleaded  not  guilty  to  each.  He  was  found 
guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged  in  public  on  Friday,  the  I2th,  fol- 
lowing, between  the  hours  of  i  and  3  P.  M.,  and  his  body  delivered 
to  the  Medical  Society  of  this  county  to  be  made  use  of  as  they 
I   saw  fit* 

I        •  This  inhuman  wretch  had  procured,  in  anticipation  of  his  horrible  crime,  a  bottle  0/  whisky.    He 
j    said  in  his  confession  :  "  I  raise  dat  axe  up  to  strike  der  woman,  but  I  could  not  do  it.    I  say  to 


3;-.6  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  punishment  of  such  a  shocking  and  heartless  crime  called  to- 
gether an  immense  crowd  to  witness  it. 

The  following  incidents  were  related  to  the  writer  by  an  eye  witness 
(  Henry  Plumb  ).  The  gallows  was  erected  some  twelve  feet  high,  un- 
der an  oak  tree  on  the  southwest  corner  of  block  No.  1 1,  facing  Wash- 
ington and  Elizabeth  streets,  it  being  at  that  time  a  common.  The 
platform  of  the  gallows  was  hinged  at  one  end  to  the  upright  post,  and 
the  other  end  was  held  in  position  by  a  cord.  Joseph  York  was  the 
sheriff  and  D.  C.  Judson,  the  deputy.  W.  Lytle  was  sergeant  of  the 
guard,  which  was  composed  of  twelve  men  detailed  for  the  purpose  from 
a  military  company.  Everything  being  ready,  Mr.  York  rode  up  to 
cut  the  cord  with  a  sword,  but  through  nervousness  and  shying  of  his 
horse,  he  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  do  so  and  finally  had  to 
dismount  and  finish  the  work  with  a  hatchet.  The  haggled  cord  slowly 
gave  way  and  the  prisoner  slided  gradually  down  to  the  length  of  his 
rope,  without  a  sudden  jerk,  and  while  writhing  under  strangulation,  Mr. 
York  nervously  called  out :  "  For  God's  sake,  cannot  some  one  put  this 
man  out  of  his  misery  ?  "  A  young  doctor  from  Lisbon  standing  near 
by,  caught  the  culprit  by  his  feet  and  gave  him  a  jerk  which  tightened 
the  rope  about  his  neck  and  thus  shortened  his  sufferings.  This  act  so 
incensed  the  people  against  the  doctor  that  he  was  obliged  to  seek  an- 
other field  to  practice  in.  The  body  was  hurriedly  cut  down  and  taken 
in  a  cart  to  a  dry- house  near  the  sawmill  on  the  west  side,  and  laid  on 
a  table,  and  while  the  flesh  was  yet  quivering  one  of  the  doctors  made 
an  incision  with  his  knife  in  the  vital  part  of  the  body  before  commenc- 
ing to  dissect  it.  Our  informant  further  stated  that  a  few  days  after  he 
was  fishing  in  the  river  near  the  dry- house,  when  his  hook  caught  hold 
of  something,  which  upon  drawing  it  out  of  the  water,  proved  to  be  a 
piece  of  the  flesh  of  Gerteau  which  the  doctors  had  thrown  into  the 
river. 

The  skeleton  of  this  man  passed  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  S.  N. 
Sherman  and  remained  with  him  during  his  practice,  and  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Sherman  of  this  city. 

myself,  '  Ak,  tnon  Dieu,  no  !  '  I  pull  out  de  bottle  from  my  pocket,  and  take  one  big,  big  drink — put] 
bottle  back  in  pocket,  and  pick  up  axe.  Den  I  strike — strike — and  kill  him  woman  and  baby  and! 
boy,  easy." 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  357 

William  Kirby  was  indicted  for  throwing  John  Hughes  off  the  bridge 
over  the  Oswegatchie  River,  at  Ogdensburg,  on  December  26,  1822, 
when  he  was  drowned.  Kirby  was  tried  at  Ogdensburg  August  23, 
1833,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged  on  Thursday,  November  6,  following. 
He,  for  some  reason,  was  never  hanged.  Van  Van  Dyke  was 
hanged  at  Canton,  December  21,  1877,  for  shooting  Mary  Bartholo- 
mew, whom  he  had  recently  married.  She  was  one  of  the  several 
orphans,  placed  out  to  earn  her  living.  She  first  was  placed  at  Mr. 
Dailie's,  afterward  with  Mrs.  Claffey,  on  the  ridge  about  four  miles 
south  of  Ogdensburg.  Several  persons  were  said  to  have  been  impli- 
cated in  her  ruin,  and  got  Van  Dyke  to  marry  her.  He  had  tried 
several  times  to  get  rid  of  her,  before  committing  the  rash  act,  in  the 
month  of  August  previous. 

Public  Buildings. — The  town  of  Oswegatchie,  having  no  suitable 
place  of  its  own  to  assemble  for  business  purposes  agreeable  to  the 
wishes  of  its  citizens,  the  Legislature,  on  April  20,  1858,  empowered 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  to  allow  the  town  of 
Oswegatchie  to  borrow  money  on  its  bonds,  not  to  exceed  the  sum 
of  $10,000,  to  be  used  in  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building  for  the  use 
of  the  town  and  the  village  of  Ogdensburg.  The  commissioners  named 
to  issue  the  bonds  and  superintend  the  work,  were  Smith  Stilwell, 
John  Pickens,  and  Alden  Vilas,  who  were  only  to  issue  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $5,000  the  first  year,  the  balance  to  be  issued  whenever 
they  required  the  money.  The  building  was  to  contain  a  room  for  the 
public  meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  or  village,  a  room  for  the 
trustees  of  the  village,  and  one  for  the  board  of  education;  a  police 
court  room,  a  number  of  lockups,  together  with  rooms  for  a  keeper  and 
his  family,  with  other  rooms  and  appurtenant  buildings  necessary  or 
proper  for  said  purposes.  The  corner  lot  on  Franklin  and  Washing- 
ton st'-eets  was  purchased  of  George  Parish  in  exchange  for  engine  lot. 
No.  3.  The  edifice  was  a  plain,  large  brick  building,  two  stories  and 
a  basement  in  height,  and  cost,  exclusive  of  furnishing,  painting,  etc., 
$8,778.     The  furniture  and  other  expenses  aggregated  about  $1,000. 

This  building  was  sold  to  the  school  board  in  1878,  and  an  opera 
house  and  tovv^n  hall  combined  erected,  for  the  use  of  the  town  and  city 
of  Ogdensburg,    on   the    corner  of   Ford    and    Caroline    streets.     The 


358  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

foundation  of  the  new  structure  was  laid  in  the  fall  of  1879,  and  the 
walls  built  up  and  the  roof  put  on  in  1880.  At  the  right  of  the  door 
a  gray  limestone  slab  is  set  in  the  wall  with  this  inscription  on  its  sur- 
face:  "Oswegatchie  Town  Hall,  1880."  On  the  left  side  of  the  front 
entrance  is  placed  in  the  wall,  the  stone  slab  which  Louis  Hasbrouck 
secured  from  the  ruins  of  the  chapel  that  was  erected  by  Father 
Piquet,  near  the  old  French  fort.  The  inscription  cut  on  its  face  is  in 
Latin  as  follows  : 

In  nomine  X  Dei  omnipotextis 
huic  habitationi  initia  dedit 
Frans.  Picquet,  1749. 

Translated  into  English,  reads  as  follows :  Francis  Picquet  laid  the 
foundation  of  this  habitation,  in  the  name  of  the  Almighty  God,  in 
1749. 

The  walls  are  laid  in  broken  ashlar,  of  blue  limestone,  trimmed  with 
Potsdam  red  sandstone.  The  divisions  of  the  building  are  as  follows: 
The  front  doors  open  into  a  wide  hall,  which  leads  back  into  the  opera 
house.  The  first  room  on  the  right  is  the  mayor's  office,  the  second 
the  council  rooms,  and  the  third  the  commissioners'  and  clerk's  office. 
On  the  left;  first,  the  police  office,  a  small  cross  hall,  and  the  recorder's 
office.  At  the  rear  end  of  the  entrance  hall,  on  either  side,  are  stairs 
leading  to  a  hallway  above  and  from  it  is  an  entrance  into  the  town 
hall ;  also  to  the  first  balcony  of  the  opera  house,  and  stairs  from 
the  hall  leading  up  to  the  third  balcony. 

The  stage  of  the  opera  house  is  on  the  opposite  end  from  the  en- 
trance. The  seats  are  on  a  circle  in  amphitheatre  form  descending  to 
the  stage,  with  two  boxed  seats  on  either  side.  In  the  basement  be- 
neath the  opera  seats,  are  placed  apparatus  for  steam  heating.  The 
lock-up  is  beneath  the  recorder's  room  and  composed  of  several  cells 
of  solid  brick  walls  and  iron  doors. 

On  the  opposite  side  beneath  the  council  rooms  are  apartments  fitted 
up  for  the  janitor  and  his  family.  A  fine  bell,  the  gift  of  Mr.  L.  Hoard, 
was  placed  in  the  tower  in  1890,  which  is  only  rung  on  certain  occa- 
sions, but  gives  forth  its  sweet  music  every  passing  hour,  in  obedience 
to  the  new  town  clock  which  the  citizens  of  Ogdensburg  placed  there 
to  mark  the  progress  of  time. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  359 

The  cost  of  this  structure  was  $110,000,  which  was  raised  by  bond- 
ing the  town,  with  the  exception  of  $10,000,  paid  by  the  city  alone. 

Custom  House  and  Post-office. — Up  to  about  the  year  1870,  the 
Ogdensburg  office  of  the  collector  of  customs,  and  the  post-office,  were 
kept  in  private  buildings  leased  for  the  purpose.  About  the  year  1850 
the  United  States  government  purchased  from  D.  C.  Judson  the  block 
on  State  street  where  then  stood  the  old  building  formerly  used  as  the 
county  court  house,  but  had  for  a  number  of  years  been  used  as  a  public 
hall  and  theatre.  The  building  was  removed,  but  no  steps  were  taken 
by  the  government  to  erect  a  custom  house,  owing,  in  a  measure,  to 
the  trouble  then  brewing  in  regard  to  the  slavery  question,  and  the 
civil  war  that  followed.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  an  appropria- 
tion was  made  by  Congress  for  the  erection  of  a  custom  house  and 
post-cffice  on  the  lot  purchased.  In  the  summer  of  1866  the  founda- 
tion of  the  present  building  was  commenced.  It  is  three  stories  high 
and  121  by  57  feet  in  dimensions.  The  basement  is  of  blue  cut  lime- 
stone, resting  upon  a  concrete  foundation,  four  feet  wide  and  six  feet 
deep,  with  about  three  feet  deep  laid  of  the  same  material,  over  the 
entire  foundation  or  basement  floor.  The  outside  walls  are  cut  Berea 
sandstone  from  Ohio.  The  roof  is  hip  shape,  and  is  covered  with 
slate,  supported  by  iron  rafters,  and  surmounted  by  an  iron  framed 
dome  thirty  feet  in  diameter  and  fifty  feet  in  height,  finished  with  an 
observatory  above  which  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding 
country.  The  lower  floor  is  occupied  by  the  post-office,  custom  de- 
partment, pension  office,  or  revenue  department.  In  the  second  story 
are  the  United  States  court  rooms  and  necessary  offices.  The  rooms 
in  the  third  story  are  used  mostly  for  storage  purposes.  The  base- 
ment is  principally  used  as  a  bonded  warehouse  ;  also  containing  the 
steam  apparatus  for  heating  the  building.  The  interior  is  finished  with 
ash,  and  the  furniture  of  black  walnut.  The  hall  floors  are  laid  with 
sandstone  tiling,  and  the  office  floors  are  of  white  spruce.  The  stair- 
frames  are  of  iron,  and  the  steps  of  Ohio  stone.  The  park  in  front, 
facing  the  Oswegatchie  river,  is  enclosed  by  an  iron  fence,  and  the 
wide  space  around  the  building  is  flagged  with  Potsdam  sandstone. 
The  entire  cost  of  the  structure,  including  grounds  and  furniture,  etc., 
has  been  about  $265,000. 


360  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Supervisors  of  the  Town — Nathan  Ford,  from  1802  to  1814;  Louis  Hasbrouck,  from 
1814  to  1823;  Sylvester  Gilbert,  from  1823  to  1828;  Washington  Ford,  from  1828  to 
1829;  Jacob  Arnold,  from  1829  to  1830;  Baron  S.  Doty,  from  1830  to  1832  ;  Preston 
King,  from  1832  to  1834;  Joseph  W.  Smith,  from  1834  to  1835;  Royal  Vilas,  from 
1835  to  1836;  Baron  S.  Doty,  from  1836  to  1838;  George  W.  Shepard,  from  1838  to 
1845;  George  M.  Foster,  from  1845  to  1856;  N.  Sackrider,  from  1856  to  1857;  George 
M.  Foster,  from  1857  to  1860 :  Ela  N.  Merriam,  from  1860  to  1862  ;  William  J.  Averill, 
from  1862  to  1864;  "Seth  G.  Pope,  from  1864  to  1867;  William  J.  Averill,  from  1867 
to  1869;  Samuel  H.  Palmer,  from  1869  to  1874;  H.  Rodee.  from  1874  to  1875;  C.  B. 
Herriman,  from  1875  to  1877  ;  Harvey  J.  Jones,  from  1877  to  1880;  J.  Chandler  Hough- 
ton, from  1880  to  1881;  Daniel  Magone,  from  1881  to  1882;  Charles  L.  Lum,  from 
1882  to  1883;  S.  H.  Palmer,  from  1883  to  1889;  James  C.  Birge,  from  1889  to  1890; 
George  W.  Hurlburt,  from  1890  to  1894. 

Presidents  and  Trustees  of  the  Village  of  Ogdenshurg. — 1817,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  pres't ;  Jos- 
eph W.  Smith,  Charles  Hill,  John  Scott.  1818,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  pres.;  Palmer  Cleveland, 
Charles  D.  Ra_vmond,  John  Tibbits.  1819,  Palmer  Cleveland,  pres't;  Charles  D.  Ray- 
mond, Erastus  Vilas,  Joseph  York.  1820,  James  Averell,  3d,  pres't;  Levi  Gilbert,  Wol- 
cott  Hubbell,  Amos  Bacon.  1821,  Wolcott  Hubbell,  pres't ;  David  C.  Judson,  Amos 
Bacon,  Bishop  Perkins.  1822,  Brinsle}'  Hunton,  pres't;  Abel  Heminway,  Harvey 
Church,  John  Eaton.  1823,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  pres't;  Joseph  Rosseel,  Charles  D.  Ray- 
mond, Ira  Shed.  1824,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  pres't ;  Joseph  Rosseel,  Charles  D.  Raymond, 
Ira  Shed.  1825,  Joseph  Rosseel,  pres't:  William  Bacon,  Anthony  C.  Brown,  David  C. 
Judson.  1826,  George  Guest,  pres't ;  Richard  Freeman,  David  C.  Judson,  Baron  S. 
Doty,  Charles  D.  Raymond.  1827,  Anthony  C.  Brown,  pres't;  Henry  Lum,  William 
Bacon,  William  A.  Campfield,  James  G.  Hopkins.  1828,  Charles  Hill,  pres't;  Joseph 
Rosseel,  Erastus  Vilas,  Charles  D.  Raymond,  Joseph  W.  Smith.  1829,  Charles  Hill, 
pres't;  Baron  S.  Doty,  Elijah  B.  Allen,  Peter  C.  Oakley,  John  Elliott.  1830,  Charles 
Hill,  pres't,  David  C.  Judson,  Preston  King,  John  Ell'ott,  Harvey  Thomas.  1831, 
Charles  Hill,  pres't ;  David  C.  Judson,  Preston  King,  John  Elliott,  Harvey  Thomas. 
1832,  James  G.  Hopkins,  pres't;  Charles  Hill,  Lincoln  Morris,  Jacob  Arnold,  William 
B.  Spelman.  1883,  James  G.  Hopkins,  pres't;  Royal  Vilas,  Lincoln  Morris,  Egbert  N. 
Fairchild,  Preston  King.  1834,  James  G.  Hopkins,  pres't;  Joseph  Rosseel,  Egbert  N. 
Fairchild,  John  Clark.  Preston  King.  1835,  Sylvester  Gilbert,  pres't ;  David  C.  Jud- 
son, George  W.  Shepard,  Moses  S.  Piatt,  Michael  S.  Daniels.  1836,  Sylvester  Gilbert, 
pres't ;  Moses  S.  Piatt,  Michael  S.  Daniels,  William  H.  Marshall,  James  W.  Lytle. 
1837,  Erastus  Vilas,  pres't;  John  G.  Gilbert,  Amos  Bacon,  Henry  D.  Laughlin,  William 
Melhinch.  1838,  Charles  Hill,  pres't;  John  Clark,  Henry  D.  Laughlin,  Amos  Bacon, 
Socrates  N.  Sherman.  1839  (votes,  255),  Amos  Bacon,  pres't ;  Collins  A.  Burnhara, 
Edwin  Clark,  William  E.  Guest,  Allen  Chaney.  1840,  George  W.  Shepard.  pres't; 
Allen  Chaney,  Joshua  L.  Warner,  William  H.  Marshall,  John  Barber.  1841,  David 
Crichton,  pres't ;  William  H.  Marshall,  William  Bacon,  Thomas  Bacon,  David  Burdett. 
1842,  David  Crichton,  pres't;  James  G.  Wilson,  Charles  Shepard,  Thomas  Birkby, 
Nathan  S.  Pitkin.  Map  of  the  village,  by  W.  J.  Gillett,  adopted  and  placed  on  file  in 
the  county  clerk's  office.     1843,  Amos  Bacon,  pre.s't ;  Elijah  White,  Joseph  Hutchin- 


^i:^>^^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  361 

son,  jr.,  George  M.  Foster,  Edwin  Clark.  1844,  James  G.  Hopkins,  pres't ;  Henry  T. 
Bacon,  Alden  Vilas,  William  Jones,  Amaziah  B.  James.  1845,  James  G.  Hopkins, 
pres't;  Amaziah  B.  James,  Alden  Vilas,  William  Jones,  Henry  T.  Bacon.  1846, 
Amaziah  B.  James,  pres't ;  Harvey  Thomas,  Jeremiah  Baldwin,  Amasa  W.  Woolley, 
George  D  V.  Seymour.  1847,  Cornelius  Stillman,  pres't;  David  C.  Judson,  James  G. 
Averell,  George  N.  Seymour,  Royal  Vilas.  1848,  Egbert  N.  Fairchild,  pres't;  James 
G.  Hopkins,  Charles  Shepard,  William  E.  Guest,  William  Jones.  1849,  Stillman  Foote, 
pres't;  David  Crichton,  Albert  Chismore,  Benjamin  Whitney,  Elijah  White.  1850, William 
Bacon,  pres't;  David  Crichton,  Amasa  W. Woolley,  Nehemiah  Whitney,  Silvester  Gilbert. 
1851  (four  months),  Wm.  Jones,  pres't;  Egbert  N.  Fairchild,  Jeremiah  Baldwin, 
Amaziah  B.  James,  Collins  A.  Burnham  ;  1851  (new  charter),  William  C.  Brown,  pres't; 
Edwin  Clark,  Elijah  B.  Allen,  Henry  S.  Humphry,  for  1st  ward  ;  Allen  Chaney, 
Henry  Rockwell,  William  Furness,  for  2d  ward  ;  Nathan  S.  Pitkin,  Albert  Tyler,  Luke 
Baldwin,  for  3d  ward.  1852  (votes,  571),  Wm.  C.  Brown,  pres't;  John  Austin,  David 
Field,  John  F.  Rosseel,  Ralzaman  Haskell,  William  C.  Alden,  Daniel  D.  T.  Carr,  Nathaniel 
Taggert,  Nathaniel  Lewis,  Luke  Baldwin.  1853  (votes,  400),  John  F.  Rosseel,  pres't; 
George  D.  V.  Seymour,  Jacob  H.  Guest,  David  M.  Chapin,  Wm.  Furness,  Alonzo  E. 
Alden,  Allen  Chaney,  Philander  Robbins,  Wm.  Jones,  Ira  Wheelock.  1854  (votes,  441), 
John  F.  Rosseel,  pres't ;  John  Barber,  Smith  Stillwell,  jr.,  George  M.  Foster,  Ozro  S. 
Cummings,  F.  N.  Burt,  William  Furness,  Norman  Sackrider,  Wm,  Jones,  George  P. 
Ryon.  1855  (votes,  446),  Thomas  Bacon,  pres't;  Egbert  N.  Fairchild,  Silvester  Gilbert, 
Wm.  C.  Brown,  Elisha  Sanderson,  Franklin  N.  Burt,  Patrick  V.  Lankton,  Cyrus  Vilas, 
Wm.  H.  Young,  J.  A.  Stevens.  1856  (votes,  606),  Silvester  Gilbert,  pres't ;  Walter  B. 
Allen,  Heman  F.  Millard,  Royal  Vilas,  Franklin  N.  Burt,  James  D.  Raymond,  Erastus 
Vilas,  2d,  Patrick  V.  Lankton,  John  Allendorph,  Roswell  S.  Ryon.  1857  (votes,  631), 
Silvester  Gilbert,  pres't;  Walter  B.  Allen,  Heman  F.  Millard,  Ela  N.  Merriam,  Frankhn 
N.  Burt,  James  D.  Raymond,  Allen  Chaney,  Patrick  V.  Lankton,  Jno.  Allendorph, 
Albert  Chismore.  1858,  Seth  G.  Pope,  pres't;  George  Morris,  Charles  P.  Egert,  Geo. 
Parker,  John  G.  McDonald,  Ozro  S.  Cummings,  Jas.  M.  Ives,  Alric  M.  Herriman,  Luke 
Baldwin,  Joseph  Thompson.  1859,  Seth  G.  Pope,  pres't ;  George  Morris,  Charles  P. 
Egert,  Jacob  Henry  Guest,  Benjamin  L.  Jones,  William  C.  Alden,  Daniel  D.  T.  Carr, 
Alric  M.  Herriman,  Louis  D.  Hoard,  Joseph  Thompson.  1860,  Alric  M.  Herriman,  pres't ; 
William  C.  Brown,  Jacob  H.  Guest,  George  Witherhead,  Benjamin  L.  Jones,  Wm.  C. 
Alden,  Charles  S.  Burt,  Carlos  Slocum,  George  New  Meyer,  Joseph  Thompson.  1861, 
Alric  M.  Herriman,  pres't;  Wm.  C,  Brown,  George  Witherhead,  Jacob  H.  Guest,  Benja- 
min L.  Jones,  Wm.  C.  Alden,  Patrick  Golden,  Carlos  Slocum,  Joseph  Thompson,  Geo. 
New  Meyer.  1862,  David  C.  Judson,  pres't ;  George  Parker,  Thomas  Bacon,  Ela  N. 
Merriam,  Amos  S.  Partridge,  Patrick  Golden,  Hiram  Chatterton,  Joseph  Thompson, 
Henry  W.  Ferguson,  Alric  M.  Herriman.  1863,  David  C.  Judson,  pres't ;  Edwm  M, 
Holbrook,  John  W.  Hastings,  James  M.  Chamberlain,  James  L.  Ives,  Thos.  Mullin, 
Harvey  L.  Jones,  James  H.  Morgan,  Joseph  Thompson,  William  Armstrong.  1864,  Chas. 
G.Myers,  pres't;  Calvin  W.  Gibbs,  Nathaniel  H.  Lytle,  Chas.  I.Baldwin,  Harrison  C. 
Pearson,  Harvey  L.  Jones,  Walter  B.  Allen,  Henry  F.  Church,  Carlos  Slocum,  Reuben  M. 
Barnes.  1865,  Calvin  W.  Gibbs,  pres't ;  J.  Henry  Guest,  Nathaniel  H.  Lytle,  George  D. 
46 


362  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Seymour,  Erastus  Yilas,  2d,  Patrick  H.  Delaney,  Francis  N.  Burt,  DeAVitt  C.  Brown, 
George  R.  Bell,  James  H.  Morgan.  1866,  DeWitt  C.  Brown,  pres't ;  Jacob  Henry  Guest, 
Nathaniel  H.  Lytle,  Henry  T.  Bacon,  Patrick  H.  Delaney,  Erastus  Vilas,  2d,  Patrick 
Golden.  George  R.  Bell,  William  L.  Proctor,  A.llen  B.  Phillips.  1867,  DeWitt  C.  Brown, 
pres't;  Nathaniel  H.  Lytle,  Arthur  Callaghan,  Charles  I.  Baldwin,  James  A.  Mack,  Galen 
W.  Pearson,  Merchant  J.  Ives,  William  L.  Proctor,  Wm.  Armstrong,  William  H.  Young. 
City  Officers. — 1868,  William  C.  Brown,  mayor  ;  Charles  I.  Baldwin,  Walter  B.Allen, 
Henry  Rodee,  aldermen  1st  ward  ;  Benjamin  L.  Jones,  Galen  W.  Pearsons,  Patrick 
Hackett,  aldermen  2d  ward  ;  Carlisle  B.  Herriman,  Urias  Pearson,  Chester  Waterman 
(until  July),  Wm.  L.  Proctor  (after  July),  aldermen  3d  ward  ;  Calvin  W.  Gibbs,  supervisor 
1st  ward;  William  C.  Alden,  supervisor  2d  ward  ;  Zina  B.  Bridges,  supervisor  3d  ward. 
1869,  William  C.  Brown,  mayor;  Charles  G.  Myers,  William  H.  Daniels,  William  J. 
Averell,  aldermen  1st  ward ;  Patrick  Hackett,  Gates  Curtis,  John  G.  McDonald,  aldermen 
2d  ward ;  Carlisle  B.  Herriman,  William  L.  Proctor,  George  W.  Smith,  aldermen  3d  ward  ; 
Calvin  W.  Gibbs,  supervisor  1st  ward  ;  Wm.  C.  Alden,  supervisor  2d  ward  ;  Zina  B. 
Bridges,  supervisor  3d  ward.  1870,  Z.  B.  Bridges,  mayor  ;  W.  H.  Daniels,  J.  Baker,  W. 
B.  Allen,  aldermen  1st  ward ;  George  W.  Mack,  Charles  M.  Adams,  Patrick  Hackett, 
aldermen  2d  ward  ;  William  L.  Proctor,  William  A.  Newell,  Timothy  Larkin,  aldermen  3d 
ward  ;  Delos  McCurdy,  recorder ;  C.  W.  Gibbs,  W.  C.Allen,  James  Armstrong,  supervi- 
sors. 1871,  W.  L.  Proctor,  mayor;  John  Barber,  C.  P.  Goodno,  C.  S.  Phillips,  aldermen 
1st  ward  ;  George  W.  Mack,  John  C.  McVean,  Thos.  Whalen,  aldermen  2d  ward  ;  W.  A. 
Newell,  M.  C.  Loomis,  Benj.  Tilley,  aldermen  3d  ward  ;  E.  White,  recorder ;  C.  W.  Gibbs, 
W.  C.  Allen,  James  Armstrong,  supervisors.  1872,  William  L.  Proctor,  mayor  ;  Ela  N. 
Merriam,  Stephen  H.  Higbee,  L.  Hasbrouck,  jr.,  aldermen  1st  ward  ;  William  C.  Alden, 
John  Glass,  Lyman  D.  Burt,  aldermen  2d  ward  ;  Wm.  A.  Newell,  Benjamin  Tilley,  Thomas 
N.  Derby,  aldermen  3d  ward  ;  Calvin  W.  Gibbs,  George  W.  Mack,  James  Armstrong, 
supervisors.  1873,  under  enactment  of  the  Legislature  the  council  of  1872  held  over.  1874, 
W.  L.  Proctor,  mayor;  Ela  N.  Merriam,  Charles  G.  Egert,  Wm.  Wheeler,  W.  C.  Alden, 
James  Hall,  Patrick  Hackett,  John  Austin,  S.  G.  Pope,  George  B.  Oswell,  Francis  R. 
Houlihan,  Henry  W.Ferguson,  Michael  T.Power,  aldermen;  Elijah  White,  recorder;  John 
W.  Stone,  Harvey  L.  Jones,  C.  H.  Butrick,  Francis  Kiah,  supervisor'^.  1875,  John  F. 
Rosseel,  mayor  ;  E.  White,  recorder;  W.  H.  Daniels,  C.  G.  Egert,  J.  W.  Hastings,  James 
Hall,  Henry  Lovejoy,  Patrick  Hackett,  John  Austin,  C.  H.  Butrick,  A.  B.  Chapin,  F.  R. 
Houlihan,  H.  W.  Ferguson,  M.  T.  Power,  aldermen ;  J.  W,  Stone,  Charles  Lyon,  James 
Armstrong,  W.  D.  Britton,  supervisors.  1876,  James  Armstrong,  mayor ;  E.  White,  re- 
corder ;  Luke  D.  Ralph,  Arnold  E.  Smith,  John  W,  Hastings,  Henry  Lovejoy,  John  W. 
Piercy,  Patrick  Hackett,  Charles  H.  Butrick,  S.  W.  Day,  C.  P.  Geer,  H.  W.  Ferguson,  F. 
R.  Houlihan,  Adolphus  Daily,  aldermen  ;  J.  Y.  Chapin,  H.  L.  Jones,  S.  F.  Palmer,  jr.,  J.  T. 
Cunningham,  supervisors.  1877,  James  Armstrong,  mayor ;  Elijah  White,  recorder  ;  L. 
D.  Ralph,  Joseph  Gilbert,  J.  W.  Hastings,  John  W.  Piercy,  Duncan  C.  Turner,  Alex.  A. 
Valley,  George  Foster,  S.  W.  Day,  George  R.  Bell,  John  Pray,  Ed.  P.  McElligott,  Michael 
T.  Power,  aldermen  ;  (Mr.  Gilbert  resigned  and  Wm.  Wheeler  was  elected  in  his  place). 
J.  Y.  Chapin,  C.  Marceau,  S.  E.  Palmer,  jr.,  H.  S.  Lighthall,  supervisors.  1878,  Geo.  A. 
Eddy,  mayor ;  E.  White,  recorder  ;  Amos  Wells,  E.  N.  Merriam,  J.  W.  Hastings,  Chas. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  363 

M.  Adams,  Edward  Merry,  Sanford  S.  Sturtevant,  Stillman  Foote,  M.  S.  Lee,  S.  W.  Day, 
Fiancis  R.  Houlihan,  W.  D.  Britton,  Robert  Wright,  aldermen  ;  Chas.  Gr.  Egert,  Christo- 
pher Marceau,  John  Austin,  William  Quillinan,  supervisors.  1879,  J.  W.  Parker,  mayor ; 
D.  E.  South  wick,  J.  W.  Hastings,  G.  A.  Schellenger,  C.  Marceau,  Ed.  Merry,  James  Mc- 
Guire,  S.  Foote,  George  Hall.  John  Hannan,  Joseph  Sackett,  Isaac  Fadden,  Robert 
Wright,  aldermen.  1880.  J.  W.  Parker,  mayor  ;  H.  T.  Bacon,  John  Donnelly,  L.  D.  Ralph, 
L.  Hasbrouck,  jr.,  J.  Jillson,  R.  Pickup,  George  Hall,  A.  M.  Herriman,  W.  M.  Baird, 
Adolphus  Daily,  D.  Henderson,  Isaac  Fadden,  aldermen.  1881,  E.  J.  Chapin,  mayor  ;  L. 
D.  Ralph,  J.  H.  Brownlow,  John  Glass,  John  Q.  Adams,  John  F.  Seely,  A.  N.  Partridge, 
Wm.  Appleyard,  John  Gourley,  aldermen.  1882,  E.  J.  Chapin,  mayor;  L.  D. 
Ral[ih,  H.  B.  Howard,  John  Glass,  John  Adams,  John  F.  Seely,  J.  P.  Johnston, 
William  Appleyard,  John  Gourley,  aldermen.  1883,  W.  J.  Averell,  mayor  ;  H.  B. 
Howard,  J.  W.  Hastings,  John  Glass,  Nathaniel  Wells,  J.  P.  Johnson,  David  H.  Bowen, 
John  Gourley,  and  D.  B.  Wilcox,  aldermen.  Supervisors,  first  ward,  William  Peters  : 
second  ward,  Alfred  D.  Bowen ;  third  ward,  Arnold  E.  Smith ;  fourth  ward,  Peter 
Kiah.  R.  B.  Lowry,  recorder.  1884,  W.  L.  Proctor,  mayor;  H.  B.  Howard,  J.  W. 
Hastings  (died  in  office),  James  Chatterton,  Nathaniel  Wells,  J.  H.  Johnston,  David  H. 
Bowen,  Albert  H.  Hancock,  D.  B.  Wilcox,  aldermen.  1885,  Charles  Lyon,  mayor  ; 
H.  B.  Howard.  D.  E.  Southwick,  Nathaniel  Wells,  James  Chatterton,  D.  H.  Bowen,  J. 
P.  Johnston,  A.  H.  Hancock,  James  P.  Cunningham,  aldermen.  1886,  Wm.  L.  Proctor, 
mayor;  James  A.  Mack, recorder ;  E.  D.  Southwick,  Geo.  Hall,  N.  Wells,  D.  H.  Bowen, 
Frank  Owen,  James  Cunningham,  aldermen;  Levi  Gadbaw,  Enos  McBane,  F.  R. 
Houlihan,  Chas.  G.  Idler,  supervisors.  1887,  George  Hall,  m»yor ;  Geo.  E.  Van  Kennan, 
recorder;  Geo.  D.  Seymour,  John  Donnelly,  Jas.  A.  Patterson,  John  B.  Tyo,  Frank 
Owen,  James  G.  Westbrook,  Dennis  Lynch,  Joseph  Bergeron,  aldermen  ;  Levi  Gadbaw, 
Enos  McBane,  B.  0.  Hathway  Chas.  G.  Idler,  supervisors.  1888,  Geo.  Hall,  mayor ; 
Geo.  E.  Van  Kennan,  recorder  ;  John  Donnelly,  R.  H.  Houston,  John  B.  Tyo,  Jas.  A. 
Patterson,  James  G.  Westbrook,  Frank  Owen.  Joseph  Bergeron,  Dennis  Lynch,  alder- 
men ;  Levi  Gadbaw,  Alza  Richards,  E.  H.  Atwater,  Geo.  Ashwood,  supervisors. 
1889,  Edgar  A.  Newell,  mayor ;  G.  S.  Dorwin,  recorder ;  Geo.  Hall,  L.  D.  Ralph,  J.  T. 
Patterson,  Edward  Merry,  Frank  Owen,  Geo.  Brash,  Dennis  Lynch,  Albert  Hancock 
aldermen ;  Geo.  E.  Morris,  H.  G.  Chandler,  0.  F.  Partridge,  F.  R.  Houlihan,  N.  W. 
Howard,  supervisors.  1890,  Edgar  A.  NevA'ell,  mayor;  G.  S.  Dorwin,  recorder;  L.  D. 
Ralph,  James  H.  Lytle,  Edward  Merry,  W.  G.  Moore,  Geo.  Brash,  S.  H.  Miller,  Albert  H. 
Hancock,  John  J.  Kelly,  aldermen  ;  C.  A.  Merriman,  H.  G.  Chandler,  S.  H.  Palmer,  Chas. 
Frasier,  supervisors,  1891,  John  Hannan,  mayor ;  Geo.  E.Van  Kennan,  recorder  ;  James  H. 
Lytle,  H.  F.  James,  W.  G.  Moore,  James  A.  Maguire,  H.  S.  Miller,  Thos.  Spratt,  John 
J.  Kelly,  Joseph  Bergeron,  aldermen  ;  Geo.  F.  Darrow,  G.  C.  Idler,  James  Ives,  D. 
Lynch,  supervisors.  1892,  Chas.  H.  McClair,  mayor;  Geo.  E.  Van. Kennan,  recorder; 
H.  F.  James,  Geo.  Hall,  James  A  Maguire,  E.  N.  Burt,  Thomas  Spratt,  D.  0.  Mc- 
Rostie,  Joseph  Bergeron,  John  Kelly,  aldermen;  Geo.  F.  Darrow,  Chas.  G.  Idler,  0.  F. 
Partridge,  John  Frasier,  supervisors.  1893,  Edgar  A.  Newell,  mayor;  Jas.  A.  Martin, 
recorder ;  H.  F.  James,  Fred  A.  Davis,  E.  N.  Burt,  Thos.  Whalen,  D.  0.  McRostie. 
Jo?eph  Donahue,  John  J.  Kelly,  James  Hunter,  aldermen ;  Levi  Gadbaw,  Chas.  G. 
Idler,  0.  F.  Partridge,  John  Earl,  supervisors  ;  H.  L.  Jones,  city  clerk. 


364  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  city  of  Ogdensburg  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  April  27,  1868.  The  boundary  was  not  changed,  but  each  ward 
elected  its  three  aldermen  independent  of  each  other.  The  mayor  and 
recorder  were  elected  at  large  by  the  citizens. 

The  charter  was  amended  on  May  2,  1873,  and  the  council  held  over. 
Thereafter  the  aldermen,  three  from  each  ward,  were  elected  by  the 
entire  city,  doing  away  with  ward  rites  or  distinction.  Another  ward 
was  erected  from  the  third,  making  all  the  territory  below,  or  northerly 
portion  of  Patterson  street  the  fourth  ward. 

In  1 88 1  the  charter  was  again  amended,  allowing  only  two  aldermen 
to  each  ward  and  to  hold  office  two  years,  one  to  be  elected  each  year 
thereafter. 

In  the  spring  of  1893  the  charter  was  again  amended  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  officers  were  held  over.  The  term  of  the  offices  of  mayor 
and  recorder  were  lengthened  to  two  years.  The  election  to  take 
place  only  every  alternate  year,  when  the  mayor,  recorder  and  one 
alderman  from  each  ward  will  be  elected.  A  Board  of  Public  Works  was 
established  by  the  act,  consisting  of  four,  who  are  to  hold  office  four 
years  each  ;  one  to  be  appointed  each  year  by  the  Common  Council  and 
to  serve  without  compensation.  The  board  have  full  control  of  the 
streets  and  sewers,   doing  away  with  the  office  of  street  commissioner. 

City  Water  Works  on  the  Holly  system  were  erected  at  the  south 
end  of  the  dam  in  the  summer  of  1869,  at  an  expense  of  $135,000. 
Water  mains  were  laid  mostly  of  cement  pipe,  through  the  principal 
streets  of  Ogdensburg  the  first  year,  and  several  fire  hydrants  set.  The 
pumps  are  driven  by  a  turbine  for  domestic  purposes,  and  two  extra 
ones  are  held  in  reserve  for  fire  purposes,  together  with  a  large  steam 
engine  that  can  readily  be  coupled  in  case  of  drought  or  accident.  In 
1893  there  were  nearly  twenty  miles  of  mains,  106  fire  hydrants  and 
1 18  gates. 

The  Water  Power  on  the  Oswegatchie  at  this  point  was  first  utilized 
by  Father  Piquet,  he  having  obtained  a  perpetual  lease  from  the  French 
authorities  at  Quebec  and  built  a  dam  and  saw  mill  in  175 1. 

One  writer  claimed  the  mill  and  dam  was  erected  by  Capt  Vernuil 
Lorimier,  he  having  obtained  a  lease  or  deed  from  the  Indians.  The 
English  made  no  claim  to  the  property,  but  only  utilized  the  power  to 


I 


il 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  365 

manufacture  lumber.  Samuel  Ogden  obtained  a  right  to  the  water 
power  by  the  purchase  of  the  land  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  also  by  a  quit  claim  deed  from  Mrs.  Lorimier.  David  Parish  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  water  power  on  the  southerly  end  of  the  dam,  by 
purchase  of  the  village  plat  in  1808.  Nathan  Ford  became  seized  in  fee 
simple  of  the  balance  of  the  power,  and  conveyed  a  portion  of  the  same 
to  Thomas  Dinney  in  1828.  In  the  fall  of  1835,  the  balance  of  the 
power  owned  by  the  Ford  estate  was  sold  to  Smith  Stilwell,  H.  Thomas, 
B.  S.  Doty,  E.  N.  Fairchilds  and  I.  G.  Hopkins.  Two  lots,  with  power, 
were  then  sold  ;  one  for  a  distillery  and  one  for  a  tannery,  and  each  re- 
stricted with  certain  conditions.  A  company  was  then  formed  under 
the  name  of  "The  Ogdensburg  Water- Power  Company."  The  power, 
exclusive  of  the  two  runs  mentioned,  was  then  divided  into  100  runs  in 
two  classes — twenty-five  in  the  first  and  seventy- five  in  the  second.  The 
water-power  plant  was  also  divided  into  four  sections,  as  follows :  Sec- 
tion A  included  all  the  lots  lying  north  of  Lake  street,  between  Main 
street  and  the  river,  up  to  E.  B.  Allen's  lot  No.  3.  Section  B  included 
all  the  lots  lying  south  of  Main  street  to  Rensselaer  avenue,  and  between 
Lake  and  Canal  streets.  Section  C  lies  between  Lake  street  and  the 
Oswegatchie  River,  and  includes  all  the  lots  between  Canal  street  on  a 
straight  line  to  the  river,  and  the  Cold  Spring.  Section  D  comprises 
all  the  lots  lying  between  the  Oswegatchie  River  from  the  bridge  up  to 
a  line  with  Canal  street,  and  to  Lake  street,  and  thence  to  the  bridge. 
The  company  sold  thirty-two  runs  of  water,  only  binding  the  parties  to 
keep  the  wall  or  dam  opposite  their  premises  in  repair.  No  provision 
having  been  made  for  the  rebuilding  or  repair  of  the  dam  and  walls 
when  required,  therefore,  on  February  i,  1842,  an  agreement  was 
made  dividing  the  balance  of  the  runs  (sixty-eight)  between  them- 
selves, by  a  partition  deed,  and  binding  each  other  and  their  successors 
to  bear  an  equal  proportion  of  the  expense  to  rebuild  and  keep  the  same 
in  repair.  As  a  compensation  for  this  burden,  each  power  had  the  right 
of  a  surplus  run,  to  be  used  only  when  the  water  flowed  one  foot  deep 
or  more  over  the  dam. 

A  suit  in  equity  was  brought  by  Henry  Rodee,  et  al.,  plaintiffs,  vs. 
The  City  of  Ogdensburg,  et  al.,  defendants,  and  a  judgment  rendered  in 
the  form  of  a  decree,  July  29,  1872,  defining  the  rights.      Under  the  de- 


366  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

cree  a  run  of  water  was  defined  to  be  equal  to  a  flow  of  twenty-five 
cubic  feet  per  second,  under  a  head  of  nine  feet,  which  is  equal  on  a 
good  wheel  to  twenty- five  horse  power.  Weirs  were  ordered  to  be 
constructed  at  the  bulkhead  of  each  run  using  water,  as  follows:  A 
copper  bolt  was  sunk  in  the  rock  at  the  northwest  end  of  the  dam,  to 
designate  the  height  or  crest  of  the  dam.  The  frame  of  the  bulkhead 
to  each  run  was  to  extend  up  about  four  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
bolt  and  downward  five  feet  below  the  level  of  the  bolt  to  a  girt  or  the 
breast  of  the  weir,  which  is  to  extend  to  the  rock  or  about  five  feet  below 
and  planked  tight,  causing  the  water  to  flow  over  the  breast  and  between 
the  posts  of  the  bulkhead.  The  gate  is  operated  by  means  of  a  worm 
gear  or  screw,  set  in  front  of  the  bulkhead  and  moves  in  grooves  cut 
in  the  posts  on  either  side.  The  gate  when  lowered  even  with  the  breast 
of  the  weir,  allows  a  free  flow  of  water  through  the  opening.  In  closing 
the  weir  or  shutting  off  the  water,  the  gate  is  raised  by  means  of  the 
screws  to  any  height  required,  thus  making  every  run  uniform  in  the 
use  of  water.  By  the  rules  of  the  decree,  both  classes  may  run  until 
the  water  in  the  river  drops  one  foot  below  the  crest  of  the  dam,  when 
the  second  class  are  to  stop  running  until  the  water  raises  in  the  pond 
six  inches.  The  first  class  may  run  until  the  water  in  the  pond  drops 
two  feet  below  the  crest  of  the  dam,  where  they  are  to  stop  running 
until  the  water  rises  six  inches.  Both  classes  may  run  on  Saturday 
afternoon  until  the  water  falls  one  foot  below  the  respective  limit,  of 
each  class. 

The  Press. — The  first  newspaper  printed  in  this  place  or  in  the  county 
of  St.  Lawrence  was  the  Palladiimi,  a  two-page  weekly  1 1  by  17^ 
inches.  It  was  started  in  December,  1810,  by  J.  C.  Kipp  and  T.  C. 
Strong ;  David  Parish  furnished  the  capital  and  D.  W.  Church  the 
office  building.  The  paper  was  distributed  through  the  county  by  foot- 
post  acting  as  carriers.  On  account  of  the  difficulty  in  getting  suitable 
paper  it  was  occasionally  printed  on  foolscap.  It  was  Federal  in  poli- 
tics and  denounced  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Louis  Hasbrouck,  of  this  city, 
has  a  copy  of  this  paper,  in  which  an  account  is  given  of  General  Wil- 
kinson's army  passing  down  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  November, 
181 3.     The  paper  was  discontinued  in  18 14. 


//^^/g 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  367 

The  St.  Lawrence  Republican  was  commenced  in  Potsdam  in  the  fall 
of  1826  by  William  H.  Wyman.  It  was  20  by  29  inches,  published 
weekly  and  distributed  by  post.  It  was  the  first  Democratic  paper  in 
the  county  and  published  in  opposition  to  the  St.  Lawrence  Gazette. 
In  the  summer  of  1827  it  was  removed  to  Canton.  In  January,  1830, 
Mr.  Preston  King  purchased  the  paper  and  commenced  its  publication 
in  Ogdensburg  and  continued  it  until  1833,  when  it  was  sold  to  Samuel 
Hoard.  In  1834  F.  D.  Flanders  became  a  partner.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  the  paper  passed  into  the  hands  of  M.  W.  and  J.  M.  Tillotson. 
In  April,  1839,  the  establishment  was  consumed  by  fire.  Early  in  the 
summer  the  publishing  was  resumed  and  the  paper  enlarged.  In  the 
fall  of  1841  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  F.  B.  Hitchcock  and  H.  M. 
Smith,  who  published  it  until  July  16,  1848,  when  Mr.  W.  N.  Oswell 
purchased  Mr.  Hitchcock's  interest.  In  December,  1857,  Mr.  Hitch- 
cock repurchased  Mr.  Oswell's  interest  and  continued  its  publication 
until  March  17,  1852,  when  M.  W.  Tillotson,  a  former  proprietor,  took 
Mr.  Smith's  interest.  In  October  the  office  was  again  consumed  by  fire, 
but  the  paper  was  continued  on  a  small  half  sheet  for  a  short  time,  and 
in  January,  1853,  it  was  enlarged  and  its  publication  continued  to  May, 
1855,  when  John  A.  Haddock  purchased  a  one-third  interest  in  the 
establishment.  In  April,  1856,  he  sold  his  interest  to  I.  G.  Stilwell. 
In  November,  1858,  Henry  R.  James  and  James  W.  Hopkins  pur- 
chased the  entire  establishment,  and  in  December,  i860,  Mr.  H.  R. 
James  became  the  sole  proprietor.  In  January,  1874,  S.  P.  Reming- 
ton and  S.  H.  Palmer  purchased  a  one-third  interest. 

The  paper,  being  Democratic  from  the  beginning,  soon  became  the 
leading  organ  of  the  county  and  remained  as  such  until  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party  in  1855,  when  it  became  the  organ  of  the  new 
party  in  the  county  and  has  so  remained  since. 

At  the  death  of  H.  R.  James  in  1882,  the  establishment  was  sold  to 
a  stock  company,  and  S.  H.  Palmer  became  its  business  manager. 

The  Northern  Light. —  This  was  an  anti-Masonic  paper  commenced 
July  7,  1831,  by  W.  B.  Rodgers,  and  soon  passed  into  the  hands  of  A. 
B.  James  and  A.  Tyler,  who  published  it  about  a  year,  when  Mr.  James 
became  its  editor.  In  April,  1834,  its  name  was  changed  to  The 
Times,  and  at  the  end   of  the  fourth  volume  it   was   enlarged  to  six 


368  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

columns,  and  its  title  changed  to  the  Ogdenshirg  Times,  in  July,  1837, 
Dr.  A.  Tyler  again  became  associated  with  Mr.  James  and  the  name 
was  again  changed  to  the  Times  and  Advertiser.  In  July,  1838,  Dr. 
Tyler  became  its  sole  publisher  and  continued  until  March,  1844,  when 
it  was  transferred  to  Foot  &  Seely,  and  the  name  changed  to  the 
Frontier  Sentinel,  and  sold  at  $1.00  per  year.  Mr.  Seely  died  August 
17.  1844,  and  the  paper  was  continued  by  Henry  G.  Foot  until  June, 
1847,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Ogdensburg  Sentinel,  price 
$1.75  per  year.  In  November,  1849,  Stillman  Foot  became  its  pro- 
prietor, the  price  being  reduced  to  $1.00,  and  he  continued  its  publica- 
tion for  some  three  years  thereafter.  Mr.  Foot  also,  in  connection  with 
the  weekly,  published  a  daily  paper  called  TJie  Daily  Sentinel, 
which  was  commenced  April  14,  1848,  at  one  cent  per  number,  but  was 
given  up  in  September  of  that  year  ;  it  being  the  first  effort  made  to 
print  a  daily  paper  in  the  village.  Both  papers  were  discontinued  shortly 
after. 

The  Meteorological  Register. — This  paper  was  published  monthly  and 
commenced  January  i,  1839,  by  J.  H.  Coffin,  the  principal  of  the 
academy.  It  was  devoted  to  scientific  inquiries,  but  for  the  want  of 
patronage  was  discontinued  at  the  end  of  four  months. 

The  Ogdensburg  Forum. — This  paper  was  a  small  tri-weekly,  com- 
menced April  24,  1848,  by  A.  Tyler,  in  support  of  the  Whig  party 
and  in  the  interest  of  General  Taylor.  At  the  end  of  six  months  the 
tri-weekly  was  discontinued  and  the  weekly  continued  until  February, 

1851,  when  the  office  was  used  for  job  work  only  until    1852,   when  the 
press  was  removed  to  Gouverneur. 

The  Daily  Morning  Nezvs. — This  paper  was  commenced  in    March, 

1852,  by  William  N.  Oswell,  a  former  editor  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Re- 
publican, and  Fayette  Robinson.  It  was  neutral  in  politics,  and  con- 
ducted with  an  ability  and  enterprise  which  entitled  it  to  a  liberal  sup- 
port. In  September  of  that  year,  Mr.  Oswell  issued  from  this  office  a 
weekly  paper,  also  neutral,  by  the  name  of  Tlie  Weekly  News,  which 
soon  after  was  temporarily  suspended,  but  was  again  issued  in  a  smaller 
form,  but  both  papers  were  suspended  soon  after. 

The  Ogdensburg  Daily  Times. — This  was  a  second  trial  of  a  daily 
paper,  commenced  in  October,  1852,  by  William  Yeaton  and  Warren 


^/K 


THE  TOWN  OF  08WEGATCHIE.  369 

Dow.  It  was  printed  at  the  Republican  office,  and  was  independent  in 
politics.  The  paper  was  edited  with  ability,  but  the  publication  was 
arrested  by  a  disastrous  fire  after  one  or  two  issues. 

The  American. — This  was  a  weekly  paper  edited  by  E.  M.  Holbrook, 
and  was  started  under  the  excitement  of  the  "  Know  Nothing"  move- 
ment, about  the  year  1855-6.  The  political  sentiments  advocated 
were  that  "  Americans  must  rule  America,"  and  that  no  one  should  be 
elected  to  office  that  in  any  way  held  allegiance  to  a  foreign  power, 
king  or  potentate.  After  a  few  years  the  excitement  passed  away  and 
the  paper  was  discontinued. 

The  Boys'  Journal. — This  paper  was  commenced  in  1856  by  H.  R. 
James,  James  W.  Hopkins  and  Charles  R.  Foster,  who  consolidated 
two  amateur  boys'  printing  establishments  and  published  a  daily  paper. 
A  short  time  after  they  purchased  a  Guernsey  press  and  started  the 
Weekly  Journal.  In  1857  Mr.  Foster  sold  his  interest  to  James  and 
Hopkins,  who  continued  the  publication  of  both  papers  till  they  pur- 
chased the  St.  Lawrence  Republicatt.  The  weekly  was  merged  into 
the  St.  Lawrence  Republican,  and  the  "  Boys  "  dropped  and  "  Daily  " 
substituted  in  the  title  of  the  daily  paper.  This  was  the  first  successful 
daily  newspaper  published  in  Ogdensburg,  The  Ogdensbnrg  Journal, 
which  has  from  the  beginning  of  the  daily  been  connected  with  the 
weekly  St.  Lawrence  Republican. 

The  Advance. — This  paper  was  started  in  March,  1861,  by  James  W. 
Hopkins,  who  ran  a  daily  in  connection  with  the  weekly  paper  for  a 
short  time  only.  The  Weekly  Advance  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Democracy,  when  Mr.  O'Brien  and  A.  S.  Partridge  took  the  papers 
and  continued  their  publication,  changing  the  weekly  to  The  St. 
Laivrence  Weekly  Democrat.  In  May,  1863,  Mr.  O'Brien  was  suc- 
ceeded by  E.  M.  Holbrook,  and  the  paper  continued  until  October, 
1864,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Ransom  Skeels,  who  discontinued  the 
daily  and  reduced  the  size  of  the  weekly.  In  April,  1867,  Mr. 
J.  Hynes  purchased  the  paper,  refurnished  it  with  new  presses  and 
type,  enlarged  and  otherwise  improved  it  and  increased  its  circulation. 
In  May,  1877,  Mr.  G.  F.  Darrow,  the  present  owner,  purchased  the 
establishment  and  soon  changed  it  to    an   eight-page    paper,   which    is 

now  one  of  the  most  complete  county  papers  in  the  State.     Recently  a 
47 


370  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

commodious  press  room  has  been  added  to  the  establishment,  furnished 
with  steam  power,  several  large  presses  and  all  necessary  machines  for 
turning  out  job  work  on  a  large  scale,  such  as  shearing,  folding,  etc.  It 
is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  complete  printing  houses  in  Northern 
New  York. 

The  Monitor. — This  was  a  weekly  paper,  started  by  Gardiner  B. 
Chapin  in  1869,  Republican  in  sentiment,  but  representing  a  faction  of 
that  party  only.  It  was  said  that  Roscoe  Conklin  furnished  the  capi- 
tal to  start  with.  The  paper  had  a  small  circulation  and  after  some  two 
years  it  was  discontinued. 

The  Critic. — This  paper  was  started  in  1878  by  J.  H.  Nicholson,  be- 
ing independent  in  politics,  and  issued  semi-weekly.  He  also  issued  a 
daily  for  a  short  time.  His  office  was  burned  twice  within  two  years, 
and  through  financial  embarrassment  it  was  discontinued,  and  the  stock 
sold  out. 

The  Signal. — This  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1883,  by  Rev.  N. 
Klock.  It  was  commenced  as  an  independent  paper,  published  weekly 
at  $1.00  per  year.  In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1884,  the  paper  ad- 
vocated the  temperance  movement,  but  shortly  after  favored  the 
Republican  side  of  politics.  In  the  fourth  year  the  subscription  list  was 
sold  to  a  Gouverneur  paper,  when  the  Signal  was  discontinued. 

The  News, — This  paper  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1883,  by  Z.  B. 
and  H.  C.  Buckman,  issued  twice  a  week,  and  started  out  as  an  inde- 
pendent, and  has  so  continued  up  to  the  last  presidential  election,  when 
its  influence  was  given  in  favor  of  Harrison.  In  the  winter  of  1890, 
the  two  issues  were  separated  in  name,  the  one  retaining  the  original 
name  {The  News)  and  the  other  The  Star.  The  two  papers  and  presses 
were  sold  July  i,  1890,  to  Capt.  Henry  Holland,  who  changed  one  to  a 
daily  paper  on  February  2,  1891,  and  the  other  to  the  Saturday  News 
once  a  week.  On  September  7,  1893,  the  papers  were  sold  to  the  Og- 
densburg  News  Company,  Mr.  Holland  as  mannager. 

The  Courier. — A  Catholic  weekly  paper  was  commenced  to  be  pub- 
lished April  13,  1889;  Father  Conroy,  editor,  and  Henry  Holland, 
mannager.  The  paper  was  sold  to  a  stock  company  on  September  i, 
1892.  On  December  i,  1893,  the  concern  was  leased  to  John  McCor- 
mic,  who  now  continues  its  publication. 


^^S^^f^'i'-U'    _S^<^^^^^''^<^- 


7^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  371 

Schools. — The  first  school  taught  in  Ogdensburg,  apart  from  private 
instructions,  was  held  in  the  old  French  barracks  about  1807,  or  after  Mr. 
Ford  vacated  the  place  ;  Henry  Plumb,  being  one  of  the  six  or  eight 
scholars  who  attended  the  school.  On  account  of  the  impending  trouble, 
the  barracks  was  required  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers,  and  the  school  was 
therefore  opened  on  the  east  side  of  the  Oswegatchie  in  1809,  in  what 
was  known  as  "  Capt.  Cherry's  bivouac."  The  number  of  pupils  soon 
increased  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  place  and  a  private  house  was 
used  up  to  the  first  year  of  the  war  only.  On  the  return  of  peace  (in 
181 5)  a  school  was  again  opened  in  a  private  building.  In  about  18 17 
a  plain  two  story  school  house  was  built  on  the  east  corner  lot  of  Green 
and  Water  streets  (now  Crescent),  which  served  the  whole  village  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1825  the  population  had  so  increased  that  a  stone 
school  house  was  erected  on  the  Corner  of  Knox  and  Caroline  streets. 
In  1837  '^  house  was  rented  on  Main  street,  and  three  school  districts 
were  erected,  two  on  the  east  side  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Oswe- 
gatchie. As  the  population  further  increased  school  houses  were  built 
as  follows:  No.  i,  built  of  brick,  on  Franklin  street,  in  1850;  No.  2, 
of  brick,  on  Washington  street,  in  1854;  No.  3,  of  brick,  on  Park  street, 
in  1853;  No.  4,  of  stone,  on  Ford  avenue,  second  ward,  1856;  No.  5, 
of  brick,  in  the  east  part  of  the  village;  No.  6,  of  stone,  on  Lafayette 
street,  in  1864;  No  7,  of  brick,  on  Barre  street,  in  1870;  also  No.  8, 
on  the  corner  of  Ford  avenue  and  Pine  street,  the  same  year.  The  last 
two  are  two  stories  high,  and  two  school  rooms  in  each  story.  No.  9, 
of  wood  on  Knox  street,  on  the  engine  house  lot,  that  was  purchased 
in  1847;  the  house  was  erected  in  1865  and  remodeled  in  about  1889. 
The  Grammar  school  building  was  erected  of  brick  on  Washington 
street  about  1877  ;  the  Free  Academy,  of  brick,  originally  the  town  hall, 
was  remodeled  in  1879. 

The  old  academy  was  erected  of  stone  on  State  street  in  1834,  built 
at  an  expense  of  $4,000,  half  of  which  was  subscribed  by  the  citizens 
of  the  village,  and  the  balance  raised  by  tax  on  the  town  under  certain 
conditions,  allowing  credit  on  the  tuition  of  any  scholar  from  the  districts 
of  the  town  to  the  amount  of  the  interest,  on  tax  of  said  district.  A 
portion  of  the  building  was  used  for  town  purposes.  The  building  was 
burned  a  number  of  years  later. 


372  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

An  act  in  relation  to  schools  and  academies  in  the  village  of  Ogdens- 
burg,  passed  April  13,  1857, -consolidated  in  a  school  district  a'l  the  terri- 
tory comprised  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  of  Ogdensburg  ; 
also  those  parts  of  school  districts  Nos.  i  and  21,  of  the  town  of  Oswe- 
gatchie,  lying  without  the  said  corporate  limits.  The  schools  so  organ- 
ized into  one  school  district  were  made  subject  to  the  control  of  a  Board 
of  Education,  to  consist  of  nine  members,  to  be  elected  at  the  annual 
election  of  the  village,  for  a  term  of  three  years  each,  three  to  be  elected 
each  year  thereafter,  and  to  serve  without  compensation.  According 
to  subsequent  laws,  the  Board  of  Education  "  shall  before  the  first  day 
of  May,  in  each  year  thereafter,  determine  and  certify  to  the  said  village 
trustees,  the  amount  of  money  required,  over  and  above  all  other  funds 
on  hand  applicable  to  that  purpose,  required  for  teacher's  wages,  and 
other  necessary  expenses  for  the  year  to  come,  for  the  maintenance  of 
such  schools  ;  and  the  trustees  shall  cause  to  be  assessed  the  said  sums 
so  certified  to  on  the  taxable  property  and  corporations  within  the  said 
district,  etc.  The  common  schools  hereafter  to  be  kept  and  maintained  in 
the  district,  shall  be  free  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  same  over  four 
years  of  age.  This  act  shall  also  apply  to  the  city  corporation  the  same 
as  it  did  to  the  village." 

The  quarter  ending  November  23,  1893,  there  were  forty  teachers 
employed,  exclusive  of  the  superintendent,  and  the  salaries  paid  were 
$37,150.       The   ordinary   running    expenses,    exclusive    of  fuel,     was 

$515. 

The  number  of  children  of  school  age  on  August  20,  1892,  was  4,225. 

The  number  of  children  of  school  age  who  attended  school  part  of  the 
year  was  1,752.  The  average  daily  attendance  of  children  of  school  age 
was  1,185.  The  number  attending  parochial  schools  was  800.  The 
number  of  students  holding  the  Regents'  preliminary  certificates  was 
135  ;  of  students  in  the  academy,  by  courses,  was  :  Classical  diplomas 
16,  English  diplomas  17,  academic  diplomas  42.  The  number  of  post- 
graduate students,  taking  classical  diplomas  42,  academic  diplomas  10. 


RECEIPTS    FOR    THE    ACADEMY. 


Tuitions  paid  by  those  residing  outside  of  corporation $  905.47 

From  Literature  Fund - 432.23 

From  U.  S.  Deposit  Fund -     4oL00 

From  Public  School  Fund 776.00 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  373 

The  Ogdeiisbiirg  Club  was  organized  and  incorporated  March  5,  1889. 
It  is  under  the  management  of  nine  directors,  one-third  being  elected  at 
each  annual  meeting,  which  occurs  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  April.  A 
president,  vice-president,  secretary  and  treasurer  are  elected  from  the 
board  of  managers.  All  business  men  within  the  city  are  eligible  to 
membership.  The  entrance  fee  is  $25,  dues$i  per  month.  Honorary 
members  within  a  radius  of  twelve  miles,  may  become  such  (if  elected)  by 
paying  an  entrance  fee,  without  dues.  In  the  spring  of  1892  the  consti- 
tution was  revised,  limiting  the  membership  to  100,  and  the  dues  were 
raised  to  $20  per  year.  A  lot  on  State  street  was  purchased  and  a  two- 
story  club  house  erected  at  a  cost,  including  lot,  building,  furniture,  etc., 
of  $15,000.  The  basement  is  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  a  janitor  and  his 
family.  The  first  story  has  a  large  hall,  a  reading  room,  a  drawing 
room  and  a  billiard  room.  The  second  story  contains  a  banquet  hall, 
a  gymnasium  room  and  several  smaller  rooms  for  cards  or  games.  A 
portion  of  the  money  to  erect  the  building  was  raised  on  bonds  secured 
by  the  property.  The  income  from  the  billiard  room  and  cigar  stand, 
together  with  the  dues,  is  expected  to  pay  the  running  expenses,  the 
interest  on  the  bonds,  and  to  liquidate  the  indebtedness  within  ten  years. 

Gas  and  Electric  Light. — The  Ogdensburg  Gas  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  August,  1854,  with  a  capital  of  $75,000,  in  shares  of  $50.  The 
works  were  erected  in  the  Second  ward  near  Lake  street,  between  King 
street  and  St.  Lawrence  avenue,  in  the  summer  of  1855.  In  1875  the 
capital  stock  was  increased  to  $100,000,  the  works  enlarged  and  a  sec- 
ond gasometer  built  on  Market  triangular  square  in  the  First  ward.  This 
branch  of  the  works  was  abandoned  a  few  years  later,  owing  to  kerosene 
oil  coming  into  general  use. 

The  Electric  Light  Company  was  formed  in  connection  with  the  gas 
company  in  the  summer  of  1887.  A  thirty- five  horse  power  engine 
was  set  up  in  the  gas  house,  to  drive  the  dynamo,  on  March  24,  1888, 
when  a  few  street  lights  and  grocery  stores  and  hotels  were  lighted. 
The  plant  was  enlarged  by  a  stone  building,  37  by  75  feet,  a  150  horse 
power  steam  engine  and  boiler  set  up,  and  two  full- arc  dynamos  added, 
which  were  started  up  March  5,  1889.  Arrangements  were  made  to 
add  incandescent  light,  but  as  yet  it  has  not  been  put  in  operation.  On 
the  early  morning  of  December  16,   1893,  the  escaping  gas  in  the  purl- 


374  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

fying  room  took  fire  and  blowed  up.  About  half  of  the  stone  building, 
together  with  a  brick  annex,  were  thrown  down  level  with  the  ground, 
a  mass  of  ruins,  fatally  injuring  two  men. 

Banking — Previous  to  1825  the  circulating  medium  in  St  Law- 
rence county  consisted  largely  of  Canadian  issues,  from  which  losses 
were  constantly  ensuing.  This  state  of  affairs  led  the  supervisors  of  the 
county  to  pass  a  resolution  setting  forth  the  claims  of  Northern  New 
York  to  the  corporate  privileges  and  benefits  of  bank  issue. 

On  April  30,  1829,  the  Ogdensburg  Bank  was  incorporated,  for  thirty 
years;  capital  $100,000,  in  2,000  shares.  It  went  into  operation  soon 
after  upon  the  safety  fund  principle,  being  the  only  one  of  that  descrip- 
tion ever  organized  in  the  county.  On  December  31,  1858,  it  discon- 
tinued business  ;   the  Oswegatchie  Bank  assumed  its  obligations. 

On  October  9,  1838,  the  St.  Lawrence  Bank  was  organized  under  the 
laws  of  the  State,  to  continue  lOO  years;  capital  $100,000  in  1,000 
shares,  to  be  managed  by  twenty- one  directors.  It  began  to  issue  bills 
January  i,  1839.  In  the  third  year  it  became  insolvent  and  its  affairs 
were  closed  up. 

Several  banks  were  in  operation  in  Ogdensburg  at  different  periods 
from  1838  to  1850,  mostly  under  the  management  of  New  York  parties. 
Among  them  were  the  Drovers'  Bank  and  the  Farmers'  and  Mechanics' 
Bank.  They  were  banks  of  issue  and  their  obligations  were  usually 
paid. 

On  June  13,  1853,  the  Judson  Bank  was  organized  under  the  general 
banking  laws  of  the  State.  About  June  i,  1866,  a  copartnership  was 
formed  under  the  name  and. style  of  "Judson  Bank,"  when  the  business 
was  changed  to  that  of  a  private  institution.  Under  this  change  John 
D.  Judson  was  made  president,  Daniel  Judson  cashier.  At  the  death  of 
the  latter  in  1873,  James  C.  Armstrong  was  made  cashier,  and  in  1875 
William  Armstrong  was  made  vice-president.  That  year  David  C. 
Judson,  sr.,  died.  He  having  been  a  guiding  star  of  the  institution,  his 
death  proved  a  great  loss.  E.  N.  Merriam  was  soon  afterward  made 
cashier  of  the  bank,  but  could  not  keep  the  credit  up  to  its  former 
standing.  January  i,  1878,  its  doors  were  closed  and  the  institution 
declared  insolvent,  by  which  many  of  the  depositors  lost  their  money. 


-■rmpictl.  Sc.^'^- 


C^i^7y-^J^^^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  375 

On  November  19,  1854,  the  Oswegatchie  Bank  was  chartered  and 
went  into  operation.  The  tirst  officers  were  A.  Chapman,  president  ; 
J.  G.  Averell,  vice-president ;  and  E.  N.  Merriam,  cashier.  On  June 
1 1,  1866,  it  was  changed  to  a  private  banking  firm,  under  the  name  of 
Averell  &  Chapman.  On  December  i,  1875,  James  S.  Bean  became 
associated  with  the  firm,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Averell,  Chap- 
man &  Bean.  On  January  15,  1879.  the  institution  was  chartered  under 
the  name  of  "  Ogdensburg  Bank,"  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  The 
officers  were  James  G.  Averell,  president;  James  S.  Bean,  vice-presi- 
dent; \V.  H.  Averell,  cashier,  in  place  of  E.  N.  Merriam  resigned.  At 
the  death  of  Mr.  Bean,  in  1883,  Wm.  J.  Averell  was  made  vice  presi- 
dent. On  January  15,  1888,  H.  A.  Egert  was  made  cashier,  and  at  his 
death,  January  15,  1887,  Samuel  W.  Leonard  acted  as  assistant  cashier, 
and  was  chosen  cashier  Januar}-  i,  1889,  which  place  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  fill.  The  bank,  for  the  past  forty  years,  has  been  one  of  the 
solid  institutions  of  the  place,  having  a  good  working  capital,  and  carries 
a  line  of  deposits  of  about  $400,000. 

In  1874  C  G.  Egert  &  Co.  opened  a  banking  house  on  Ford  street, 
in  Ogdensburg.  with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  After  doing  business  for 
about  three  years  it  closed  up  its  affairs. 

On  June  i,  1880,  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ogdensburg 
was  organized,  under  the  banking  laws,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000, 
and  commenced  to  issue  its  currency.  The  officers  were  James 
R.  Bill,  president;  Sidney  Brown,  vice-president;  E.  N.  Merriam, 
cashier.  The  directors  were  J.  R.  Bill,  S.  Brown,  A.  B.  James,  E.  N. 
Merriam,  Chas.  Ashley,  Chas.  G.  Egert,  John  Hannan,  Chas.  G. 
M}'ers,  D.  N.  Crouse,  John  Thorn,  H.  A.  Chapman,  L.  G.  Proctor  and 
E.  S.  Crapser.  The  officers  of  1893  ^""^  J-  ^-  Bill,  president ;  J.  M. 
Kellogg,  vice-president ;  and  R.  J.  Donahue,  cashier,  who  was  appointed 
shortly  after  E.  N.  Merriam's  death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1893. 
The  present  directors,  including  the  president,  are  Wm.  L.  Proctor,  J, 
H.  Brownlow,  John  Hannan,  Geo.  F.  Darrow,  E.  A.  Newell,  H.  B. 
Howard  and  H  D.  Northrup  This  bank  has  a  good  working  capital, 
has  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  carries  a  line  of  deposits  of  nearly 
$300,000. 

Manufactures. — For  a  number  of  years  after  the  settlement  began  at 
this  place,  the  water  power  was  principally  used  to  manufacture  lumber 


376  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

for  a  foreign  market.  After  the  Oswego  Canal  was  opened  the  industry 
was  greatly  stimulated,  and  the  best  of  the  timber  in  the  surrounding 
country  was  cut  off.  Since  that  time  two  saw  mills  have  been  kept  in 
use  in  cutting  the  leavings  and  second  growth  for  home  consumption. 
After  the  opening  of  the  Northern  Railroad,  a  large  share  of  the  timber 
handled  in  the  New  England  States  passed  through  Ogdensburg, 
besides  considerable  quantities  exported  south  over  the  two  railway 
lines,  the  Rome.  Watertown  &  Ogdensburg,  and  the  Utica  &  Black 
River.  This  point,  situated  at  the  foot  of  lake  navigation,  and  at  the 
terminus  of  several  important  lines  of  railway,  affords  extraordinary 
facilities  for  handling  this  important  product,  obtained  from  Canada  and 
Michigan.  Companies,  with  large  amounts  of  capital,  have  been 
organized  for  that  purpose,  of  one  of  which  Wm.  L.  Proctor  is  now 
manager,  which  is  doing  a  large  business  in  both  rough  and  dressed 
lumber,  having  erected  steam  planing  mills  for  the  latter  purpose.  J. 
Hannan  &  Co.  are  also  doing  an  extensive  business  at  present  in  that 
same  line. 

Flouring  Mills. — Grinding  grain  was  the  next  largest  business 
industry  carried  on  by  the  use  of  the  water  power.  The  Ford  mill, 
built  in  1797,  was  sold  to  Harvey  Thomas  in  1840.  who  sold  it  to  Wm. 
Furness  in  1850;  it  then  passed  to  Doty  &  Pnillips  in  1864,  then  to  C. 
Lyon  &  Phillips.  S.  Day  purchased  the  mill  in  the  spring  of  1877. 
The  mill  v/as  burned  in  the  spring  of  1878,  and  rebuilt  the  same  year  of 
stone.  A  set  of  Curtis  Turbines  was  put  in,  and  a  new  class  of 
machinery  with  burr  stones  ;  also  a  new  set  of  rollers.  In  May,  1883, 
N.  M.  Curtis  took  possession  of  the  mill  and  ran  it  to  January,  when  it 
was  sold  to  J.  W.  Colnan,  who  operated  the  mill  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  1893.      This  mill  has  the  exclusive  right  of  custom  grinding. 

The  Oswegatchie  mill  was  built  in   1836,  and   was  destroyed  by  fire 
in    April,  1863.      Mr.  Foot  purchased   the   power   and    commenced   to- 
rebuild  in  1864,  and  after  his  death,  in  1865,  the  property  was  purchased 
by  Messrs.  Rodee,  Lynde  and  Nichols.     The  mill   was  burned  in  June, 
1882,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt. 

The  Iroquois  mills  and  an  elevator  were  built  by  Geo.  Parker  in  1863. 
At  his  death  the  mill  was  leased  to  Brown,  Bill  &  Co.  in  the  spring  of 
1873.      In  1883  the  mill  was  sold  to  Rodee,  Bill  &  Co.,  who  overhauled 


I 


ri^^^^'-c 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  377 

the  same  and  fitted  it  up  with  the  new  roller  process  and  all  the  modern 
improvements  necessary  for  a  first-class  mill.  They  attached  a  steam 
engine  capable  of  driving  the  mill  independent  of  water,  but  use  steam 
only  to  help  out  in  time  of  a  drouth.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  500 
barrels  per  day.  This  and  the  custom  mill  are  the  only  ones  that  have 
been  in  use  since  1885.  At  one  time,  between  1850  and  '60,  there  were 
several  flour  mills  in  the  place.  A  conical  mill  situated  at  the  Jones  saw 
mill;  one  in  the  boiler  shop  of  John  Glass;  The  Empire,  built  by  W. 
C  Brown;  one  in  the  Babcock  pump  factory;  one  in  a  wood  building 
back  of  Burt's  tannery,  and  one  built  by  H.  Thomas,  since  burned  and 
rebuilt  in  stone  by  VV.  E.  Furness.  This  mill  was  sold  to  S.  Brown  in 
1882,  and  was  fitted  up  with  all  modern  improvements,  also  with  a 
steam  engine  to  help  in  low  water.  The  capacity  was  250  barrels  per 
day.  Mr.  Brown  failed  in  1886,  since  which  time  the  mill  has  been 
idle. 

Foundries  and  Machine  Shops. — The  G.  Curtis  Foundry  and  Machine 
shop,  situated  on  Lake  street,  was  built  and  run  as  a  foundry  by  J.  C. 
Lewis  in  1835  ;  afterwards  by  Chapin  Bros.;  later  by  W.  C.  Alden,  who 
attached  a  machine  shop,  when  it  came  into  possession  of  the  present 
owner  in  the  spring  of  1867. 

John  Glass  established  a  machine  shop  on  the  west  side  of  the  canal 
about  i860,  where  he  did  general  steamboat  repairing.  In  1872  he 
moved  his  shop  to  the  stone  building  on  Lake  street. 

Chaney  &  Allen  established  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  near  the 
Rome  depot,  about  the  year  1830,  where  they  built  and  repaired 
engines,  and  made  a  general  line  of  castings.  The  works  were  driven  by 
steam.  In  1880  the  building  was  burned,  when  Mr.  Allen,  being  then 
the  sole  proprietor,  purchased  a  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the  canal  and 
erected  a  stone  foundry.  At  his  death  Patrick  Hackett  leased  the  plant, 
and  has  since  operated  the  foundry.  Shortly  after  the  Allen  foundry 
burned  the  plant  was  purchased  by  a  company,  and  an  iron  ore  paint 
mill  erected,  driven  by  steam. 

Nash  Brothers  started  a  machine  shop  in  John  Hannan's  planing  mill 
in  1888,  where  they  do  a  general  line  of  machine  work,  but  make  a 
specialty  of  steamboat  engine  repairing  and  building,  and  the  erection 
of  steam  heating  apparatus. 

48 


378  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

There  are  two  tanneries  in  the  city,  one  of  which  was  built  in  1828 
by  Erastus  Vilas  and  is  now  run  and  owned  by  a  nephew,  Erastus 
Vilas.  The  other  was  established  by  F.  N.  Burt  some  years  later. 
Their  principal  work  is  morocco  tanning.  It  is  now  run  by  two  of  his 
sons,  Lyman  and  Frederick  Burt. 

H.  D.  Northrup  and  his  brother  established  a  stave  and  barrel  fac- 
tory in  1 86 1.  After  his  brother's  death  in  1867,  H.  D.  has  carried  on 
the  business  alone.  The  shops  were  burned  in  the  summer  of  1890, 
and  rebuilt  on  a  more  modern  plan. 

A  steam  dye-works  was  established  in  the  fall  of  1877  by  Fred  S. 
McGuire.  He  added  a  woolen  mill  in  1880.  In  1886  the  mill  was 
burned.  About  two  years  later  a  company  was  organized  and  started 
a  woolen  mill,  which  continued  for  a  short  time,  when  Mr.  McGuire  and 
David  Lyon  came  into  possession  of  the  property  and  have  since  con- 
tinued to    operate  it,  making  a  fine  quality  of  yarn  and  coarse    cloths. 

A  carpet  cleaning  machine  and  dye  works  was  established  by  Benja- 
min  Musgrave  in  1885  on  Crescent  street. 

A  sash,  door  and  blind  factory  was  established  by  S.  G.  Pope  on 
Lake  street  in  185  i.      It  is  driven  by  both  water  and  steam. 

H.  I.  Proctor  added  to  his  saw  mill  establishment  a  sash,  door  and 
blind  factory  on  Mill  street  in  1889.  Hannan  &  Co.  added  a  sash,  door 
and  blind  factory  to  their  steam  planing  mill  in  1890  on   Water   street. 

A  pump  factory  was  put  in  operation  by  A.  A.  Babcock  in  1873  in 
the  old  stone  flouring  mill  on  King  street,  which  has  been  operated  ever 
since.  A  portion  of  the  building  was  converted  in  the  summer  of 
1893  into  a  silverware  factory,  operated  by  a  company  of  which  Bell 
Brothers  are  the  principal  managers.  They  manufacture  a  full  line  of 
silverware. 

The  O.  E.  Martin  hub  factory  was  erected  about  1887  on  the  basin 
and  is  driven  by  both  water  and  steam  and  turned  out  a  large  quantity 
of  wagon  hubs  yearly.      It  is  now  run  by  a  company. 

There  are  now  in  the  city  two  architects,  ten  contractors,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  carpenters,  forty- five  stone  and  brick  masons,  ten  dry 
goods  merchants,  forty  two  groceries,  ten  small  dealers,  ten  barber 
shops,  eight  shoe  dealers,  ten  cobblers,  three  boiler  makers,  one  book 
bindery,  one  brass  foundry  and  plating  works,    six    carriage  and  repair 


=*%-=- ^.5^ 


?A^^yr^ 


^-nlM^ 


i 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  379 

shops,  seven  cigar  manufacturers,  six  men's  clothing  stores,  six  coal 
dealers,  two  cold  storage,  seven  dentists,  two  farmer's  sheds,  three 
florists,  three  furniture  dealers,  four  hardware  dealers,  eight  stove  and 
hardware  dealers,  two  harness  shops,  ten  hotels,  six  jewelers,  eight 
ladies'  fancy  and  furnishing  goods,  two  laundries,  six  livery,  pale  and 
boarding  stables,  two  locksmiths,  one  marble  and  granite  works,  fifteen 
meat  markets,  six  music  teachers,  six  merchant  tailors,  six  paint  shops 
and  paper  hangers,  four  plumbing,  steam  and  gas  fitters,  three  sewing 
machine  dealers,  four  undertakers,  seven  wood  yards,  and  four  toys  and 
fancy  goods. 

CHRISTIAN    ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  account  of  the  French  missionary  post  at  La  Galette  from  1749 
to  1760,  connected  with  the  military  affairs  of  that  time,  has  been  given 
in  another  part  of  this  work.  The  English  possession  of  the  place  from 
1760  to  1796  had  no  religious  organization  further  than  what  comes 
under  a  chaplain's  duty  at  a  military  station.  After  Nathan  Ford  took 
possession  of  the  old  barracks  religious  services  were  occasionally  held 
there  by  missionaries  or  traveling  preachers  of  various  denominations. 
As  the  neighborhood  increased,  there  was  a  desire  on  the  part  of  those 
who  were  religiously  inclined,  to  form  an  organization  for  worship.  On 
October  5,  1 805,  a  society  was  formed  under  the  name  of  the  First 
Church  and  Congregation  of  Christ.  Nathan  Ford,  John  Lyon,  Aaron 
Welton,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  and  Thomas  J.  Davies  were  elected  trustees. 

The  next  important  move  was  to  select  and  settle  a  clergyman,  and 
as  the  Lisbon  people  had  settled  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  some  of  the 
people  of  Ogdensburg  were  anxious  to  have  one  also.  As  the  court- 
house was  a  suitable  place  to  meet  in,  Mr.  Ogden  proposed  to  send 
them  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  having  already  sent  on  prayer  books  for 
their  use.  He  proposed  to  have  two  lots  laid  out,  one  near  the  court- 
house to  be  held  for  a  parsonage  ;  the  other  to  be  conveyed  in  fee 
simple  to  "  the  first  clergyman  who  shall  reside  in  town,  and  perform 
Episcopal  duties  therein,  for  the  term  of  ten  years."  A  farm  to  be  laid 
out  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  as  a  parsonage,  to  be  conveyed  for  the 
use  of  the  church  ;  also  a  convenient  lot  in  town  whereon  to  build  a 
church,  and  for  a  burying  ground.      This  was  rather  an  unwelcome  duty 


380  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

to  impose  upon  Mr.  Ford,  who  was  inclined  to  the  Presbyterian  side, 
while  some  of  the  trustees  were  well  pleased  with  Mr.  Ogden's  offer. 
The  story  is  related  as  authentic,  that  Mr.  Ford  was  so  annoyed  at  this 
turn  of  affairs,  having  previously  decided  to  establish  a  Presbyterian 
clergyman,  that  he  declared  he  would  go  to  h —  for  one  rather  than  be 
disappointed.  Mr.  Ford,  however,  considered  the  matter  and  wrote 
Mr.  Ogden  a  long  and  plausible  letter,  setting  forth  in  substance,  that 
he  feared  their  interest  in  increasing  the  settlement  would  be  materially 
effected  if  they  endeavored  to  carry  out  his  wishes  at  present,  because 
the  immigration  to  this  country  had  been  largely  Presbyterian.  He 
stated  that  the  moment  a  measure  should  be  pursued  which  had  the 
shadow  of  appearance  of  directing  the  religious  opinions  of  the  people 
(no  matter  how  pure  the  motive  might  be)  jealousies  would  be  excited 
and  uneasiness  created.  "  The  question  arises  whether  it  will  not  be 
better  to  let  our  people  follow  their  own  prejudices  and  please  them- 
selves in  their  religious  pursuits.  I  have  tried  to  compromise  my  ideas 
upon  this  subject  in  as  concise  a  manner  as  possible,  and  shall  conclude 
them  by  observing  that,  circumstanced  as  we  are,  to  let  the  organization 
(as  we  intended  it  should  be)  remain  undenominational,  and  have  the 
people  to  act  for  themselves  in  selecting  a  clergyman." 

Heretofore  the  people  had  been  supplied  occasionally  by  mis- 
sionaries. The  Rev.  Mr.  Younglove,  a  Presbyterian,  who  had  been  a 
tutor  in  Schenectady  College,  was  up  on  a  visit  that  fall  and  preached 
to  them  about  six  weeks.  His  manner  so  pleased  the  people  that  Mr. 
Ford  united  with  others  in  extending  to  him  a  call,  with  a  view  of  re- 
ceiving in  the  future  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Younglove's  assistance  in  found- 
ing an  academy.  He  came  on  the  next  year  in  February,  1806,  and 
preached  very  acceptably,  but  remained  a  few  months  only. 

During  the  following  year  (1807)  there  were  no  meetings  in  the 
village,  excepting  one  day  by  two  young  men,  sent  out  by  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  Massachusetts,  who  were  up  to  assist  in  the  cere- 
monies of  constituting  the  Congregational  Church  at  Madrid.  The 
Rev.  E.  S.  Bordey,  Congregational  missionary  from  the  east,  oc- 
casionally held  services  in  the  court-house  for  the  society,  but  during 
the  War  of  18 12-15  '^^  meetings  were  held  in  the  place. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  381 

Denominational  feelings  and  regrets  would  occasionally  crop  out, 
which  was  evident  that  a  break  in  the  society  would  sooner  or  later 
come. 

Baptist  Organization. — At  length  a  few  believers  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination in  Ogdensburg  and  up  Black  Lake,  organized  under  the 
name  of  "  The  Oswegatchie  Baptist  Church,"  on  June  30,  1809,  with 
six  male  and  three  female  members.  Having  no  clergyman  of  their 
denomination,  the  Rev  E.  S.  Bordey,  Congregational  missionary,  as- 
sisted them,  and  acted  as  moderator.  He  also  preached  for  them  oc- 
casionally, holding  meetings  in  school  houses  in  the  village  and  up 
Black  Lake.  During  a  period  of  nearly  seven  years,  including  the 
war  period,  or  from  December  10,  1810,  to  July  12,  1817,  no  services 
were  held  by  the  Baptists,  after  which  Rev.  Jonathan  Payne  labored 
with  them  a  number  of  years.  In  1827  Rev.  Nathan  Colver  was  called 
as  pastor,  and  held  services  in  the  court-house,  when  they  reorganized 
and  changed  their  name  to  the  "  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ogdensburg." 
They  erected  a  stone  church  on  a  lot  donated  by  Mr.  Parish,  and  laid 
the  corner  stone  July  5,  1830,  and  dedicated  the  building  the  second 
Tuesday  of  August,  1833.  Elder  Kingsford  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon.  Within  a  few  years  the  church  building  was  enlarged.  In 
1 87 1  the  church  was  rebuilt,  a  fine  steeple  added,  the  inside  decorated 
and  refurnished.  A  few  years  later  a  portion  of  the  wood  work  was 
burned,  which  was  rebuilt  without  a  steeple.  To  day  the  society  is  in 
a  prosperous  condition.     The  Rev.  Albert  M.  Prentice  is  pastor. 

Presbyterian  Organization. — In  the  fall  of  18 17  Rev.  Royal  Phelps 
and  Judge  Fine  called  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  "First  Society 
and  Congregation  of  Christ,"  with  a  view  of  organizing  them  into  a 
Presbyterian  church,  as  no  regular  pastor  had  presided  over  that  body 
for  some  time.  The  society  then  numbered  about  thirty  professing 
Christians  of  various  denominational  proclivities.  After  duly  consider- 
ing the  proposition,  they  decided  to  remain  as  they  were.  About  two 
years  after,  the  Presbyterian  element  in  the  old  society,  with  those  who 
lately  came  to  the  village,  erected  a  plain  wooden  chapel,  which  Mr. 
Ford  called  a  "  gospel  born,"  on  the  north  corner  of  the  block  opposite 
the  town  hall.  On  the  8th  of  December,  1819,  they  met  in  their 
house  and  organized  the  "  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oswegatchie," 


382  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

with  nine  male  and  nine  female  members.       Rev.   Barnabus    Bruin  of- 
ficiated in  the  organization  and  became  their  first  pastor.      In  the  spring 
of  1824,  the  society  commenced  to  build  a  stone  church  on  the  present 
site.     The  corner  stone  was  laid  by    St.  Lawrence  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M., 
June  II  following,  and  the  building  was  completed  the  next  year.      In 
1847  the  church  was  enlarged.      Rev.  L.  M.  Miller  was  called    in   Feb- 
ruary, 1837,  but  on  account  of  a  drunken  driver  upsetting  his    carriage 
and  breaking  his  leg,  he  did  not  enter  upon  his  labors  until  the    12th  of 
May  following.     The  young  preacher  drew  the  people  to   such  an  ex- 
tent that  more  room  was  required  to   accommodate   the    growing  con- 
gregation.     The  question  of  building  a  second  church,  or  enlarging  the 
present  one,  was  a  long  while  under  consideration.       A  plan,   however, 
was  started  in  1856,  to  build  a  church  in  the  second  ward.      A  lot  was 
secured  by  donation  and  $3,600  pledged,  but  through  the  influence  of 
a  few  who  preferred  a  strong  central   organization,   the   project    failed. 
The  enlargement  of  the  old  church  was  decided  upon,   and    in    1866  it 
was  virtually  rebuilt  and  made  considerably   larger  at    great   expense. 
In  1887  the  inside  was  thoroughly  repaired,  rearranged  and   decorated. 
On  January  13,  1890,  the  steeple  was  damaged,  the  tower  walls  cracked, 
and  a  chimney  fell   through    the    parsonage    roof,    caused    by   a    wind 
storm.      In  the  spring  the  damage  was  repaired,  the  organ  moved,  new 
windows  cut  in  the  wall  back  of  the  pulpit,  and  all   the  windows    reset 
with  cathedral  stained  glass,   and    the   doors   made   to    swing   outward. 
Dr.  Miller  is  still  pastor  of  the  church,  hale  and  hearty,    and  will  have 
completed  his  forty- third  year  of  pastorate  in    February,    1894.      The 
society  is  large  and  prosperous. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oswegatchie  was  organized  in 
1823,  in  the  "Alger"  school  house.  District  No.  9,  with  twenty- 
three  members,  by  Rev.  James  McAuley.  In  1826  the  following 
named  persons  were  elected  trustees  :  John  I.  Doren,  William  Ander- 
son, Alexander  Jamieson,  Jacob  Eyseman  and  John  Lammond.  The 
first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Rodger,  who  came  that  same  year. 
In  1836  a  frame  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,100.  In  1854  the 
church  was  enlarged.  In  1881  the  present  stone  church  was  built  with 
a  tower,  basement  and  Sunday  school  room,  at  a  cost  of  $9,000.  Rev. 
Alfred  Logan  is  the  present  pastor. 


tAX^l^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWBGATCHIB.  383 

The  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  situated  at  Heuvelton,  was  organized 
out  of  the  Congregational  body  of  that  place,  after  being  supplied  a  few 
years  by  the  St.  Lawrence  Presbytery,  on  April  5,  1859.  They  wor- 
shiped in  the  old  Congregational  Church  until  the  present  edifice  was 
erected  in  1879,  which  was  dedicated  on  December  30  of  the  same  year. 
Rev.  Mr.  Robertson  was  their  pastor  at  the  time,  and  was  also  very 
active  in  building  the  church.  The  mixed  manner  in  which  the 
accounts  were  kept  of  the  expenditures  in  the  erection  of  the  edifice, 
caused  dissatisfaction  and  turmoil  that  destroyed  the  usefulness  of  the 
society  for  several  years  thereafter.  Its  membership  is  only  about  forty 
at  the  present  time. 

Episcopal  Organization. — After  the  Baptists  and  Presbyterians  with- 
drew from  the  old  society  in  1805  the  remaining  members  began  to  look 
for  religious  homes  of  their  choice.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Nash  came  into 
the  county  in  1816,  and  held  services  in  Ogdensburg.  His  report  states 
that  he  was  the  first  Episcopal  missionary  that  came  into  the  county. 
The  next  was  the  Rev.  Amos  G.  Baldwin,  in  June,  18 18,  who  held 
services  in  the  old  court  house  occasionally  ;  and  on  the  23d  day  of 
May,  1820,  a  society  was  formed  with  fifteen  members,  who  called  the 
Rev.  Lawson  Carter  as  their  first  rector.  A  lot  was  donated  by  Mr. 
Parish,  and  the  corner  stone  laid  by  the  rector  on  the  lOth  of  August, 
1821.  The  following  spring,  May  23,  1822,  the  society  was  incorpo- 
rated, with  Thos.  J.  Davies  and  Isaac  Plumb  as  wardens;  Geo.  Parish, 
Louis  Hasbrouck,  David  Ford,  D.  C.  Judson,  Andrew  McCollum, 
Junius  Walton,  Richard  W.  Colfax  and  Sylvester  Gilbert,  vestrymen. 
Ths  corporate  name  is  "The  Rector,  Church  Wardens  and  Vestrymen 
of  St.  John's  Church  of  Ogdensburg."  The  church  was  completed  and 
opened  for  worship  in  October,  1823.  A  stone  rectory  was  commenced 
adjoining  the  church  in  1825.  The  church  was  enlarged,  the  tower 
carried  up,  and  all  thoroughly  repaired  in  1843,  making  the  seating 
capacity  about  six  hundred.  In  the  spring  of  1870  the  old  church  and 
rectory  were  removed  and  the  present  church  edifice  commenced.  The 
church  was  completed  and  dedicated  by  the  Bishop  of  Albany  on  the 
27th  of  July,  1 87 1,  at  a  cost  of  $75,000.  A  stone  chapel,  in  the  same 
style  of  architecture,  was  built  in  the  rear  of  the  church  in  1875,  ^^  ^ 
cost  of  $12,000.     The  seating  capacity  of  the  church  is  1,000,  and  that 


384  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  chapel  300.  The  society  purchased  the  present  brick  rectory, 
No.  54  CaroHne  street,  and  furnished  it  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  The 
society  at  first  was  largely  composed  of  influential  business  men,  and 
has  since  greatly  increased,  both  in  wealth  and  influence,  and  is  noted 
for  its  charitable  acts  in  looking  after  the  poor.  Rev.  J.  D.  Morrison 
has  been  rector  of  the  church  since  1875. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Organization  was  commenced  at 
Ogdensburg  in  the  summer  of  1822  by  Joseph  Brooks,  a  shoemaker  and 
an  exhorter.  He  gathered  a  little  flock  of  zealous  people  in  private 
houses  and  formed  a  class,  whose  spiritual  wants  were  soon  after  cared 
for  by  an  itinerant  preacher,  who  made  the  circuit  of  St.  Lawrence  and 
part  of  Jefferson  county,  on  horseback,  in  from  four  to  six  weeks.  The 
community  was  as  prejudiced  in  those  days  against  this  new  method  of 
worship  as  are  the  people  of  to-day  against  the  Salvation  Army.  The 
following  incidents  are  given  as  a  reminder  of  the  sentiment  expressed 
in  rowdyism  of  that  day.  At  an  evening  meeting,  held  in  a  private 
house  by  Mr.  Brooks,  a  Mrs.  Connor  was  present  and  took  part.  Her 
husband,  a  Roman  Catholic  (and  being  in  liquor),  rushed  into  the  room 
with  a  club,  and  crying  out  with  vulgar  oaths,  threatened  to  drive  them 
out.  Mrs.  Connor  made  her  escape  by  the  back  door.  Mr.  Connor 
was  disarmed,  and  finally  prevailed  upon  to  leave  the  house  He  went 
home,  locked  his  wife  and  children  out,  and  went  to  bed  in  a  stupefied 
condition,  smoking  his  pipe.  Before  morning  the  house  took  fire  and 
he  perished  in  the  flames  At  another  time,  when  a  prayer  meeting 
was  being  held  in  the  school  house  (on  the  lot  where  Mrs.  H.  R. 
James's  house  now  stands),  and  while  on  their  knees  during  a  season  of 
prayer.  Miss  Margaret  McDowell  (sister  of  the  late  Mrs.  Henry  Plumb), 
being  one  of  the  number,  her  betrothed,  Samuel  Brady,  with  Levi  Gil- 
bert and  two  others,  rushed  into  the  meeting  and  by  force  undertook  to 
carry  her  away.  The  men  present  rushed  to  Miss  McDowell's  assistance, 
and  forced  the  rufiians  to  leave  without  the  girl.  In  the  melee  Gilbert 
lost  the  skirt  of  his  swallow-tail  coat.  On  February  21,  1825,  the 
church  was  duly  organized,  with  eighteen  male  and  several  female  mem- 
bers, by  the  assistance  and  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Gardiner  Baker. 
The  following  brethren  were  elected  trustees  :  Ichabod  Arnold,  Joseph 
Arnold,  Joseph  Cole,  David  Chapin  and  Joseph   Brooks.      Mr.  Parish 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  385 

donated  a  lot,  and  the  society  built  a  small  wooden  chapel  that  year 
thereon,  situated  on  the  corner  of  ^Montgomery  and  Caroline  streets^ 
which  served  them  twenty-five  years.  In  the  winter  of  1 841-2  the 
pastor,  Rev.  J.  Sawyer,  assisted  by  the  Congregational  evangelist,  Rev. 
Mr.  Wicks,  held  a  protracted  meeting,  which  resulted  in  one  of  the 
largest  revivals  that  ever  came  to  Ogdensburg.  Again,  in  1847-8,  under 
the  pastor,  P.  D.  Gorrie,  assisted  by  Rev.  Gorham  Cross,  a  Congrega- 
tional minister,  held  a  protracted  meeting,  where  a  large  number  were 
added  to  the  church.  In  1850  the  present  brick  veneered  church  was 
erected;  in  1866  it  was  thorougly  overhauled  and  refurnished.  In  1880 
the  basement  was  enlarged  and  fitted  up  for  conference  meetings  and 
Sabbath  school.  In  1887  a  commodious  parsonage  was  built  adjoining 
the  church.  In  the  great  wind-storm  of  January  13,  1890,  a  portion  of 
the  church  roof  was  carried  away,  and  the  west  gable  end  fell  inward, 
passed  through  the  ceiling  and  the  floor,  carrying  the  pulpit  and  chancel 
to  the  basement.  The  accident  virtually  caused  a  reconstruction  and 
refurnishing  of  the  church  at  a  large  expense.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  churches  in  the  city.  Rev.  M.  W.  Chase  is  now  pastor 
over  the  large  and  thriving  church. 

A  second  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  at  Heuvelton  in  1820,  with 
twenty  members,  in  a  school-house,  by  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Rundall,  who 
was  their  first  pastor.  The  society  was  incorporated  September  14, 
1843,  with  Nathan  Giffin.  Isaac  Gray  and  Amos  Hulett,  trustees,  and 
erected  a  small  wooden  church  in  the  same  year.  In  1870  the  present 
church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  The  first  Sabbath  school  was 
organized  in    1832. 

A  third  M.  E.  Church  of  Oswegatchie  was  organized  in  the  stone 
school-house,  about  five  miles  above  Ogdensburg,  on  the  Black  River 
road,  in  1832,  by  Rev.  Joel  Emms,  its  first  pastor.  In  1841  the  fol- 
lowing named  were  elected  trustees :  Benjamin  Nichols,  Uriah  Van 
Waters.  Ransom  Lovejoy,  Hiram  Young,  Amasa  Pierce  and  James 
Russell.  In  1842  a  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $i,ooo.  In  1878  the 
church  was  rebuilt  with  a  tower  and  furnished  with  a  bell.  The  church 
and  parsonage  cost  $3,500.      Rev.  Mr.  Williams  is  now  pastor. 

A  fourth  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1869  by  Rev. 

\V.  C.  Lent,  in  the  second  u^ard  of  Ogdensburg,  in  the  old  Presbyterian 

49 


386  History  of  st.  lawrekce  county. 

mission  house,  with  fifteen  members,  mostly  women.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  build  a  church,  but  for  lack  of  funds  it  was  delayed,  and  at  a 
meeting  of  the  conference  the  following  year,  no  appropriations  being 
made  to  sustain  the  mission,  the  society  disbanded. 

hHsh  CatJiolic  Organization. — In  the  summer  of  1828,  Bishop  Du- 
boice  sent  Father  James  Salmon  to  Ogdensburg  to  look  after  and  guard 
the  faith  of  the  Catholic  settlers.  He  found  some  twenty-five  families 
with  whom  he  labored  for  a  few  years,  occasionally  saying  mass  in 
private  families.  With  the  assistance  of  the  Magones,  McCarthys  and 
others,  he  cleared  the  trees  from  the  lot  where  the  cathedral  now  stands, 
and  commenced  a  small  stone  church  before  he  left.  Father  Folio 
succeeded  him  about  the  year  1835,  '^"d  completed  the  church 
soon  after.  Father  James  Mackey  came  to  the  parish  in  1841.  His 
popularity  soon  drew  a  congregation  which  was  too  large  for  the 
church  to  accommodate,  and  he  commenced  the  foundation  for  the 
present  edifice,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  by  Bishop  Mc 
Closkey  (  since  Cardinal)  in  1852.  Bishop  Wadhams  was  appointed 
to  preside  over  the  See  in  February,  1872,  was  consecrated  at  Albany 
May  5,  and  came  to  Ogdensburg  on  the  i6th  following.  His  presence 
gave  dignity  and  influence  to  the  church,  and  greatly  stimulated  its 
growth  and  prosperity.  The  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  the 
"  Cathedral,"  and  the  building  was  remodeled  on  the  inside  in  1887, 
by  carrying  an  arched  ceiling  well  up  into  the  roof,  by  new  sittings 
and  the  chancel  rearranged  with  a  "  Baldachin "  over  the  bishop's 
seat.  The  walls,  windows  and  ceilings  are  decorated  with  scriptural 
scenes,  making  it  one  of  the  most  pleasant  church  edifices  in  the  dio- 
cese. The  church  lot  has  been  enlarged  and  a  substantial  stone  rectory 
was  erected  in  1890  on  the  lot,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  fine  lawn. 
The  valuation  of  the  church  and  school  property  is  $150,000.  The 
congregation  averages  from  12,000  to  15,000.  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Con- 
roy  is  their  present  pastor. 

The  Catholic  church  at  Heuvelton  was  purchased  from  the  Universal- 
ists  in  1 88 1  for  $1,000.  The  repairs  and  changes  cost  $500.  The 
trustees  are  John  Corcoran,  Lawrence  Berry  and  Arthur  Kelley.  Their 
first  supply  was  Rev.  J.  Murphey.  Supplies  are  sent  from  Ogdensburg 
every  three  weeks.  Their  congregation,  including  children,  is  about 
eighty. 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  387 

The  Congregational  Organization. — The  first  church  organized  in 
town  of  this  denomination  was  in  the  old  historic  court  house,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1834,  by  Rev.  James  B  Taylor  of  Madrid.  Deacon  Salmon  Smith, 
Morgan  L.  Eastman  (since  minister)  and  three  others  were  the  male  mem- 
bers. Rev.  Joab  Seeley  supplied  the  pulpit  for  some  time.  The  Rev.  H. 
Foot  held  a  protracted  meeting  which  greatly  strengthened  and  increased 
their  membership.  In  1836  T.  L.  Conklin,  D.  D.,  served  them  as 
pastor  about  six  months,  and  many  united  with  the  church.  After  he 
left,  no  regular  Sunday  services  were  held,  but  the  Sabbath  school  was 
continued  and  mid-week  prayer  meetings.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  Mr. 
S  C.  Fields,  one  of  the  church  workers  and  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent, went  west ;  Mr.  Seeley  went  to  Vermont,  and  several  others 
left  town,  and  the  Sabbath  school  was  turned  over  to  the  Presbyterians 
and  the  church  went  down. 

A  second  Congregational  church  was  organized  at  Heuvelton,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1842,  by  Rev.  L.  A.  Weeks,  assisted  by  B.  B.  Parsons,  their 
first  pastor.  G.  T.  Howard  and  four  others  were  elected  trustees.  A 
frame  church  was  built  in  1844,  ^^  a  cost  of  $1,200.  The  church  flour- 
ished during  the  time  Rev.  Mr.  Parson's  stayed  with  them,  but  after  he 
left  it  soon  declined  and  finally  changed  to  Presbyterian  in  April,  1859, 
after  being  supplied  a  few  years  by  that  body. 

The  third  Congregational  organization  was  effected  in  the  Second 
ward  of  Ogdensburg  May  2,  1882,  by  Rev.  James  S.  Ainsley.  The 
society  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  "  The  First  Congregational 
Society  of  Ogdensburg,"  with  Gates  Curtis,  Charles  G.  Idler  and  Charles 
Adams,  trustees.  The  church  proper  was  formed  on  May  22,  with  eight 
males  and  thirty-  five  females.  A  lot  was  purchased  and  the  corner  stone 
of  the  structure  laid  by  the  F.  and  A.  Masons  on  August  24,  1882.  The 
building  was  erected,  the  chapel  finished  and  the  first  services  held  in 
new  quarters  on  December  31  following.  Previous  to  this  date  services 
were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  mission  rooms.  The  structure  was  com- 
pleted the  following  year  and  dedicated  August  28,  1884.  The  cost 
of  the  church,  furnishing  and  lot  was  $14,000.  The  membership  now 
is  about  175.     A.  G.  Roger  is  pastor. 

Notre  Dame  des  Victoires  Church,  or  the  French  Catholic  Organiza- 
tion.— Previous  to  the  Lenten  season  of  1858,  the  French  people  had  no 


388  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

regular  services  held  in  their  language  in  this  place.  During  the  rebel- 
lion in  Canada  in  1837-38,  a  large  number  of  the  •' habitans  "  (about 
200  families)  came  over  to  Ogdensburg.  Being  unacquainted  with  the 
English  language  and  finding  no  congenial  place  to  worship  on  the 
Lord's  day,  they  wandered  about  "  like  lost  sheep."  In  1848  Mr.  E. 
B.  Allen  donated  them  a  lot  near  the  lime  kiln.  A  quantity  of  stone 
and  lumber  was  delivered  and  work  commenced  on  a  frame  church, 
when  Bishop  McCloskey  came  here  and  forbade  them  to  build,  which 
command  they  meekly  obeyed.  In  185  i  the  Bishop  of  Quebec  sent  a 
priest  to  Ogdensburg  to  do  missionary  work  among  the  French  people. 
Father  Mackey  threatened  him  and  drove  him  back  to  Canada. 

The  French  people  would  not  go  to  the  Irish  Catholic  Church  and 
therefore  pleaded  with  the  bishop  of  Montreal  to  send  them  a  French 
priest.  In  the  spring  of  1858  Father  La  Mercier,  an  elderly  man  just 
over  from  France,  came  to  Ogdensburg  and  applied  to  Father  Mackey 
for  the  use  of  his  church,  when  not  occupied,  but  failed  to  secure  it. 
Eagle  Hall  was  engaged  and  mass  was  said  there  about  five  Sabbaths. 
A  society  was  formed  and  the  trustees  were  elected  as  follows  :  Chas. 
Marceau,  Louis  Cardinal,  Moise  Paquett,  and  Adolphus  Cardinal.  The 
Mansion  property  was  purchased,  and  the  house  was  used  to  celebrate 
mass  in.  The  church  edifice  was  commenced  that  summer  and  inclosed 
in  the  following  year,  when  rough  seats  were  made  to  use  for  the  time 
being;  they  having  exhausted  their  means,  the  work  of  completion 
rested  for  several  years.  Father  La  Mercier  died  in  December,  1863, 
and  was  buried  under  the  church.  In  1890  the  church  was  completed, 
with  arched  ceilings,  new  seats,  stained  glass  windows,  and  the  whole 
interior  beautifully  decorated  in  the  latest  style,  at  a  cost,  including  an 
organ,  of  about  $20,000.  The  parochial  school  building  recently  erect- 
ed, cost  $9,000,  making  the  total  value  of  the  church  property  $29,- 
000.  Father  La  Rose  is  their  rector,  and  has  some  500  families  under 
his  care. 

Israelite  Organization. — This  remarkable  people,  sojourning  in  Og- 
densburg, formed  a  religious  society  in  the  year  of  "A.  W.  Eleel  5625," 
or  in  August,  1865.  They  were  incorporated  September  following, 
under  the  name  o{*^Anshe  Zophon.''  They  have  three  trustees,  Nathan 
Frank  having  been  one  from  the  first.    Their  object,  apart  from  religious 


THE  TOWN  OF  OSWEGATCHIE.  389 

worship,  is  to  perpetuate  and  cherish  the  religious  faith  of  their  fore- 
fathers, by  keeping  sacred  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  and  the  stated 
feasts.  They  have  a  "  Sacred  Sci'oll,"  obtained  in  New  York,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $150,  which  is  a  continuous  sheet  of  parchment  written  in 
Hebrew  characters,  from  right  to  left,  and  contains  the  book  of  the  law, 
or  the  five  books  of  Moses.  They  do  not  employ  a  "Rabin,"  but  have 
a  person,  termed  in  the  Hebrew,  "  Chason,"  who  is  competent  to  read 
and  explain  the  Scroll.  He  also  kills  and  dresses  for  their  people, 
certain  animals  in  their  peculiar  manner,  for  food,  and  inspects  meat  be- 
fore it  is  used  as  such,  when  purchased  from  Gentiles.  They  are  not 
allowed  to  transact  business  or  read  the  "  Scroll  "  unless  there  be  a 
a  quorum  present,  which  is  ten  males  not  less  than  thirteen  years  of 
age.  Women  and  children  are  not  numbered  on  certain  occasions,  but 
may  hold  prayer  meetings,  and  all  may  take  part.  They  meet  on 
Saturday  in  their  synagogue  in  the  Averell  block,  about  forty  to  fifty, 
who  are  strict  observers  of  the  Mosaic  law. 

Universalist  Organization. — Meetings  of  this  denomination  have 
been  held  occasionally  in  Ogdensburg  for  the  past  fifty  years,  either  in 
the  old  Court  House,  the  old  academy  or  Lyceum  Hall.  Dr.  D.  K. 
Lee  preached  here  in  1862,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Fisk  and  others  in  1868-69, 
held  regular  services  and  had  a  fine  Sunday  school  organized,  which 
was  kept  up  for  some  time.  In  January,  1868,  a  society  was  formed 
under  the  name  of  the  "  CJinrch  of  the  Messiah."  The  trustees  were 
Henry  Rodee,  W.  C.  Alden,  and  three  others.  They  selected  a  lot  on 
State  street,  and  had  $6,050.00  pledged  as  a  building  fund.  The  con- 
ditions were,  to  engage  either  a  Universalist  or  a  Unitarian  preacher. 
The  house, when  not  occupied,  was  to  be  open  to  any  denomination,  or  for 
scientific  lectures.  After  a  couple  of  years,  no  action  having  been  tak- 
en, the  society  went  down,  and  has  not  since  been  revived. 

A  Universalist  society  was  formed  at  Heuvelton,  April  16,  1842, 
with  forty  members,  by  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Josephus  Briggs,  their 
pastor.  The  society  purchased  the  Van  Heuvel  church,  put  it  in  good 
repair  and  built  a  row  of  sheds  on  the  lot.  The  society  survived  only  a 
few  years,  when  it  ceased  to  meet,  and  finally  sold  the  house  to  the 
Catholics  in  1881. 


390  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Seventh  Day  Adventists,  represented  by  Elder  C.  B.  Reynolds  and 
Elder  Buel  Whitney.  They  held  meetings  at  Ogdensburg  in  a  large 
tent  in  the  summer  of  1879.  A  Sunday  school  was  formed,  with  James 
Hardie  superintendent.  A  number  of  conversions  followed,  who  were 
baptized  by  immersion  in  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  On  the  approach 
of  cold  weather  the  meetings  were  given  up  and  the  society  went 
down. 

Salvation  Army. — A  corps  of  this  body  of  believers  came  to  Og- 
densburg and  commenced  to  bombard  satan's  kingdom  on  the  evening 
of  July  2,  1 891.  Ensign  S.  A.  Farver  and  Captain  George  Elliot  and 
wife  and  several  ofificers  and  cadets  from  Prescott,  made  their  first 
"  sortie  "  from  their  barracks  in  the  second  ward,  as  far  out  as  the  town 
hall,  drawing  an  immense  crowd,  which  returned  to  their  quarters,  fill- 
ing them  to  overflowing.  They  do  not  claim  to  be  a  new  sect  or 
church,  but  simply  an  army  of  missionary  workers,  who  are  endeavor- 
ing to  rescue  their  fellow  beings  from  drunkenness  and  vice.  They 
rent  rooms,  take  up  collections  in  their  meetings  and  at  the  door  of 
their  barracks,  and  live  and  pay  rent  on  what  they  get  in  this  way. 
Their  officers  are  changed  about  every  tliree  months.  Their  influence 
for  good  is  gaining  daily. 

The  Young  Metis  Christian  Association  was  organized  in  Ogdens- 
burg, December  6,  1869,  with  J.  W.  Holbrook,  president.  It  was  re- 
organized and  incorporated  January  19,  1877,  with  six  trustees.  It 
also  had  fifteen  directors,  a  president,  vice-president,  a  general  secre- 
tary, and  an  advisory  board.  The  membership  in  1886  was  about  two 
hundred. 

A  branch  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  organ- 
ized in  Ogdensburg  February  5,  1884,  with  Mrs.  E.  H.  Bridges  presi- 
dent and  Mrs.  J.  S  Ainslie  secretary.  They  meet  in  the  council  room 
every  Friday  at  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Their  meetings  have  been  continued 
ever  since  with  considerable  interest,  and  have  proved  profitable  to  the 
cause  of  temperance. 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  391 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID— ORGANIZED  IN  1802. 

THIS  was  the  third  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed 
March  3,  1802.  It  embraced  the  original  township  No.  4,  lying 
on  the  St.  Lawrence;  also  was  to  hold  jurisdiction  over  the  territory 
(Potsdam)  lying  in  the  rear. 

The  first  town  meeting,  according  to  tradition,  was  held  in  the  open 
air,  about  the  1st  of  April,  near  the  village  of  Madrid,  the  presiding 
officer  seated  on  a  pine  stump,  when  the  following  persons  were  elected  : 
Joseph  Edsall,  supervisor;  Jacob  Redington,  clerk;  Cyrus  Abernethy, 
Reuben  Field,  Alex.  Brush,  Henry  Erwin,  assessors;  Henry  Erwin, 
constable  and  collector;  Jonathan  Tuttle,  Solomon  Linsley,  overseers 
of  the  poor  ;  John  Sharp,  Isaac  Bartholomew,  Ephraim  S.  Raymond, 
commissioners  of  highways ;  Asa  Freeman,  Jonathan  Allen,  Cyrus 
Abernethy,  fence  viewers ;  Edward  Lawrence,  pound-keeper  ;  Jona- 
than Allen,  Alexander  Brush,  Thomas  Rutherford,  Oliver  Linsley, 
Solomon  Linsley,  overseers  of  highways.  The  town  was  formerly 
bounded,  northerly  by  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  westerly  by  the  town 
of  Lisbon,  southerly  by  the  township  of  Potsdam,  and  easterly  by  the 
township  of  Louisville.  The  surface  of  the  town  is  comparatively  level, 
or  sufficiently  rolling  to  ensure  drainage.  The  town  is  watered  by  the 
St.  Lawrence,  numerous  brooks,  springs,  and  Grass  River,  which  flows 
diagonally  across  the  southerly  part  of  the  town,  on  which  are  falls  at 
the  village  of  Madrid  sufficient  to  afford  a  fair  power  for  manufacturing 
purposes.  The  soil  on  the  low  lands  is  loam,  with  more  or  less  gravel 
or  sand  on  the  higher  parts.  The  forest  growth  of  timber  was  good, 
such  as  pine,  hemlock,  maple,  beech  and  birch  on  the  high  lands,  white 
oak  on  the  marl  slopes,  and  black  ash,  cedar  and  pine  on  the  low 
grounds.  The  only  valuable  mineral  thus  far  discovered  is  bog  iron 
ore,  which  was  found  in  small  quantities  on  Grass  River,  about  two 
miles  below  Madrid  village.      It   was   used   in   the   forge   or  furnace  at 


392  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Waddington  in    1835,  for  a  few  years  only,  which   produced   good  cast 
iron. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  within  the  boundaries  of  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Madrid  (it  having  been  divided  in  1859,  see  history  of 
Waddington)  was  made  in  1801  by  Silas  Abernethy,  who  took  up 
his  home  on  the  west  side  of  the  Grass  River,  about  two  miles  below 
the  site  of  Madrid  village.  His  brother,  Ezekiel,  came  with  him  and 
made  his  home  on  the  site  of  the  present  village.  The  descendants  of 
these  pioneers  subsequently  became  prominent  citizens.  Solomon 
Lindsley  also  settled  on  the  site  of  the  village  in  1801  and  Ephraim  S. 
Raymond  in  the  Abernethy  neighborhood.  Jesse  Goss  located  at  the 
site  of  the  village  at  about  the  same  time. 

Judge  Joseph  Edsall  was  the  agent  for  the  sale  of  lands  of  David  A. 
and  Thomas  L.  Ogden  in  this  town,  and  the  land  was  sold  at  the  first 
from  two  to  three  dollars  an  acre. 

The  effect  of  Mr.  Ford's  advertising  the  advantages  to  be  obtained  by 
settlers  coming  to  St.  Lawrence  county  raised  the  cry  in  the  Green 
Mountain  State  :  "  Westward  Ho  !  "  when  many  of  Vermont's  bravest 
sons  and  loveliest  daughters  were  induced  to  break  away  from  the  ties 
of  old  associates  that  they  might  make  for  themselves  homes  in  a  far 
less  rugged  land.  St.  Lawrence  county,  but  more  especially  Madrid, 
was  largely  settled  at  first  by  Vermonters.  Among  the  first  to  emigrate 
was  Samuel  Allen,  who,  with  his  wife  and  little  son,  George  R.,  also 
his  father  Joseph,  cousin  to  Ethan  Allen  of  Revolutionary  fame,  in 
company  with  Joseph  Newton,  Daniel  Akin,  William  Powers,  William 
Lockwood,  John  Speers,  Daniel  Myres,  Samuel  Lytle,  John  Akin, 
William  Sprowles,  John  Farewell,  Joseph  Powers,  and  with  their  fam- 
ilies, started  out  with  ox  teams  and  sleds.  Their  route  lay  down  Lake 
Champlain,  thence  lo  the  St.  Lawrence,  where  they  crossed  to  the 
north  side,  thence  up  along  the  river  and  recrossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
near  the  site  of  the  Red  Mills  in  Lisbon,  arriving  in  the  last  days  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1797.  Here  the  families  soon  became  scattered  through  the 
northern  parts  of  the  townships.  Samuel  Allen,  however,  located  below 
the  Red  Mills,  and  in  1801  sold  out  his  improvements  and  moved  to 
Madrid,  where  he  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  between  Buck's  Bridge  and 
Columbia    village.      The   place  at  the  time  was   occupied   by  Asa  Lord 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  393 

and  Mr.  Hepburn.  In  i8io  Mr.  Allen  sold  out  and  took  up  a  piece  of 
wood  land  six  miles  east  of  Columbia  village,  where  he  lived  and  died 
at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety  years.  His  son.  George  B.  Allen,  when  a  lad 
of  eighteen  years,  enlisted  in  the  war  of  i8i2,  under  a  call  for  troops 
to  protect  the  frontier.  He  was  enrolled  at  Madrid  by  John  Blanchard 
on  July  15,  18 1 2,  into  a  company  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Castle,  with  headquarters  at  Waddington.  He  was  in  the  brush  with 
the  British  at  the  Red  Mills,  the  details  of  which  will  be  found  in  the 
history  of  Lisbon.  The  company  was  known  as  the  "  Floodwood," 
that  is,  a  company  of  men  each  dressed  in  his  own  homespun  suit  or 
according  to  his  own  fancy,  with  no  regular  arms.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle at  Ogdensburg.  and  when  the  American  troops  retreated  he,  with 
others,  being  in  citizen's  clothes,  was  ordered  to  remain  and  look  after 
the  wounded  and  scattered  arms.  He  was  taken  prisoner  three  times 
that  day  and  taken  before  the  commanding  ofificer,  who,  finding  that  he 
was  not  taken  under  arms,  and  having  no  evidence  that  he  was  a  United 
States  soldier,  was  discharged.  The  last  time  he  was  taken  to  the  bar- 
racks he  found  them  all  drunk,  when  he  managed  to  escape  to  Lisbon, 
and  on  the  way  collected  several  guns,  when  he  took  them  to  Heuvelton 
and  turned  them  over  to  the  quartermaster,  who  was  there  with  a 
squad  of  soldiers.  The  next  day  they  broke  camp  and  started  for 
Sackett's  Harbor,  and  while  there  he  enlisted  in  the  cavalry  service  and 
was  sent  to  Fort  George.  One  day  while  out  on  picket  duty  he  saw  a 
small  dog  cross  in  front  of  him.  He  knew  that  meant  Indians  and 
Indians  meant  business,  and  that  he  or  the  Indian  would  get  a  sudden 
call  to  visit  the  happy  hunting-ground.  That  instant  he  caught  sight 
of  a  feather,  then  a  head  moving  slowly  out  from  behind  a  tree.  A 
quick  motion  on  his  part  decided  the  question  as  to  who  should  be 
called,  when  Mr.  Allen  remained  to  tell  the  tale,  but  the  Indian  has 
been  a  good  Indian  ever  since.  Mr.  Allen  was  in  the  battle  of  Lundy's 
Lane,  Fort  George,  Queenstown  Heights,  Fort  Erie,  Oswego,  and 
many  skirmishes  leading  up  to  these  battles.  On  return  of  peace  his 
company  was  sent  down  from  Lewiston  to  Fort  Covington,  where  they 
were  discharged. 

In  the  fall  of  18 1 5  Mr.  Allen  married  Mary  Sullivan,  who  died  in  June, 
1829.      In  1 83 1  he  married   Susan  Pamelton,  who  also  died  a  number 

50 


394  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  years  later,  when  finally  he  made  his  home  with  his  nephew,  E.  J. 
Cady.  He  drew  a  pension  of  eight  dollars  per  month,  which  was  insuf- 
ficient to  keep  him,  when  General  N.  M.  Curtis,  M.C.,  secured  the  pass- 
age of  a  bill  to  grant  him  a  special  pension  of  twenty-five  dollars  per 
month.  He  was  one  hundred  years  old  this  I2th  of  January,  1894, 
now  awaiting  the  roll  call  and  orders  to  report  to  "  headquarters 
above." 

Among  the  settlers  who  came  in  1802  were  Samuel  Chipman  and 
Joseph  Freeman.  In  the  following  year  Seth  Roberts  and  a  Mr.  Clark 
built  a  saw  mill  on  the  river  at  the  site  of  Madrid  village.  This  fact  is 
established  by  a  record  of  December  3,  1803,  which  described  the  lay- 
ing out  of  a  road,  beginning  in  the  highway  northerly  of  "  La  Grasse  " 
River,  about  fifteen  chains  from  "  Roberts  &  Clark  Mill,"  and  thence 
southerly  to  the  Potsdam  line.  Two  other  roads  were  laid  out  in  the 
same  year,  one  running  northeasterly  to  the  Louisville  line  and  the 
other  beginning  at  E.  S.  Raymond's  place  and  running  thence  northerly 
"  to  the  center  of  the  Big  Road." 

Other  early  settlers  who  deserve  mention  are  Dan  Simonds,  grand- 
father of  the  late  George  E.  Simonds.  He  came  in  on  horseback  in 
the  fall  of  1803,  with  his  son,  from  New  England  to  St.  Regis,  crossed 
the  St.  Lawrence,  rode  up  the  Canada  side,  recrossed  to  what  is  now 
Waddington,  and  then  lined  his  track  through  the  woods  till  he  found 
a  site  that  pleased  him  about  two  miles  northwest  of  Madrid  village. 
In  a  bark  hut  which  they  immediately  put  up  the  son  suffered  through 
an  attack  of  measles  ;  but  during  the  four  weeks  while  they  remained 
there  they  cut  down  about  two  acres  of  timber  and  built  a  log  house. 
In  the  following  March  they  brought  in  the  remainder  of  the  family. 

Seth  Cogswell,  father  of  the  venerable  Enos  L.  Cogswell,  came  in 
1805  and  built  a  house  near  where  his  son  afterward  resided,  and  then 
returned  to  Vermont.  In  March,  1806,  he  came  again  with  his  hired 
man,  accompanied  by  his  daughter  Laura,  only  twelve  years  old,  who 
rode  on  horse-back,  crossing  the  rivers  on  the  ice,  and  kept  house  for 
her  father  during  the  summer.  In  the  spring  of  1807  the  remainder  of 
the  family  came  in. 

As  early  as  1803  Seth  Roberts  built  a  grist  mill,  and  the  settlement 
took  the  name  of  "  Roberts's  Mill."     It  was  also  called  by  some  "  Grass 


,  THE  TO^N  OF  MADRID.  395 

River  Falls,"  but  previous  to  the  War  of  1812  was  changed  to  "Colum- 
bia Village."  The  first  tavern  there  was  kept  by  Gould  Fancher  ;  this 
was  undoubtedl}'  the  first  public  house  in  the  town.  Nathan  Smith 
afterwards  kept  the  house,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
McCall's  Hotel.  A  little  store  was  opened  there  in  the  early  days  by 
Jarah  Meach.  The  first  school  in  the  town  was  probably  taught  at  the 
little  village  by  Dollie  Fields.  The  first  couple  married  in  the  town 
were  Ezekiel  Abernethy  and  Wealthy,  daughter  of  Solomon  Lindsley, 
who  were  united  in  1803.  Their  son.  Jared,  was  born  in  1804,  ^^^ 
was  probably  the  first  child  born  in  that  part  of  the  town. 

In  180B-9  a  distillery  was  built  by  Ely  and  Nathaniel  Hamblin  on 
the  river  below  the  mill;   it  was  used  until  about  1830. 

By  April,  1807,  there  were  116  voters  in  the  town,  if  not  more,  and 
by  18 12,  208  votes  were  cast  for  assemblymen.  Down  to  that  year  the 
following  were  among  the  settlers  in  what  is  now  Madrid :  Joseph 
Erwin,  Nathan  Smith,  Seth  Gates,  Daniel  Green,  John  Montgomery, 
Daniel  Wright,  John,  Ira  and  Alanson  Hawley,  Samuel  Robertson, 
Daniel  C.  Haskell,  William  Wright.  Caleb  Butterfield,  Capt.  John 
Doran,  M.  C.  Murray,  David  Brooks,  Jeremiah  Boynton,  Levi  Lock- 
wood,  Stephen  Smith,  William  Lockwood,  Roderick  E.  Hepburn, 
Sirene  Woodbridge,  Solomon  Stone,  Daniel  Whitney,  Richard  Blood, 
Solomon  Grey,  Windsor  Goulding,  Asahel  Stone,  Levi  Bristol,  Asa 
Low,  Valentine  Lovely,  Canfield  Averill,  and  Joseph  Orcutt.  Henry 
Richardson  came  in  18 10,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  about  forty-five 
years.      Dr.  Robert  McChesney  began  practice  at  the  village  in  18 10. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town  suffered  much  anxiety  on  account  of 
their  unprotected  frontier.  A  company  called  the  South  Madrid  Militia 
was  frequently  summoned,  and  took  part  in  several  skirmishes  along  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  also  guarded  public  stores  kept  in  the  mill  at  the 
village.  The  officers  were:  captain,  Jesse  Goss ;  lieutenant,  Richard 
Blood;  ensign,  Daniel  Richards.  In  the  summer  of  18 13  a  lot  of 
goods,  public  and  private,  were  captured  on  a  British  ship  and  stored 
at  the  village.  In  the  following  winter  a  squad  of  British  soldiers  came 
out  and  retook  a  part  of  the  goods  and  carried  them  away. 

In  the  summer  of  18 14  a  lot  of  cattle  which  had  been  purchased  in 
the  town  by  secret  agents  of  the  British,  were  captured   by  the  Ameri- 


396  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

cans  as  they  were  about  to  cross  at  Massena  Point.  The  cattle  were 
scattered  among  the  farmers  to  be  kept  until  needed.  Later  in  the 
season  a  detachment  of  British  soldiers,  accompanied  by  one  of  the 
spies,  made  a  raid  through  one  of  the  river  towns,  gathering  up  these 
government  cattle.  There  is,  however,  evidence  in  existence  that  feel- 
ings of  friendliness  were  maintained  between  the  British  soldiers  and 
the  private  citizens  of  the  town,  whose  property  was  generally  re- 
spected. 

A  Mr.  Thomas  came  into  Madrid  and  settled  in  the  southerly  part  of 
the  town,  in  the  spring  of  1813,  with  his  wife  and  young  son,  John. 
He  remained  there  a  few  years,  then  engaged  to  Mr.  Isaac  Ogden  to 
go  to  his  island  as  gardener.  While  there  a  daughter  was  born,  the 
first  white  child  born  on  the  island.  She  eventually  became  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Goss,  of  Madrid  woolen  mill  fame,  who  afterwards  went  West 
and  became  a  millionaire.  The  son,  John  Thomas,  was  in  the  Windmill 
battle  in  1838;  sent  to  Van  Dieman's  Land,  and  after  nine  years  of 
menial  service  was  pardoned,  and  returned  to  Madrid.  He  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry ;  went 
through  the  campaign  safely,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close 
of  his  enlistment.  He  applied  for  a  pension  after  he  became  too  feeble 
to  labor,  and  received  one  year's  pension  in  arrears,  $72.00,  which,  he 
said,  was  the  largest  sum  of  money  he  ever  had  at  one  time.  He  died 
May  12,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

After  the  war,  immigration,  which  had  been  somewhat  checked,  re- 
sumed its  activity.  Among  the  incomers  were  many  of  the  industrious 
Scotchmen  who  made  their  permanent  homes  in  the  town. 

The  celebrated  cold  season  of  18 16  caused  the  usual  amount  of  dis- 
tress among  the  people  of  the  town.  Scarcity  of  money  and  high  price 
of  provisions  caused  the  people  to  largely  use  venison,  which  was  easily 
obtained. 

One  of  the  chief  sources  of  raising  money  was  the  sale  of  potash, 
which  was  made  in  considerable  quantities.  A  little  cash  was  also  ob- 
tained by  drawing  cedar  logs  on  to  the  ice  of  Grass  River  in  the  winter 
and  floating  them  to  Montreal  in  the  spring  floods.  This  kind  of  work 
led  in  the  winter  of  1 8 17-18  to  one  of  the  saddest  calamities  that  ever 
happened  in  this  vicinity.      When  the  ice  went  out  of  the  river  in  April, 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  397 

i8i8,  many  logs  that  had  been  drawn  upon  it  lodged  against  the  island, 
just  above  the  bridge  at  the  village.  The  bridge  stood  on  its  present 
site,  but  the  dam  was  farther  up,  one  section  crossing  the  main  branch 
at  the  head  of  the  island  and  the  other  crossing  a  smaller  branch  farther 
down.  On  the  9th  of  April  two  canoe-loads  of  men  went  out  to  loosen 
these  obstructed  logs.  After  loosening  most  of  the  logs  at  the  head  of 
the  island,  Mr.  Lord  and  the  men  with  him  attempted  to  run  their  boat 
broadside  to  the  current  across  to  the  southeastern  shore.  But  the 
rapid  torrent  was  too  much  for  them,  and  the  frail  craft  was  swept  over 
the  dam.  Striking  one  of  the  piers  of  the  bridge,  the  canoe  split  nearly 
in  twain,  when  Daggett,  Read  and  Seavey  were  thrown  out,  the  other 
four  still  clinging  to  the  canoe.  The  other  boat  was  promptly  unloaded 
of  all  its  crew  excepting  Mr.  Hawley  and  Mr.  Rickerson,  who  steered 
their  canoe  to  shoot  over  the  dam,  in  the  hope  of  saving  their  com- 
panions. Of  the  three  first  thrown  out,  Read  and  Daggett  were  over- 
come by  the  icy  flood  and  drowned ;  Mr.  Seavey  reached  shallower 
water  and  escaped.  Meantime  the  second  boat  with  its  two  oarsmen 
dashed  on  after  the  other  four,  Asa  Lord,  Abraham  and  Joseph  Loomis, 
and  Ezra  Bigelow,  who  had  clung  to  the  boat.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem,  and  in  spite  of  all  efforts,  the  whole  four  were  overcome  by  the 
cold  flood  and  drowned.  Within  a  few  days  all  the  bodies  were  re- 
covered. 

Within  the  next  twelve  or  fifteen  years  great  improvements  were 
made  throughout  the  town.  Many  of  the  farmers  had  paid,  or  partly 
paid,  for  their  homesteads ;  frame  barns  and  later  frame  or  stone  houses 
took  the  place  of  the  earlier  rude  buildings,  and  prosperity  reigned. 

The  Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Road,  which  runs  for  about 
five  and  a  half  miles  through  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  crossing 
Grass  River  nearly  a  mile  above  the  village,  has  proved  a  great  benefit 
to  the  people,  A  depot  was  established  west  of  the  village  and  near 
the  Madrid  Springs,  where  settlement  became  active  and  gradually  ex- 
tended until  the  locality  has  become  substantially  a  part  of  the  village 
proper.  The  springs  alluded  to  were  not  discovered  and  made  known 
to  the  public  until  just  after  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Their  waters 
are  strongly  impregnated  with  iron  and  other  ingredients,  and  are  said 
to  be  beneficial  in    many   human    ailments.      A    hotel    is   kept   at   the 


398  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

springs  by  James  Reed,  and  a  post-office  named  "  Madrid  Springs"  is 
established  there  with  C.  A.  Chandler  as  postmaster.  The  latter  also 
has  a  store  and  a  feed  mill. 

The  time  at  length  arrived  when  the  people  at  Waddington  village, 
which  had  become  a  considerable  center  of  trade  and  population,  were 
reluctant  to  travel  to  "  Columbia,"  or  Madrid  village,  to  transact  town 
business,  and  the  proposition  for  a  division  was  agitated.  The  people  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  town  were  not  averse  to  the  project,  and  ac- 
cordingly on  the  22d  of  November,  1859,  an  act  passed  the  Legislature 
erecting  the  northerly  half  of  Madrid  into  a  new  town  called  Wadding- 
ton. This  left  Madrid  a  rectangle,  ten  miles  by  five,  except  that  in  the 
northeast  corner  the  Waddington  line  diverges  and  runs  for  about  two 
miles  along  the  center  of  Grass  River. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  W'ar  of  the  Rebellion  found  the  inhabitants 
of  this  town  unanimously  responsive  to  the  calls  of  patriotism.  Not 
only  did  the  citizens  volunteer  with  enthusiasm  to  fill  the  quotas  under 
the  various  calls,  but  the  authorities  also  made  liberal  provision  for  the 
payment  of  bounties.  In  1862  a  town  bounty  of  about  $50  was  voted 
to  every  volunteer.  In  December,  1863,  a  bounty  of  $300  was  voted 
to  each  volunteer,  without  a  dissenting  voice ;  and  in  several  town 
meetings  held  in  1864  and  1865,  other  bounties  of  from  $300  to  $i,ooo 
were  voted,  and  usually  without  dissent 

Since  the  close  of  the  war  the  town  has  steadily  advanced.  Its 
agricultural  interests  have  been  conserved  by  her  progressive  farmers, 
particularly  in  dairying.  The  production  of  butter  in  factories  is 
largely  followed,  and  the  character  of  the  product  ranks  high  in  the 
markets.  A  creamery  was  built  at  the  village  in  1877  by  Thomas 
Coats,  who  sold  it  in  1880  to  W.  R.  Boynton  &  Co.  (the  company  is 
J.  E.  Boynton),  and  the  firm  makes  a  ton  of  butter  per  day,  which  is 
shipped  to  Boston.  They  are  now  enlarging  their  facilities.  There 
have  never  been  extensive  manufactures  in  the  town,  and  those  now  in 
activity  are  described  in  the  village  history.  A  fine  town  hall  in  Madrid 
village  was  erected  in  187 1  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  It  is  of  brick,  seventy 
by  forty  feet,  with  one  lofty  story  and  a  basement. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation 
to   the  present   time,  with   the    years  of  their   service  :  Joseph  Edsall, 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  399 

1802-5;  Asa  Freeman,  1 806-7;  Alexander  Richards,  1808;  Asa 
Freeman,  1809;  Joseph  Freeman,  18 10-12;  WilUam  Meach,  18 13; 
Joseph  Freeman,  1814-15;  Jason  Fenton,  1816-22;  Joseph  Freeman, 
1823-28;  J.  S.  Chipman,  1829-32;  George  Redington,  1833-37; 
Richard  Blood,  1838;  Walter  Wilson,  1839;  George  Redington,  1840; 
Alfred  Goss,  1841-42;  A.  T.  Montgomery,  1843-44;  T.  Sears,  1845- 
46;  A.  T.  Montgomery,  1847-48  ;  Jesse  Cogswell,  1849-50;  Richard 
Edsall,  1851;  Francis  Fenton,  1852;  Austin  J.  Goss,  1853;  John  S. 
Chipman,  1854;  Jesse  Cogswell,  1855;  Cyprian  Powell,  1856;  Charles 
C.  Montgomery,  1857-59;  (division  of  the  town)  ;  Charles  R,  McClel- 
land, i860;  Cyprian  Powell,  1861  ;  William  S.  Reed,  1862-64;  Henry 
N.  Sweet,  1865-73;  John  H  Robinson,  1874-80;  Ira  L.  C  Lockwood, 
1881-90;  John  A.  Haig,  1891-93. 

The  first  bridge  built  in  Madrid  was  of  logs  across  the  Grass  River, 
on  its  present  site,  a  few  rods  below  the  saw  mill  of  Roberts  &  Clark 
in  the  winter  of  1803-4.  This  bridge  has  been  renewed  twice  since 
and  at  various  times  repaired.  In  the  years  of  1880  and  1881  the 
people  of  Madrid  discussed  the  bridge  question  very  thoroughly  as  to 
the  propriety  of  building  a  new  bridge  in  place  of  the  old  one,  either  of 
wood,  iron  or  of  stone.  At  a  special  town  meeting  held  in  April,  1882, 
the  question  was  settled  to  build  of  stone,  when  a  committee  consisting 
of  H.  C.  West,  W.  O.  Sweet  and  Ralph  Aitchison  was  appointed  to  act 
with  the  highway  commissioners,  M.  A.  Gilbert  and  John  A.  Meeker. 
The  plan  and  specifications  were  procured  of  Hinds  &  Hodgkins  of 
Watertown,  N.  Y.,  and  the  contract  to  build  of  stone  work  given  to  M. 
L.  &  M.  A.  Cleveland  of  the  same  place.  The  contract  for  the  iron 
railing  was  awarded  to  Gates  Curtis  of  Ogdensburg.  The  stone  was 
raised  in  a  quarry  at  the  end  of  the  dam.  The  piers  rest  on  the  solid 
rock  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  six  feet  wide  and  twenty-six  feet  long. 
There  are  nine  arches,  one  thirty-two,  one  thirty-six,  and  seven  thirty- 
eight  feet  span,  making  the  length  of  the  bridge  about  400  feet.  The 
arches  are  about  one-third  of  a  circle,  which  leaves  a  space  under  the 
center  of  about  fifteen  feet.  The  west  end  is  a  trifle  over  twenty  feet 
high  and  the  east  eighteen  feet. 

The  bridge  was  commenced  on   Monday,  August  23,  1882,  and   the 
work   continued  without  delay  or  any   serious  accident,  and  was  com- 


400  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

pleted  in  the  short  space  of  three  months.  The  cost  of  the  structure, 
including  grading,  etc  ,  was  nearly  $17,000.  The  event  of  its  comple- 
tion was  celebrated  by  the  tax  payers  and  their  families  with  music, 
speeches,  and  an  elegant  dinner  served  in  the  town  hall. 

Madrid  Village. — The  early  mills  that  have  been  mentioned  as  estab- 
lished at  the  village  site  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1814,  when  they  were 
owned  by  Jarah  Meach,  to  whom  the  property  had  been  sold  by  the 
firm  of  Lord  &  Price,  who  purchased  of  the  builder.  After  the  fire 
the  site  and  water-power  were  purchased  by  Timothy  Reed,  who 
erected  a  grist  and  saw  mill  under  one  roof.  An  old  resident  a  few 
years  ago  gave  her  memory  of  the  village  at  that  time  as  comprising  a 
tavern  kept  by  a  Mr.  Bigelow,  four  or  five  frame  houses  and  eight  or 
ten  log  ones.  Captain  Goss  probably  had  a  store  at  the  time.  Again 
in  1823  Dr.  Caleb  Price,  who  settled  in  that  year,  described  the  village 
as  not  much,  if  any,  larger;  but  there  was  then  tlie  cloth-dressing  mill 
of  Captain  Goss,  with  two  stores  kept  by  Samuel  Greenough  and 
Charles  McFarland  ;  and  there  were  two  small  taverns.  In  1826  Jesse 
Cogswell  settled  in  the  village  and  opened  a  grocery,  but  the  village  at 
that  time  had  very  little  additions  since  1823,  except  the  distillery  and 
a  number  of  dwellings.  Still,  nearh'-  all  of  the  business  of  the  southern 
part  of  the  town  was  centered  at  "  Columbia  village."  Anson  Cham- 
berlain kept  a  tavern  and  sold  some  goods  at  what  was  then  known  as 
"  Chamberlain's  Corners,"  but  that  passed  away  long  ago.  In  1852, 
judging  by  Mr.  Hough's  statement,  the  village  had  grown  considerably 
and  was  probably  more  active  in  its  business  interests  than  it  is  at  the 
present  time.  He  reported  two  taverns,  six  stores,  one  drugstore,  four 
groceries,  one  book  store,  two  shoe  stores,  a  tannery,  besides  the  mills 
and  various  kinds  of  sliops.  The  present  building  used  for  cloth- 
making  was  erected  by  Alfred  Goss  in  1833.  This  property  passed  on 
the  20th  of  March,  1893,  to  possession  of  the  Madrid  Woolen  Mills,  a 
stock  company  organized  for  the  manufacture  of  cloth  and  pants.  The 
capital  of  the  company  is  $27,000,  and  the  officers  as  follows  :  Pres- 
ident and  treasurer,  A.  D.  Whitney  ;  F.  J.  Merriman,  secretary  ;  Dr. 
E.  C.  Walsh,  vice-president ;  D.  D.  Bryson,  manager.  The  old  store 
formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Goss  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of  pants,  of 
which  it  is  expected  100  pairs  a  day  will  soon  be  turned    out.     Thirty 


^.  ^  .^^^^ A  ^-  ^- 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  401 

hands  are  employed.  The  old  tannery  property  has  been  purchased, 
new  machinery  put  in,  and  electric  lights  and  other  modern  machinery 
are  contemplated  to  be  put  in  next  season.  The  directors  of  the  com- 
pany, besides  the  officers  before  mentioned,  are  M.  A.  Whitney  and  R. 
N.  Walsh. 

One- half  of  the  mills  built  by  Timothy  Reed,  as  before  stated,  was 
sold  by  him  to  Safford  &  Horton.  The  property  was  finally  sold  on 
execution  and  Hiram  Horton  bid  it  in.  The  mill  burned  about  1856, 
and  Horton  built  the  stone  grist  mill  standing  opposite  the  saw  mill, 
and  subsequently  sold  to  G.  M.  Douglass  and  his  brother.  The  latter 
failed,  and  after  one  or  two  other  changes  the  property  passed  to  Smith 
&  Hall  (B.  B.  Smith,  W.  H.  Hall)  in  May,  1893,  who  now  operate  it. 
Mr.  Douglass  now  runs  the  saw  mill  under  a  lease.  The  tannery  once 
operated  here  was  long  ago  discontinued,  as  was  also  a  flax-mill.  J, 
N.  Pike  carries  on  a  furniture  factory. 

The  Columbia  House,  which  has  been  mentioned  as  once  standing  on 
the  site  of  McCall's  Hotel,  was  burned  in  the  destructive  fire  of  1878. 
The  house  built  on  the  site  was  called  the  Madrid  House,  which  was 
taken  and  given  its  present  name  in  1893  by  H.  W.  McCall. 

The  mercantile  interests  of  the  village  at  the  present  time  are  drugs 
and  groceries  by  J.  M.  K.  Horsford,  A.  T.  Hepburn  and  John  Haig  ; 
dry  goods  and  groceries  by  I.  L.  C.  Lockwood,  A.  W.  Abernethy,  J. 
C.  Gage  &  Son,  and  J.  H.  Robinson  ;  hardware  by  John  Sullivan  & 
Son,  Bullard  &  Keenan  ;  shoe  store  by  F.  H.  McCormick  ;  furniture 
store  by  John  Aitchison  ;  besides  which  there  are  the  usual  blacksmiths, 
tailors,  wagon  makers,  harness  makers,  etc.  The  present  postmaster  is 
F.  W.  Robinson. 

Madrid  has  long  been  noted  for  its  schools  and  their  excellence. 
There  are  ten  districts,  besides  several  others,  parts  of  which  are  in  this 
town  and  parts  in  others.  Madrid  Union  Free  School,  District  No.  i, 
was  organized  April  24,  1867,  by  the  union  of  old  districts  Nos.  10  and 
20.  For  several  years  schools  were  kept  in  the  two  houses,  one  being 
on  each  side  of  the  river.  In  the  summer  of  1873  a  handsome  two 
story  brick  school -house  was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and 
a  graded  school  established.  The  cost  of  the  building,  site  and  furnish- 
ing was  $8,000.     The  twenty -sixth  annual  announcement  of  this  school 

51 


402  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

gives  the  faculty  as  follows  :  Erwin  L.  Hockridge,  A.M.,  principal ; 
Lilian  Hadley,  principal's  assistant ;  Lilian  McBrien,  intermediate  de- 
partment ;  Mary  Hadley,  primary  department.  The  present  Board  of 
Education  are  A.  T.  Hepburn,  Dr.  E.  C.  Walsh,  and   A.  D.  Whitney. 

Religions  Societies. — The  first  christian  organization  in  toM  n  was  a 
Congregational  Church,  which  was  formed  February  17,  1807,  ^^'ith  ten 
members,  by  the  assistance  of  the  missionary,  Rev.  Amos  Pettengili. 
The  church  was  supplied  for  a  number  of  years  by  missionaries,  when, 
in  181  r.  Rev.  John  Winchester  was  engaged  for  three  years  at  a  yearly 
salary  of  ninety-one  dollars  cash  and  $274  to  be  paid  in  wheat  at  mar- 
ket price. 

In  1824  the  members  pledged  themselves  to  set  apart  certain  patches 
of  ground  and  to  cultivate  the  same  in  raising  corn,  potatoes  and  onions 
to  be  disposed  of  for  the  support  of  the  church.  This  plan  proved  so 
profitable  to  the  society  that  in  1825-26  they  built  a  stone  church  forty- 
six  by  fifty  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Many  of  the  members  furnished 
labor  or  materials  for  its  construction.  The  society  was  incorporated 
May  8,  1820,  with  Salmon  Grey  and  five  others  as  trustees.  The  free 
use  of  intoxicants  were  increasing  among  the  members  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  in  1829  an  attempt  was  made  to  pass  a  total  abstinence  vote, 
which  failed  to  carry,  when  ten  members  signed  a  total  abstinence 
pledge,  which  was  the  first  temperance  movement  in  town,  and  which 
proved  a  blessing  to  the  chureh.  In  1850  a  bell  costing  $300  was  pur- 
chased for  the  church  by  a  general  subscription.  The  following  named 
ministers  have  served  this  church:  Rev.  Joseph  Hurlbut,  in  1829;  Rev. 
James  Taylor,  in  1833  ;  Rev.  S.  M.  Wood,  in  j  840 ;  Rev.  J.  Burchard 
and  Rev.  A.  Wicks,  evangelists,  between  1841  and  1848;  Rev.  B  B. 
Parson,  in  1849;  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  in  1882,  and  several  others.  In 
the  summer  of  1889  the  church  was  thoroughly  overhauled,  furnished 
with  \\Q.\\  circular  seats,  the  walls  and  ceilings  decorated  and  stained 
glass  windows.  On  September  26,  just  before  it  was  occupied,  it  took 
fire  from  other  burning  buildings  and  was  consumed.  The  people  nobly 
rallied  at  the  call  of  their  pastor.  Rev.  F.  A.  Hatch,  and  built  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  present  beautiful  wood  church  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000. 
The  membership  is  now  about  150,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  George 
H.  Hancock,  pastor.  This  was  the  first  Congregational  Church  organ- 
ized in  the  county. 


THE  TOWN  OF  MADRID.  4u3 

Baptist  CliiircJi. — The  first  Baptist  church  was  organized  September 
7,  1808,  with  ten  members,  by  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Samuel  Rowley. 
He  preached  for  them  several  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  various 
elders  and  missionaries.  The  first  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  Solomon 
Johnson,  who  began  in  1818.  In  1829  the  hand  of  fellowship  was 
withheld  from  Free  Masons.  A  small  frame  church  was  built  at  the 
village  in  1836,  which  was  used  until  1869,  when  Capt.  Hugh  Smith 
negotiated  with  the  trustees  for  the  property  and  it  was  sold  to  the 
Catholic  society  for  $2,000.  Shortly  after  A.  R.  Peck  and  J.  E.  Murphy, 
two  of  the  trustees  of  the  Baptist  society,  purchased  a  frame  building 
which  had  been  erected  for  a  union  church  at  Madrid  Springs,  with  the 
expectation  that  a  village  would  be  built  there  and  the  society  accept 
of  the  house.  But  the  other  trustees  and  the  larger  portion  of  the 
society  preferred  to  remain  in  the  village  of  Madrid,  when  in  1872-3  a 
handsome  brick  church  was  erected  at  the  village  at  a  cost  of  $1 1,000. 
This  church  was  burned  in  the  fire  on  the  26th  of  September,  1889. 
A  new  brick  church  was  built  on  the  old  site  the  following  year,  at  an 
expense  of  $14,000. 

The  Universalist  believers  in  this  town  effected  an  organization  in 
1 8 14,  and  employed  Rev.  John  Foster,  who  preached  to  them  until 
some  time  in  18 16.  The  little  society  'struggled  for  nearly  ten  years, 
but  afterwards  experienced  a  revival  of  interest,  and  in  1838  a  reorgan- 
ization was  effected,  with  William  Richard,  Ansel  Pain,  Charles  Bar- 
tholomew and  Thomas  Hesselgrave  as  trustees.  In  1842  the  society 
built  a  frame  church  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  and  a  parsonage  was  built  in 
185  I.  For  many  years  there  has  been  only  desultory  preaching.  The 
church  is  not  used  at  present. 

The  First  Methodist  Church. — Prior  to  1847  the  services  in  this  faith 
had  been  supplied  only  by  itinerant  preachers.  On  the  3d  day  of  June 
in  that  year  a  society  was  organized  at  Buck's  Bridge  called  "  The 
Society  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Columbia  Village," 
with  Solomon  S.  Martin,  Stephen  F.  Palmer  and  William  S.  Reed, 
trustees.  Measures  were  at  once  adopted  to  have  regular  services  at 
the  village,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Blackburn  supplied  the  pulpit  two  years.  In 
1852  the  society  bought  the  store  building  of  Alfred  Goss,  which  was 
fitted  up  and   used  as  a  house  of  worship.      In    1868   a  beautiful   brick 


404  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

church  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $14,000,  and  afterwards  a  parsonage  was 
built  costing  $1,200.  The  church  was  always  prosperous,  but  it  met  a 
disaster  in  the  great  fire  of  1878,  when  it  was  burned  to  the  ground. 
But  the  members  did  nobly  respond  to  a  call  to  rebuild,  and  promptly 
erected  the  present  handsome  wood  edifice.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  A.  J.  Felshaw. 

The  Church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  (Catholic). — A  mission  church 
with  the  above  name  was  established  at  Madrid  village  in  1869.  Capt. 
Hugh  Smith,  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  society,  purchased  the  old 
church  property  of  the  Baptist  society  for  the  sum  of  $2,O0O.  The 
building  was  remodeled  and  otherwise  greatly  improved  at  an  additional 
expense  of  $3,000,  which  accommodates  the  congregation  of  fifty- five 
families  of  that  parish.  The  Rev.  Father  John  Varriety  is  the  present 
officiating  priest. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA— ORGANIZED  IN  1802. 

1\A  ASSENA,  the  fourth  town  organized,  lies  in  the  extreme  north- 
/  \  east  part  of  the  county,  and  received  its  name  in  honor  of 
Marshal  Massena  of  the  army  of  the  first  Napoleon.  The  town  was 
incorporated  in  the  same  act  that  formed  the  county,  March  3,  1802, 
and  included  in  its  area  the  original  townships  of  Louisville,  Stockholm 
and  the  whole  of  Great  Tract  No.  2.  By  the  formation  of  Hopkinton, 
Brasher,  Lawrence  and  other  towns  on  the  southwest,  Massena  was 
reduced  to  its  present  area,  30,671  acres.  A  large  portion  of  this  tract 
was  not  a  part  of  the  Macomb  purchase.  The  St.  Lawrence  River 
forms  the  northern  boundary  of  the  town,  and  the  Long  Saut  and 
Barnhart's  Islands  are  a  part  of  the  town.  The  surface  of  the  town  is 
nearly  level ;  the  soil  a  fertile  loam,  mixed  in  parts  with  sand  and  clay. 
During  the  early  settlement  Massena  was  overspread  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  woods  that  afforded  superior  lumber  and  a  good  quality  of 
timber  for  spars,  many  of  them    measuring   from    80  to    iio  feet  long. 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  405 

Business  of  lumbering  was  one  of  much  prominence  for  many  years. 
It  is  said  that  in  1810  one  man  rafted  to  Quebec  $60,000  worth  of 
timber.  This  enormous  draft  of  lumber  soon  denuded  the  forest  of  its 
best  timber  in  that  part  of  the  county,  when  the  settlers  turned  their 
attention  to  grain  raising. 

The  early  records  previous  to  1808  having  been  destroyed  by  fire, 
also  again  in  1853,  which  included  all  the  documents  which  had  accu- 
mulated up  to  that  period,  the  history  in  a  measure  concerning  the  town 
affairs  up  to  this  last  date  is  gleaned  from  the  memory  of  the  settlers  of 
that  time.  It  is  said  that  the  first  town  meeting  to  organize  and  elect 
officers  was  held  the  second  week  in  April,  after  the  passage  of  the  act 
to  erect  the  town,  and  that  the  first  supervisor  elected  was  Amos  Lay. 
In  the  spring  of  1808  the  town  officers  were  :  John  Willson,  supervisor; 
John  E.  Perkins,  clerk  ;  Elisha  W.  Barber,  Thomas  Steadman,  Enoch 
French,  assessors  ;  Aaron  Wright,  collector  ;  Benjamin  Willard,  Jarvis 
Kimball,  Enoch  French,  commissioners  of  highways;  John  Reeve, 
Aaron  Wright,  constables ;  Griffin  Place,  John  Garvin,  fence-viewers; 
John  Bullard,  Griffin  Place,  pound- masters. 

The  town  is  well  watered  by  both  the  Raquette  and  the  Grass  Rivers, 
which  flow  nearly  parallel  across  the  town  from  west  to  easterly,  and 
about  one  mile  apart,  near  the  village.  There  is  a  fair  water  power  on 
both  streams  in  the  western  part,  but  they  are  subject  farther  east  to  the 
backwater  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  This  backwater  sometimes  performs 
remarkable  freaks.  While  the  great  river  seldom  freezes  in  its  rapid 
current  from  St.  Regis  so  as  to  permit  crossing  on  the  ice,  it  does  freeze 
into  a  sort  of  anchor  ice,  which  obstructs  the  current,  allowing  further 
freezing  above,  thus  creating  a  temporary  dam,      Mr.  Hough  says  : 

"  This  has  occurred  during  severe  snow  storms  and  intensely  cold 
weather  so  rapidly  as  to  raise  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrettce,  at  certain 
points,  fifteen  feet  in  as  many  ^nimites ;  and  the  Long  Saut  rapids, 
where  the  waters  usually  shoot  downwards  with  the  swiftness  of  an 
arrow,  have  been  known  to  be  as  placid  as  the  surface  of  a  mill-pond 
from  obstructions  below.  The  descent  of  the  water  is  of  course  the 
same,  but  the  rapids  are  carried  farther  dozun  stream,  and  still  water 
occurs  at  points  where  it  is  rapid  at  ordinary  seasons.  The  extreme 
difference  of  level  hitherto  observed  from  these  obstructions  is  about 


406  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

twenty -five  feet  in  Robinson's  bay;  in  Massena,  about  nine  miles  above 
St.  Regis,  and  in  Grasse  River,  it  has  been  known  to  rise  to  an  equal 
height.  No  winter  passes  without  more  or  less  of  these  ice- dams  and 
reflex  currents,  which  usually  happen  towards  the  latter  part  of  winter, 
after  the  waters  have  become  chilled,  and  ice  has  formed  below.  Above 
the  head  of  the  Long  Saut  they  are  seldom  or  never  noticed.  Similar 
occurrences  happen  at  Montreal  and  other  places  along  the  rapids  at 
certain  seasons,  and  have  often  caused  serious  accidents.  The  apparent 
solidity  of  the  obstructions  thus  temporarily  formed  is  seldom  trusted 
by  those  acquainted  with  the  river,  although  there  have  been  those 
foolhardy  enough  to  venture  across  the  channel  upon  them.  They  will 
sometimes  form  and  break  away  with  astonishing  rapidity,  for  such  is 
the  irresistible  force  of  the  mighty  current  that  no  obstruction  can  long 
withstand  its  power.  In  1833  a  bridge  at  Massena  Centre,  supposed 
to  be  placed  sufficiently  high  to  be  above  the  reach  of  all  floods,  was 
swept  away  from  this  cause,  the  watcs  having  arisen  nearly  five  feet 
higher  than  had  before  been  observed,  and  it  has  been  found  quite  im- 
practicable to  maintain  bridges  below  Massena  village  across  Grass 
River.  The  water  has  been  seen  to  pour  over  the  dam  at  Haskell's  mill 
icp  stream  for  a  short  time,  and  the  dam  at  Massena  village  has  been 
preserved  against  the  backwater  with  extreme  difficulty.  " 

Settlement  had  begun  in  this  town  previous  to  its  formation.  In  the 
fall  of  1798  Amos  Lay,  a  native  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  and  a  surveyor,  began 
laying  out  the  lands  of  Massena  for  the  proprietors.  In  1799  a  road 
from  Oswegatchie  to  St.  Regis  was  surveyed  and  partly  opened.  Henry 
Child  was  probably  the  first  agent,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Lay,  and 
he  by  Matthew  Perkins.  Previous  to  the  dates  just  named,  and  prob- 
ably as  early  as  1792,  a  saw  mill  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  Haskell 
mills  by  a  Frenchman,  name  unknown,  who  was  succeeded  in  their 
ownership  by  Amable  Foucher,  from  old  Chateaugay,  who  continued 
in  possession  until  1808.  These  lands  were  claimed  by  the  St.  Regis 
Indians,  and  a  mile  square  at  what  was  then  called  Haskell's  Falls  was 
reserved  to  them  by  the  treaty  of  1796.  It  is  said  that  the  first  dam 
here  was  swept  away  up  stream  by  the  action  of  the  backwater  before 
described. 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  407 

The  early  settlers  in  this  and  adjoining  towns  suffered  much  from  the 
depredations  of  the  Indians,  and  they  finally  sent,  under  date  of  June 
24,  1800,  the  following  petition  to  the  governor: 

To  Hia  Excellency,  John  Jay,  Esq..  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  council  : 

The  petition  o£  the  several  persons  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  settlers  in 
the  townships  of  Massena  and  Louisville,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  Humbly  representeth :  That  the  Indian  chiefs  and  warriors  of  St. 
Regis  are  possessed  of  a  tract  of  land,  chiefly  wild  meadow,  extending  from  the  mouth 
of  Grasse  river,  in  the  township  of  Massena,  up  to  the  falls,  which  is  about  seven  miles. 
That  your  petitioners,  having  settled  in  the  said  townships  of  Massena  and  Louisville, 
are  greatly  annoyed  by  the  said  Indians,  who  threaten  to  kill  and  destroy  their  cattle 
unavoidably  trespassing  upon  these  meadows,  they  being  exposed  chiefly  without  fence, 
and  several  of  their  cattle  are  missing.  Your  petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  pray  your 
excellency,  in  council,  to  take  such  measures  of  accommodation  with  the  said  Indians 
as  shall  seem  meet,  in  order  to  secure  to  your  petitioners  the  peaceable  enjoyment  of 
their  lands  and  property  against  the  depredations  of  the  said  Indians.  And  your  peti- 
tioners will  ever  pray,  etc. 

Signed,  Amos  Lay,  Mamri  Victory,  Calvin  Plumley,  Kinner  Newcomb,  Samuel  New- 
comb,  G.  S.  Descoteaux,  William  PoUey,  Anthony  Lamping,  Aaron  Allen,  and  two 
illegible  signatures. 

In  consequence  of  this  action  the  State  purchased  the  Indian  Reser- 
vation, paying  more  for  the  land  than  was  afterwards  realized  from  it. 
The  signatures  to  the  petition  are  of  interest,  as  indicating  who  were 
interested  in  the  matter  at  that  early  date. 

Among  the  settlers  who  came  in,  mostly  from  Vermont,  as  early  as 
1803,  were  Mamri  Victory,  Calvin  Plumley,  Bliss  Hoisington,  David 
Lytle,  Seth  Reed,  Leonard  Herrick,  John  Bullard,  Jacob  and  David 
Hutchins,  Nathaniel  Kezar,  and  Elijah  Bailey.  The  latter  kept  a 
pioneer  tavern  on  the  St  Lawrence,  and  a  two- story  house  erected  for 
this  purpose  is  still  standing.  In  1803,  also,  Daniel  Robinson  brought 
in  his  family,  having  purchased  his  land  the  previous  year,  and  lived 
here  until  his  death.  He  had  five  sons,  two  of  whom,  Horatio  N.  and 
Luther  H.,  are  still  living.  The  father  built  a  saw-mill  on  a  small  creek 
near  his  place  in  18 15,  which  was  in  operation  many  years.  In  1803 
Royal  Policy  settled  at  Massena  Point,  and  in  1807  Thomas  Steadman. 
In  that  year  there  were  ninety-eight  voters  in  the  town.  Massena  Point 
is  formed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Grass  River,  with  the  waters  of  that 
stream  on  its  southern  side  and  those  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the 
northward. 


408  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  first  school  was  taught  at  the  site  of  Massena  village  in  1803  by 
Gilbert  Reed,  and  in  the  same  year  the  first  bridge  was  built  across 
the  Grass  River  at  that  point,  and  shortly  after  one  across  the  Raquette 
River  at  the  Springs. 

Among  the  prominent  settlers  who  followed  soon  after  those  before 
named  were  N.  Denison,  E.  M.  Denison,  E.  Howard,  L.  A.  Robinson, 
D.  Tracy,  all  of  whom  have  descendants  still  living  in  town  ;  Enos 
Beach,  who  is  still  living  ;  Elijah  Flagg,  J.  C.  Stone,  John  E.  Perkins, 
John  Garvin,  Lemuel  Haskell,  Calvin  Hubbard,  W.  S.  Paddock,  John 
B.  Andrews,  Benjamin  Phillips,  all  of  whom  have  descendants  in  the 
town  ;    U.  H.  Orvis  and  L.  E.  Waterbury. 

The  town  records  after  1809  bear  the  usual  proceedings  for  the 
proper  government  of  the  district,  but  nothing  of  paramount  importance. 
In  1849,  however,  the  people  voted  to  raise  $100  to  built  a  float  and 
furnish  wires  for  a  ferry  across  the  Grass  River  near  the  center  of  the 
town. 

The  War  of  18 12  interested  the  inhabitants  of  Massena  deeply  on  ac- 
count of  operations  that  occurred  near  its  bounds.  Early  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1812  an  American  Durham  boat  on  its  way  up  from  Montreal 
was  stopped  at  Mille  Roche,  a  guard  placed  on  board  and  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Cornwall.  The  British  officer  being  unfamiliar  with  the 
river  channel  gave  the  pilotage  of  the  boat  to  its  former  commander 
and  crew,  who  steered  it  across  the  foot  of  Barnhart's  Island,  and  before 
the  guard  realized  the  situation  the  boat  was  moored  to  the  American 
shore.  A  militia  training  was  just  then  in  progress  at  Massena  village 
and  a  messenger  was  dispatched  thither  for  help.  The  result  was  that 
the  guards  were  marched  as  prisoners  to  the  village,  and  afterwards 
paroled.  It  was  considered  a  smart  Yankee  trick.  It  was  in  the  same 
summer  also,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  thought  to  protect 
themselves  from  possible  assault  by  surrounding  a  tract  of  the  land  with 
a  stockade.  This  consisted  of  timbers  more  than  twelve  feet  long  set 
in  the  ground  close  together.  Strife  about  where  the  line  of  pickets 
should  run  caused  abandonment  of  the  work,  after  a  good  deal  of  effort 
had  been  expended.  During  the  months  of  July  and  August  of  that 
year  a  barrack  was  built  near  the  center  of  the  town,  north  of  the  Grass 
River,  at  the  expense  of  the  government.     It   was   a  frame   building 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  409 

about  100  feet  long  and  was  occupied  by  the  militia  of  the  county 
under  command  of  Colonel  Fancher,  of  Madrid,  for  about  three  months. 
Part  of  the  force  of  250  or  300  men  returned  home  at  the  close  of  that 
period,  and  the  remainder  went  to  Ogdensburg.  In  September,  1813, 
a  company  of  about  300  militia  of  the  county  of  Stormont,  Canada, 
under  Major  Anderson,  crossed  the  river  in  the  night,  burned  this  bar- 
rack and  took  several  prisoners,  who  were  subsequently  released.  They 
also  destroyed  several  Durham  boats  which  had  been  sunk  in  the 
river  and  were  partly  exposed  by  low  water.  Other  events  of  the  war 
occurring  in  this  vicinity  are  chronicled  in  other  pages. 

One  of  the  most  important  roads  in  the  town  was  the  old  Plattsburg 
highway  ;  others  were  those  from  Ogdensburg  to  Massena,  and  from 
the  latter  place  to  Russell,  via  Potsdam.  These  latter  were  located  by 
a  commission  appointed  for  the  purpose  in  April,  1816.  In  1832  the 
second  bridge  was  built  across  the  Grass  River  at  the  Center,  which  was 
soon  afterwards  swept  away.  In  1862  $4,000  were  appropriated  and  a 
covered  bridge  was  built.  This  was  destroyed,  and  in  1872-73  the 
present  handsome  iron  bridge  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $10,000. 
In  1863  $4,000  were  raised  by  tax  for  a  bridge  across  the  Raquette 
River,  and  on  October  27,  1877,  $8,000  were  voted  to  bridge  that 
stream  at  Massena  Springs. 

Plank  Roads. — See  page  168. 

Steps  were  taken  in  1856  to  build  a  town  hall,  and  $800  were  appro- 
priated for  the  purpose.  A  commodious  brick  structure  was  erected 
in  the  village,  which  is  still  in  use  after  having  been  several  times  im- 
proved. In  1875  the  town  also  built  a  house  of  detention  in  the 
village. 

In  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  (See  Chapter  XV,  page  196)  this  town 
acted  a  patriotic  part,  and  sent  its  several  quotas  to  the  support  of  the 
Union,  as  detailed  in  an  earlier  chapter. 

The  island  belonging  to  this  town,  called  by  the  French  Isle  au  Long 

Saut,  is  about   five    miles  long   and    of  irregular   width  and  shape.      It 

contains   about   2,000   acres,    and    all  subject    to    cultivation,  a  portion 

being  timbered.     The  island  was  not  sold  with  others  to  the  Ogdens  in 

1823,  but  was  reserved  by  the  State  for  its  possible  military  importance. 

Under  a  statute  which  took  effect  May  5,  1832,  the  lands  were  sold  by 
52 


410  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  surveyor-general.  Among  the  early  settlers  on  the  island  were 
John,  Michael  and  William  Cline,  John  and  Thomas  Delaney,  the  latter 
living  there  now,  and  also  Stephen  Miller,  John  Hutchins,  and  Dennis 
McCarthy.      Philip  Kaiser  and  E.  Atwater  now  have  farms  there. 

Massena  has  always  provided  excellent  facilities  for  educating  her 
children.  The  town  is  divided  into  thirteen  districts,  in  each  of  which 
is  a  good  school  house,  besides  those  on  the  islands.  The  Massena 
Union  Free  school  will  be  described  further  on. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  the  beginning, 
with  the  dates  of  their  service  : 

1802,  Amos  Lay  ;  1808-9,  John  Wilson;  1810-11,  Thomas  Stead- 
man;  18 1 2,  Calvin  Hubbard;  18 13-17,  Willard  Seaton  ;  1818-19, 
John  E.  Perkins;  1820-21,  John  Stone,  jr.;  1822-24,  John  B.  An- 
drews; 1825-26,  Chester  Gurney ;  1827-28,  Lemuel  Haskell;  1829- 
30,  Ira  Goodridge ;  183 1,  John  B.  Andrews;  1832-33,  L.  Haskell; 
1834-37,  I*"^  Goodridge;  1838-39,  John  B.  Judd  ;  1840-41,  Benjamin 
Phillips;  1842-44,  John  B.  Andrews;  1845,  E.  D.  Ransom;  1846, 
Allen  B.  Phillips;  1847,  E.  D.  Ransom;  1848-49,  Allen  B.  Phillips; 
1850,  Willson  Bridges;  1851-52,  J.  B.  Andrews;  1855-60,  Guy  B. 
Andrews  ;  1861-62,  Luke  Carlton  ;  1863-64,  Guy  B,  Andrews  ;  1865- 
66,  H.  S.  Ransom;  1867-68,  Joseph  E.  Clary;  1869-72,  Henry  B. 
White;  1873-75,  John  O.  Bridges;  1876-79,  Henry  B.  White;  1880- 
81,  Daniel  Tracy;  1882-87,  Michael  H.  Flaherty;  1888-90,  Fred  P. 
Kirkbridge  ;    1891-93,  Michael  H.  Flaherty. 

Massena  Center. — After  Hopkinton  was  taken  from  the  territory,  but 
more  especially  after  the  town  being  reduced  to  its  present  size,  the 
tendency  was  to  make  a  settlement  near  the  center  of  the  town,  which 
led  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  of  Massena  to  gather  and  build  at  what 
became  Massena  Center.  Its  location  is  on  the  north  side  of  Grass 
River,  at  the  head  of  its  still  waters,  where  Durham  boats  brought  in 
goods  and  carried  away  the  products  of  the  soil.  There  is  no  water 
power  at  that  point.  Among  those  who  early  located  there  were 
Nathaniel  Kezar,  Arad  Smith,  P,  Smith,  Ephra-m  Hyde,  Samuel  Dana, 
Thomas  Dodge,  Israel  Rickard,  Ira  Goodrich  ;  and  in  that  vicinity 
were  Peabody  Kinney,  Willard  Seaton,  Hiram  Anderson  ;  and  later 
came  in  Hiram  Fish,  Moses  Russell,  and  others  who  became  prominent 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  411 

in  the  town.  Many  of  these  have  descendants  living  in  this  section. 
Ephraim  Hyde  opened  a  public  house  on  his  farm  at  an  early  day,  as 
did  Samson  Wheeler  in  the  hamlet  about  1835  ;  the  latter  had  also  a 
wagon  shop,  and  Israel  Rickard  was  a  wheelwright.  The  post-office 
was  established  in  185  i,  with  Augustus  Wheeler  as  postmaster.  The 
present  official  is  Chloe  Atwood.  The  present  handsome  school  house 
was  erected  in  1871,  and  the  school  has  always  been  a  prosperous  one. 
Union  Hall,  a  convenient  building  for  public  meetings,  was  in  1872 
converted  to  its  purpose  from  the  Baptist  parsonage.  There  has  been 
very  little  mercantile  business  at  this  place. 

Raqiiette  River. — This  is  a  post-office  and  hamlet  on  that  river  about 
six  miles  below  Massena  Springs.  The  first  settlement  was  made  at 
this  point  by  Willard  Seaton,  who  built  a  saw  mill  about  1804,  which 
was  carried  away  in  a  freshet  before  it  was  finished.  About  1830  A, 
Ransom  made  another  attempt  to  build  a  mill,  but  it  was  abandoned. 
Settlers  who  came  in  after  Seaton  were  the  Chase,  Earle,  Payne,  Tucker, 
Young,  Hitchcock  and  Smith  families.  In  1827  Capt.  Wilson  Brydges 
opened  a  public  house,  which  he  continued  for  about  twenty-five  years. 
The  present  postmaster  is  A.  L,  Freego.  Aside  from  one  small  store 
there  is  no  business  now  carried  on.  Other  settlers  along  up  the  river 
towards  the  Springs  were  Herman  Reed,  R.  Messenger,  and  the  families 
named  Judd,  Colburn,  Wells,  and  David  Kellogg,  Thomas  Flaherty, 
Jacob  Gould,  Stephen  Reed,  Jewett  Bowers,  Wm.  Nightingale,  John 
PoUey  and  others. 

Massena  Springs — Is  situated  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Raquette 
River,  about  one  mile  southeast  of  Massena  village.  The  St  Regis 
Indians  discovered  these  springs  to  the  government  party  sent  out  to 
survey  the  ten  townships  in"  the  summer  of  1785.  They  described 
them  as  water  coming  out  of  the  ground  that  smelled  bad,  where  the 
moose,  the  deer,  and  the  sick  Indian  came  to  lick  the  water.  Game  of 
all  kinds  at  an  early  day  were  very  plentiful  in  the  vicinity  of  these 
springs  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  being  attracted  to  the  spot,  no  doubt, 
on  account  of  the  saline  qualities  of  the  water.  The  analysis  of  the 
water,  showing  its  constituents,  together  with  other  waters,  will  be 
found  on  page  124.  The  white  people  began  to  use  the  waters  of  these 
springs  at  an  early  day,  and  Spafford,  in    18 13,  mentions  them  as  pes- 


412  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sessing  a  reputation  for  the  cure  of  cutaneous  complaints,  and  that 
invahds  came  hither  from  long  distances  to  partake  of  these  waters. 
In  1822  Capt.  John  Policy  built  the  first  structures  for  public  accom- 
modation. Six  years  later  the  old  and  well  known  Harrowgate  House 
was  erected  by  Ruel  Taylor  for  Parsons  Taylor.  Numerous  private 
dwellings  soon  followed,  and  the  springs  were  improved  by  curbing  and 
a  pavilion,  also  hot  and  cold  shower  baths  erected.  In  1848  Benjamin 
Phillips  became  proprietor  of  the  springs,  and  erected  what  was  long 
known  as  the  United  States  Hotel,  and  which  was  very  popular.  This 
was  burned  in  1871,  and  on  its  site  was  erected  the  splendid  Hatfield 
House,  at  a  cost  of  $75,000.  Besides  this  the  Harrowgate  House  is 
now  kept  by  W.  R.  Stearns,  who  also  has  charge  of  the  waters  of  the 
springs.  In  addition  to  these  houses  the  Wheeler  is  kept  by  Alonzo 
Riley,  a  well  conducted  and  popular  house.  There  are  two  stores  at 
the  Springs,  and  through  the  growth  of  the  place  and  of  Massena  vil- 
lage the  two  have  become  substantially  one.  While  the  popularity  and 
reputation  of  these  waters  has  not,  perhaps,  declined,  there  has  in  very 
recent  years  been  a  less  number  of  visitors  to  the  place  than  formerly; 
a  fact  which  is  creditable  almost  wholly  to  the  strong  opposition  at 
various  summer  resorts,  such  as  the  Thousand  Islands,  in  the  Adiron- 
dacks,  and  elsewhere. 

Massena  Village. — This  is  now  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  active 
of  the  smaller  villages  of  the  county.  It  is  situated  on  both  banks  of 
the  Grass  River,  principally  on  the  south  side,  and  now  extends  nearly 
to  the  Springs,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  a  fine  drive.  About  the 
first  settlement  made  at  this  point  was  by  Calvin  Hubbard  and  Stephen 
Reed,  who  built  a  dam  and  a  saw  mill  in  1803.  Some  of  the  other 
pioneers  were  Benjamin  Phillips,  U.  H.  Orvis,  J.  B.  Andrews,  J.  Clark, 
L.  E.  Waterbury,  W.  S.  Paddock,  H.  A.  Campbell,  M.  P.  Crowley, 
John  Stone,  Royal  Policy,  and  E.  F.  Taylor.  The  mill  privilege  here 
is  far  superior  to  the  one  below,  which  gave  the  place  early  importance  ; 
this,  together  with  the  growing  popularity  of  the  medicinal  springs,  laid 
the  foundations  for  a  village  that  soon  sapped  the  interest  and  destroyed 
the  growth  of  the  one  at  the  center.  In  the  year  1831  about  thirty- 
five  acres  on  the  village  site  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  seventy-one 
lots,  bordering   on  the  streets,  and  a  period  of  active    building   began. 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  413 

« 

Since  that  time  the  growth  of  the  place  has  been  quite  regular.  A 
custom-house  was  established  here  in  early  years  and  is  still  maintained, 
but  the  business  is  not  large.  In  1808  Hubbard  &  Reed  built  the  first 
grist  mill,  a  small  one  with  a  single  run  of  rock  stone.  This  was  pur- 
chased in  1 8 10  by  James  McDowell,  who  was  the  owner  of  the  lower 
mills.  He  transferred  the  property  to  U.  H.  Orvis  in  1828,  and  two 
years  later  he  built  a  stone  mill  with  three  run  of  stones ;  this  was  sub- 
sequently changed  into  a  woolen  mill,  and  in  1848  Mr  Orvis  built  the 
present  grist  mill,  owned  by  A.  Babcock,  and  placed  in  it  four  run  of 
stones.  The  old  woolen  mill  has  been  demolished.  The  lower  mill 
property  passed  to  L.  Haskell,  who  greatly  improved  it,  and  under  his 
management,  and  others  of  his  family,  became  widely  known.  A  large 
stone  structure  was  built  many  years  ago  for  a  starch  factory,  which 
has  been  fitted  up  with  wood-working  machinery  and  is  now  operated 
by  H.  W.  Clark.  There  was  formerly  a  tannery  carried  on  here,  but 
it  long  since  was  abandoned.  There  is  a  butter  tub  factory  and  the 
usual  number  of  shops  of  various  kinds.  A  saw  mill  is  operated  by  the 
Massena  Mill  Company. 

The  mercantile  business  of  Massena  was  first  represented  by  Benja- 
min Phillips,  U.  H.  Orvis,  J.  Clark,  and  J.  B.  Andrews,  who  were  in 
prosperous  trade  here  many  years,  and  many  of  them  succeeded  by 
their  sons  or  friends.  J.  O.  Bridges  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  successful 
merchants  in  the  place.  There  are  now  about  a  dozen  stores,  covering 
nearly  all  ordinary  lines  of  business,  and  the  village  has  an  air  of  de- 
cided prosperity.  The  recent  extension  of  the  R.  W.  &  O.  railroad  to 
connect  with  others  leading  to  Montreal,  passing  on  the  easterly  side  of 
Raquette  River,  has  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  merchants  and  others 
of  Massena. 

As  early  as  1 8 10  a  large  three  story  house  was  erected  here  for  a  hotel, 
which  was  kept  by  John  Stone  and  others.  H.  A.  Campbell  built  another 
house,  which  was  long  and  popularly  known  as  "The  Eagle  Hotel." 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1864,  and  H.  B.  White  erected  the  present 
one,  which  is  called  "  White's  Hotel,"  an  imposing  brick  structure, 
which  has  enjoyed  extended  popularity  both  as  a  boarding-house  and 
for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  In  1876  the  Allen  House,  an- 
other brick  hotel,  was  built  by  A.  A.  Allen. 


414  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  post-office  was  established  here  September  19  181 1,  with  Cal- 
vin Hubbard  as  postmaster.  The  present  official  is  John  S.  McFadden. 
In  1870  the  office  was  made  a  money  order  office.  A  private  banking- 
house  has  been  carried  on  here  a  number  of  years  by  Geo.  E.  Britton, 

TJie  NortJiern  Observer,  a  bright  weekly  newspaper,  was  established 
in  December,  1891,  by  L.  C.  Sutton  and  G.  W.  Church  ;  it  was  then  a 
four-column  quarto.  In  May,  1892,  Mr.  Sutton  purchased  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Church  and  continued  the  business  alone  until  December  i  of 
the  same  year,  when  he  took  in  George  A.  Miller  as  partner.  New 
presses  and  material  were  purchased  and  the  paper  enlarged  to  an 
eight-column  folio,  its  present  size.  The  circulation  is  now  1,000,  and 
has  a  steady  growth. 

Under  the  General  School  Laws,  districts  Nos.  2,  11  and  16  were 
united  April  ii,  1866,  into  a  Union  Free  School,  and  the  following 
were  chosen  as  a  Board  of  Education  :  H.  F.  Crooks,  J.  O.  Bridges, 
W.  H.  Paddock,  E.  Whitney,  J.  L.  Hyde,  F.  P.  Balch,  Cephas  Night- 
ingale, H.  5.  Ransom,  and  L.  E.  Waterbury.  A  tract  of  three  acres  of 
land,  beautifully  situated,  was  secured  for  a  school  building,  and  a 
commodious  and  handsome  three  story  brick  structure  erected  in  1868, 
at  a  cost  of  $14,000.  The  school  opened  in  1869,  with  Thomas  Kin- 
ney as  principal.  Within  the  past  five  years  two  other  brick  school 
buildings  have  been  added,  and  the  town  now  takes  the  front  rank  for 
its  educational  facilities.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  present  Board 
of  Education  :  Allen  Babcock,  Dr.  M.  J.  Stearns,  Dr.  S.  W.  Dodge, 
James  Rankin,  Samuel  S.  Danforth,  Henry  H.  Warring,  James  Kirk- 
bridge,  Frank  E.  Bailey  and  Louis  S.  De  Rosia. 

Massena  was  one  of  the  first  towns  visited  by  missionaries.  In  the 
spring  of  1806  the  Rev.  Amos  Pettengill  and  Boyd  Phelps  held  religious 
meetings  at  the  Center  and  other  places ;  also  made  arrangements  to 
have  services  held  occasionally  thereafter. 

The  First  Congregatiofial  Society  of  Massena  Center,  and  the  oldest 
religious  organization  in  the  town,  was  organized  February  15,  1819, 
by  Rev.  Ambrose  Porter,  of  Dartmouth  College.  Among  the  twelve 
members  were  Peabody  Kinney,  Rufus  Goodale,  James  G.  Steadman, 
Jacob  Chase,  Abigail  Barber,  Sally  Kinney  and  Dorothy  Smith.  A 
church  was  erected  in  1836  by  joint  contributions  of  several  denomi- 


THE  TOWN  OF  MASSENA.  415 

nations,  at  a  cost  of  $2,ooo,  principally  by  the  Congregationalists, 
Baptists  and  Adventists.  The  Congregational  society  was  incorporated 
August  6,  1825,  with  John  E.  Perkins,  Benjamin  Phillips,  Charles 
Gurney,  James  G.  Steadman  and  U.  H,  Orvis,  trustees.  The  church 
continued  with  varied  success  until  1883,  when  it  voted  to  disband,  and 
the  members  united  with  the  second  church  at  the  village.  They  still 
retain  their  interest  in  the  old  church  edifice,  where  services  are  occa- 
sionally held.  The  Baptists  held  meetings  for  a  time  in  this  church, 
but  their  interest  finally  centered  at  the  village,  which  see.  The  Ad- 
ventists discontinued  their  meetings  long  ago. 

The  Second  Congregational  Church  was  formed  at  the  village  Sep- 
tember 4,  1833,  with  thirty-three  members.  The  early  meetings  were 
held  in  the  school  house,  but  in  1843-4  the  commodious  brick  church 
was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  In  1868  it  was  thoroughly  repaired,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,000.  A  parsonage  costing  $3,000  was  erected  in  1878. 
The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  the  membership  being  about 
100,  and  Rev.  S.  A.  VVorden  is  pastor. 

While  the  Baptist  church  in  Massena  was  not  regularly  organized 
until  September  20,  1843,  meetings  had  been  held  since  1825  or  earlier. 
About  the  year  1827  U.  H.  Orvis  built  a  frame  house  in  the  village  for 
religious  meetings,  which  was  used  by  the  Baptists  for  many  years. 
At  the  date  of  formal  organization  there  were  twenty-one  members. 
Within  a  few  years  thereafter  several  Baptist  congregations  had  been 
gathered  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  with  similar  faith,  and  a  union  was 
effected  February  22,  1850,  to  which  agreement  thirty-six  names  were 
affixed.  On  the  8th  of  March  of  that  year  Earle  Stone  and  Peter 
Ormsby  were  chosen  deacons.  Services  were  then  held  for  a  time 
alternately  at  the  village  and  at  the  Center,  being  essentially  one  church 
with  two  places  of  worship.  The  present  village  church  was  erected  in 
1859.  In  1875  a  parsonage  was  built,  and  the  property  is  now  worth 
more  than  $10,000.  Rev.  Arthur  Holmes  is  the  pastor,  and  the  mem- 
bership is  about  150. 

Methodist  Society. — In  Massena  the  Methodists  were  as  early  on  the 
ground  as  1830,  and  held  services  in  school  houses  and  private  homes. 
Classes  were  formed  at  the  village  and  at  Raquette  River.  In  1843 
these  formed  a  part  of  the  Louisville  and  Massena  circuit.     Five  years 


416  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

later  Massena  became  a  separate  circuit,  the  class  at  the  village  having 
thirty-four  members,  and  the  one  at  Raquette  twenty-three.  These 
still  constitute  the  circuit,  the  Raquette  River  church  being  served  most 
of  the  time  from  the  village.  A  brick  chapel  was  begun  in  the  village 
in  1848,  which  was  used  twenty  years  and  then  sold  to  the  Episcopal 
society.  In  1869  the  present  commodious  brick  edifice  was  built,  and 
the  property  with  the  parsonage  is  now  worth  about  $15,000.  The 
membership  at  the  two  points  is  about  200,  and  Rev.  Matthew  D.  Sill 
is  pastor. 

SL  Peter's  Roman  Catholic  ChnrcJi. — This  church  was  formed  in 
1838,  by  Father  John  McNulty,  and  consisted  of  twenty  families.  In 
the  same  year  a  frame  church  was  built,  which  was  subsequently  en- 
larged. In  1873  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church. 
An  acre  of  ground  was  purchased  near  Massena  Springs  and  the  found- 
ation laid  in  that  year.  The  beautiful  structure  was  finished  and  dedi- 
cated July  27,  1875,  as  "The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart."  There 
are  now  about  500  communicants,  under  Father  Nolan. 

The  Christian  Advent  Church. — A  church  of  this  faith  was  estab- 
lished in  the  town,  under  the  preaching  of  missionaries,  but  it  was  not 
until  1868  that  much  interest  was  created.  At  that  time  Elder  S.  J. 
Mathewson  came  to  town  and  held  a  protracted  meeting,  during  which 
time  thirty  persons  were  converted.  A  church  was  organized  with 
Royal  Polley  and  James  Danforth,  deacons.  Services  were  held  peri- 
odically here  and  at  the  Center  by  evangelists.  It  was  finally  decided 
to  erect  a  church  at  the  village,  which  was  accomplished  in  1874,  at  a 
cost  of  $3,600.  A  year  later  the  parsonage  was  built,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,400.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  George  Stearns;  the  membership, 
however,  is  small. 

St.  Johns  Episcopal  CJiurch. — Services  were  occasionally  held  in 
town  by  visiting  clergymen  several  years  ago,  but  it  was  not  until 
June  21,  1868,  that  an  effort  was  made  to  establish  the  work  of  the 
church,  when  Rev.  J.  F.  Winkley,  of  Norfolk,  began  holding  services 
in  the  town  hall,  where  the  first  communion  was  held  and  the  members 
organized  into  a  parish  September  13,  1869,  as  "  The  Church  of  the 
Great  Shepherd,"  with  Harvey  H.  Chittenden  and  Henry  T.  Clark, 
wardens  ;   George  A.  Snaith,   H.  Y.   Crook,  J.  E.  Clary,  J.  O.  Bridges, 


THE  TOWN  OF  HOPKINTON.  417 

Joseph  Harrison  and  William  N.  Gibson,  vestrymen.  The  certificate 
of  incorporation  was  dated  September  15,  1868.  Rev.  J.  F.  Winkley 
was  selected  as  their  first  rector,  and  about  a  year  later  the  parish  was 
admitted  to  the  Albany  Diocese.  September  28,  1871,  the  name  was 
changed  to  "  The  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  John's  Church  of 
Massena."  The  handsome  church  was  erected  in  1878-9,  at  a  cost  of 
over  $5,000.     The  present  rector  is  Rev.  C.  E.  Mackenzie. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  TOWX  OF  HOPKINTON— ORGANIZED  IN  1805. 

HOPKINTON,  the  fifth  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the   Legislature 
passed  March  2,  1805.      It  comprised  a  very  large  territory  bor- 
dering on  Franklin  county,  and  was  taken  from  the  southerly  portion  of 
Massena  and  included  Islington,  Catharineville,  and  so  much  of  Chester- 
field as  had  been  annexed  to  Massena.     Parishville,  Lawrence  and  Colton 
were  taken  from  it  later  on.      At  the  first  town  meeting,  held  at  the  house 
of  Eliakim  Seeley,  March  4,  1806.  the  following  officers  were  elected  : 
Supervisor,   Roswell    Hopkins ;    clerk,   Henry  McLaughlin  ;    assessors, 
Amasa  Blanchard,  Joseph  Armstrong,  Reuben  Post;  overseers  of  poor, 
A.  Blanchard,  Seth  Abbott ;  constable  and  collector,  Abraham  Sheldon  ; 
commissioners  of  highways,  A.  Sheldon,  R.  Post,  H.  McLaughlin;   fence 
viewers,  Eli   Squire,    Oliver   Sheldon  ;   pound  keeper,    Oliver   Sheldon. 
The  town  was  settled  by  Roswell  Hopkins  (from  whom  it  was  named), 
who   came  in   May,    1802,  from   Vermont.      He  had   bought  a  part  of 
Islington,  and  was  accompanied   by   Samuel    Goodale,  B.   W.  Hopkins 
(son  of  Roswell),  Jared    Dewey,  Eliphalet  Branch,  and  Joel  Goodale. 
They  were  guided  most  of  the  way  by  blazed   trees  (see   Chapter  IX), 
In    March,  1803,  Judge    Hopkins,  Abraham   Sheldon,   Eli    and   Ashbel 
Squire   moved    their  families  to  the   town,  who   came   on   foot   and  on 
horses'  backs  part  of  the  way.      In  that  year  Mr.  Hopkins  built  the  first 

grist  mill   on  Lyd   Brook,  near  the  site  of  Hopkinton  village.      Other 
53 


418  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

settlers,  who  came  in  during  1804  and  1805,  were  Thomas  Remington, 
Gains  Sheldon,  Reuben  Post,  Eliakim  Seeley,  Henry  McLaughlin, 
Thaddeus  McLaughlin,  Horace  Train,  Jasper  Armstrong  and  Seth 
Abbott.  In  1807  the  town  contained  forty- eight  voters,  according  to 
the  qualifications  required.  Dr.  Stephen  Langworthy  was  the  first 
physician,  and  Dr.  Gideon  Sprague,  who  came  in  181 1,  the  second.  In 
1824  Isaac  R.  Hopkins  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  St.  Regis  River,  about 
one  mill  north  of  Hopkinton  village,  and  when  the  mill  was  raised  it 
was  christened  "  Fort  Jackson,"  a  name  which  the  settlement  still  bears. 
The  early  settlers  at  this  point  were  Noah  Post,  F.  Kellogg,  John 
Witherill,  F.  Davis,  R.  Lawrence,  C.  Sheldon,  Samuel  Crook,  and 
others.  A  woolen  factory  was  established  here  and  operated  by  vari- 
ous persons,  and  replaced  by  a  grist  mill,  built  about  1855,  by  Francis 
Davis.  This  was  burned  and  the  present  mill  erected  by  F.  W.  Davis, 
and  now  operated  by  him.  The  sawmill  is  operated  b}^  M.  L.  Clifibrd. 
A  starch  factory  has  been  in  operation  about  twenty  years.  A  shingle 
mill  was  built  by  George  Wells  in  1870  and  a  butter  tub  factory  by 
Samuel  Cook  in  1873,  both  of  which  are  in  operation.  Kellogg  & 
Wright,  the  first  merchants  of  account,  opened  a  store  in  1847.  I" 
1872  Mr.  Kellogg  built  a  block  and  there  the  post-office  was  established 
in  1873,  with  Frank  Kellogg  postmaster.  Miller  &  Ober  and  M.  L. 
Clifford  have  stores  at  present.     A.  E.  Ober  is  postmaster. 

The  little  village  of  Hopkinton  is  on  Lyd  Brook,  a  little  south  of  the 
St.  Regis  River.  There  Roswell  Hopkins  built  the  first  grist  mill  in 
1803  ;  the  mill  near  this  site  is  now  run  by  Benjamin  Collins.  A  tan- 
nery was  established  here  earl)',  and  in  recent  years  changed  to  a  but- 
ter factory,  now  operated  by  R.  J.  Sanford.  There  were  at  one  time 
three  starch  factories  in  the  town  besides  the  one  before  mentioned.  A 
carding  mill  was  formerly  operated  by  Truman  H.  Lyman.  Shingles 
were  largely  manufactured  at  one  time,  but  most  of  this  has  been  given 
up.  B.  W.  Hopkins  was  the  first  merchant.  \'.  A.  Chittenden  was  in 
trade  in  1857,  and  is  now  postmaster.  J.  H.  Chittenden  is  now  the  only 
merchant.  Cornelius  Murphy  is  the  landlord  and  was  preceded  for  man}'- 
years  by  Thomas  L.  Howe. 

A  large  section  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  embracing  parts  of  the  towns 
of  Pitcairn,  Russell,  Fine,  Clifton,  Clare,  Colton,  and  Hopkinton,  is  still 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  HOPKINTON.  419 

a  wilderness,  large  tracts  of  which  are  now  almost  in  their  primeval 
state  This  section  of  country,  approximating  thirty  miles  in  either 
direction  in  extent,  is  locally  known  as  the  "  South  Woods,"  and  is  a 
part  of  the  great  wilderness  of  Nothern  New  York,  which  has  for  many 
years  been  the  ideal  resort  for  the  lover  of  the  beautiful  and  grand 
solitudes  of  nature,  as  well  as  for  the  sportsman  and  the  artist.  It 
has  also  been,  and  still  is,  in  far  too  great  a  measure,  the  field  of  spoils 
for  the  lumberman.  Its  fame  has  been  spread  from  one  end  of  this 
country  to  another  by  the  written  and  spoken  eloquence  of  hundreds 
of  enthusiasts,  and  its  wilderness  depths  are  annually  invaded  by  sports- 
men, artists,  lovers  of  nature,  and  invalids  in  quest  of  health,  from  all 
quarters  of  the  country.  This  section  of  the  wilderness  embraced  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  while  not  so  grand  and  majestic  in  its  mountain- 
ous aspects  as  other  parts  of  the  great  region,  still  includes  some  of  the 
mo.st  beautiful  and  picturesque  scenery  in  the  Eastern  States.  Here 
in  the  untrodden  solitudes  are  numberless  of  the  purest  lakes  and 
ponds  ;  innumerable  streams  that  wind  and  tumble  among  the  rugged 
fastnesses  or  peacefully  flow  along  level  woodlands  ;  quiet  forest  depths 
haunted  by  the  wild  deer  and  birds  of  curious  and  melodious  voice  ; 
and  battlements  of  rock  and  mountain — all  contributing  to  complete 
some  of  nature's  most  entrancing  handiwork. 

In  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  county  in  the  town  of  Hop- 
kinton  is  found  about  half  of  Tupper  Lake  (see  page  ill),  which  ex- 
tends into  Franklin  county.  In  the  southern  part  of  Clifton  is  Cran- 
berry Lake  (now  used  as  a  reservoir),  a  splendid  sheet  of  water,  whose 
vicinity  has  been  made  a  popular  resort,  where  several  hostelries  have 
been  established  for  the  accommodation  of  summer  guests.  Massawiepe 
Lake,  in  the  southern  part  of  Hopkinton,  is  the  source  of  the  south 
branch  of  Grass  River,  while  the  Oswegatchie  River  flows  through 
Cranberry  Lake.  Farther  north  in  Hopkinton  is  a  lake  whose  waters 
flow  into  the  romantic  Raquette  River.  This  latter  stream,  having  its 
sources  far  down  in  Hamilton  county,  flows  in  a  northwesterly  direction 
across  the  region  in  question,  receiving  on  its  way  the  waters  of  scores 
of  beautiful  ponds  and  woodland  streams  ;  and  the  Oswegatchie  takes 
a  similar  course  across  the  more  western  part  of  the  region  in  the  towns 
of  Clifton.  Colton,  Fine   and  Pitcairn.      To   the   northward    of  the    Os- 


420  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

wegatchie  are  the  three  branches  of  the  Grass  River,  also  flowing  in  a 
northwest  direction,  in  the  towns  of  Colton,  Clifton,  Pierrepont  and  Rus- 
sell. The  rivers,  lakes  and  ponds  are  more  minutely  described  in 
Chapter  X  of  this  work.  The  principal  mountainous  elevations  are 
Moosehead,  Matumbla,  Graves  and  Silver  Lake  mountains  in  Hopkin- 
ton  ;  Bear,  Cat  and  Wolf  mountains  in  Colton.  Further  details  of  this 
remarkable  section  are  shown  on  the  map  or  plan  accompanying  this 
work  and  given  in  the  sketches  of  the  towns  embraced  within  its 
boundaries  in  succeeding  pages. 

The  pioneers  of  Hopkinton  suffered  the  usual  hardships  and  privations 
incident  to  all  the  venturesome  of  that  period  (see  Chapter  IX).  Pre- 
vious to  the  erection  of  the  first  grist  mill  the  settlers  were  obliged  to 
go  through  the  woods,  either  on  foot  or  horseback,  to  the  Long  Saut, 
a  mill  on  the  Canada  shore.  The  first  birth  of  a  white  child  in  town 
was  in  December,  1803.  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Shelden.  In  1807  there 
had  been  twenty- six  births  in  the  town  up  to  May  of  that  year.  The 
first  death  which  occurred  was  that  of  an  infant,  in  1807.  For  the  first 
twenty  years  the  town  records  show  that  wild  beasts  of  prey  were  quite 
troublesome  to  the  settlers,  and  bounties  of  from  $1  to  $15  were  offered 
for  wolves,  panthers,  bears  and  foxes,  also  $1  per  hundred  for  mice. 
The  various  bounties  offered  made  it  an  object  for  hunters  to  lay  in 
wait  for  such  game.  Mr.  Thomas  Meacham  kept  a  record  of  the  game 
he  captured,  as  follows:  wolves,  214;  panthers,  'j']  \  bears,  210;  deer, 
2,550.  His  traps  were  always  out,  and  one  day  the  game  caught  in  his 
traps,  and  with  what  he  shot,  the  bounties  amounted  to  $185.  In 
the  War  of  1812-15  the  government  had  stored  about  three  hundred 
barrels  of  flour  in  the  barn  of  Judge  Hopkins,  on  the  passage  of  a  de- 
tachment of  the  army  through  Hopkinton,  on  their  way  from  French 
Mills  to  Sackett's  Harbor  ;  also  had  distributed  several  dozen  muskets 
among  the  villagers  for  safe  keeping.  Judge  Hopkins  and  others  ad- 
vised the  commander  of  the  detachment  to  carry  the  stores  farther  west 
to  a  place  of  greater  safety,  and  offered  their  services  to  remove  them, 
and  take  their  pay  in  flour,  but  no  one  appeared  to  feel  themselves 
authorized  to  order  the  removal.  A  party  of  British  soldiers  com- 
manded by  Major  De  Hering  and  Lieut.  Carlton  made  an  incursion  to 
Malone,  and  had  arrived  at  French  Mills  on  the  last  day  of  February, 


THE  TOWX  OF  HOPKINTON.  421 

1814,  and  there  learned  from  their  guide,  a  citizen  spy,  of  the  govern- 
ment stores  left  at  Hopkinton.  The  officer  and  about  thirty  British 
soldiers  left  French  Mills  in  sleighs  that  evening,  proceeded  by  the  way 
of  Moira,  and  arrived  at  Hopkinton,  a  distance  of  twenty  seven  miles, 
before  the  inhabitants  were  up  the  next  morning.  They  placed  a 
sentinel  at  the  door  of  ever\'  house  and  proceeded  to  search  for  arms, 
and  succeeded  in  obtaining  about  twenty.  It  is  said  that  several 
muskets  were  saved  by  being  hastily  laid  in  beds  which  were  occupied 
by  them  but  a  few  moments  previous,  and  thus  eluded  the  search  of 
the  enemy.  The  British  took  about  half  of  the  flour,  or  all  they  had 
conveyance  for,  and  began  to  destroy  what  remained,  but  being  dis- 
suaded by  the  inhabitants,  they  distributed  the  same  among  the  citizens. 
During  their  short  stay  they  conducted  themselves  with  strict  propriety, 
and  respected  private  property  of  every  kind. 

At  an  early  day  a  commendable  interest  was  manifested  in  the  loca- 
tion and  improvement  of  roads  and  bridges.  In  18 10  an  appropriation 
of  $500  was  voted  to  be  given  to  the  St.  Lawrence  Turnpike  Company 
on  condition  that  the  road  be  located  on  a  certain  route.  In  181 1  the 
Legislature  was  petitioned  to  tax  the  town  to  aid  the  Northwest  Bay 
road  ;  also  to  authorize  a  lottery  whereby  the  sum  of  $10,000  might  be 
raised  to  repair  roads.  In  1827  the  Port  Kent  road  was  located  at 
Hopkinton.  The  road  districts  have  been  increased  to  thirty,  and  the 
principal  highways  of  the  town  are  now  in  a  fair  condition.  The  prin- 
cipal cemetery  in  town  is  located  a  little  way  out  and  north  from  the 
village  of  Hopkinton.  In  May,  181 1,  the  town  voted  a  sum  of  $200  to 
improve  the  lot,  which  is  now  kept  in  good  condition. 

The  pioneer  settlers  showed  their  interest  in  their  country  by  enlist- 
ing as  soldiers  in  the  War  of  18 12.  That  same  interest  was  shown  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  Civil  War.  At  a  special  town  meeting  held 
December  15,  1863,  a  vote  to  levy  a  ta.x  of  $65,000  was  passed,  and 
the  town  clerk  was  authorized  to  issue  certificates  of  $300  for  each  vol- 
unteer required  from  the  town. 

Hopkinton  has  made  a  good  record  in  the  matter  of  schools.  In 
1814  a  committee,  consisting  of  B.  A.  Hopkins,  A.  Blanchard  and  S. 
Eastman,  was  appointed  to  form  school  districts  and  make  recom- 
mendations.     In  1 8 19  three  times  the  amount  of  school  money  granted 


422  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

by  the  State  was  raised  by  a  direct  tax.  There  are  fifteen  school  houses 
in  town,  one  of  brick,  at  Fort  Jackson,  cost  $2,500.  It  has  a  mansard 
roof,  surmounted  by  a  cupola  containing  a  300  lb.  bell;  a  stone  house, 
which  was  the  old  church  abandoned  by  the  Congregationalists  and 
Baptists.  It  was  refitted  in  1841  by  a  tax  levied  on  the  town  for  $250, 
and  now  used  for  school  purposes.  There  are  about  thirty  teachers 
employed  during  the  school  year,  at  an  expense  of  upwards  of  $2,000, 
and  about  600  scholars  attend  the  schools. 

RELIGJOUS    SOCIETIES. 

A  Congregational  Church  was  formed  at  Hopkinton  by  the  assistance 
of  the  missionary.  Rev.  John  W.  Church,  with  eleven  members,  July  6, 
1808.  They  were  incorporated  September  3,  18 14,  with  Amos 
Blanchard,  Reuben  Post  and  Isaac  R.  Hopkins,  trustees.  Rev,  H.  S. 
Johnson  was  their  first  pastor.  In  18 15  the  society  united  with  the 
Baptists  and  outsiders  in  building  a  stone  church,  which  was  also  used 
for  town  purposes.  In  1827  the  society  abandoned  the  stone  church, 
and  erected  a  wooden  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $2,800.  It  was  repaired  and 
refitted  in  1873. 

Baptist  Society. — A  few  people  of  this  faith  were  gathered  for  religious 
services  occasionally  by  Elder  Rowley  at  an  early  date,  but  the  organ- 
ization of  a  church  was  not  effected  until  February  17,  1818,  when 
Abijah  Chandler,  Jonah  Sanford,  Sylvanus  C.  Kersey  and  Samuel 
Eastman  were  elected  trustees.  In  July,  1830,  the  name  of  the  church 
was  changed  to  Hopkinton  and  Lawrence  church,  at  which  time  they 
held  their  meetings  alternately  at  Hopkinton  and  Nicholville.  On 
August  5,  1843,  the  word  Hopkinton  was  dropped,  and  they  have  been 
since  permanently  located  at  Nicholville. 

.A  Catholic  Church,  "  The  Holy  Cross,"  built  of  wood,  36  x  60  feet, 
in  1877,  was  begun  July  4  of  that  year,  which  has  been  finished  and 
occupied  ever  since. 

A  Methodist  Society  was  formed  in  Hopkinton  December  30,  1839, 
but  became  a  separate  charge  and  located  at  Fort  Jackson  in  May,  1845, 
having  built  a  fine  stone  church  the  year  previous,  costing  $3,000. 
Rev.  Josiah  Arnold  was  their  first  pastor. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  423 

Free-will  Baptist. — A  church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at 
Fort  Jackson  in  1844,  with  sixteen  members.  In  1847  they  erected  a 
commodious  church  and  dedicated  the  same  January  2,  1848.  Elder 
John  Sweat  was  their  first  pastor,  who  remained  with  them  fourteen 
years.  The  house  has  been  kept  in  good  repair,  and  a  parsonage  has 
been  built,  which,  together  with  the  church,  is  valued  at  $4,000. 

Following  is  a  list  of  supervisors,  with  years  of  their  service : 

1806,  R.  Hopkins;  1807,  B.  W.  Hopkins;  1808,  Henrj^  McLaughlin  ;  1809.  R.  Hop- 
kins; 1810,  B.  W.Hopkins;  1811-19,  Isaac  R.  Hopkins;  1820-22,  Thaddeus  Laughlin; 
1823-26,  Jonah  Sanford :  1827-29,  Isaac  R.  Hopkins;  1830-32,  Joseph  Durfey  ;  1833, 
I.R.Hopkins;  1834-35,  T.  Laughlin ;  1836,  Phineas  Durfey;  1837,  Eliakim  Seeley  ; 
1838,  T.  Laughlin  ;  1839,  I.  R.  Hopkins;  1840-41,  Clark  S.  Chittenden  ;  1842-44,  Elias 
Post;  1845,  Gideon  Sprague :  1846-47,  Clark  S.  Chittenden  ;  1848-49,  E.  Post ;  1850- 
51,  C.  ?.  Chittenden;  1852-.53,  Joseph  B.  Durfey;  1854,  Clark  S.  Chittenden;  1855, 
Roswell  Hopkins;  1856-57,  P.P.  Sprague;  1858-59,  Caleb  Wright;  1860-61,  David 
F.  Henderson;  1862-63,  George  S.  Wright;  1864,  E.  R.  Sheldon;  1865-66,  David  F. 
Henderson  ;  1867-68,  Frank  Kellogg ;  1869-73,  Jonah  Sanford ;  1874-75,  David  F. 
Henderson  ;  1876-85,  Jonah  Sanford  ;  1886-87,  J.  S.  Kellogg  ;  1888-93,  K.  S.  Chit- 
tenden. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON— ORGANIZED  IN   1805. 

CANTON,  the  sixth  town  organized,  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  Lisbon,  was  created  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  passed  March 
28,  1805,  and  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Stillman 
Foote  on  the-4th  of  March,  1806.  Stillman  Foote  was  chosen  moder- 
ator at  that  meeting,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  Supervisor, 
Stillman  Foote  ;  town  clerk,  James  Parkill  ;  assessors,  William  Perry, 
Thomas  D.  Olin,  George  Foote  ;  constable  and  collector,  Mason  Foote; 
overseers  of  the  poor,  Daniel  Walker  and  John  Farwell ;  commissioners 
of  highways,  Medad  Moody,  Amos  Smith  and  Moses  Leonard;  over- 
seers of  highways,  Hubbard  Clark,  Walter  Clark,  Festus  Tracy,  Solomon 
Walker,  James  Parkill,  Uri  Barber.  John  Hopkins,  Zadock  Clark,  Titus 
Sikes  and  George  Foote  ;  fence  viewers,  Peter  Brown,  William  Lemon, 


424  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  Jonathan  Day ;  pound  masters,  Stillman  Foote  and  Peter  R. 
Leonard.     Stillman  Foote,  magistrate. 

Canton  was  one  of  the  original  ten  townships,  is  about  ten  miles  square 
and  lies  directly  in  rear  of  Lisbon.  Macomb  was  the  original  purchaser 
of  the  territory  from  the  State,  who  transferred  it  to  Edgar  ;  Edgar  to 
A.  Vonfeister ;  he  to  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  J.  O.  Hoft'man,  Richard 
Harrison,   etc. 

The  town  was  surveyed  by  Amos  Lay,  assisted  by  Reuben  Sher- 
wood and  Joseph  Edsall,  in  the  summer  of  1799.  Others  also  aided  in 
the  work,  bringing  the  supplies  by  boat  up  the  Oswegatchie,  through  the 
natural  canal  and  up  the  Grass  River  to  the  falls  or  site  of  Canton 
village. 

The  surveying  party's  frequent  visit  to  Canada  during  the  summer, 
and  their  conversation  with  the  people  there  as  to  the  valuable  farming 
lands  in  Canton,  led  to  the  formation  of  a  company  of  about  thirty  per- 
sons with  a  view  to  settle  there.  The  company  started  out  with  an 
ample  supply  of  provisions  to  traverse  the  tract  in  various  directions, 
and  all  went  well  for  a  time  ;  but  when  the  different  squads,  finding  a 
beautiful  and  fertile  section,  and  each  resolved  to  secure  it  for  their  set- 
tlement without  the  knowledge  of  the  others,  then  it  was  that  trouble 
arose  that  broke  up  the  original  association. 

The  first  land  taken  up  in  the  township  was  by  Festus  Tracey, 
formerly  of  Vermont,  in  1799.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  a  descend- 
ant. In  1800  Daniel  Harrington,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Grass  River,  built  a  shanty  and  cleared 
a  small  piece  of  land,  sowed  it  to  fall  wheat  and  raked  it  in  with  a  hand 
rake.  The  patch  was  on  or  near  where  the  Agricultural  Society's 
grounds  are  now  located.  Stillman  Foote,  from  Middlebury,  Vt.,  came 
to  town  in  the  summer  of  1800  and  purchased  a  mile  square,  on  which 
the  village  of  Canton  now  stands.  He  purchased  the  title  and  wheat 
crop  of  Mr.  Harrington  for  a  horse,  saddle  and  bridle.  Mr.  Foote 
harvested  sixty  bushels  of  wheat,  notwithstanding  the  immense  number 
of  squirrels  of  that  year,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  home.  In 
March,  1801,  Mr.  Foote  left  his  home  in  Vermont  for  his  new  settle- 
ment with  two  teams  laden  with  furniture  and  provisions.  Warm  weather 
approaching  he  was  forced  to  leave  part  of  his  supplies  at  Willsborough, 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  425 

on  Lake  Champlain,  which  were  subsequently  brought  with  irons  for  a 
mill,  by  Lake    Ciiamplain,  the   St.  Lawrence,  and  through  the  town  of 
Lisbon.      Daniel    W.  Church,  who   had   been    engaged  as  a  millwright, 
followed   by  water,   accompanied    by  Lebbeus  Johnson   and  his   sons, 
John  Flannegan,  Thomas  Marvin,  and  one  or  two  others.      Mr.  Church 
kept  a  diary  of  his  journey,  which  was  one   of  many  perplexities  and 
hardships,  and  concludes  thus:   "  Reach  Canton  with  seventeen  blisters 
on  my  hand,  occasioned  by  rowing  and  pulling  the  bateau  along."     He 
found  Mr   Foote   and  his  father,  with   others  to  the  number  of  twelve, 
all  occupying  one   shanty,  for  they  had  been    compelled  to  leave  every 
article  of  convenience   not  absolutely    required  at  Cornwall,  and  come 
through  on  horseback,  there  being  no  road  that  would  admit  the  pass- 
age of  a  team.      The  entire  week  following  was  consumed  in  getting  the 
teams  in.      The  first  clearing   was   made  on   the  west  side  of  the  river, 
near  the  stream  and  just  below  the  site  of  the  bridge.      Work  was  be- 
gun on  the   frame  of  a  saw  mill,  which  was  sadly   interrupted   by  sick- 
ness.     On  the    2d  of  May   Mr.    Church    was  attacked   by  intermittent 
fever,  and    about   the  same   time   the   elder  Mr.  Foote    was    taken  with 
what  proved  to  be  small-pox.      Five   of  the    party  had  previously  been 
inoculated,  and  the  other  six  were  at  once  operated  upon.      Mr.  Foote 
bore  the  terrible  disease  with  fortitude,  but  with  the  appearance  of  the 
secondary  fever  he  died  on  the  loth  of  May,  doubtless  the  first  death  in 
the  town.      He  was  buried  wrapped  in  the  hammock  on  which  he  died, 
the  bark  of  an  elm  tree   serving  as  a  coffin.      Stillman  Foote  had  fallen 
a  few   days   previous  and   broken    a  rib,    which   prevented   him   from 
rendering  any   assistance,  and    about    this  time   the   symptoms  of  the 
disease  began  to  appear  on  those  who  had  been  inoculated.     There  was 
no  medical  aid   nearer  than   Johnstown  in  Canada,  and  even  this  could 
not  be   reached   on    account  of  the   swollen   streams.      Hard    times  for 
poor  Stillman,  who   had  to   lay   his  own    father   in  his   winding-sheet ! 
13th.   Rode  out  to  Lisbon  with    extreme    difficulty.      I  cannot   sit  on  a 
horse.      Ride   barebacked.      Got   wet    with   rain  through  and  through. 
From    Canton  to   Lisbon   settlement  is  fifteen    miles   without   the  least 
opening  ;  very  little  road,  and  very  many  swamps  and  mireholes.    14th. 

Go  to   Dr.   Adams'  and   back   on  foot,  fourteen    miles.     Half  an  hour 
54 


426  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

before  I  set  out,  while  the  fever  was  on,  I  could  not  walk  across  the 
house.      25th.   So  far  recovered  as  to  ride  to  Canton." 

The  mill  being  partly  finished  that  season,  the  party  returned  to  Ver- 
mont to  spend  the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1802  Mr.  Foote  returned 
with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  and 
they  began  their  wilderness  life  in  a  corner  of  the  saw  mill.  During 
the  summer  a  single  run  of  rock  stones,  driven  by  a  tub  wheel,  were 
put  into  operation  in  a  part  of  the  mill,  Mr.  Church  having  returned  to 
do  the  work.  This  was  the  only  grist  mill  in  the  town  until  after  the 
War  of  1812. 

During  the  year  1802  a  number  of  settlers  came  into  the  town,  among 
whom  were  Peter  R.  and  Moses  Leonard,  the  former  of  whom  kept  a 
public- house  several  years  near  the  site  of  the  new  cemetery;  Thomas 
D.  Olin,  who  located  on  the  road  through  what  became  known  as  Olin 
Settlement;  Chester  Dewey,  Lebbeus  Johnson  and  his  five  sons,  James 
Parkill,  the  first  clerk  of  the  town  ;  Daniel  and  Nathan  Walker,  the 
latter  settling  on  what  is  now  the  county  poor  farm  ;  Thomas  Kings- 
bury, who  settled  on  what  has  been  known  as  the  Judd  farm.  Most  or 
all  of  these  were  from  Vermont.  Jacob  Conkey  also  came  in  1802, 
and  Asa  Conkey,  who  came  with  his  father  in  April  of  the  same  year; 
he  lived  in  the  town  seventy-one  years,  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
Other  early  settlers  were  Joseph  and  William  Ames,  Walter  Clark, 
Dan  Judd,  the  first  miller  in  the  Foote  mill  ;  Thomas  H.  Conkey, 
Joshua  Conkey,  Festus  Tracy,  who  was  one  of  the  original  surveying 
party  ;  Peter  Brown,  John  Farwell  (came  in  [805),  Jeduthun  Farwell, 
Harvey  Knox,  Ebenezer  Sanderson,  father  of  Nelson,  Salmon  Ward 
Squires,  father  of  William  O.  ;  Abdiel  H.  Tracy,  Anson  Parker,  Henry 
Mead,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety- two  ;  Peter  Langdon,  who  came 
1807  and  opened  the  first  store  in  Canton,  and  died  in  1867,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-one  years  ;  Benjamin  and  John  Rose,  Jesse  Barnes,  who  came 
in  1810;  Amos  Smith,  Hubbard  Clark.  William  Perry,  who  came  in 
1805  and  passed  a  useful  life  in  the  town  ;  John  Hopkins,  who  came  in 
1803  and  settled  on  the  river  opposite  the  poor  farm;  S.  G.  May, 
Eaton  Ray,  Thomas  Fenton,  and  Reuben  Wilson,  who  located  in  the 
Morley  section  ;  William  Hollenbeck,  William  Foster,  Nathan  Clark, 
David    Olin,    Luther  L.    Page,   and    the    Hill,  Hutchinson,    Paine    and 


THE  TOU'N  OF  CANTON.  427 

Robinson  families.  On  the  river  road  between  Morley  and  Canton 
settled  the  families  of  James  Lankton.  J.  Wiley,  Ira  Butler,  E.  Corey, 
Jeremiah  Day  ;  and  Amos  Jones,  who  settled  on  the  Potsdam  road. 
Others  were  Heber  Sykes,  Moses  Sanderson,  Lemuel  Jenison,  Jon- 
athan Day,  Solomon  Walker,  who  came  in  1808,  and  Lyman  Tupper 
in  181 1.  Aaron  Barrows  came  in  18 16,  and  was  father  of  Parlin, 
Prosper  and  Aaron  Barrows.  Ebenezer  Sanderson  came  about  18 14 
and  settled  about  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Canton.  Matthew 
Wallace  came  in  1821.  Very  many  of  them  came  from  Vermont,  a 
State  which  has  sent  out  from  her  borders  almost  innumerable  sons 
who  have  attained  to  worthy  station  in  professional  or  industrial  life. 
Others  who  have  figured  prominently  in  the  history  of  Canton  will  be 
mentioned  further  on  in  the  account  of  the  various  industries  and  in 
the  personal  sketches  in  another  department  of  this  work.  The  first 
birth  in  this  town  was  that  of  a  daughter  of  L.  Johnson  in  1803. 

The  early  town  records  contain  the  usual  account  of  proceedings  for 
the  primitive  government,  which  need  not  be  detailed  here,  except  as 
they  are  in  some  instances  worthy  of  preservation  for  their  quaintness. 
In  1810  it  was  "voted  that  a  fine  of  $12  be  imposed  on  all  jugglers, 
mountebanks,  and  wire-dancers  "  It  would  be  interesting  to  know 
what  it  was  that  led  to  the  adoption  of  that  vote.  In  the  same  year 
fifty  dollars  were  raised  for  securing  the  rights  and  privileges  of  fish, 
and  S.  Foote,  D.  Campbell  and  N.  Walker  were  appointed  a  committee 
for  the  purpose.  This  action  related  to  the  Grasse  River,  and  in  1815 
C.  Wilson,  F.  Tracy  and  William  Richardson  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  make  the  river  navigable  for  fish.  The  measure  was  carried 
out  under  legislative  action,  and  was  followed  by  further  action  for  a 
similar  end  in  April,  1824,  when  the  river  was  made  a  public  highway 
from  its  mouth  to  the  high  falls  in  Canton,  the  construction  of  dams 
being  allowed  on  condition  that  sluices  be  provided  for  the  passage  of 
fish.  Neglect  of  this  condition,  or  the  setting  of  nets  or  weirs,  was 
punishable  by  a  fine  of  twenty -five  dollars.  In  the  following  year 
(1825)  the  town  appointed  Minot  Jenison  and  Thomas  D.  Olin  to  in- 
vestigate the  condition  of  dams  on  the  river  and  prosecute  all  violators 
of  the  law. 


428  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

At  tlie  first  town  meeting  the  town  was  divided  into  ten  road  districts 
with  an  overseer  in  each  district,  as  before  named.  These  districts 
were  subsequently  subdivided,  and  the  work  of  improving  the  high- 
ways, as  is  always  the  case  in  a  newly-settled  country,  demanded  much 
attention  from  the  authorities  and  the  people.  Several  State  roads 
were  early  surveyed,  and  the  Parishville  Turnpike  Company  located 
its  route  through  this  town  about  the  year  1815  ;  this  company  sur- 
rendered its  charter  in  1827. 

In  the  year  1835  steps  were  taken  which  resulted  in  the  founding  of 
the  Canton  Academy,  an  institution  which  flourished  for  many  years, 
of  which  a  full  account  is  given  a  little  further  on.  In  1845  the  project 
of  erecting  a  town  hall  was  agitated,  and  on  the  2ist  of  April,  1846,  the 
supervisors  of  the  county  were  directed  by  Act  of  Legislature  to  levy  a 
tax  on  the  town  of  $33335  annually  for  three  years,  to  be  paid  to  Ben- 
jamin Squire  and  Cyrus  Abernethy,  as  commissioners  in  trust,  with 
power  to  erect  the  building,  A  plain  frame  structure  was  built  nearly 
opposite  the  courthouse.  This  building  was  used  until  1877,  after  hav- 
ing been  frequently  repaired.  On  the  2d  of  May,  1877,  ^  special  meet- 
ing was  held  to  act  upon  the  project  of  erecting  a  new  town  hall.  VV. 
H.  Sawyer,  M.  D.  Packard  and  C.  N.  Conkey,  as  a  committee  from  the 
annual  meeting,  reported  in  favor  of  a  new  structure  costing  $20,000, 
to  be  paid  in  four  annual  installments,  and  that  the  bonds  of  the  town 
be  issued  for  that  amount.  The  report  was  approved  by  the  electors 
and  L.  W.  Russell,  W.  H.  Kimball  and  Worth  Chamberlain  were  ap- 
pointed to  carry  out  the  undertaking. 

Plank  roads,  see  page  167.      Railroads,  see  page  174, 

In  aid  of  the  great  struggle  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Union  in 
1861-66,  the  town  of  Canton  performed  her  part  nobly.  Through  the 
liberality  and  energy  of  those  who  were  charged  with  the  task  of  filling 
the  various  quotas  of  volunteers,  and  the  patriotism  of  the  people,  the 
several  calls  were  promptly  responded  to  and  the  required  enlistments 
secured  without  resort  to  a  draft,  with  one  exception.  At  a  special 
meeting  August  23,  1862,  a  tax  of  $4,200  was  voted  for  bounty  pur- 
poses, $50  to  be  paid  to  each  volunteer,  on  condition  that  sufficient 
enlistments  were  made  to  fill  the  quota  ;  otherwise  the  tax  should  be 
for  only  sufficient  to  make  the  payment  of  $50  to  each  actual  volunteer. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  429 

The  Legislature  was  petitioned  to  legalize  this  action.  Ebenezer  Miner, 
M.  D.  Packard,  L.  E.  B.  Winslow,  Albert  Langdon,  William  Perry,  jr., 
Cornelius  Van  Waters.  T.  L.  Harrison,  Algernon  Robinson  and  Bing- 
ham A.  S\'kes  were  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  these  funds  and 
disburse  them.  On  the  I2th  of  December  of  the  same  year  a  special 
meeting  of  electors  was  held,  at  which  the  supervisor  and  town  clerk 
were  authorized  to  issue  interest- bearing  certificates  of  $300  each,  to 
be  granted  by  an  auditing  committee,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
$18,000,  to  be  given  to  such  volunteers  as  should  be  necessary  to  fill 
the  quota.  William  H.  Sawyer,  Joseph  Barnes  and  A.  S.  Robinson 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  audit  accounts,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  during  the  war  The  last  special  meeting  held  was  on  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1864,  when  a  bounty  of  $400  per  volunteer  was  authorized, 
subject  to  the  foregoing  conditions.  These  liberal  bounties,  with  the 
sums  paid  by  the  general  government  and  the  State,  sufficed  to  inspire 
enlistments.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1865  the  sum  of  $6,000  was 
voted  to  be  paid  to  such  volunteers  of  the  town  who  had  been  in  service 
and  had  not  received  the  $300  bounty. 

The  histor}' of  the  town  from  the  date  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
village  of  Canton  in  1845  to  the  present  time  is  largely  embraced  in 
that  of  the  several  villages,  as  hereafter  detailed.  Outside  of  those 
villages  it  may  be  said  that  the  town  is  one  of  the  most  productive  in 
the  county,  especially  in  butter  and  cheese.  In  this  direction  the 
farming  community  has  been  quick  to  adopt  advanced  practices,  and 
with  the  best  of  results.  With  the  beginning  of  the  introduction  of 
cheese  and  butter  making  in  factories,  these  establishments  sprang  up 
in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and  were  successfully  and  profitably 
operated.  In  the  year  1877  there  were  eleven  factories  in  the  town, 
while  some  others  that  were  situated  over  the  line  in  other  towns  drew 
a  portion  of  their  supplies  from  Canton.  While  the  agricultural  com- 
munity may  be  said  to  have  suffered  to  some  extent,  in  common  with 
other  localities,  from  the  general  decline  in  land  values,  the  Canton 
farmers  are  among  the  more  progressive  and    prosperous  of  the  county. 

The  population  of  this  town  since  1810  will  be  found  on  page  223  ; 
of  the  village,  on  page  224. 

The  supervisors  of  Canton  since  the  formation  of  the  town  have  been 
as  follows : 


430  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1806,  StillmanFoote;  1807-08.  Daniel  Walker  ;  1809-12,  Daniel  Campbell;  1813-22, 
Daniel  Walker;  1823-24,  Thomas  D.  Olin ;  1825-27.  Jeduthun  Farwellj  1828-30, 
James  Parkin ;  1831-33,  Silas  Baldwin,  jr.;  1834-35,  John  Heaton ;  1836-40,  Lemuel 
Buck  ;  1841-42,  Henry  Barber ;  1843-44,  Richard  N.  Harrison  ;  1845-46,  Henry  Barber ; 
1847-48,  Cyrus  Abernathy;  1849,  William  F.  Cahoon  ;  1850-52.  Hiram  F.  Johnson ; 
1853-54,  Thomas  V.  Russell;  1855-56,  Charles  H.  Allen;  1857-58,  Geoige  Robinson; 
1859-61,  Jeremiah  Traver;- 1862-66,  Milton  D.  Packard;  1867-70,  Horace  W.  Hale; 
1871,  Charles  X.  Conkey;  1872-75,  M.  D.  Packard  ;  1876-77.  LesHe  W.  Russell;  1878- 
86,  William  H.  Kimball;  1887,  Charles  N.  Conkey  :  1888,  A.  B.  Hepburn;  1889,  Will- 
iam H.  Kimball;   1890  93,  Ledyard  P.  Hale. 

THE   VILLAGE    OF   CANTON. 

The  village  of  Canton  had  reached  considerable  importance  in  pop- 
ulation, as  the  county  seat,  and  as  a  center  of  manufactures  and  mer- 
cantile business,  before  its  incorporation.  The  act  of  incorporation  was 
passed  May  14,  1845,  with  boundaries  then  embracing  the  jail  limits, 
excepting  the  bridge  across  the  Grasse  River.  These  boundaries  were 
changed  and  greatly  enlarged,  but  in  1871  were  reduced  to  the  original 
dimensions.  The  first  board  of  five  trustees,  provided  for  by  the  act  of 
incorporation,  were  as  follows  :  Nathaniel  Hodskin,  Prosper  Barrows, 
Benjamin  Squire,  Nathan  Pratt  and  Barzillai  Hodskin. 

The  settlements  on  the  village  site  of  Daniel  Harrington  and  the 
Foote  family  have  already  been  described.  Other  prominent  early 
settlers  here  were  Dr.  William  Noble,  the  first  physician,  who  owned  a 
tract  which  embraced  the  present  university  grounds;  he  came  in 
1804-5.  ^^-  Daniel  Campbell  came  in  1807,  and  Dr.  Elijah  Baker  in 
the  next  year.  Edwin  Jones,  father  of  D.  M.  Jones,  who  is  still  en- 
gaged in  business,  came  in  1803  or  1804;  Amos  Jones,  sr.,  Medad 
Moody,  father  of  Captain  Lucius  Moody,  1804;  Silas  Wright,  of 
whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  bar,  came 
in  1819,  and  also  his  brother  Pliny  Wright ;  Silas  Baldwin  and  Dr. 
Darius  Clark  in  1824,  and  Nathaniel  and  Barzillai  Hodskin  in  1827 
Harry  .Smith,  the  venerable  citizen  who  is  still  engaged  in  trade,  came 
in  1830,  and  Walter  Brown  about  the  same  time.  In  1828  Ebenezer 
Miner  came  temporarily,  and  in  1829  settled  here  permanently.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Daniel  Campbell,  and  purchased  the  interest 
of  the  heirs  in  the  doctor's  estate.  He  was  prominent  in  all  public 
affairs;  built  the   Miner  block  and  many   other  buildings,  and  was  in 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  431 

many  ways  a  useful  citizen  ;  he  died  September  i6,  1871.  Other  early 
comers  to  the  village  were  Benjamin  and  Solomon  Walker,  Joseph  and 
John  Barnes,  Alvin  C.  Low,  S.  Prentice,  and  others  that  will  be  men- 
tioned. Stillman  Foote,  the  pioneer,  built  a  house  on  the  brow  of  the 
hill  in  1802,  which,  after  several  enlargements  and  many  improvements, 
still  stands  and  overlooks  the  village.  Dr.  Campbell  built  his  house 
where  R  B.  Ellsworth  now  lives,  next  to  the  town  hall.  These  two 
were  about  all  of  the  dwellings  of  any  pretensions  in  the  place  before 
the  War  of  181 2.  Dr.  Campbell  brought  the  first  stock  of  goods  to  the 
place  in  1807,  and  sold  them  from  a  room  in  his  dwelling.  During  the 
war  he  closed  out  his  stock  and  opened  a  tavern  in  the  same  house, 
using  the  room  where  he  kept  his  store  as  a  bar  room.  This  was 
prompted  by  the  considerable  travel  through  the  place  of  troops  and 
others  going  through  to  Ogdensburg.  On  one  occasion  a  sloop  load 
of  confiscated  goods  was  sent  to  Dr.  Campbell's  house,  where  they 
were  secreted.  A  force  of  the  British  started  out  in  search  of  the 
property,  but  were  delayed  long  enough  by  a  snow  storm  to  permit  of 
the  goods  being  sold  at  auction.  The  sale  was  long  known  as  the 
Great  Vendue. 

Captain  Lucius  Moody,  who  was  born  in  the  village  in  1806,  was  a 
son  of  Medad  Moody,  who  bought  two  acres  of  ground  including  tjie 
site  of  the  present  Haven  House,  and  there  built  a  dwelling,  for  which 
a  larger  one  was  substituted  in  later  years  and  kept  as  a  hotel. 

The  original  mill  of  Stillman  Foote  has  been  mentioned.  It  stood 
about  on  the  site  of  the  present  Eagle  Mills.  There  was  no  other  mill 
at  Canton  until  after  the  war.  In  18 10  Mr.  Foote  built  a  dam  and  a 
saw  mill  on  the  site  of  Morley  (formerly  known  as  Long  Rapids).  The 
mill  and  the  site  were  soon  sold  out  to  Christopher  Wilson  and  Pitts 
Bailey,  who  in  181 5  put  into  the  mill  two  runs  of  rock  stones,  for 
grinding,  and  a  bolt.  These  were  displaced  two  years  later  for  burr 
stones.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  that  point  as  a 
hamlet. 

Dr.  Darius  Clark  came  to  Canton  in  1822,  after  studying  his  profes- 
sion at  Malone,  and  John  Leslie  Russell  came  here  in  1829.  These  men 
are  properly  noticed  under  the  bench  and  bar.  Hon.  Silas  Baldwin 
came  here  in  1824  and   began   his  long  and   honorable   career.     Na- 


432  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

thaniel  Hodskin  came  to  the  village  in  1827,  and  soon  afterward 
erected  a  small  furnace  which  he  finished  in  four  weeks  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  plows.  In  1833  he,  with  his  son  Barzillai,  built  the 
stone  structure  now  used  by  Mr.  Deshaw  as  a  machine  shop.  In  1850 
the  son,  Barzillai,  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade,  and  later  in  various 
other  enterprises  of  a  public  and  private  character.  He  built  the 
Hodskin  House  (now  the  Haven  House)  in  1864,  and  conducted  it  for 
a  time. 

In  the  year  1820  the  second  mill  was  put  up  by  Henry  Foote,  son 
of  Stillman  ;  the  frame  work  of  this  mill  was  afterwards  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  what  became  widely  known  as  the  Jackson  mill.  This  was 
built  in  i860  by  E.  E.  Jackson,  and  it  subsequently  passed  to  the 
ownership  of  B.  Hodskin.  Stillman  Foote  built  the  first  distillery  at 
the  village  about  the  year  18 15,  and  in  1827  he  established  a  marble 
factory,  where  most  of  that  kind  of  material  used  in  this  section  previous 
to  1835  was  prepared  from  the  stone  found  at  Crary's  Mills.  The  rock 
not  proving  very  durable,  the  manufacture  was  abandoned.  About  the 
year  1840  Silas  Wright  built  a  custom  saw  mill  on  the  site  of  the  L.  A. 
Taylor  mill ;  it  was  burned  in  1852.  L.  A.  Taylor  built  his  present 
planing  and  general  wood-working  mill  in  1889-90;  he  began  busi- 
ness in  the  place  in  1874.  Silas  Parker  built  a  saw  mill  in  1850,  a 
short  distance  above  the  island,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Grange  mill. 
Its  capacity  was  between  5,000  and  10,000  feet  per  day.  It  passed  into 
other  hands  and  was  burned  in  1885,  while  in  possession  of  H.  P. 
Grange,  who  had  owned  it  since  1881.  Mr.  Grange  rebuilt  the  mill, 
which  now  has  two  circular  saws,  a  trimmer,  an  edger,  a  lath  mill,  a 
shingle  mill,  a  planer,  etc.  The  first  good  grist  mill  was  erected  of 
stone  by  Stillman  Foote  about  the  year  1817  ;  it  stood  about  on  the 
site  of  the  present  electric  light  building,  where  it  was  burned,  leaving 
a  part  of  the  wall  standing.  The  Eagle  mills  were  erected  in  1842  by 
Henry  Van  Rensselaer.  The  structure  is  of  stone  and  four  stories  in 
height.  In  1871  this  mill  passed  to  Lasell  &  Jewett.  The  former 
bought  his  partner's  interest  and  sold  out  to  W.  B.  Allen.  From  Mr. 
Allen's  estate  the  present  owners,  Henry  and  Fonda  Bullis,  purchased 
the  property.  In  1889  they  put  in  three  sets  of  rollers,  which  are  now 
operated  with  three  run  of  stones.      Opposite  this  mill,  on  the  island,  was 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  433 

erected   by   Lucius   Moody,  in  1859-60,  a  fine    three-story    brick    mill, 
which  took  the  name  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Mills.      It  contained  four  run 
of  stones.      It  subsequently  passed  to  possession  of  Hodskin  &  Sherwin, 
and   then   to   D.    \V.  Sherwin,    who   is  the  present    proprietor.      Four 
double   sets  of  rollers   were  placed    in   the  mill  in  1888.      A.  E.  Smith 
has  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  sash  and  doors  since  1888,  on  a  site 
which  was  occupied  formerly  by  George   Gilmore  for  making  furniture. 
D.  M.  Jones,  before  mentioned,  took  the   Hodskin  furnace  property  in 
1852,  and  in  i860  greatly   enlarged    the  plant  by   adding  a  large  brick 
furnace.      On  the  site  of  L.  B.  Storrs's   machine  shop  was  formerly  an 
oil  mill  built  by  Stillman  Foote  in  1871  ;   this  was   purchased  by  Harry 
Smith  in  1830,  who  operated  it  for  ten  years,  making  about  1,000  gal- 
lons of  oil  per  year.      Mr.  Storrs  carries  on  the  manufacture  of  a  patent 
machine  for  the  use  of  tailors  in  pressing.      The  first  tannery  at  Canton 
was  on  the  west  side  and   carried  on  by   Elias  C.  Page.      A  larger   tan- 
nery was  started  by  him  near  the  same  place  in  1830,  which  was  burned, 
and  he  then  laid   the   foundation  of  another,  which    was  purchased  by 
Jerry   Traver   in    1853   and   greatly  extended.      A   large  business   was 
maintained  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  scarcity  of  bark  caused  the 
abandonment  of  the  enterprise.      David   Sears  also  carried  on  tanning 
from  1846  for  a  number  of  years.    In  1827  Amos  Bird,  one  of  the  early 
business    men   of  the   place,  began    operating  a  carding   machine  in  a 
building   attached   to  the  saw  mill  on  the  west  side,  and  continued  it 
for  many  years      About  1852   Albert   Fowler  began  the  manufacture 
of  axes  and  other  edged  tools  in  a  small  shop  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river.      Later  he  established  himself  on  the  island,  where  he  continued 
to  1875,  ^vhen  the  business  passed  to  M.  A.  Fowler.      The  works  were 
closed  soon  afterward.      The  building,  of  which  he  occupied  a  part,  was 
erected  by  Barrows  &  Blanchard  about  1846  for  a  butter  tub  and  cheese 
box  factory.      Several   years  later  Henry  Stickles  put  in  machinery  for 
the  manufacture  of  sash  and  blinds,  and  is  still  in    the  business.      W.  B. 
Barlow  began  the  manufacture  of  threshers,  wheels,  etc.,  in    1873.      He 
erected  the  buildings  which  he  now  occupies,  and  added  a  carding  mill. 
His  business  is  now   largely  repairing   and  the  sale   of  agricultural  im- 
plements. O.G.Baxter,  manufacturer  of  plows  and  castings,  since  1884, 
ill  the  Rushton  boat  shop.      J.  H.  Rushton  began  boat  and  canoe  build- 


434  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ing  in  a  small  way  in  1874.  He  erected  in  1883  a  large  factory  and 
now  employs  many  hands.  Wagon-making  has  been  carried  on  in 
Canton  in  past  years  to  a  considerable  extent  ;  Champlin  &  Jeffrey  were 
conspicuous  in  it  at  one  period,  and  Mr.  Champlin  at  a  later  date,  but 
the  business  is  now  confined  chiefly  to  repairing.  Numbered  in  the 
past  were  several  large  asheries  near  the  village,  among  the  proprietors 
being  L.  E.  Clark,  B.  Hodskin,  E.  Miner  and  others.  The  Canton 
Lumber  Company,  with  Harmon  Rice,  has  operated  a  large  steam  mill 
near  the  village,  turning  out  a  large  product  of  lumber,  etc.,  for  several 
years  past. 

Down  to  the  year  1827  three  stores  sufficed  for  the  community,  and 
they  were  then  kept  by  Ephraim  Bridge,  on  Main  street,  above  the 
Union  block,  in  a  brick  building,  which  was  burned  in  1862.  Barnes 
&  Sackrider  were  opposite,  on  the  site  of  the  Hodskin  House,  in  a 
frame  building,  which  is  in  use  now  as  a  blacksmith  shop  ;  and  A.  C. 
Low  and  Amos  Bacon  were  where  Harry  Smith's  drug  store  is  now 
situated.  Mr.  Smith  came  here  in  183  i  and  has  been  continuously  in 
trade  ever  since.  Medad  Moody  and  Nathan  Walker  were  merchants 
together  as  early  as  18 16,  and  handled  potash,  etc.  Daniel  Mack  kept 
a  drug  store,  where  the  Mather  block  now  stands.  The  former  lead- 
ing merchants  were  Solomon  Boynton,  Ebenezer  Miner,  Christopher 
Cook  &  Co.,  and  Simeon  D.  Moody,  who  built  a  part  of  the  Union 
block  which  was  burned  ;  also  M.  D.  Packard  and  Moses  Whitcomb. 
Lorenzo  Lawrence  dealt  in  furniture.  Joseph  Ellsworth  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  shoe  trade,  and  is  now  associated  with  his  son.  D. 
M.  Jones  and  H.  L.  Sackrider  were  early  associated  in  the  hardware 
trade,  are  now  separate  in  the  business.  Conkey  &  Sherman  carried 
on  a  drug  trade  for  a  number  of  years;  the  business  is  now  conducted 
by  George  S.  Conkey  and  G.  W.  GuUey. 

Medad  Moody  built  a  square  frame  hotel  on  the  site  of  the  Haven 
House  in  1820,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  several  times  and  rebuilt, 
the  last  destruction  being  in  the  fire  of  1862,  after  which  he  did  not 
rebuild.  Mr.  Hodskin  bought  the  site  and  erected  the  present  house 
in  1864,  at  a  cost  of  about  $25,000.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  kept 
by  several  different  persons,  and  is  now  conducted  as  a  first  class  tem- 
perance house  by  J.  M.  Haven,  who  purchased  it  in  1889.     The  Amer- 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  435 

ican  Hotel  was  originally  built  in  1825  by  Sartwell  Prentice,  and  was 
known  as  the  Prentice  Hotel  until  about  1840,  when  it  passed  to  the 
ownership  of  Henry  Foote,  and  from  him  to  the  Bridge  brothers,  who 
gave  it  its  present  name.  It  is  now  kept  by  S.  D.  Bridge.  The  Com- 
mercial Hotel  was  built  by  Dr.  Darius  Baker  for  a  private  house  for 
his  son-in-law,  Robert  Clark.  It  has  been  kept  as  hotel  many  years, 
and  at  various  times  enlarged. 

The  first  bank  in  Canton  was  established  in  1858  by  R.  M.  Godard 
&  Co.  It  was  closed  up  in  i860.  In  1862  H.  J.  Messenger,  who  had 
long  carried  on  banking  in  Cortland,  N.  Y.,  opened  a  branch  in  Canton, 
and  two  years  later  organized  the  Bank  of  Canton  under  the  State  laws. 
Messenger  met  with  disastrous  failure  in  1868,  M,  D.  Packard  acting  as 
receiver.  During  the  life  of  the  Bank  of  Canton,  the  Commercial  Bank 
was  organized,  but  after  receiving  deposits  for  a  few  weeks  its  manager 
disappeared  with  most  of  the  funds,  and  the  doors  were  closed.  In 
January,  1 870,  S.  D.  Hungerford  &  Co.  organized  and  opened  a  bank- 
ing house  in  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Bank  of  Canton, 
and  its  management  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  W.  H.  Kimball  as 
president,  and  S.  D.  Kimball  as  cashier.  A  bank  building  was  built  in 
1870.  The  capital  of  the  bank  is  $50,000.  The  institution  has  always 
been  prudently  and  carefully  conducted.  Its  deposits  now  average 
about  $200,000,  and  it  has  a  surplus  of  about  $19,000.  The  bank  is 
incorporated  under  the  State  laws,  under  the  name  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
County  Bank,  and  the  present  officers  are  W.  H.  Kimball,  president ; 
M.  D.  Packard,  vice-president;   S.  D.  Kimball,  cashier. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Canton  was  organized  in  1887,  with  a 
capital  of  $65,000.  Its  officers  were:  D.  S.  Lynde,  president;  B. 
Hodskin,  vice-president ;  John  Pickens,  cashier.  Commodious  offices 
were  prepared  for  the  bank  in  the  Sherman  block,  and  a  substantial 
vault  built.  R.  B.  Ellsworth  has  succeeded  Mr.  Hodskin  as  vice-presi- 
dent, and  W.  H.  Beard  is  the  present  cashier.  The  directors  are  Leslie 
W.  Russell,  Adolphus  S.  Lynde,  R.  B.  Ellsworth,  John  C.  Keeler,  D. 
S.  Rice,  James  S.  Gale,  James  P.  Howe,  Henry  Bullis,  George  W. 
Seymour.  All  of  these  excepting  Mr.  Seymour  are  residents  of  Can- 
ton. 


436  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  Press. — The  beginning  of  newspaper  publication  in  the  town  of 
Canton  dates  back  to  about  the  year  1827,  at  which  time  Jonathan 
Wallace  was  connected  with  the  publication  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Repub- 
lican in  Ogdensburg.  He  also  at  about  that  time  issued  the  Day  Star, 
a  Universalist  publication,  which  he  continued  about  six  months,  when 
it  was  united  with  the  Gospel  Advocate  in  Utica.  While  that  paper  was 
being  published  the  establishment  was  removed  to  Canton. 

In  July,  1832,  C.  C.  Bill  started  a  Whig  paper  in  Canton,  which  he 
called  the  Northern  Telegraph.  He  sold  out  to  Orlando  Squires,  who 
began  the  publication  from  the  same  office  of  a  Democratic  sheet  called 
the  Canton  Democrat.  It  was  short  lived.  A  paper  called  The  Lnmi- 
nary  of  the  North  was  issued  here  in  July,  1834.  Its  light  was  soon 
extinguished  forever.  The  St.  Lawrence  Democrat  was  a  Whig  paper, 
owned  by  several  persons  and  published  by  Edgar  A.  Barber;  was 
started  in  September,  1840,  and  lived  until  April,  1842.  The  press 
and  materials  of  Mr.  Barber  were  next  used  by  Charles  Boynton  for 
the  publication  of  the  Nortliern  Cabinet  ajid  Literary  Repository,  which 
first  saw  the  light  January  2,  1843.  How  long  the  paper  supported  its 
burdensome  name  is  not  known. 

A  paper  called  The  True  Democrat  was  started  May  28,  1850,  at 
Madrid,  by  a  Mr.  Wilson.  In  less  than  a  year  it  passed  to  O.  L.  Ray, 
who  changed  its  name  a  year  later  to  the  Columbian  Lndependent,  and 
at  the  end  of  another  year  again  changed  its  title  to  the  Canton  Lnde- 
pendent, and  removed  it  to  Canton  village.  It  did  not  survive  long 
afterward.  The  Canton  Weekly  Citizen  was  a  small  folio  which  made 
a  weekly  appearance  for  one  month  beginning  January  i,  1852,  and 
then  joined  those  which  had  gone  before. 

The  St.  Lawrence  Plaindealer  was  started  as  a  Republican  campaign 
paper  in  July,  1856,  by  William  B.  Goodrich,  and  S.  P.  Remington  as 
junior  partner.  The  material  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Democrat  was  used, 
and  the  paper  printed  on  an  exceedingly  ancient  hand  press.  After 
the  close  of  the  campaign  an  entire  new  outfit  was  purchased,  and  the 
paper  was  established  as  a  permanent  enterprise.  A  few  months  later 
Mr.  Goodrich  sold  out  his  interest  to  his  partner.  When  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion  broke  out,  Mr.  Goodrich  entered  the  Union  army  as  a 
volunteer.     See  chapter  on  the  Rebellion. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  437 

The  Plaindealer  continued  until  1862  under  the  editorship  and  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Remington.  At  that  time  he  entered  the  army,  and 
sold  the  office  to  J.  Van  Slyke,  who  owned  and  controlled  it  until  1867, 
when  it  was  repurchased  by  Mr.  Remington.  On  the  14th  of  August, 
1869,  and  again  on  the  4th  of  August,  1870,  the  material  of  the  office 
was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire.  Col.  Remington,  after  each  of  these 
fires,  continued  to  issue  the  paper  regularly,  on  small  sheets  at  first,  but 
in  a  few  weeks  restored  to  its  usual  size,  and  the  office  equipped  with 
new  presses  and  material. 

In  1873  he  sold  the  Plaindealer  and  establishment  to  Gilbert  B. 
Manley,  the  present  proprietor.  It  has  been  twice  enlarged,  and  is  now 
issued  as  a  seven  column  quarto.  Williston  Manley,  a  son  of  the  pro- 
prietor, is  now  associate  editor. 

The  Commercial  Advertiser,  a  weekly  Democratic  newspaper,  was 
started  at  Norwood,  in  this  county,  by  Hall  &  Tracey,  on  the  3d  of 
November,  1873.  In  May,  1877,  it  was  removed  to  Canton,  the  first 
number  in  the  new  location  being  issued  on  the  31st  of  that  month. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Tracey  bought  his  partner's  interest  in  the  establish- 
ment, and  has  since  conducted  the  paper  alone.  Under  his  able  edi- 
torial and  business  management  the  Advertiser  \\d.s>  prospered  financially 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  exponents  of  Democratic  doc- 
trine in  Northern  New  York. 

The  post-office  in  Canton  village  was  established  April  i,  1804,  under 
the  name  of  New  Cairo,  with  Daniel  Sayre  as  postmaster.  The  name 
was  changed  to  Canton  July  [,  1807.  The  incumbents  of  the  office 
have  been  as  follows:  Daniel  Campbell,  181 1  to  1821  ;  Silas  Wright, 
1821  to  1827;  Silas  Baldwin,  1827  to  1833  ;  John  L.  Russell,  1833  to 
1841  ;  Jeremiah  Bailey,  1841  to  1843;  Darius  Clark,  1843;  Ephraim 
Goff  was  the  next  incumbent  and  was  succeeded  in  1853  by  Amasa  O. 
Brown  ;  Seth  P.  Remington  came  next,  and  was  succeeded  by  William 
R.  Remington  ;  he  was  followed  by  A.  T.  Martyn,  who  was  succeeded 
for  four  years  by  John  H,  Mills.  The  present  postmaster,  Edwin 
Aldrich,  assumed  the  position  April  i,  1891. 

The  presidents  of  the  village  from  its  incorporation  to  the  present 
time  have  been  as  follows :  From  1846  to  1852  they  were  Nathaniel 
Hodskin,    Prosper    Barrows,  Benjamin  Squire,  Nathan   Pratt  and  Bar- 


438  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

zillai  Hodskin  ;  from  1846  to  1852  (elected  by  the  people),  Nathaniel 
Hodskin,  EHas  C.  Page,  Prosper  Barrows,  Paul  Boynton,  A.  R.  Kipp, 
Paul  Boynton  and  Luman  Moody;  from  1853  to  1858  the  records  are 
lost;  from  1859  to  the  present  the  presidents  and  clerks  have  been  as 
follows:  1859,  E.  Miner  and  S.  J.  Day;  1860-61,  1862,  L.  E.  B.  Win- 
slow  and  M.  B.  Chamberlain;  1863,  D.  M.  Jones  and  J.  Barnes;  1864, 
J.  Traver  and  J.  F.  Havens;  1865-66,  E.  Miner  and  Joseph  Barnes; 
1867,  E,  Miner  and  W.  J  Kerrey;  1868,  B.  Hodskin  and  W.  J.  Ker- 
rey; 1869,  C.  Bailey  and  J.  VV.  Bugbee  ;  1870,  Jeremiah  Traver  and 
Joseph  Barnes;  1871,  Joseph  Barnes  and  W.  J.  Kerrey;  1872,  J.  S. 
Conkey  and  H.  D.  Ellsworth;  1873,  B.  Hodskin  and  H.  D.  Ellsworth; 
1874.  H.  H.  Judd  and  H.  D.  Ellsworth;  1875,  L.  B.  Storrs  and  H.  D. 
Ellsworth;  1876-78,  L.  B  Storrs  and  C.  A.  Chamberlain;  1879,  M. 
D.  Packard  and  C.  E,  Chamberlain;  1880,  John  C.  Preston  and  C.  E. 
Chamberlain;  1881-82,  John  C.  Preston  and  H.  D.Ellsworth;  1883, 
L.  B.  Storrs  and  PI.  D.  Ellsworth;  1884.  L.  B.  Storrs  and  L.  C.  Saw- 
yer; 1885,  Worth  Chamberlain  and  L.  C.  Sawyer;  1886,  Ledyard  P. 
Hale  and  L.  C.  Sawyer;  1887-88,  D.  H.  Rice  and  Charles  J.  Preston; 
1889-90,  D.  H.  Rice  and  C.  E.  Chamberlain  ;  1891,  J.  N.  Bassett,  jr., 
and  C.  E.  Chamberlain  for  one  half  of  term  ;  1892-93,  James  E.  John- 
son and  H.  M.  Barber.  The  present  trustees  are  Thomas  Peggs,  G.  E. 
Sims,  George  E.  Jamieson,  and  W.  A.  Brown. 

Fire  Department  and  Water  Works. — The  first  fire  company  in  Can- 
ton village  was  organized  about  1849,  when  the  apparatus  consisted  of 
a  small  rotary  engine.  The  venerable  Harry  Smith  was  foreman  of 
company,  which  was  in  existence  ten  or  twelve  years,  when  the  engine 
became  disabled,  and  the  village  was  substantially  without  protection 
from  fire  until  1870.  On  the  28th  of  August,  1869,  a  meeting  was 
held  to  discuss  and  adopt  measures  for  the  establishment  and  mainte- 
nance of  a  fire  department.  P"or  these  purposes  $700  were  appropriated. 
On  the  9th  of  the  same  month  a  meeting  was  held  and  a  company  or- 
ganized, and  a  second-hand  brake  engine  purchased  in  Ogdensburg. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1869,  a  fire  broke  out  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  street  and  swept  away  everything  between  Water  and  Hodskin 
streets,  involving  a  loss  of  $65,000.  One  year  later,  within  a  few  days, 
another  fire  broke  out  at  the   point  where  it  was  stopped  the  previous 


'^y^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  439 

year  and  burned  away  the  buildings  on  the  same  side  of  the  street  for 
a  long  distance  and  causing  a  loss  of  $150,000. 

In  March,  1870,  "The  Fire  Department  of  the  Village  of  Canton  " 
was  incorporated  by  Act  of  the  Legislature  and  the  following  board  of 
directors  named  to  hold  office  until  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  de- 
partment under  the  act  of  incorporation  :  S.  D.  Bridge,  chief  engineer ; 
S.  P.  Remington  and  M.  D.  Packard,  assistant  engineers.  In  January, 
1 87 1,  a  hook  and  ladder  apparatus  was  provided  for  the  department. 
A  frame  engine  house  was  erected  on  Water  street  in  1870,  which  was 
occupied  until  1874,  when  the  present  brick  structure  on  Court  street 
was  built.  A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  formed  in  December, 
1875,  ^vit^^  twenty  members,  but  it  was  disbanded  after  a  few  years.  In 
1882  a  steam  fire  engine  of  the  Silsby  make  was  purchased  and  the 
hand  engine  was  sold.  The  steamer  company  now  has  seventeen 
members,  one  hose  company  eleven  and  the  other  ten  members.  The 
following  have  held  the  office  of  chief  engineer:  S.  D.  Bridge,  1870- 
71;  John  J.  Stacks,  1872-73;  M.  D.  Packard,  1874-76;  Ezra  D. 
Jackson,  1877  ;  J-  H.  Mills,  1878;  M.  D.  Packard,  1879;  C.  J.  Perkins, 
1880;  Worth  Chamberlain,  1881-82;  S.  D.  Bridge,  1883-86;  G.  W. 
Seymour,   1886-88;  T.  G.  Kirkland,  1889-90;   Homer  Bailey,  1891. 

Water  Works. — The  present  water  works  and  sewer  system  were  es- 
tablished in  the  year  1889,  but  as  separate  undertakings  and  under 
separate  issues  cf  the  village  bonds,  the  sewer  system  being  introduced 
first.  For  the  latter  purpose  bonds  were  issued  for  $35,000,  payable 
in  thirty  years,  and  for  the  water  works  the  amount  of  bonds  were 
$40,000,  payable  in  twenty  years.  They  were  negotiatied  at  four  per 
cent,  and  were  sold  at  a  small  premium.  The  works  comprise  a  build- 
ing for  the  pumps,  which  are  modern  and  efficient  in  character,  and  a 
stand-pipe  of  sufficient  height  to  give  ample  pressure  excepting  in  the 
highest  parts  of  the  vil'age.  The  sewer  system  comprises  between  four 
and  five  miles  of  conduit.  The  works  are  under  control  of  a  board  of 
officers,  consisting  for  the  year  1893  of  the  following:  J.  Henry  Rush- 
ton,  president ;  Winfield   S.  Leonard  and  Isaac  Cornell. 

Electric  Lighting. — In  the  year  1887  a  stock  company  was  formed 
in  which  the  Thompson- Houston  Company  was  represented  with  citi- 
zens of  Canton,  the  capital  being   $i8,ooo.      The  necessary  plant  was 


440  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

installed  in  a  wooden  building  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1890  and 
was  replaced  by  a  brick  structure,  the  power  being  derived  from  the 
river.  The  village  authorities  pay  the  company  for  the  public  lights. 
The  officers  of  the  company  are  L  P.  Hale,  president ;  A.  T.  Martin, 
secretary  and  treasurer  ;   Luman  Bailey,  superintendent. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

First  Congregational  Church. — Early  in  the  summer  of  1807  the 
missionaries  Amos  Pettengill  and  Ebenezer  Hibbard,  of  Vermont,  or- 
ganized a  Congregational  Church  with  seven  members,  as  follows : 
George  Foot,  John  Richardson,  Weltha  Foot,  Betsy  Donegly,  M.  Con- 
key,  Jane  Ross  and  P.  Richardson.  The  society  was  incorporated  Janu- 
uary  16,  18 1 5,  with  George  Foot  and  two  others  as  trustees.  They 
were  supplied  with  missionaries  most  of  the  time  until  1823,  when  Rev. 
Hiram  S.  Johnson  became  their  pastor.  In  1825,  it  is  said,  through 
spiritual  weakness  or  indifference,  they  were  induced  to  change  to  Pres- 
byterian. 

A  second  Congregational  church  was  organized  at  Crary's  Mills  (as 
mentioned  in  the  histor}'  of  Potsdam),  on  the  Canton  side  of  the  river, 
in  September,  1823,  with  twelve  members.  Jeduthun  Farwell  and 
three  others  were  elected  trustees.  A  church  building,  32x44  feet,  was 
erected  and  dedicated  in  1844.  It  was  repaired  and  rededicated  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1874.     The  society  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Canton. — Meetings  of  Baptists  were 
held  in  the  northern  part  of  this  town  as  early  as  18 14  and  for  several 
years  thereafter  before  an  attempt  was  made  to  organize  a  church.  On 
the  22d  of  June,  1817,  a  council  was  called  at  the  school-house  in  North 
Canton  by  Rev.  Samuel  Churchill,  a  missionary  from  Boston.  Four- 
teen persons  presented  themselves  for  membership,  not  all  of  them, 
however,  from  this  town.  Justin  Olin  was  appointed  deacon  and  Joseph 
Olin,  clerk.  Rev.  Rupe  Batchelor  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  the 
membership  increased.  The  records  of  1832  show  a  membership  of 
sixty  eight,  and  services  were  being  held  in  the  village  and  a  branch 
which  had  existed  in  the  south  part  united  with  it.  On  the  loth  of 
December,  1823,  the  First  Baptist  Evangelical  Society  of  Canton  was 
incorporated,  with  R.  Batchelor,  T.  D.  Olin  and  Jonathan  Paul  as  trus- 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  441 

tees.  In  1829  this  society  united  with  the  Universalists  in  the  erection 
of  a  church  building,  which  was  used  by  the  Baptists  until  1849,  when 
they  erected  a  church  of  their  own,  which  was  dedicated  February  8, 
1849.  This  building  was  occupied  until  1871,  when  the  present  one 
was  built  ;  but  it  has  been  considerably  remodeled  since  that  date.  At 
the  present  time  (1893)  there  are  about  125  members,  and  the  pastor 
is  Rev.  S.  Thomas  Williams.  The  trustees  are  Charles  Churchill,  John 
Fields,  Harvey  Barber,  Gilbert  Bouck. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — As  early  as  1808  a  class  was  formed 
in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  where  prayer  meetings  were  held,  and 
their  numbers  increased  yearl}'.  On  the  3d  of  November,  18 19,  the 
Methodist  Church  Society  of  Canton  was  incorporated,  with  the  fol- 
lowing trustees  :  Jesse  Barnes,  Hugh  Montgomery,  Isaac  Buell,  Jedu- 
thun  Farwell,  William  Perry  and  William  Richardson.  The  early 
meetings  were  held  in  school  houses  and  in  a  building  which  had  been 
used  in  connection  with  a  distillery  by  Mr.  Farwell.  In  1823  measures 
were  adopted  to  erect  a  church  edifice,  which  resulted  in  the  building 
of  the  brick  church  at  South  Canton,  which  is  still  in  use.  The  lot  was 
donated  to  the  society  by  William  Richardson  for  church  and  cemetery 
purposes.      Rev.  L.  T.  Cole  is  the  present  pastor  in  that  church. 

In  the  mean  time  the  northern  part  of  the  town  had  become  thickly 
settled,  and  to  meet  the  necessity  of  a  more  convenient  place  of  worship 
the  Second  Methodist  Church  and  Society  was  formed  on  the  28th  of 
August,  1827,  with  Solomon  Boynton,  Samuel  Fish,  Daniel  M.  Foot, 
Gershom  Conger  and  Joseph  Ames  as  trustees.  A  lot  on  Chapel  and 
Court  streets  was  purchased  of  David  C.  Judson,  on  the  ist  of  January, 
1828,  and  there  a  frame  church  was  erected,  which  was  the  home  of  the 
society  for  nearly  forty  years.  It  was  displaced  by  the  present  brick 
edifice  in  1856,  which  was  dedicated  February  25,  1857.  A  parsonage 
was  erected  in  1846,  and  the  present  one  about  1884.  The  membership 
of  the  church  is  209,  and  Rev.  C.  E.  Dorr  is  the  pastor  for  1893.  The 
trustees  are:  James  Kingston,  Nathan  Barber,  Dr.  A.  C.  Drury,  A. 
Watson,  L.  Barber,  E.  F.  Tripp,  D.  W.  Sherwin,  W.  D.  Church  and  R. 
A.  Barber. 

Presbyterian  Church. — The  first  Presbyterian  society  of  Canton  was 
organized  from  the   Congregational  body  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 

56 


442  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Hiram  S.  Johnson,  a  Presbyterian,  and  placed  themselves  under  the  St. 
Lawrence  Presbytery.  In  i8i6  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida  was  divided, 
and  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Lawrence  created,  comprising  this  county, 
Lewis  and  Jefferson  counties.  The  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the 
county  belonged  in  the  Presbytery  of  Champlain.  In  1821  the  Albany 
Synod  set  off  Ogdensburg,  De  Kalb,  Canton,  Potsdam,  Hopkinton, 
Rossie  and  Gouverneur  to  constitute  the  Presbytery  of  Ogdensburg. 
In  1829  a  change  was  made  by  which  all  of  this  county  was  placed  in 
the  Presbytery  of  St  Lawrence.  In  1839,  at  the  division  of  the  church 
into  the  Old  School  and  the  New  School,  the  Old  School  Presbytery 
was  formed,  and  in  1870,  upon  the  reunion  of  the  two  bodies,  the  last 
named  Presbytery  and  that  of  Watertown  were  united  in  the  St.  Law- 
rence Presb3^tery,  of  which  this  Canton  church  became  a  part.  The 
first  pastor  after  the  church  became  Presbyterian  was  Rev.  Hiram  S. 
Johnson.  The  church  was  incorporated  July  22,  1825,  its  first  trustees 
being  Elias  C.  Page,  Silas  Wright,  jr.,  Joseph  Barnes,  Henry  Foote, 
William  Richardson  and  Eden  Ray.  In  1826  a  site  for  a  church  was 
deeded  to  the  society  by  Silas  Wright  and  Joseph  Barnes,  and  the 
building  was  begun  in  1828  and  not  completed  until  183  i.  Mr.  John- 
son's pastorate  continued  until  1838.  The  erection  of  the  present 
beautiful  stone  edifice  was  begun  in  1876,  and  dedicated  January  4, 
1880;  its  cost  was  about  $25,000.  The  succession  of  pastors  in  the 
church  has  been  as  follows  :  Revs.  Roswell  Pettibone,  John  Waugh, 
James  Gardner,  who  came  in  November,  1869,  and  remained  until 
1884.  Rev.  Rolla  G.  Bugbee  was  acting  pastor  one  year  and  was  in- 
stalled pastor  in  November,  1885.  He  served  until  February  6,  1888. 
The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Avery  S.  Walker,  D.D.,  was  installed  July  1 1, 
1888. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows  :  Ruling  elders, 
Henry  L.  Sackrider,  Charles  N.  Conkey,  Heman  P.  Matthews,  Gilbert 
B.  Manley ;  deacon,  Hiram  Sanderson;  trustees,  Gilbert  B.  Manley 
(president),  Charles  Nickelson,  Solon  D.  Kimball,  Wm.  H.  Tallman, 
Thomas  Fields  and  James  W.  Bailie.  The  membership  of  the  church 
is   208. 

Ihiiversalist  Church. — This  society  was  organized  in  November, 
1829,  at  a  meeting  held  in   the  school   house  in   the  village,  with  the 


THE  TOV^N  OF  CANTON.  443 

following  officers:  Minot  Jenison,  Joseph  Ames  2d,  and  Thomas  H. 
Conkey,  trustees  ;  Alvin  C.  Low,  clerk;  Daniel  Mack,  collector.  In 
1828-9  a  church  edifice  was  erected  by  this  society  and  the  Baptists, 
each  being  entitled  to  the  use  of  it  according  to  the  amount  paid  towards 
its  construction.  A  few  years  later  the  interest  of  the  Baptists  in  the 
church  was  transferred  to  the  Universalists.  The  church  was  remod- 
eled in  1865,  and  again  in  1887.  The  pastors  who  have  served  the 
church  have  been  Revs.  Mr.  Briggs,  W.  H.  Waggoner,  L.  M.  Hawes, 
J.  F.  Goodrich,  S.  W.  Remington,  Richard  Eddy,  L.  C.  Browne,  Simon 
Goodenough,  A.  G.  Gaines,  Joseph  Crehore,  George  W.  Weaver,  Mr. 
Stowe,  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  J.  W.  Payson. 

Grace  Episcopal  Church. — This  church  was  organized  in  1836  by  the 
Rev.  Richard  Bury,  who  was  also  the  first  rector.  The  original  mem- 
bership was  nineteen.  On  the  22d  of  August  of  the  same  year  a  society 
was  formed,  of  which  Richard  N.  Harrison  and  Roswell  Green  were 
wardens,  and  John  D.  Burns,  Darius  Clarke,  Elam  Russ,  Harry  Foote, 
Lyman  Ellsworth,  Thomas  Viner,  Chauncey  Foote  and  Henry  Van 
Rensselaer,  vestrymen.  A  small  chapel  was  erected  in  1 841-2,  and 
consecrated  September  3,  1842,  by  Bishop  Benjamin  H.  Onderdonk. 
With  subsequent  repairs  and  extensions  this  building  has  been  used 
until  the  present  time.  In  1855  a  rectory  was  built,  which  was  dis- 
placed by  the  present  one  in  1887  at  a  cost  of  $3,700.  The  rectors  of 
this  parish  have  been  as  follows:  1836,  Richard  Bury;  1838,  William 
Latham;  1840-41,  Thomas  P.  Tyler;  1843-4,  F.  J.  Hawley  ;  1845-6, 
William  G.French;  1848,  Minot  M.Wells;  1851-53,  Abel  Ogden ; 
1854-59,  John  Wells  Moore  ;  1859-64,  W.  A.  Rich  ;  1864-5,  Thomas 
H.  Siel;  1866-68,  William  Binet;  1868-71,  John  F.  Potter ;  1872-73, 
George  T.  Kaye  ;  1873-74,  R.  B.  Van  Kleek  ;  1875-76,  R.  D.  Irwin; 
1877-82,  John  T.  Pearce;  1883-85,  E.  R.  Armstrong;  1886-90,  R.  G. 
Hamilton  ;  the  present  pastor  is  Rev.  R.  W.  Brown.  The  wardens  are 
L.  W.  Russell  and  Sheldon  Brewer  ;  vestry,  R.  B.  Ellsworth,  Cleland 
Austin,  J.  D.  Tracy,  H.  D.  Ellsworth,"  H.  B.  Safford,  J.  C.  Keeler,  H. 
Liotard  and  C.  J.  Perkins. 

St.  Mary's  (Roman  Catholic)  Church. — This  church  was  incorpo- 
rated August  17,  1874,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Edgar  P.  Wadhams,  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  Ogdensburg,  Very  Rev.  James  Mackey,  vicar-general  of  that 


444  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

diocese,  Rev.  James  O'Driscoll,  and  laymen  Dennis  Woods  and  James 
O'Brien,  as  trustees  Many  years  ago  there  was  a  large  settlement  of 
Irish  emigrants  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  of  Canton,  on  what  be- 
came known  as  the  Irish  Settlement  Road,  who  attended  church  at 
Potsdam.  The  pioneer  priest  was  Rev.  James  Mackey,  who  at  inter- 
vals visited  this  settlement  and  was  the  founder  of  this  church.  When 
the  society  was  finally  formed  they  purchased  the  lot  on  which  their 
church  now  stands  and  erected  a  small  frame  edifice  previous  to  1868. 
There  they  worshiped  until  1873,  when  it  was  burned  by  an  incendiary 
December  12th.  In  1862  the  parsonage  was  purchased.  After  the 
burning  of  the  old  church,  and  while  the  present  one  was  in  process  of 
construction,  the  court-house  was  used  for  services.  In  1874.  through 
the  efforts  of  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  James  O'Driscoll,  the  building  of 
the  present  brick  edifice  was  commenced,  and  the  corner-stone  laid  by 
Bishop  Wadhams,  July  4.  It  was  dedicated  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1876,  by  the  same  person.  It  is  a  large  and  handsome  edifice  and  cost 
with  its  furnishings  about  $55,000.  The  families  in  this  parish  number 
nearly  two  hundred,  principally  farmers. 

Educational  Institutions. — Since  the  first  district  school  was  taught 
in  this  town,  said  to  have  been  in  1804,  the  development  of  its  educa- 
tional institutions  has  been  commensurate  with  the  growth  of  the  town 
in  all  other  respects.  As  population  increased,  new  districts  were 
created,  until  at  one  time  there  were  thirty,  which  number  has  since 
been  reduced  to  twenty -eight.  The  first  school  taught  in  the  village  of 
Canton  was  on  the  site  of  the  Miner  block. 

It  is  evidence  of  the  deep  interest  of  the  inhabitants  that  steps  were 
taken  as  early  as  1831  to  establish  an  academy.  At  that  time  twenty- 
five  citizens  of  the  town  pledged  themselves  to  pay  $1,250  towards  the 
erection  of  a  building  suitable  for  academic  purposes.  The  subscribers 
met  on  the  i6th  of  May,  in  the  year  named,  and  adopted  articles  of 
association,  in  which  it  was  provided,  among  other  things,  that  a  build- 
ing should  be  erected  two  stories  high,  with  cupola,  and  not  less  than 
thirty  by  fifty  feet  in  size.  The  sum  of  money  pledged  was  to  be  di- 
vided into  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each  and  each  share  entitled  to  one 
vote.  To  become  a  partner  in  the  enterprise  a  person  was  required  to 
sign  his  name  to  the  articles  and  give  his  note  to  the  building  commit- 


1 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  445 

tee  to  be  appointed,  promising  to  pay  five  dollars  in  the  following  Au- 
gust, and  the  remainder  in  two  annual  installments,  payable  in  cattle, 
on  or  before  the  first  of  October  ;  or  grain  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
February  following.  The  articles  were  to  continue  in  force  until  the 
school  was  incorporated,  for  which  application  was  to  be  made  imme- 
diately. No  subscription  was  binding  until  the  sum  of  $1,200  was 
signed  and  the  site  selected  for  the  building.  Joseph  Ames  2d.  Isaac 
C.  Paige,  and  William  Noble  were  appointed  a  building  committee,  and 
the  site  opposite  the  county  buildings  was  presented  to  the  subscribers 
by  David  C.  Judson.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  incor- 
poration from  the  Board  of  Regents,  but  the  amount  of  property  neces- 
sary for  this  purpose  was  increased  about  that  time,  rendering  it  impos- 
sible to  accomplish  the  object  until  later.  On  the  8th  of  May,  1835,  ^ 
legislative  act  authorized  a  tax  upon  the  town  of  Canton  of  $500  for 
a  classical  school,  provided  an  equal  sum  should  be  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion, the  fund  to  be  turned  over  to  the  trustees  of  the  gospel  and  school 
lot  for  investment,  the  income  to  be  paid  annually  to  the  support  of  the 
academy.  These  provisions  were  carried  out,  and  on  the  9th  of  April, 
1837,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  a  tax  of  $500  annually  for  three 
years  on  the  taxable  property  of  the  town,  to  be  invested  in  a  manner 
similar  to  the  foregoing,  provided  an  equal  sum  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion. This  was  also  accomplished.  An  act  of  incorporation  was  passed 
April  24,  1837,  appointing  Silas  Wright,  jr.,  Minot  Jenison,  Thomas 
N.  Conkey,  Chauncey  Foote,  Thomas  D.  Olin,  Richard  N.  Harrison, 
Daniel  Mack,  Joseph  Ames  2d,  Simeon  D.  Moody,  Darius  Clark,  Henry 
Barber,  and  Amos  G.  Smith,  trustees.  Previous  to  this  time,  and  since 
1 83  I,  a  good  classical  school  had  been  maintained.  In  1839  the  trus- 
tees purchased  a  lot  of  Mr.  Judson  adjoining  the  one  they  already 
owned,  and  erected  thereon  a  building,  a  part  of  which  was  for  the 
female  department  of  the  academy,  and  part  as  a  boarding-house.  It 
was  burned  in  November,  1844,  and  in  the  following  year  the  first 
building  was  repaired  and  an  addition  erected  for  the  female  depart- 
ment. The  academy  was  successful  from  the  beginning,  when  it  had 
ninety- nine  students,  and  reached  its  highest  number  in  1846,  when  it 
had  182.  It  was  maintained  as  an  academy  until  August  20,  1868, 
when  it  was  merged  in  the  Union  Free  School,  established  in  that  year. 


446  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  1883  the  present  handsome  and  commodious  school   building  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $28,000. 

SAINT  LAWRENCE  UNIVERSITY.' 

BY     NELSON     LEMUEL     ROBINSON,    B.A.,    (ST.    LAWRENCE     AND     HARVARD),    SECRETARY    OF    THE 

CORPORATION. 


SEAL  OF  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

Arms,  Gules,  cross  bottony  Argent ;  quartered  with  Sanguine,  open  book  Argent ;  edges, 
covers,  and  clasps  Or. 

The  seal  contains  a  shield  with  the  arms  on  a  circular  field  Or,  on  which  is  the  motto  fides 
et  i-eriiits  Gules,   and   on  the  nm   the  words   vniversitas  sancti   lavrentii   in  nov'.   ebor. 

MDCCCLVI. 

The  college  colors  are  scarlet  and  brown. 

The  St.  Lawrence  University  was  chartered  April  3,  185G,  for  the  purpose,  as 
stated  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  "  of  estabhshing,  maintaining,  and  conducting  a 
college  in  the  town  of  Cantoir,  St.  Lawrence  County,  for  the  promotion  of  general 
education,  and  to  cultivate  and  advance  literature,  science,  and  the  arts  ;  and  also  to 
establish  and  maintain  a  theological  school  and  department,  in  Canton  aforesaid."' 
As  at  present  organized,  it  consists  of  two  schools,  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science 
and  the  Theological  School,  independent  of  each  other  in  their  faculties  and  funds, 
and  in  the  instruction  and  government  of  their  students.  A  law  school  was  estab- 
lished in  1869  and  graduated  two  classes,  but  was  discontinued  in  the  fall  of  1871. 
A  field  of  twenty-six  acres,  on  which  a  four-story  brick  building  had  been  erected 
by  the  Universalist  Educational  Society  as  the  foundation  for  a  Universalist  theolog- 
ical school,  was  transferred  by  the  representatives  of  that  society  to  the  university 
in  1857 ;  and  during  the  same  year  the  State  appropriated  for  the  new  college  $25,000, 
of  which  $10,000  were  to  be  expended  for  "books  and  apparatus,"  and  $15,000  were 
to  be  kept  as  a  permanent  fund,  on  condition  that  an  additional  sum  of  $25,000  should 

1  The  'writer  is  indebted  to  Rev.  Dr.  T.  J.  Sawyer,  of  Tufts  College,  to  Dr,  F.  S.  Lee,  of 
Columbia  College,  and  to  Prof.  C.  K.  Gaines,  of  St.  Lawrence,  for  valued  assistance  in  the 
preparation  of  this  sketch. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  447 

be  raised  for  the  endowment  of  the  school  by  its  friends.  With  this  modest  equip- 
ment the  college  began.  It  has  struggled  with  poverty  throughout  its  career,  but  has 
grown  slowly  and  sturdily  to  a  respectable  rank  among  the  colleges  of  the  State. 
Designing  to  furnish  an  educated  ministry  to  the  Universalist  Church,  its  founders 
cherished  the  true  spirit  of  education  by  providing  in  its  by-laws  that  the  College  of 
Letters  and  Science  should  remain  unsectarian  in  its  teachings  and  influence.  This 
provision  has  been  faithfully  observed. 

The  charter  trustees  were  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Sawyer,  D.  D.,  Jacob  Harsen,  M.  D.,  Rev. 
William  Stevens  Balch,  Frederick  C.  Havemeyer,  and  Thomas  Wallace,  of  New  York ; 
United  States  Senator  Preston  King,  of  Ogdensburg;  Sidney  Lawrence,  of  Moira; 
George  C.  Sherman  and  Rev.  Pitt  Morse,  of  Watertown  ;  Francis  Seger,  of  Utica; 
James  Sterling,  of  Sterlingville;  Caleb  Barstow  and  Norman  Yan  Nostrand,  of  Brook- 
lyn ;  Josiah  Barber,  H.  W.  Barton,  and  Rev.  John  M.  Austin,  of  Auburn  ;  Rev.  Lewis 
C.  Browne,  of  Honeoye  Falls;  George  E.  Baker,  of  Albany;  Peter  H.  Bitley,  of 
Branchport;  Rev.  George  W.  Montgomery,  of  Rochester;  and  Hon.  John  L.  Russell, 
Martin  Thatcher.  Barzillai  Hodskin.  Levi  B.  Storrs,  and  Theodore  Caldwell,  of  Canton. 
Though  not  trustees.  Rev.  Dr.  Edwin  H.  Chapin  and  Hora'^e  Greeley  were  among  the 
founders  of  the  university.  A  by-law  of  the  corporation,  enacted  pursuant  to  Mr. 
Greeley's  request,  requiring  that  ■'  the  principal,  professors  and  students  in  the  Theo- 
logical School  shall  each  be  engaged  in  manual  labor  at  least  two  hours  in  each  day," 
fell  speedily  into  innocuous  desuetude  ;  but  his  liberal  gift  for  the  purchase  of  spades  and 
hoes  may  still  be  seen  on  the  treasurer's  books.  The  presidents  of  the  corporation  have 
been : 

Thomas  Jetterson  Sawyer,  D.  D 1856-67 

Martin  Thatcher,  Esq 1867-68 

Richmond  Fisk,  D.  D 1868-71 

Jonas  Sheldon  Conkey,  M.  D 1871-83 

Arthur  Guinness  Rogers,  D.  D 1883-87 

Edwin  Atkins  Merritt,  LL.D _ 1887- 

The  corporation  consists  of  twenty-four  members. 

The  Theological  School  was  opened  in  April,  1858,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Fisher,  D.D., 
who  remained  at  its  head  until  he  died  in  his  lecture  room  February  21,  1879.  Its  first 
class,  of  five  members,  was  graduated  in  1861.  During  Dr.  Fisher's  administration  the 
school  was  permanently  endowed,  and  achieved  a  wide  reputation  as  the  first  and  lead- 
ing Universalist  theological  school  in  America.  More  than  150  men  passed  from  his 
training  into  the  Christian  ministry.  He  was  succeeded,  as  President  and  Dockstader 
Professor  of  Theology  and  Ethics,  by  Rev.  Isaac  Morgan  Atwood,  D.  D.,  its  present 
head,  under  whose  care  its  endowment  has  been  doubled,  while  its  standard  of  educa- 
tion has  steadily  improved.  Other  professors  have  been  Massena  Goodrich,  M.A., 
Biblical  Languages  and  Literature,  1861-63  ;  Orello  Cone,  D.D.,  now  President  of 
Buchtel  College,  Craig  Professor  of  Biblical  Languages  and  Literature.  1865-80;  John 
Stebbins  Lee,  D.D.,  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Archeology,  1869- ;  Henry  Prentiss 
Forbes.  D.D..  Craig  Professor  of  Biblical  Languages,  1881-. 


448 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Edwin  Cortland  Bolles,  Ph.  D.,  D.D.,  Alpheus  Baker  Hervey,  Ph.  D.,  WilHam  Augus- 
tine Poste,  M.A.,  Oscar  Fitzalan  Safford,  D.D.,  Adoniram  Judson  Patterson,  D  D., 
William  Henry  Ryder,  D.D.,  G-eorge  Landor  Perin,  D.D.,  John  Coleman  Adams,  D.D., 
and  Alonzo  Ames  Miner,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  have  been  lecturers  in  the  Theological  School. 
Rev.  Dr.  Ryder  died  in  1888,  and  made  the  school  one  of  the  five  residuary  legatees  of 
his  estate.  Thus  far  $32,808.40  have  been  received  from  his  bequest.  The  corporation 
has  voted  to  establish  a  Ryder  Professorship  of  Pastoral  Theology  on  this  foundation  ; 
and  Rev.  Lewis  Reals  Fisher,  T.  S.  1881,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  a  nephew  of  President 
Fisher,  has  been  elected  to  the  chair.  The  course  of  study  leading  to  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Divinity  requires  four  years,  but  most  of  the  students  pursue  a  three  years' 
course,  for  which  a  diploma  is  given. 


FISHER    HALL. 


In  April,  1859,  an  academic  department  was  opened  by  Rev.  John  Stebbins  Lee, 
D.D.,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  College,  as  Principal  and  Professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek- 
Languages.  Dr.  Lee  continued  at  its  head  until  1868,  and  in  1869,  after  a  year 
abroad,  was  called  to  the  chair  of  Church  History  in  the  Theological  School.  He  was 
assisted  in  his  work  in  the  College  by  John  White  Clapp,  M.A.,  an  honorary  graduate 
of  Amherst,  who  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  until  1865.  Professor  Clapp  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Nehemiah  White,  Ph.  D.,  D.D.,  now  President  of  Lombard  University.  Dr. 
White  had  charge  of  the  mathematical  department  until  1871.  At  the  beginning  of 
Dr.  Lee's  administration  the  work  in  the  academic  department  was  wholly  preparator}'. 
but  subsequently  classical  and  scientific  courses  of  study,  similar  to  the  ordinary  courses 
in  the  New  England  colleges  of  that  period  and  leading  to  the  degrees  of  B.  A.  and  B.S., 
were  laid  out  and  were  entered  upon  by  a  number  of  the  students.  In  1865  was  grad- 
uated the  first  college  class,  consisting  of  Hon.  Hiram  Henry  Ryel,  now  District  At- 
torney of  Lewis  County,  and  Hon.  Delos  McCurdy,  formerly  District  Attorney  of  St. 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON. 


449 


Lawrence  County,  now  a  leading  lawyer  in  New  York  City.  Hon.  Pardon  C.  Will- 
iams, of  Watertown,  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  Mr.  Leflert  L.  Buck,  of  New 
York,  a  civil  engineer  of  distinction,  left  college  before  graduation,  Mr.  Buck  to  serve 
the  Union  in  the  Civil  War,  and  have  since  received  their  degrees  nunc  pro  tunc  as  of 
the  year  1863. 

Rev.  Richmond  Fisk,  D.D.,  a  graduate  of  Union,  was  elected  President  of  the  College 
in  1868,  and  served  for  three  years.  On  his  accession  the  preparatory  school  was  dis- 
continued, and  only  college  work  has  since  been  done  in  this  department. 


HERRING    LIBRARY. 


Dr.  Fisk  wassucceeded  in  1872  by  Rev.  Absalom  Graves  Gaines,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  educated  at  the  University  of  Virginia.  To  him  are  largely  due  the  char- 
acter and  influence  of  St.  Lawrence  University.  His  strong  intellect,  profound  scholar- 
ship, uprightness  and  purity  of  character,  and  persevering,  unselfish  devotion,  have 
built  up  the  College.  All  but  about  thirty-five  of  its  graduates  has  been  educated 
under  him.  A  man  of  earnest  convictions  and  marked  individuality,  his  influence  in 
moulding,  both  intellectually  and  morally,  the  minds  of  his  pupils  has  been  notable. 
Under  his  administration  were  fully  developed  the  true  college  feeling,  an  esprit  de 
corps  shown  in  many  college  songs  and  local  usages,'and  a  hearty  loyalty  to  St.  Law- 
rence, which  has  been  proved  in  many  ways.  No  college  can  boast  a  more  patriotic 
body  of  alumni.  Resigning  on  acount  of  illness  in  1888,  Dr.  Gaines  was  succeeded  as 
President  in  1889  by  Rev.  Alpheus  Baker  Hervey,  Ph.D.,  the  present  head  of  the 
College;  but  retains  his  chair  as  Craig  Professor  of  Psychology  and  Ethics,  and  Politi- 
cal Economy,  and  is  now  fully  restored  to  health.  President  Hervey  is  a  graduate  of 
the  university,  and  holds  the  Cummings  Professorship  of  Natural  Science. 

Among  the  professors  and  instructors  inthe  College  of  Letters  and  Science  have  been 
Moses  Marston,  Ph.  D.,  late  Professor  of  English  Literature  in  the  University  of  Min- 
57 


450 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


nesota,  Latin  and  Greek,  1868-73;  William  Alexander  Rich,  LL.B.,  D.D.,  Latin  and 
G-reek  ad  interim  1871-72;  James  Henry  Chapin,  Ph.D.,  Geology  and  Mineralogy, 
1871-92;  John  Stocker  Miller,  M.A ,  LL.B.,  Latin  and  Greek,  1871-74;  Almeron 
Zenas  Squires,  M.A.,  LL.B.,  Mathematics,  1872-80  ;  Walter  Balfour  Gunnison,  Ph.D., 
Latin  Language  and  Literature,  1875-85  ;  Bernhard  Jaques  Pink,  M.A.,  LL.B.,  Modern 
Languages,  1875-82  :  Charles  Kelsey  Gaines,  Ph.D.,  Greek  Language  and  Literature, 
and  English  Literature,  1876-;  Henri  Hermann  Liotard,  M.A.,  Modern  Languages, 
1882- ;  Henry  Priest,  M.A.,  Hay  ward  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Physics,  1883- ; 
Clement  Morelle  Baker,  M.A.,  Latin  Language  and  Literature,  1885-92 ;  Frederic 
Schiller  Lee,  Ph.D.,  Physiology  and  Biology,  1886-87;  Robert  Dale  Ford,  M.S., 
Mathematics,  1887-90;  George  Robert  Hardie,  M.A.,  Latin  Language  and  Literature, 
1892- ;  Ceylon  Samuel  Kingston,  B.A.,  Mathematics,  1892-93.  The  professors  in  the 
Law  School  were  Leslie  Wead  Russell,  LL.D.,  lately  Attorney-General  of  New  York, 
Property,  1869-71;  William  Christopher  Cooke,  Practice,  1869-70;  Stillman  Foote, 
M.A.,  Contracts,  1869-71. 

The  requirements  for  admission  to  the  College  and  the  courses  of  study  leading  to 
the  degrees  of  B.A.,  B.S.  and  Ph.B.  are  of  essentially  the  same  grade  as  in  the  best 
colleges  of  the  State.     Instruction  is  offered  at  present  in : 

Greek  (Language  and  Literature). 

Latin 

German 

French  " 


Algebra. 
Geometry. 
Trigonometry. 
Surveying. 

Analytical  Geometry. 
Differential  Calculus. 
Integral  Calculus. 

Ancient  and  Modern  History, 
with  more  detailed  courses 
in  Greek,  Roman,  English, 
and  American  History. 

Civil  Government. 
Parliamentary  Law. 
International  Law. 
Political^Science. 
Political  Economy. 


Mechanics. 

Physics. 

Electricity. 

Astronomy. 

General  Chemisty. 

Analytical     '' 

Analytical     " 

Physiology. 

Zoology. 

Botany. 

Mineralogy. 

Geology. 

Microscopy. 


Metaphysics. 

Psychology. 

Rhetoric. 

Logic. 

Ethics. 

Evidences  of  Religion, 


(Qualitative). 
(Quantitative). 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON. 


451 


No  pains  are  spared  to  develop  in  the  student  right  methods  of  study,  power  of 
attention,  close  observation,  and  independent  judgment.  He  is  encouraged  to  original 
thought  and  assisted  by  judicious  criticism.  Especially  in  the  sociological  and  kindred 
studies  of  the  junior  and  senior  years,  propositions  are  not  dictated  but  demonstrated, 
and  opportunity  is  given  him  to  maintain  his  own  opinions  ;  oral  drill  in  the  lecture 
room  is  supplemented  by  a  system  of  written  reviews.  Throughout  his  course  he  is 
required  to  write  themes  and  essays,  subject  to  detailed  criticism.  Successful  classes 
for  parliamentary  practice  and  debate  are  conducted  on  a  system  which  originated  at 
St.  Lawrence.  In  the  treatment  of  English  literature,  especial  attention  is  given  to  the 
study  of  literature  itself  by  means  of  an  extended  course  of  critical  reading  ;  thorough- 
ness is  enforced  by  weekly  examinations.  In  the  languages,  proper  appreciation  of 
the  classics  as  literature  and  the  historical  bearings  of  what  is  read,  are  particularly  in- 
sisted on.  Full  courses  are  given  in  both  pure  and  applied  mathematics.  The  courses 
in  physics,  chemistry  and  biology  include  a  large  amount  of  practical  work  in  the  labor- 
atories. Students  designing  to  do  advanced  work  in  any  department  are  encouraged 
and  assisted.  A  course  of  four  years  is  required  for  the  Bachelor's  degree.  The  studies 
of  the  freshman  and  sophomore  years  are  prescribed,  while  in  the  junior  and  senior 
years  a  considerable  number  of  electives  is  offered.  Since  1886  the  Master's  degree  has 
been  conferred  only  on  examination  after  the  completion  of  regular  courses  of  work. 
The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  for  independent  research  has  been  given  upon 
thesis  and  examination  in  one  instance.  It  is  intended  that  this  degree  shall  be  con- 
ferred only  when  warranted  by  the  standard  of  the  best  American  universities. 


COLLEGE  HALL. 


As  yet  the  means  of  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science  are  too  limited  to  provide  for 
special  scientific  research.  Its  policy  has  been  to  furnish  a  thorough  liberal  education 
as  a  sound  basis  for  further  development  in  lines  of  culture  or  professional  study 


The 


452 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


beneficial  efifect  of  its  discipline  is  seen  in  the  earnestness  with  which  large  numbers 
of  the  graduates  continue  their  studies  in  professional  schools,  and  at  leading  American 
and  foreign  universities.  It  is.  however,  greatly  to  be  desired  that  adequate  provision 
may  be  made  for  the  erection  and  endowment  of  special  chemical,  physical  and  bio- 
logical laboratories  and  for  instruction  in  the  fine  arts. 


COLLEGE    FIELD  FROM   THE   WEST. 


The  library  contains  about  11,000  volumes,  catalogued  according  to  improved  meth- 
ods, several  thousand  pamphlets,  and  a  few  valuable  paintings  and  other  works  of  art. 
It  is  open  daily  and  is  used  constantly  by  the  students  and  the  public.  Although  it 
comprises  many  rare  and  costly  books,  includicg  the  Loveland  collection  and  the  library 
of  the  late  Prof.  Dr.  C.  A.  Credner  of  the  University  of  Giessen,  rich  in  theological 
works,  especially  of  the  early  decades  of  the  sixteenth  century,  it  has  of  late  been  de- 
pendent for  accessions  upon  the  gifts  of  friends,  and  its  wants  are  manifold.  Private 
libraries  containing  from  15,000  to  20,000  volumes  are  open  to  the  student^.  Smce  the 
loss  of  the  income  formerly  supplied  by  the  generosity  of  Mr.  S.  C.  Herring,  the  library 
has  had  for  the  purchase  of  books  only  the  income  of  a  fund  of  one  thousand  dollars, 
the  gift  of  a  friend  who  prefers  to  remain  unknown.  A  fund  of  twenty- five  thousand 
dollars  is  greatly  needed.     There  are  also  several  class-room  reference  libraries. 

The  university  is  admirably  situated  in  a  region  at  once  attractive  and  remarkable 
for  healthfulness,  with  spacious  grounds  on  a  hill  overlooking  the  village  of  Canton 
the  shire  town  of  St.  Lawrence  County.  With  abundant  facilities  for  recreation,  the 
students  are  peculiarly  free  from  undue  distraction  in  their  work,  and  are  prompted  to 
mdustry  by  every  legitimate  incentive.  The  unavoidable  temptations  to  vice  and  dis- 
sipation are  here  at  a  minimum,  and  are  utterly  discountenanced,  not  merely  by  the 
discipline  of  the  college,  but  also  by  the  general  sentiment  of  the  students  and  the 
neighborhood.     The  university  buildings  are  University  Hall,  of  brick,  45  x  100  feet, 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  453 

four  stories  high,  erected  in  1856;  Herring  Library,  a  fireproof  structure  of  Potsdam 
sandstone,  with  a  capacity  for  60,C00  volumes,  built  by  the  late  Silas  C.  Herring,  of 
New  York,  in  1870  ;  Fisher  Hall,  a  substantial  edifice  of  Canton  marble,  erected  in 
memory  of  President  Fisher  by  the  alumni  in  1882,  for  the  use  of  the  Theological 
School;  and  a  president's  house,  of  brick,  erected  by  President  Atwood  in  1887.  They 
stand  in  the  middle  of  the  college  field,  which  is  adorned  with  native  trees  and  is 
ample  for  the  f  iture  growth  of  the  university. 

The  students  maintain  two  public  debating  societies,  one  in  each  school,  holding 
weekly  meetings ;  an  athletic  association  which  holds  an  annual  field  day,  and  various 
boating,  baseball,  football  and  tennis  clubs.  There  are  three  Greek  letter  societies 
and  two  brotherhoods  which  occupy  comfortable  club  houses.  The  Laurentian  Pub- 
lishing Company  issues  The  Laurentian,  a  monthly  undergraduate  journal,  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  university.  About  forty  free  scholarships  in  the  College  of  Letters  and 
Science  have  been  established  in  the  various  schools  of  St.  Lawrence  County  and 
Northern  New  York,  in  the  Clinton  Liberal  Institute  at  Fort  Plain,  and  by  private 
donors.  The  total  necessary  expenses  of  each  student  average  from  $175  to  §300  per 
year.  Many  without  means  work  their  way  through  college  by  teaching  and  in  other 
ways,  and  graduate  free  from  debt.  From  the  first,  women  have  been  admitted  to  all 
the  privileges  of  the  university,  and  number  about  one-fifth  of  its  graduates. 

The  university  has  received  no  aid  from  the  State  since  the  first  grant  of  $25  000. 
Its  benefactors  have  been  many.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  Charles  A.  Ropes, 
of  Salem,  Mass.,  whose  gift  of  $5,000  in  1865  saved  the  Theological  School  from  sus- 
pension :  Augustus  C.  Moore,  of  Buifalo,  a  charter  trustee,  who  gave  $30,000  to  the 
Theological  School ;  John  Craig,  of  Rochester,  from  whose  bequest  each  school  received 
$25,000  in  1873  for  the  endowment  of  a  Craig  Professorship ;  Alvinza  Hay  ward,  of 
California,  a  native  of  Canton,  who  endowed  the  Hayward  Professorship  of  Mathema- 
tics and  Physics  in  the  College  with  $30,000  in  1874 ;  George  A.  Dockstader,  of  New 
York,  who  gave  $10,000  to  endow  the  Dockstader  Professorship  in  the  Theological 
School;  Mrs.  Lorena  Bicknell,  of  Stockholm,  who  left  $10,000  to  the  college  in  1873  ; 
Thomas  A.  Goddard,  of  Boston,  who  left  $3,000  to  the  Theological  School ;  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Gage,  of  Hudson,  who  left  §37,456  to  the  Theological  School ;  Lester  Taylor  and 
Wife,  of  Fly  Creek,  who  left  §4,000  to  the  Theological  School;  Rev.  William  H. 
Ryder,  D.D.,  of  Chicago,  whose  bequest  of  §32,808.40,  has  already  been  mentioned  ; 
Mrs.  Abby  M.  Simmons,  of  Victor,  who  bequeathed  $5,000  to  the  College  in  memory 
of  her  husband,  the  late  Richmond  Simmons,  Esquire  ;  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Clowes,  of  New 
York,  who  gave  |5,000  to  the  College  in  a  time  of  serious  need  ;  the  Hoyt  and  Wat- 
son families  of  Sennett,  from  whom  it  has  received  four  different  legacies;  the  late  P. 
T.  Barnum,  who  gave  it  $5,000,  besides  a  bequest  not  yet  received;  George  C.  Thomas, 
of  Philadelphia,  a  generous  friend,  who  gave  the  College  §5,000  ;  and  the  late  David  I. 
Stagg,  of  New  York,  under  whose  will  the  Theological  School  is  to  receive  one-sixth 
of  his  residuary  estate. 

Previously  to  1885  it  was  the  pra(itice  of  the  trustees  to  pay  the  current  expenses  of 
the  College  of  Letters  and  Science  out  of  the  funds,  as  the  school  had  never  been  ade- 
quately endowed.     It  was  the  opinion  of  the  then  lately  elected  treasurer,  Mr.  George 


454 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Robinson,  that  this  policy  was  unsound,  and  that  an  endowment  should  be  obtained. 
Accordingly,  in  June,  1885,  the  corporation  voted  to  expend  no  more  of  the  funds  for 
any  purpose,  and  thereafter  to  confine  the  expenditure  of  the  university  to  its  income. 
At  that  time  the  funds  of  the  College  amounted  to  barely  $50,000.  The  wisdom  of  this 
action  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  they  now  (December,  1893)  amount  to  over  $165,000. 
A  plan,  suggested  by  the  Treasurer,  for  raising  a  fund  of  $50,000  by  means  of  interest- 


INTERIOR  OF  LIBRARV. 


bearing  subscriptions,  payable  in  five  annual  payments,  was  adopted.  A  vigorous  can- 
vass was  conducted  by  the  officers  and  friends  of  the  university,  assisted  by  the  county 
press,  with  such  success  that  the  sum  of  $50,508  was  raised  before  November  30,  1887, 
without  expense  to  the  institution.  About  one-fourth  of  the  whole  sum  was  contrib- 
uted by  alumni  and  considerably  more  than  one-half  by  citizens  of  St.  Lawrence 
County.  The  undergraduate  students,  many  of  whom  were  working  their  own  way 
through  college,  gave  upwards  of  $1,000.  The  names  of  the  subscribers  to  this  fund, 
over  four  hundred  in  number,  are  engrossed  upon  parchment  and  hang  in  Herring 
Library.  Immediately  thereafter  the  raising  of  another  .$50,000  was  begun  under  the 
supervision  of  President  Hervey,  and  was  completed  in  1889  by  the  gift  of  $25,000  by 
Columbus  R.  Cummings,  Esquire,  a  native  of  Canton,  now  of  Chicago,  to  establish  the 
Cummings  Professorship  of  Natural  Science. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  455 

The  property  of  the  university  may  be  summarized  as  follows : 

ENDOWMENT   FlINDS. 

College  of  Letters  and  Science : 

Alvinza  Hay  ward  Professorship $30,000  00 

John  Craig  Professorship 25,000  00 

Joseph  W.  Clowes 5,000  00 

Lorena  Bicknell 10,000  OU 

Alumni 50,000  00 

Eichmond  Simmons 5,376  16 

George  C.  Thomas 2,500  00 

Columbus  R.  Cummings  Professorship 25,000  00 

Joseph  Boaidman  Nolile 250  00 

Harriet   Watson 660  65 

Phineas  Taylor  Barnum 1,000  00 

Jeremiah  Davis 1.000  00 

Eliza  M.  Wight LOOO  00 

Edward  S.  Hoyt 3,382  14 

Rachel  Hoyt   2,000  00 

Other  funds 3,030  05 

$165,198  00 

Theological  School : 

Charles  A.  Ropes $  5,000  00 

Augustus  C.  Moore • 30,000  00 

John  Craig  Professorship 25,000  00 

George  A.  Dockstader  Professorship 10,000  00 

Thomas  A.  Goddard 3,000  00 

Sarah  A.  Gage 37,456  00 

Lester   Taylor 4,000  00 

Wilham  H.  Ryder  Professorship 32,808  40 

David  I  Stagg 5,018  61 

Nancy  Burton 1,000  00 

Laura  A.  Davis 666  69 

Other  funds 91   91 

$154,041  61 

The  Library : 

Rich $900  00 

Other  funds 97  00 

$997  00 

Total  Endowment  Fund $320,236  61 

Buildings  and  grounds 100,000  00 

Collections  etc 20,000  00 

Total  property  of  university $440,236  61 

The  foregoing  estimate  does  not  include  legacies  and  gifts  announced  but  not  yet 
received. 


456  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  funds  are  nearly  all  invested  in  bonds  and  mortgages  on  real  estate.  About 
$31,000  are  held  in  corporate  bonds.  The  policy  of  the  university  is  to  keep  entirely 
free  from  debt,  to  incur  no  expense  until  the  means  are  provided  for  paying  it.  The 
endowment  of  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science  ought  to  be  three  or  four  times  its 
present  amount  in  order  to  provide  for  the  present  needs  of  the  college.  St.  Lawrence 
is  the  only  college  in  the  State  north  of  the  line  of  the  Erie  Canal,  and  is  situated  at 
about  the  middle  of  a  fertile  belt  with  a  population  of  over  350,000,  to  whose  youth 
it  offers  the  only  means  of  obtaining  a  liberal  education,  without  going  a  considerable 
distance  from  home.  Probably  nine-tenths  of  its  graduates  would  never  have  gone  to 
college  had  not  St.  Lawrence  been  at  their  doors.  Upon  the  welfare  and  growth  of 
the  university  the  interests  of  higher  education  in  this  part  of  the  State  are  largely 
dependent. 

GENERAL    SUMMARY. 

The  present  teaching  force  is  as  follows: 

College 8 

Theological  School 6 

14 

Officers  of  administration 5 

Trustees 23 

The  whole  number  of  students  in  1892-3  was  : 

COLLEGE.  THEOLOGICAL    SCHOOL. 

Graduate  students 17      Graduate  students 2 

Seniors 14      Seniors 8 

Juniors 16      Middlers 16 

Sophomores 29      Juniors 4 

Freshmen 39  — 

Special 19              Total 30 

Total 135 

Whole  number  of  students  in  university 165 

The  whole  number  of  graduates  is  514,  classified  as  follows  : 

Bachelors  of  -Vrts 73 

Bachelors  of  Science 171 

Bachelors  of  Philosophy 6 

Bachelors  of  Laws 15 

Bachelors  of  Divinity 10 

Graduates  in  Theology 195 

Civil  Engineer 1 

Masters  of  Arts. on  examination 4 

Masters  of  Science  on  examination 4 

Doctor  of  Philosophy  on  examination 1 

Honorary  Graduates 34 

514  43  471 


Dead. 

Living. 

2 

71 

9 

162 

0 

6 

4 

11 

0 

10 

20 

175 

0 

1 

1 

3 

0 

4 

0 

1 

7 

27 

THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  457 

Among  these,  exclusive  of  honorary  graduates,  the  learned  professions  are  represented 
as  follows  : 

Clergymen 191  20  171 

Teachers,  including  college  presidents  and  professors.  .  .  85  7  78 

Lawyers 57  7  50 

Physicians 21  1  20 

Civil  Engineers 3  0  3 

Total 357  35  322 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Laws  of  New  York,  8vo.  Albany,  1857,  chapter  91,  Charter  of  St.  Lawrence  University ; 
1857,  chapter  350  Appropriation  for  College;  1868,  chapter  133;  1869,  chapter 
288,  special  acts  amending  charter. 
Manuscript  Records  of  the  Corporation.  Canton.  Folio.  1856-94. 
A  Discourse  occasioned  by  Locating  a  Universalist  Seminary  in  Canton,  N.Y.,  delivered 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Sunday,  April  6,  1856.  By  J.  R.  Hale.  8vo. 
Pp.  47.     Boston,  1856. 

A  curious  .«ermon  in  which  subscribers  to  the  fund  for  securing  the  proposed 
school,  belonging  to  orthodox  churches,  are  advised  not  to  pay  their  subscrip- 
tions     By  invitation  of  the  F.rst  Presbyterian  Church,  President  Hervey  was 
inaugurated  and  the  commencement  exercises  of  the  university  were  held  in 
this  church  in  1889. 
Act  of  Incorporation  and  By-laws  of  the  St.  Lawrence  University,  together  with  forms 
of  contribution  by  subsciptions,  bequests  and   devises,  for  the   use  of  the  same. 
New  York.     A.  Taylor  &  Son,  1857.     16mo.     Pp.  15. 
The  same.     Canton.  1871.     16mo.     Pp.  10. 

Statement  of  Facts  and   Reasons   in  behalf  of  the  Universalist  Theological   School  at 
Canton,  N.Y.     Canton,  1860.     8vo.     Pp.  13. 

An  interesting  pamphlet  prepared  by  Dr.  Fisher,  containing  much  informa- 
tion in  regaid  to  the  early  history  of  the  school. 
Laws  and  Regulations  of  S^  Lawrence  University.     Canton.     12mo. 
Circulars,  with  statement  of  Courses,  etc.     1859,  1866,  1868,  1871.     The  earlier  issued 

in  lieu  of  a  catalogue. 
Annual  Catalogues  of  the  St.  Lawrence  University.    Canton.    8vo.    1864.    1866.    1867. 

1869-94. 
Triennial  Catalogues.     Canton.     8vo.     1876.     1879.     Quinquennial  Catalogues.     1885. 

1890. 
The  St.  Lawrence  Plaindealer.     Weekly.     Canton.    Folio.    1856-94.    The  thirty  seven 
volumes  of  this  journal,  issued  since  the  founding  of  the  university,  contain  almost 
weekly  references  to  the  institution,  and  form  an  invaluable  record  of  its  history 
and  growth. 

58 


458  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Scrap-books  kept  by  the  Beta  Theta  Pi  fraternity.  Canton.  4to.  These  contain  news- 
paper chppings,  programmes,  and  other  printed  matter  of  interest.  At  present  in 
four  volumes. 

Annual  Reports  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Albany. 
8vo.     1857-94. 

The  St.  Lawrence  University.  Harper's  Weekly.  New  York,  December  5,  1868. 
With  woodcut  of  University  Hall,  and  portraits  of  Dr.  Fisher  and  Dr.  Fisk. 

Old  and  New.     Monthly.     Boston.     See  Vol.  TV,  1871,  page  129  et  seq. 

History  of  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York.  Philadelphia,  1878.  Contains  historical 
sketch  of  the  University  by  W.  A.  Poste,  M.A.,  and  a  lithograph  of  the  college 
buildings. 

Circular  of  information  of  the  College  of  Letters  and  Science  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity.    Canton,  1880.     8vo.     Pp.  8. 

The  Gridiron.  Canton,  1880,  1882.  Students'  annual.  Illustrated  by  Frederic  Rem- 
ington and  others. 

Memoir  of  Ebenezer  Fisher,  D.D.,  by  G-eorge  H.  Emerson.  D.D.  12mo.  Boston,  1880. 
Portrait  of  Dr.  Fisher. 

The  Public  Service  of  the  State  of  New  York.     4to.     Boston,  1882. 

Shall  St.  Lawrence  University  be  Saved?  8vo.  Canton,  1886.  Pp.  8.  A  statement 
of  the  condition  of  the  college  made  during  the  canvass  for  the  Prst  $50,000  fund. 

Universalism  in  America.  A  History.  By  Richard  Eddy,  D.D.  2  volumes.  8vo. 
Boston,  1886.  Contains  a  brief  sketch  of  the  university,  and  in  the  bibliography 
attached  much  valuable  information  in  regard  to  the  university  library. 

The  Laurentian.  4to.  Monthly.  Canton,  1888-94.  An  undergraduate  journal  de- 
voted to  the  interests  of  the  university. 

Much  information  is  to  be  found  in  the  files  of  the  Christian  Leader.  Weekly.  Boston, 
1879-94,  and  in  the  predecessors  of  that  journal:  also  in  the  Universalist  Register. 
Annual.     Boston. 

New  York  State  World's  Fair  Educational  Exhibit.  Handbook  No.  26.  32m.  Albany, 
1893. 

James  Henry  Chapin,  of  Connecticut.  By  George  Sumner  Weaver,  D.D.  New  York, 
1894. 

Morley  Village. — This  place  was  formerly  known  as  "  Long  Rapids  " 
and  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Grass  River  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  town,  Stillman  Foote  began  the  settlement  herein  i8iO  by 
building  a  dam  and  a  saw  mill.  Pitts  Bailey  and  Christopher  Wilson 
from  Vermont  purchased  the  village  site  and  the  mill,  and  in  1815 
placed  in  the  mill  two  run  of  rock  stones  ;  two  years  later  they  built  a 
new  grist  mill,  having  burr  stones.  In  this  mill  Thomas  Fenton  had 
a  wool  carding  machine;  a  {^\\  years  later  he  built  a  factory  farther 
down   the   stream    and   carried    on  his    business    about   twenty    years. 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  459 

Wilson  built  a  frame  house  on  the  east  side  and  Bailey  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river ;  the  latter  built  the  hotel  which  he  kept  for  many  years. 
The  first  bridge  was  built  about  1820.  The  first  saw  mill  on  the  west 
side  was  built  by  Charles  Barrett,  who  built  also  a  tavern  on  that  side 
which  was  burned  The  first  store  was  kept  by  J.  P.  Cummings,  and 
he  built  the  stone  building  which  is  still  standing.  Isaac  Whitney  was 
his  partner  six  years.  The  present  stone  mill  was  built  in  1840  and  is 
now  operated  by  Johnson  Brothers.  The  hotel  is  now  kept  by  Mrs. 
Erwin.  The  saw  mill  is  run  by  James  Whitney,  and  the  Whitney 
Brothers  have  established  a  butter  tub  factory.  Mercantile  business 
has  been  considerably  extended,  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Healey 
Teuton,  Edwin  T.  Spaulding,  William  Scruton,  and  W.  Z.  Whitney. 
The  name  of  the  place  was  changed  to  Morley  when  the  post- office  was 
first  established.  William  Scruton  is  now  postmaster.  The  school 
building  was  erected  about  i860  and  now  serves  the  purpose  of  a  good 
graded  school. 

Episcopal  Church,  Morley. — Trinity  Chapel  (a  mission)  was  erected 
in  1870-71,  chiefly  through  efforts  of  T.  L.  Harrison,  one  of  the  most 
liberal  and  energetic  citizens.  It  is  a  handsome  structure  of  stone,  and 
cost  about  $12,000.  On  the  26th  of  July,  1871,  it  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Doane.  From  that  time  to  the  present  the  mission  has  been 
prosperous  and  has  been  served  by  the  pastor  at  Canton.  Services  in 
this  faith  had  been  held  here,  previous  to  the  building  of  the  chapel,  in 
the  school-house.  Rev.  R.  W.  Brown,  of  Canton,  has  the  church  in 
charge  at  the  present  time. 

Wesleyaji  Methodist  Church. — Previous  to  1843  members  of  this  faith 
had  worshiped  in  the  village  school- house.  On  the  23d  of  September 
of  the  year  named  they  met  and  organized  the  First  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Society,  with  David  Clemens,  Joel  Seger,  Zelotus  Whitney,  John 
W,  Allen,  and  Thomas  Buffam,  trustees.  A  plain  frame  church  was 
built  the  same  year  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  ;  in  1845  a  parsonage  was  built 
costing  $800.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  F.  Wright. 

Rensselaer  Falls. — This  village  is  situated  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  town  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie  River,  and  is  a  sta- 
tion on  the  R.  W.  &  O.  railroad.  It  is  thirteen  miles  from  Ogdensburg 
and  ten    miles  from    Canton.     The  river  has  a  fall  of  about  six   feet  at 


460  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

this  point,  affording  water  power,  which  has  been  utilized  for  several 
manufacturing  establishments.  Among  the  more  prominent  early  set- 
tlers at  this  point  and  in  its  vicinity  may  be  mentioned  John  ShuU,  sr  , 
N.  Hammond,  Jacob  Shull,  Archibald  Shull,  Christian  Ghering,  A. 
Johnson,  W.  Randall,  J.  Ghering,  C.  Goodell,  Dea.  Hanna,  S.  Walroth^ 
Leonard  Herring,  A.  Sunderlin,  and  A.  Sharp.  The  village  was 
formerly  known  as  "  Tateville,"  from  Robert  Tate,  formerly  a  surveyor 
and  a  prominent  citizen;  it  was  also  called  "Canton  Falls,"  previous 
to  the  establishment  of  the  post-office  in  185  i,  when  it  was  given  its 
present  name.  The  first  important  progress  of  the  place  was  effected 
through  the  starting  of  a  forge  by  Tate,  Chaffee  &  Co.  ;  this  was  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  river  just  below  the  dam.  It  was  operated  to  about 
1848,  but  was  finall}/-  abandoned  ;  the  ore  used  was  from  Hermon  and 
Lisbon.  John  Shull,  jr.,  as  agent  for  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  built  a 
saw  mill  in  1839,  on  the  site  of  the  present  cheese  box  factory.  The 
first  mill  was  carried  off  by  a  flood  ;  it  was  rebuilt  and  afterwards 
burned.  The  site  was  later  occupied  by  the  Phoenix  Bent  Works; 
this  was  changed  to  a  box  factory  about  1880  by  B.  F.  Spooner.  Otis 
Brooks  is  the  present  operator,  and  turns  out  about  1,000  boxes  per 
day.  The  first  grist  mill  here  was  built  in  1842  by  Henry  Van 
Rensselaer  and  was  burned  in  the  spring  of  1875.  The  mill  was  rebuilt 
the  same  year  by  Rose  &  Son,  and  has  passed  through  various  hands. 
It  is  now  operated  by  Maloney  &  Morrison.  The  saw  mill,  with  plan- 
ing machinery  attached,  is  now  run  by  Solon  Dexter.  The  first 
tavern  was  built  by  John  Shull,  jr.,  and  the  first  store  was  kept  by 
Thomas  Leonard,  where  J.  W.  Browne  carried  on  business  for  many 
years.  The  post-office  was  first  opened  in  185  i,  with  Archibald  Shull, 
postmaster.  The  present  official  is  George  J.  Hinsdale.  The  village 
now  contains  fourteen  stores  of  all  descriptions  and  two  hotels,  with  the 
necessary  number  of  mechanic  shops  of  various  kinds.  Succeeding 
the  district  schools  a  graded  school  was  established  for  the  village,  and 
the  present  school  building  was  erected  in  1880.  Three  teachers  are 
employed  and  the  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  is  about  150. 

The  Congregational  Church  was  organized  June  6,  1842,  with  ten 
members.  Jeduthun  Farwell  and  three  other  trustees  were  elected. 
Rev.    Coram    Cross   served    them    as  their   first   pastor.     The    society 


THE  TOWN  OF  CANTON.  461 

prospered,  and  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  church.  July  19,  1847,  a 
meeting  was  held,  and  John  Shull,  jr.,  William  Hanna,  and  T.  F.  Rath- 
bone  chosen  trustees.  The  church  was  completed  in  the  last  of  the 
year  1848,  and  dedicated  January  11,  1849.  Its  cost  was  $800.  In 
1875  extensive  repairs  and  improvements  were  made  in  the  building, 
and  it  was  rededicated  February  16,  1876;  again  in  1891  the  house 
was  repaired  and  repainted  inside  and  out;  the  whole  cost  was  about 
$5,000.  In  1870  a  parsonage  was  erected,  costing  $1,500.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  115,  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  O.  Griffith, 

Methodist  Church. — The  first  class  of  Methodists  here  was  formed  in 
the  spring  of  1853  by  Rev.  A.  Blackman,  from  the  Heuvelton  Circuit. 
This  class  prospered  under  the  ministrations  of  Revs.  H.  Woodruff,  S, 
F.  Kenyon,  and  W.  C.  Lent,  until  in  1857  it  was  apparent  that  a  church 
building  was  necessary.  In  1 858  the  Kendrevv  neighborhood  (in  De 
Kalb)  was  taken,  and  with  the  Rensselaer  Falls  class  formed  a  charge. 
The  society  was  incorporated  November  11,  1858,  with  Joseph  L.  Gil- 
bert, Robert  Wilstrop  and  Joseph  VVheater,  trustees.  In  that  year  a 
church  was  built,  costing,  with  the  site,  $1,000.  A  parsonage  was 
afterwards  erected,  costing  $400,  and  a  church  was  built  in  the  Kendrew 
neighborhood  at  a  cost  of  $900.  Cooper's  Falls  appointment  was  also 
added  to  this  charge.  In  1866,  during  a  period  of  unusual  prosperity, 
the  church  and  parsonage  were  sold  for  $1,875,  ^"^  a  new  church  was 
projected.  A  lot  was  bought  and  a  brick  building  erected,  finished  and 
dedicated  September  16,  1868  ;  it  cost  about  $8,000.  This  sum  was 
raised  by  subscription.  The  present  membership  is  about  sixty,  and 
the  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Tisdale. 


462  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM— ORGANIZED  IN  1806. 

POTSDAM  was  the  seventh  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  February  21,  1806,  formerly  attached  to  Madrid. 
It  was  one  of  the  original  ten  townships,  No.  3,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
named  thus  by  the  commissioners  on  the  discovery  by  the  surveyors  of 
a  bed  of  redish  sandstone  resembling  the  Potsdam  sandstone  in  the 
town  of  that  name  in  Germany.  The  original  land  titles  will  be  found 
on  pages  82  to  85,  patented  to   Macomb,  etc. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  Potsdam  was  held  at  the  house  of  Benja- 
min Raymond,  April  4,  1806,  where  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 
Supervisor,  Benjamin  Raymond  ;  town  clerk,  Gurdon  Smith  ;  commis- 
sioners of  highways,  Bester  Pierce,  David  French,  and  Gurdon  Smith  ; 
assessors,  Giles  Parmelee,  Horace  Garfield  and  Benjamin  Bailey  ;  over- 
seers of  the  poor,  Jabez  Healey  and  David  French;  pound  masters, 
William  Smith  and  Oliver  Boyden  ;  overseers  of  highways,  Benjamin 
Raymond,  Benjamin  Stewart,  Levi  Swift,  Abner  Royce,  jr.,  Archibald 
Royce  and  Isaac  Buck ;  fence  viewers,  Levi  West,  Bester  Pierce  and 
Benjamin  Stewart. 

On  November  18,  1802,  a  large  portion  of  this  township  was  con- 
veyed to  Levinus,  and  John  C.  Clarkson  (see  Clarkson  family,  Part  II), 
Hermon  Le  Roy,  Nicholas  Fisk,  Garret  Vanhorn,  and  William  Bayard, 
who  took  steps  to  open  the  way  for  settlers.  They  employed  as  their 
land  agent,  Benjamin  Raymond,  who  had  assisted  the  original  commis 
sioners  in  subdividing  the  townships.  Mr.  Raymond,  with  six  men,  a 
set  of  mill-irons,  provisions,  and  all  necessary  implements  required  to 
commence  a  settlement  in  the  wilderness,  left  Fort  Stanwix  (Rome)  in 
May,  1803,  in  a  bateau,  and  proceeded  by  the  old  route  of  Wood 
Creek,  Oneida  Lake,  Oswego  River,  and  down  Lake  Ontario,  the 
River  St.  Lawrence,  and  to  Point  Iroquois  above  Waddington.  Here 
they  left  part  of  their  load  and  proceeded  on  foot  with  packs  on  their 


I 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  463 

backs  through  the  woods,  reaching  Raquette  River  about  half  a  mile 
below  the  present  village  of  Potsdam,  thus  becoming  the  first  settlers 
in  the  town.  They  built  a  raft  and  ascended  to  the  falls,  where  they 
erected  a  hut  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  In  the  mean  time  they 
had  the  remainder  of  their  goods  hauled  over  with  ox  team  on  "  travois." 
They  commenced  the  erection  of  a  dam  and  saw  mill,  which  was  put 
into  operation  that  fall.  Mr.  Raymond  was  satisfied  that  the  river  and 
falls  were  sufficient  to  afford  abundant  power,  and  that  was  the  proper 
place  to  commence  a  village  ;  therefore,  during  the  summer  he  surveyed 
roads  in  different  directions  leading  to  Hopkinton,  Canton  and  Madrid. 
He  had  them  bushed  out  and  worked  sufficiently  for  teams  to  pass, 
and  in  the  mean  time  he  opened  a  land  office  in  a  log  shanty.  During 
the  summer  several  persons  came  to  town  and  purchased  lands.  Eb- 
enezer  Patterson  and  wife  were  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  family 
that  moved  into  town  The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who 
took  contracts  of  land  that  year:  Christopher  Wilson,  Jabez  Healey, 
John  Fobes,  Moses  Patterson,  Elihu  Knights,  Asa  Knapp,  Elias  Cham- 
pion, Gurdon  Smith,  Joshua  Conkey,  Francis  Whitney,  John  Delance, 
Benjamin  Stewart,  Giles  Parmele,  Sylvanus  Eaton,  Archibald  Royce, 
William  Smith,  Chester  Dewey  Nathaniel  Bailey,  David  French,  Esau 
Rich,  Reuben  Ames,  Barnabas  Ames,  Benjamin  Bailey,  Howard  J. 
Pierce,  Newell  B.  Smith,  Ansel  Bailey,  Ebenezer  Hubbard,  and  Eb- 
enezer  Patterson.  Two  of  these  took  deeds  during  that  year — Benja- 
min Stewart  and  William  Smith.  Mr.  Stewart's  was  the  first  deed 
given  to  a  settler  of  this  town  and  was  dated  July  9,  1803  ;  it  covered 
the  northwest  part  of  lot  42.  Mr.  Smith's  deed  bore  date  September 
19,  1803,  and  covered  320  acres,  the  north  half  of  lot  26,  the  purchase 
price  being  $800. 

Jabez  Healey  and  John  Fobes  came  in  from  Vermont,  making  the 
journey  from  Lake  Champlain  on  horseback.  After  a  few  weeks,  dur- 
ing which  they  made  contracts  for  land,  they  returned.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  Healey  and  his  eighteen  year  old  son  came  back  to 
Potsdam  with  small  packs  of  supplies  to  prepare  for  the  advent  of  the 
families.  They  built  a  log  house  and  cut  the  timber  from  a  few  acres 
of  land.  They  then  again  returned  to  Vermont,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1804  Mr.   Healey  came  on  to  his  settlement  with  his  wife  and  eight  or 


464  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ten  children,  three  horses  and  some  cattle.  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Fobes 
also  brought  their  families  in  the  spring  of  1804,  ^^^  others  who  are 
known  to  have  arrived  in  that  year  were  Christopher  Wilson,  Benja- 
min Bailey,  Howard  J.  Pierce,  Benjamin  Stewart,  John  Delance,  Joseph 
Bailey  and  his  sons  Nathaniel  and  Ansel.  Mr.  Raymond  also  brought 
his  family  that  spring. 

Gurdon  Smith  located  at  "West  Potsdam,"  which  was  long  known 
as  "Smith's  Corners."  He  had  been  chief  of  a  corps  of  surveyors 
under  Benjamin  Wright,  and  had  surveyed  a  large  part  of  Macomb's 
purchase. 

During  the  year  1804  other  settlers  came,  among  whom  were  Eben- 
ezer  Parkhurst,  jr.,  William  Ames,  Barnabas  Hogle,  Thomas  Bowker, 
David  Carey,  Jehiel  Slafter,  Joseph  Wright,  Lebbeus  Johnson,  Bester 
Pierce,  Roswell  Parkhurst,  Alvin  Mills,  Reuben  Field.  John  Bowker, 
Spalding  Waterman,  Ezra  Crary,  William  Bullard,  and  several  asso- 
ciates. Mr.  Bullard,  while  in  New  England,  drew  articles  of  an  agree- 
ment and  a  constitution  in  which  each  member  of  the  company  to  be 
formed  was  to  share  according  to  the  amount  of  property  or  labor  in- 
vested. All  things  relating  to  the  association  were  to  be  decided  by  a 
majority  vote,  strictly  democratic,  although  their  religious  or  political 
views  were  not  to  be  criticized.  An  account  was  to  be  kept  with  each 
member  of  the  amount  of  stock  invested  and  the  days*  work  performed, 
when  a  settlement  was  to  be  made  at  the  annual  meeting  in  January  of 
each  year.  About  a  dozen  signed  the  agreement  when  William  Bull- 
ard, the  projector,  was  made  agent  and  John  Borroughs,  secretary. 
The  party,  with  their  families,  came  in  as  above  stated,  and  on  the  28th 
of  November,  1804,  purchased  a  tract  of  2,427  acres,  about  two  miles 
north  of  the  present  village,  at  a  cost  of  $8,656,  and  commenced  the 
settlement.  After  a  couple  of  years  several  of  the  members  withdrew 
and  others  were  taken  in.  when,  in  the  month  of  May,  1807,  they 
formed  an  association  on  the  same  basis,  which  was  styled  "The 
Union."  The  names  of  the  male  members  were  William  Bullard,  John 
Borroughs,  Manassa  Smith,  Nathan  Howe,  Ammi,  Thomas  and  Will- 
iam Currier,  Isaac  Ellis,  Alba  Durkee,  and  John  McAllaster.  The 
"  Union  "  prospered  fairly,  but  in  18 10  dissolved  by  mutual  agreement, 
the  land   was   divided,  and  most  of  them    continued  to    reside  on   their 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  465 

farms.  It  is  said  that  the  energetic  women  objected  to  continue  the 
union,  as  their  more  indolent  sisters  were  receiving  the  benefit  of  their 
labor,  although  they  continued  to  be  friendly  with  each  other. 

Mr.  Raymond,  having  gone  south  with  his  family  to  stay  with  their 
friends  during  the  winter  of  1804-5,  ^^^  when  returning  in  the  spring, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  his  brother  in  law,  Wright  and  his  family, 
and  his  cousin,  Sewall  Raymond,  all  in  sleighs,  they  were  completely 
deserted  by  the  snow  at  the  Ox  Bow,  on  the  Oswegatchie  River,  in  the 
edge  of  Jefferson  county.  Mr.  Raymond  immediately  directed  the 
construction  of  a  raft  out  of  about  thirty  pine  logs,  on  which  the  sleighs, 
goods  and  families  were  placed,  and  on  which  they  proceeded  down 
the  swollen  stream  to  Cooper's  Falls  in  De  Kalb.  The  horses  were 
sent  over  land  in  charge  of  Sewall  Raymond,  and  from  Cooper's  Falls 
there  was  enough  snow  to  serve  the  party  to  Potsdam,  About  thirty 
settlers  came  in  and  took  up  land  that  season. 

Mr  Raymond  commenced  work  on  a  frame  grist  mill  at  the  village 
in  1804,  which  was  put  in  operation  the  next  year,  and  also  erected  a 
frame  building  for  dwelling,  store  and  office. 

The  first  child  born  in  Potsdam  was  Orpha  Maria  Smith,  daughter 
of  William  Smith,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1804.  The  marriage  of  John 
Delance  and  Nancy  Healey  was  celebrated  in  the  summer  of  1804; 
this  was  probably  the  first  marriage  in  the  town.  The  first  death  of  a 
settler  was  that  of  James  Chadwick,  from  Massachusetts,  who  was  killed 
by  a  limb  falling  from  a  tree  in  July,  1805. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  John  Smith,  an  uncle  of  the  famous  Joseph 
Smith,  the  Mormon  leader,  was  a  very  early  settler  in  this  town.  He 
accompanied  "  Joe  "  to  Utah  and  became  a  high  priest  in  the  Mormon 
cluirch.  He  was  succeeded  at  his  death  by  his  son,  George  A.  Smith, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Potsdam. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  town,  April  21,  1807,  with  Dr. 
Pierce  Shepard  as  postmaster.  He  was  also  the  first  physician  to  settle 
in  the  town. 

The  early  settlers  found  Indians  camping  in  the  town,  but  they  were, 
as  a  rule,  very  friendly  when  sober.     They  assumed  the  right,  however, 
to  enter  the  dwellings  of  settlers  at  any  time  and  with  very  little  warn- 
ing.    The  Indians   obtained  considerable  money    from  the  sale  of  furs, 
59 


466  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  were  almost  the  only  source  at  first  whence  the  settlers  could  get 
cash,  which  they  did  by  trading  the  Indians  produce  or  rum. 

David  Barnum  came  to  the  town  in  1807,  and  Simeon  Dart  in  1808, 
the  latter  settling  at  Smith's  Corners  (West  Potsdam).  Timothy  Shep- 
ard  came  about  the  same  time  and  settled  at  the  falls  on  the  east  side. 
Josiah  Fuller  came  in  1808,  bringing,  as  one  of  his  family,  L.  W.  Fuller 
when  two  years  old.  He  was  a  tanner,  and  subsequently  built  a  small 
tannery,  with  vats  on  the  outside  of  the  building  on  ground  afterwards 
occupied  by  the  Richards  flouring  mill.  Mr.  Fuller  contracted  for  the 
triangular  tract  of  land  between  the  river,  Market  and  Raymond  streets, 
and  cleared  away  the  thicket  on  the  east  shore.  He  built  a  one  and  a 
half  story  house  on  the  Market  street  side  of  his  lot,  and  there  kept  for 
some  years  a  good  public  house.  It  was  afterwards  kept  by  Samuel 
Pease. 

Down  to  the  year  1809  a  ferry  was  maintained  across  the  river  for 
those  who  came  to  the  mills  and  others  who  wished  to  cross  ;  but  in  that 
year  a  bridge  was  built  on  the  present  bridge  site,  which  endured  until 
1830      The  next  one  was  in  use  to  about  the  close  of  the  last  war. 

Liberty  Knowles  came  to  the  town  in  1809  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  next  year.  A  brief  sketch  of  his  life  will  be  found  in  another 
department  of  this  volume. 

Settlements  continued  to  increase,  and  in  18 10  the  town  had  a  popu- 
lation of  928,  and  was  the  fourth  town  in  the  county  in  that  respect.  In 
1810  the  village  consisted  of  only  seven  buildings;  these  were  small 
frame  structures,  all  those  outside  of  the  immediate  settlement  being  of 
logs.  There  was  no  church,  but  Judge  Raymond  habitually  held  relig- 
ious services  in  his  house  on  Sundays,  and  they  were  soon  attended  by 
many  of  his  neighbors.  When  the  attendance  began  to  overcrowd  his 
rooms  he  built  a  house  that  will  be  described  further  on.  The  only 
schools  at  that  time  were  private  ones,  there  being  no  school  organiza- 
tion until  1813,  when  Benjamin  Raymond,  Gurdon  Smith  and  Howard 
J.  Pierce  were  chosen  commissioners  of  common  schools.  It  is  probable 
that  Mr.  Pierce  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  town.  A  fulling  mill  was 
built  in  181 1  on  the  island. 

Calls  for  militia  to  serve  along  the  St.  Lawrence  River  were  followed 
by   enlistments,  with   their  attendant   anxieties   and   foreboding   in  the 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  467 

War  of  i8i2.  Ansel  Paine  served  thus  for  eight  months  in  a  company 
enhsted  in  Potsdam,  Madrid  and  Massena.  The  first  captain  was  Bes- 
ter  Pierce,  of  Potsdam,  and  the  company  served  near  Waddington,  at 
Ogdensburg,  and  finally  at  Sackett's  Harbor.  In  a  general  way  the 
effect  of  the  war  was  to  stimulate  business  and  growth  in  Potsdam  and 
other  interior  towns,  as  large  quantities  of  army  supplies  passed  through 
the  town  and  markets  were  unusually  active.  The  old  American  Hotel 
building,  which  became  a  land  mark,  was  erected  in  1813.  Most  of 
the  turnpike  through  Potsdam,  Hopkinton  and  Parishville  was  con- 
structed during  the  war  period.  These  roads  cost  from  two  to  three 
dollars  per  rod.  The  first  distillery  in  town  was  built  in  1813  by  the 
land  proprietors.  Previous  to  the  war  the  one  store  kept  by  Judge 
Raymond  sufficed  for  the  community,  but  in  181 3  Sewall  Raymond,  a 
cousin  of  the  judge  and  father  of  George  Raymond,  who  came  into  the 
town  with  the  judge  in  1805,  when  he  was  nineteen  years  old,  built  and 
opened  a  store  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  where  L.  D.  Andrews  now 
is  located,  corner  of  Main  and  Market  streets.  For  many  years  Sewall 
Raymond  continued  in  business  and  was  a  prominent  citizen.  In  early 
years  he  was  clerk  in  the  land  office  for  Judge  Raymond,  learning  sur- 
veying, and  did  a  great  deal  of  that  work  in  this  section.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  board  of  trustees  of  the  academy  and  was  clerk  of  the 
board  until  his  death  on  July  i,  1866.  Dr.  Robert  McChesney,  who 
came  to  the  town  about  the  beginning  of  the  war,  continued  a  large 
practice  to  about  the  time  of  his  death  in  1824.  Horatio  S.  Munson, 
long  a  prominent  citizen,  started  a  nail  factory  on  the  island  as  early  as 
18 1 8,  cutting  the  nails  from  plates  and  heading  them  by  hand. 

There  were  many  prominent  men  came  into  the  town  during  the  in- 
flux caused  by  the  war  and  settled  in  business.  At  the  close  of  the 
conflict  there  were  six  stores  in  the  village  and  twenty-five  or  thirty 
houses.  But  when  the  channel  of  trade  was  opened  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
River,  all  the  east  side  merchants  failed  except  Mr.  Raymond.  There 
was  neither  a  hotel  nor  a  store  in  the  town  outside  of  the  village.  John 
Raymond,  a  brother  of  Sewall,  employed  as  clerk  (nineteen  years  old), 
came  to  the  village  in  181 5,  and  it  is  related  of  him,  as  indicating  how 
like  a  wilderness  this  whole  section  remained,  that  he  thought  he  had 
indeed  reached  a  wild  country  when  he  ran  across  a  panther  on  Sunday 


468  '  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

evening  just  at  dusk  in  the  middle  of  Elm  street,  sitting  on  its  haunches 
like  a  dog,  a  short  distance  before  him.  As  he  advanced,  the  animal 
leaped  over  a  ditch  to  the  side  of  the  road,  when  he  discovered  it  was 
a  panther,  and  probably  was  the  mate  to  the  one  that  had  been  killed 
near  by  a  few  days  before.  The  next  moment  he  leaped  back  into  the 
road  and  watched  the  boy  for  a  short  time,  who  stood  his  ground  con- 
sidering what  it  was  best  to  do,  when  the  panther  again  leaped  over  the 
ditch  and  crept  behind  a  stump,  where  Raymond  could  see  his  fierce 
eyes  peering  out  on  one  side  and  his  tail  swinging  angrily  to  and  fro  on 
the  other.  The  lad  hastened  to  the  nearest  house  and  informed  the  oc- 
cupant, who  took  his  rifle,  and  the  two  returned  to  the  spot,  but  the 
panther  had  fled.  Several  sheep  had  recently  been  killed  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  it  was  determined  to  destroy  the  beast.  The  whole  coun- 
try around  was  notified  and  promptly  turned  out,  surrounded  a  large 
tract  of  some  twenty  miles,  and  gradually  closed  in  together.  While 
two  bears,  a  large  number  of  deer,  and  a  quantity  of  smaller  game  was 
secured,  the  panther  escaped. 

About  the  year  1821  the  first  building  of  much  importance  was 
erected  in  the  village,  of  the  now  extensively  used  sandstone.  It  was 
the  store  still  standing  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Market  and  Elm 
streets,  and  was  built  by  Liberty  Knowles,  Sewall  Raymond  and  Charles 
Partridge.  It  was  an  experiment  on  their  part,  to  ascertain  if  the  stone 
was  suitable  for  such  a  purpose  ;  the  results  are  well  known.  About 
1822-3  Mr.  Knowles  built  a  tannery,  to  be  operated  by  Azel  Lyman, 
and  Mr.  Partridge  a  distillery,  of  the  same  stone.  Aside  from  the  mills 
and  shops,  these  were  among  the  prominent  early  manufacturing  in- 
dustries. In  1823-4  Mr.  Partridge  built  also  a  three  story  stone 
structure  known  as  the  "  Aqueduct  Buildings,"  in  which  water  was 
raised  to  supply  the  tannery  and  distillery.  Pump  logs  were  laid  to 
various  parts  of  the  village  and  the  citizens  were  supplied  with  water  at 
five  dollars  each  per  year.  The  prevailing  temperance  agitation  of  a 
few  years  later  led  Mr,  Partridge  to  close  his  distillery,  and  it  was  not 
reopened.  David  French,  who  purchased  land  in  the  town  in  1803, 
came  a  few  years  later  and  settled  about  midway  between  Potsdam  vil- 
lage and  Canton,  where  he  was  a  successful  farmer,  and  kept  a  public 
house  from  18 19  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He  died  November  15, 
1854. 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  469 

In  1845  the  town  voted,  by  a  small  majority,  to  erect  a  town  house 
in  the  village,  for  which  purpose,  under  a  legislative  act,  a  tax  of  $1,200 
was  imposed  in  two  annual  installments.  The  tax  money  was  antici- 
pated by  loans,  and  the  building  was  erected  the  same  year,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  public  square,  by  VVilham  Sweet,  under  direction  of 
Henry  L.  Knowies,  Samuel  Partridge,  Flavel  Smith  and  William  W. 
Goulding. 

Amos  Blood  settled  at  West  Potsdam  in  1835,  ^^^  there  were  then 
several  houses  and  a  blacksmith  shop  there.  At  about  the  same  time 
Barnabas  Yale  and  his  sons,  John  and  Lloyd  C,  settled  a  mile  west  of 
West  Potsdam,  where  a  saw  mill  was  already  in  operation,  to  which  a 
run  of  stone  was  adced  by  Alexander  Bailey.  Other  settlers  followed 
the  Yales  and  led  to  the  founding  of  the  hamlet  known  as  Yaleville. 
About  the  same  time  Edward  Crary  built  a  grist  mill,  which  was  the 
first  at  the  point  known  as  Crary's  Mills,  in  the  extreme  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  town.  A  small  tannery  was  also  built  there  and  a  few  settlers 
gathered  about  Buck's  Bridge  had  also  become  of  some  importance, 
and  on  the  30th  of  March,  1836,  a  post-oflfice  was  established  there 
with  Owen  Buck  in  charge 

In  the  financial  crisis  of  1837-8  the  village  of  Potsdam  felt  the  de- 
pressing influences  to  some  extent,  but  the  thriving  agricultural  district 
near  at  hand  prevented  any  general  stagnation  of  business.  In  1849 
Dr.  Henry  Hewitt,  of  Potsdam,  became  convinced  that  by  making  cer- 
tain improvements  in  the  channel  of  the  river,  logs  in  great  quantities 
could  be  floated  down  from  the  great  wilderness  at  very  little  expense, 
sawed  into  lumber  at  Potsdam,  and  made  a  source  of  profit  to  the  com- 
munity. He  convinced  others  of  the  feasibility  of  his  project,  and  cir- 
culated a  petition  to  the  Legislature  asking  an  appropriation  of  $io,000. 
The  work  was  accomplished,  and,  as  expected,  produced  splendid  results 
in  this  town. 

In  1 85  I  the  United  States  Mutual  Insurance  Company  was  organized 
in  West  Potsdam,  the  directorship  embracing  many  prominent  men  ; 
but  it  was  a  little  ahead  of  its  time,  and  closed  its  business  after  a  few 
years. 

In  1857  the  old  town  house  was  burned,  and  after  considerable  agi- 
tation a  small  majority  voted  to  build  the  second  one,  which  was  done 
in  1858,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000. 


470  ^.i.OEr  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  as  they  related  to 

St.  L  e  been  described  in  Chapter  XV  of  this  work  ; 

-:  sion  to  it  here  is  all  tliat  is  necessar}^     There 

A  in  the  countj^  under  which  the  quota  of  Pots- 
;  red  and  eighty  six  men.     On  this  tlie  town  was  en- 

acty-three.     The  quotas  under  the  other  several 
:  i,  the  bounties  ranging  from  the  first  one  paid  b\'  the 

:iient  and  the  State,  up  to  $i,CXX>,  which  was  the  gross 
:se  who  enlisted  under   the  call  of  July  i8,  1864.     So 
:e  work  of  the  men   havnng  in  charge  the  filling  of  the 
:  at  the  close  of  the  war  this  town  could  have 
s;x:y  uien  and  filled  it  without  a  draft.     The  tow^n  fur- 
ien  900  and  1,000  men. 
.  y  of  the  town  during  its  last  decade  is  largely  embodied  in 

the  d.Cuuu„:  of  the  various  industries  and   institutions  of  the  villages. 
~'  — -"g  that  period  manufacturing  operations,  as  will  be  seen,  have  at 
-cept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  town  in  other  directions 
I     -^75  measures  were  inaugurated  for  building  a  new  town  house, 
:   r  e  having  become  inadequate  for  the  public  need.     A  resolu- 

^ — :ng  for  a  new  structure   was  adopted  at  the   annual   town 
:ig  in  February,    1S73,   the  appropriation   being   $20,000.     The 
_.    rinent  met  with  fierce  opposition,  but  tlie  resolution  was  adopted 
by  ten  majority.     The  passage  of  the  necessary  act  by  the  Legislature 
was  also  actively  opposed,  but  it  went  through  in   April,  and  William 
H.   Bamum,  William  Mathews  and  Norman  Swift  were  appointed  a 
coran:  V-     :  3  build  the  new  structure.     The  tax  was  anticipated  by  a 
loa:.     ;  i::  ::d,  payable  in  five  equal  annual  instaDments,  which  the 
supervisors  were  authorized  to  le\y.     The  old  building  was  demolished 
in  the  same  spring,  additional  land  w^as  purchased,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer the  ne%v  building  was  erected,  of  Potsdam  sandstone.      It  is  ninety 
feet  in  size,  with  basement  and   mansard  roof     The 
.: :    -r  part  is  devoted  to  a  public  hall  or  theatre,  with  balcon}^  and  com- 
stage. 

THE   VILLAGE   OF   POTSDAM. 

The  act  of  incorporation  for  the  village  of  Potsdam  was  passed  March 
3 ,  If:       The  act  provided  for  the  election  of  a  board  of  five  trustees, 


THE  TOWX  OF  POTSDAM. 


471 


to  be  elected  annually  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  who  were  to  elect 
one  of  their  number  as  president  of  the  board,  and  appoint  a  clerk,  a 
treasurer,  a  collector,  a  constable  and  a  pound  master,  who  should 
hold  their  offices  for  one  year,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  trustees. 

The  follovvino^  officers  were  elected  : 


Trustees,  Jabez  WilLes.  Horatio  G.  Munson,  .-^ 
Frederick  C.  Powell :  president  (elected  by  the 
Davison :  clerk.  Jnstos  Smith. 


lond,  Sanmel  F 
-.  Manson;  trea-^, 


Following  is  a  list  of  the  presidents  of  the  village  up  to  date  (1893): 

1831,  H.  G.  Manson;    1832,  Jabez  WiUes;    1833,  Jnstns  Smith;  1834-5,  Samael 
Partridge;  1836,  Theodore  Clark  ;  183T,  SewaE  Bajmond  ;  1838.  H.  G.  Mnmo!:     '^'^. 
Jabez  Willes :  1840,  Sammel  Partridge ;  1841,  BeojanuQ  G.  Baldmn ;  1842 
Wilkins;  1843-45,  Sewall  Baymond;  1846-7,  Theodore  CJlark;  lS4a-50,  K  - 

rine;  1851,  Chas.  T.  Bo5weil;  ia52.  Jo5  1853,  H.  H.  Peck;   ^ 

dore  Clark:  1855,  J.  H.  Sanford :  18-56.  ^       --  z:-  kin;  1857,  Amc"  -  - 

59,  Seth  Benson;  1860-62,  Wm.  H.  Wa"?Te:  !?e3--L  A.  X  Parker  1^.  ^. 

Peck;  1867-9,  A.  X.  Parker;  1870,  Mi  1871-3,  B.  Fs  74-5.  Milton 

Heath;  1876,  HL  L.  Knowles ;  1877,  Mitton  Heath;  1878-80,  A.X. Parkf  --" 

Hosea  BickneU :  1888-89,  L  "  Wadleigh       -         AX.  Parker  -. 

Mclntyre;  1892.  0.  G.  How..   .;    .,  L.  E   Wa..  .._. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  3,  1832,  a  village  seal  was  ad:    -  - 

for  its  device  a  tree  under  the  word  Potsdam.      On  the  3d  :. 

Zenas  Clark,    George  Wilkinson  and  Justus  Smith  were 
board   of  health,  and   John   Parmelee,  health   officer.     "["-  5 

taken  in  anticipation  of  possible  danger  from  cholera.      .....  ...c  ...iii 

prevalent  in  most  parts  of  the  country. 

The   village   charter  was   amended   April    10.    tPjlt.   bv  t 

boundaries  of  the  village  were  enlarged,  additic 

ferred  upon  the  trustees  relating  to  the  purchase  ^  .U 

estate,  building  of  sidewalks,  construction  of  sevr  -      :: 

Fire  Department. — ^The  means  for  extingui;  s 

passed  through  the  usual  evolution  from  a  fe  ::> 

the  modern  steam  fire  engine  and  waterworks.  :    e 

early  village  records  leaves  us  with  ver  ~ 

in  this  respect.      A  fire  company  was  org  ^rter  1820, 

but  it  became  almost  useless  through  53  the 

village  owned   two  hand   engines,  :  i^  regularly 


472  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

oro-anized  in  1857,  with  J.  R.  Jackson  as  chief  engineer.  The  organ- 
ization included  the  Potsdam  Engine  Company  No.  i,  and  Frontier 
Hose  Company  No.  i.  Among  those  who  have  since  held  the  office  of 
chief  engineer  are  J.  B  Lombard,  A.  X.  Parker,  J.  L.  Brown,  C.  E. 
Haywood,  and  T.  H.  Swift,  who  occupied  the  position  more  than  ten 
years      The  present  chief  is  Julius  Palmer. 

Early  in  1889  a  steam  fire  engine  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 
This,  with  three  hose  companies  and  a  hook  and  ladder  company,  sup- 
plemented with  hydrants  connected  with  the  water  mains,  constitute  an 
efficient  equipment.  In  1890  a  lot  on  the  west  side  of  Market  street 
was  purchased  by  the  village,  of  Harvey  M.  Story,  for  $1,000.  On 
this  a  brick  engine  house  was  erected,  with  a  lock-up  in  the  rear  and  a 
hall  on  the  second  floor.  The  building  is  twenty-seven  by  fifty-five 
feet,  and  cost  about  $2,500.  In  this  building  are  kept  the  steamer  and 
Hose  Company  No.  3.  Hose  Company  No.  i  and  the  Hook  and  Lad- 
der Company  are  located  in  Firemen's  Hall,  and  No.  2  is  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river. 

Potsdam  Water  Works — The  works  consist  principally  of  a  stone 
building  thirty-four  feet  square  and  two  stories  high.  The  works  were 
constructed  in  1871,  the  original  cost  being  about  $50,000,  for  which 
the  village  authorities  issued  bonds.  The  water  is  pumped  from  a  fil- 
tering pier  on  the  Holly  system,  by  water  power,  with  the  exception  of 
an  auxiliary  steam  pump,  which  was  added  in  1890,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 
Improvements  have  also  been  made  in  the  original  pumps  The  entire 
cost  of  the  works  to  the  present  time  (1893)  is  nearly  $60,000  ;  but  the 
cost  of  the  late  improvements  noted  was  paid  from  the  village  funds. 
The  bonds,  in  a  sum  of  $40,000  issued  in  1871,  and  $10,000  issued  in 
1872,  had  twenty  years  to  run  at  seven  per  cent,  interest.  Of  this 
amount  $37,000  of  the  first  issue  became  due  April  i.  1891,  and  were 
refunded  at  four  per  cent.,  payable  $2,000  annually;  and  on  April  i, 
1892,  the  $10,000  were  refunded  in  like  manner,  payable  $500  annu- 
ally. 

The  original  commission  chosen  to  procure  plans,  specifications,  etc., 
were  William  H.  Wallace,  Samuel  B.  Gordon,  E.  A.  Merritt,  Bloomfield 
Usher  and  E.  W.  Foster.  About  four  miles  of  mains  were  originally 
laid,  which  have  been  extended  to  nearly  or  quite  six  miles. 


^dtftfiS^«! 


/. 


lfi| 


-I 


^^-^^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  473 

Sewerage. — It  is  an  evidence  of  the  enterprise  of  the  people  of  Pots- 
dam that  they  appreciate  the  great  importance  of  perfect  drainage  to  the 
health  and  growth  of  the  village.  On  the  6th  of  May,  1886,  the  first 
meeting  of  citizens  was  held  for  the  consideration  of  this  subject.  A 
law  was  procured  from  the  Legislature  giving  authority  to  bond  the 
village  for  $25,000,  and  a  commission  composed  of  Thomas  S.  Clark- 
son,  Hosea  Bicknell,  D.  F.  Ellis,  William  H.  Walling  and  Charles  L. 
Brackett  was  appointed.  Under  this  action  about  seven  miles  of  sewers 
have  been  laid,  giving  the  village  almost  a  perfect  system  of  drainage. 
For  $20,000  of  the  cost  notes  were  made  which  were  taken  by  the  Pots- 
dam National  Bank,  and  these  have  been  taken  up  by  payments  made 
from  taxes  collected  for  the  purpose. 

Electric  Lights — In  the  fall  of  1886  a  contract  was  entered  into  with 
the  Thompson- Houston  Company,  under  which  the  village  was  lighted 
for  a  time.  Their  interests  were  taken  by  a  company  called  the  Pots- 
dam Electric  Light  Company,  which  continued  only  a  short  time,  when 
a  corporation  under  the  name  of  the  Potsdam  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company  was  formed  in  1888,  and  since  that  time  has  given  the  village 
efficient  service  in  this  respect.  The  streets  are  lighted  with  nearly 
eighty  arc  lights,  and  incandescent  lamps  are  extensively  used  by  in- 
dividuals and  firms.  The  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows  :  Thomas 
S.  Clarkson,  president;  W.  Y.  Henry,  vice-president;  Hosea  Bicknell, 
treasurer. 

Hotels. — Some  of  the  early  public  houses  of  Potsdam  have  been  al- 
luded to  in  the  history  of  the  town.  Probably  the  first  of  these  was 
the  one  built  and  kept  by  Josiah  Fuller,  father  of  L.  W.  Fuller,  in  the 
first  years  of  the  cencury.  The  old  American  Hotel  is  now  doing  duty 
in  a  small  way  as  a  public  house.  The  St.  Lawrence  Hotel  was  a 
noted  public  house  for  many  years,  and  the  building  in  which  it  orig- 
inated still  stands  on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Main  streets.  What  is 
now  the  Windsor  House  was  built  by  Noble  S.  Elderkin,  and  has  been 
used  since  as  a  hotel  and  kept  by  various  persons.  It  is  now  (1893) 
kept  by  Sheridan  &  Cameron.  Henry  W.  Knapp  kept  Knapp's  Hotel 
on  Main  street  for  some  years.  The  original  building,  now  occupied 
by  the  Albion  Hotel,  was  built  by   M.  V.  B.  Ives,  to  which  A.  J.  &  C. 

R.  Holmes  have  since    made   two   additions,  the   first  in    1884  and  the 
60 


474  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

last  in  1888.     They  have  kept  the   house  about  twelve  years  and  have 
made  it  very  popular  with  the  traveling  public. 

Capital  Crime. — John  Donnovan  was  legally  executed  at  Canton, 
April  16,  1852,  for  murdering  James  Rowley  in  Potsdam  village,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1852.  They  had  been  drinking  freely  and  quarreled  over  their 
beer  and  exchanged  blows,  but  had  apparently  become  reconciled  and 
parted  friends.  Donnovan,  however,  followed  Rowley  and  inflicted 
several  wounds  with  a  jack  knife  which  proved  fatal. 

Plank  Roads  is  under  the  head  of  Internal  Improvements,  see  page 
167. 

Agricultural  Societies. — See  page  216. 

Bay  Side  Cemetery. — For  many  years  before  the  establishment  of 
the  present  burial  ground  in  Potsdam  it  was  felt  that  a  more  desirable 
place  should  be  selected  for  the  remains  of  those  called  away  by. death 
than  the  former  one.  A  meeting  was  held  on  the  14th  of  October, 
1865,  over  which  Rev.  H.  C.  Riggs  presided,  H.  N.  Redway  acting  as 
secretary,  at  which  the  Bay  Side  Cemetery  Association  was  organized 
The  present  name  was  adopted  and  twelve  trustees  were  appointed  as 
follows  :  Bloomfield  Usher,  William  W.  Morgan,  John  H.  Seeley,  T. 
S'reatfield  Clarkson,  Edward  Crary,  E.  D.  Brooks,  George  Richards, 
Edward  Hitchings,  Aaron  M.  Deming,  Harvey  M.  Story,  H.  C.  Riggs, 
and  Hiram  H.  Peck.  The  association  being  organized,  a  second  meet- 
ing was  called  October  23.  Bloomfield  Usher  was  chosen  president  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees;  H.  C.  Riggs,  vice-president;  T.  S.  Clarkson, 
treasurer;  Edward  Crary,  secretary,  A  constitution  and  by-laws  were 
provided  and  an  executive  committee  appointed.  Twenty  one  acres 
of  land,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  were  purchased  of  Mr. 
Usher,  and  arrangements  made  for  surveying  and  laying  out  the  ground. 
The  consecration  ceremonies  took  place  October  6,  1866,  when  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  William  A.  Dart,  Rev.  H.  C.  Riggs  and  others. 
In  1867  fifteen  acres  of  land  were  added  to  the  ground,  and  with  im- 
provements since  made,  the  many  well  kept  lots  and  handsome  monu- 
ments, the  cemetery  is  now  a  spot  to  which  the  mourner  may  turn 
with  sadness  tempered  by  the  beautiful  surroundings. 

Potsdam  Red  Sandstone  Company} — This  is  the  name  of  a  company 
of  quite  recent  organization,  but  the  inception  of  the  business  carried  on 

1  Furnished  by  the  proprietors. 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  475 

by  them  dates  far  back  in  the  past.  The  value  of  what  has  long  been 
known  to  geologists  as  Potsdam  red  sandstone  for  building  purposes 
has  been  locally  known  to  some  extent  for  many  years  ;  but  it  was  left 
for  enterprising  men  of  more  recent  times  to  fully  demonstrate  this 
value  and  bring  the  stone  into  extensive  use.  During  the  early  years 
of  this  town  the  sandstone  was  quarried  in  a  primitive  manner  by  al- 
most anybody  to  use  in  buildings,  walls,  etc.  Among  the  earliest  to 
work  in  the  quarries  now  controlled  by  the  company,  of  which  we  are 
writing,  were  members  of  the  Parmeter  family,  who  continued  it  many 
years.  The  present  company  is  composed  of  Edwin  A.  Merritt,  jr., 
and  Ogden  H.  Tappan.  They  succeeded  a  company  of  the  same  name 
composed  of  E  A.  Merritt,  jr,  James  W.  Barker,  George  Z,  Erwin  and 
VV.  R.  Weed.  The  quarry  in  which  that  company  operated  is  not  now 
used,  better  and  more  convenient  workings  having  been  opened.  The 
present  company  took  the  business  in  18S9,  and  since  that  time  have 
probably  done  more  to  extend  a  knowledge  of  the  stone  and  prove  its 
great  value,  as  well  as  its  sale,  than  all  the  others  who  proceeded  them 
in  the  business.  The  owners  of  the  quarries  have  secured  the  skill  of 
the  most  eminent  scientists  in  the  country,  among  them  Professor  J.  S. 
Newberry,  of  the  School  of  Mines,  Columbia  College,  in  analyzing  and 
testing  the  stone,  from  which  has  been  built  up  a  wealth  of  evidence 
that  is  absolutel}^  incontestable  as  to  its  great  value  in  every  respect. 
Professor  Newberry  has  written  of  the  stone  as  follows:  "  It  is  stronger 
than  any  granite  and  much  more  durable,  since  granites  are  composed 
of  quartz,  feldspar,  mica  and  hornblende,  all  of  which,  except  quartz, 
are  liable  to  decomposition  on  exposure.  From  this  danger  this  stone 
is  free;  composed  as  it  is  of  pure  silica,  it  will  bid  defiance  to  the  tooth 
of  time,  and  had  the  obelisk  now  standing  in  Central  Park  been  com- 
posed of  as  dense  and  homogeneous  stone  as  Potsdam  sandstone,  it 
would  to-day  be  as  perfect  as  when  erected  at  Tanis,  1500  years  B.  C." 
This  is  strong  testimony  and  need  not  be  amplified  here,  for  all  who 
are  interested  will  receive  from  the  company,  upon  application,  a  great 
amount  of  detail  regarding  the  qualities  of  the  stone,  which  would  be 
out  of  place  in  these  pages.  It  may,  however,  be  added  that  there  are 
buildings  of  this  material  now  standing  in  the  village  of  Potsdam  which 
are  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  years  old,  and  which  bear  to  the  ordinary 


476  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

observer  every  appearance  of  having  been  erected  within  a  decade. 
Among  these  is  a  dvvelHng  erected  by  Gardiner  Cox  in  1838  ;  the  resi- 
dence of  Judge  C.  O.  Tappan,  which  is  sixty  years  old,  built  by  the  late 
Judge  Allen;  the  Usher  residence,  General  E.  A.  Merritt's  residence 
and  others.  In  a  concise  description  of  this  sandstone  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing :  "  It  is  a  fine-grained  sandstone  cemented  with  silica  and  weigh- 
ing more  than  any  other  sandstone,  over  160  pounds  to  the  square 
foot.  The  cementing  material  is  so  unafifected  by  acids  thac  the  stone 
can  be  boiled  in  pure  nitric  acid  for  hours  without  injury.  It  is  capable 
of  withstanding  crushing  strains  of  42.000  pounds  per  inch.  It  is  so 
nearly  fire-proof  that  it  has  been  used  in  the  vicinity  to  line  cupola  fur- 
naces. For  lining  bank  vaults  it  is  superior  to  any  other  material  ex- 
cept steel.  In  color  the  stone  is  an  ideal  red,  being  deep,  rich  and 
brilliant,  and  retaining  its  freshness  unimpaired  by  any  condition  of 
climate  or  situation." 

Very  many  important  and  costly  buildings  have  been  erected  of  this 
stone,  and  stand  to-day  as  monuments  of  its  beauty  and  durability. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  Houses  of  Parliament  at  Ottawa, 
which  cost  over  $4,000,000 ;  All  Saints  Cathedral,  Albany,  now  in 
process  of  construction,  costing  about  $2,000,000,  and  many  others. 
The  stone  is  now  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country,  a  recent  order 
going  to  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  quarries  now  in  process  of  working  expose  seventy  feet  in  thick- 
ness, and  the  output  is  very  extensive,  while  something  like  100,000 
cubic  feet  is  carried  in  stock.  The  quarries  are  known  by  numbers, 
reaching  from  one  to  four,  the  color  varying  more  or  less  in  all.  Water 
power  is  used  for  the  propulsion  of  the  machinery  used  in  pumping, 
etc.  Two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Raquette  River 
are  owned  and  controlled  by  the  company,  where  extensive  buildings 
have  been  erected. 

The  Clarkson  Sandstone  Quarries  are  situated  about  three  jniles  south 
of  the  village  of  Potsdam,  and  are  owned  by  Thomas  S.  Clarkson.  The 
quality  and  color  is  the  same  as  the  old  quarry  and  used  for  the  same 
purpose  in  building.  This  quarry  was  opened  and  worked  in  1877,  and 
now  about  fifty  men  on  the  average  are  employed. 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  477 

The  CLarkson  Manufacturing  Plant  was  founded  by  Clarkson  & 
Brown  in  1886,  for  the  manufacture  of  butter  firkins  and  tubs,  which  is 
now  carried  on  alone  by  Mr.  Clarkson,  who  also  turns  out  a  large 
quantity  of  shingles  on  Fall   Island. 

TJie  Watkins  and  Turner  Lumber  Company. — Henry  A.  Watkins 
came  to  the  village  about  the  year  1842,  and  died  on  March  29,  1891. 
He  was  also  for  many  years  one  of  the  principal  operators  of  the  large 
mills  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  are  now  owned  by  the  Wat- 
kins &  Turner  Lumber  Company.  The  mill  is  one  of  those  that  were 
originally  built  soon  after  1 850,  in  the  period  when  advancement  in  this 
direction  was  rapid,  by  Elderkin,  Clark  &  Co.  There  were  several 
early  changes  in  its  ownership,  and  in  1863  it  was  owned  by  Watkins 
&  Burnham.  and  later  by  Watkins,  Lester  &  Co.  Eventually  the 
Raquette  River  Lumber  Company  was  formed,  of  which  Mr.  Watkins 
was  a  member;  that  was  in  1884,  and  it  was  succeeded  by  the  Watkins 
Lumber  Company,  and  that  by  the  Watkins,  Turner  &  Co.,  which  was 
formed  in  February,  1891,  and  the  following  are  the  officers  :  C.  H. 
Turner,  president ;  H.  A.  Watkins,  vice  president ;  B.  Turner,  secre- 
tary; H.  E.  Barnard,  treasurer.  The  last  two  are  residents  of  Platts- 
burg.  The  capital  of  the  company  is  $100,000.  The  mill  now  contains 
two  circular  saws,  two  gangs,  a  planing  mill,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
100,000  feet  per  day.  The  company  owns  about  35,000  acres  of  timber 
lands  in  the  forests  south  of  Potsdam.  This  mill  occupies  substantially 
the  site  of  the  old  mill  of  1803,  mentioned  in  earlier  pages. 

The  same  company  carries  on  a  kindling  wood  factory,  which  was 
started  in  the  spring  of  1893,  with  a  capacity  of  10,000  bundles  daily. 
The  factory  is  near  the  depot,  and  is  equipped  with  machinery  for  its 
purpose. 

The  A.  Sherman  Lumber  Company. — The  little  hamlet  called  Sisson- 
ville,  a  few  miles  below  Potsdam  village,  owes  its  existence  to  a  mill 
put  in  operation  there  between  1840  and  1 850  by  persons  from  the 
east.  It  was  burned  in  1852.  Pomeroy  &  Pearson  built  a  mill  on  the 
site,  which  they  operated  a  few  years  only.  In  1866  George  W.  Sisson 
settled  there,  and  in  partnership  with  Alfred  H.  Griswold  erected  a  new 
mill  with  six  gangs  of  saws,  which  produced  about  65,000  feet  of  lumber 
a  day.      In  1875  Augustus  Sherman,  of  Glens   Falls,  became  a  partner 


478  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  the  mill,  when  the  firm  name  of  the  A.  Sherman  Lumber  Company 
was  adopted.  This  arrangement  continued  until  1885.  In  1886,  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Sherman,  William  R.  and  Frederick  A.  Weed,  grand- 
sons of  Mr.  Sherman,  came  into  the  business  as  partners,  and  trie  mill 
has  been  operated  by  them  and  Mr.  Sisson  since.  The  capacity  of  the 
mill  is  upwards  of  100,000  feet  per  day,  and  it  has  also  machinery  for 
cutting  slabs  into  lath  ;  a  shingle  mill  with  a  capacity  of  25,000  per  day  ; 
a  planing  mill  with  capacity  of  60,000  feet  per  day,  and  a  box  factory 
from  which  a  carload  can  be  turned  out  daily.  Logs  for  the  mill  come 
from  the  south  woods  down  the  river,  as  far  as  fifty  miles  away.  The 
firm  owns  40,000  acres  of  timber  land  tributary  to  the  Raquette  River. 
About  150  hands  are  employed  by  them.  In  1881  the  saw  mill  was 
burned,  with  2,0O0,O0O  feet  of  lumber  and  twenty  dwellings.  The  mill 
was  rebuilt,  and  other  property  restored  as  far  as  possible. 

Sash,  Door  and  Blind  Factory. — In  1853  Seth  C.  Ellis  &  Co.  built  a 
sash  factory  on  the  island.  In  1855  George  B.  Swan  acquired  an  in- 
terest in  the  business,  and  soon  afterward  became  the  sole  proprietor, 
and  for  many  years  before  he  died  carried  on  a  large  business.  In  1885 
Thos.  S.  Clarkson  purchased  the  property  and  continued  the  business 
until  April  4,  1888,  when  the  property  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

D.  A.  &  W.  A.  Moore  purchased  the  premises  formerly  occupied  by 
George  B.  Swan,  who  used  it  until  1884  as  a  door,  sash  and  blind  fac- 
tory. In  the  last  named  year  the  Moores  purchased  the  business,  and 
have  since  conducted  it  on  a  large  scale  in  the  manufacture  of  doors, 
sash,  blind,  screens,  finished  lumber,   interior  finish,   lath,  shingles,  etc. 

Foundry  and  Machine  Shop. — The  foundry  was  built  by  Judge  Jabez 
Willes  not  long  after  1820.  He  was  succeeded  by  Knowles  &  Watkins. 
C.  W.  Leete  in  1851  acquired  an  interest  in  the  foundry,  when  a  ma- 
chine shop  was  added.  The  former  went  out  of  the  business  in  a  few 
years,  and  Mr.  Watkins  in  1872.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  carried 
on  by  Mr.  Leete,  chiefly  in  the  manufacture  and  repairs  of  mill  ma- 
chinery. 

A  second  machine  shop  was  started  August  i,  1884,  by  M.  Hughes 
and  Son,  where  they  do  a  general  line  of  machine  work  and  repairing. 

Flouring  Mill. — The  old  mill,  previously  mentioned,  in  which  was 
combined  not  only  a  grist  mill,  but  a  saw  mill  and  cloth  factory,  stood 


(IaT/^o^J^.^^5^ 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  479 

about  150  feet  east  of  the  present  building.  This  site  carries,  with  it 
the  monopoly  of  grist  grain  grinding  in  the  town.  The  present  stone 
structure  was  erected  in  1830  by  members  of  the  Clarkson  family,  and 
two  years  later  passed  to  Rodee  and  McCarthy.  About  the  year  1856 
it  was  sold  to  Brockins  and  Hitchings,  and  they  were  soon  afterward 
joined  by  D.  K.  Brown  After  Mr.  Brockins's  withdrawal  from  the  firm 
Brown  &  Hitchings  operated 'the  mill  until  about  1872,  when  they  were 
forced  to  assign.  S  C.  Crane,  as  assignee,  conducted  the  mill  a  short 
time,  when  it  was  sold  to  Watkins,  Foster  &  Rodee,  who  conducted  it 
to  about  1876.  It  was  then  sold  to  Hitchings  &  Conlon,  who  operated 
it  only  about  ten  months,  when  in  the  fall  of  1877  it  was  purchased  by 
Robert  Wood,  the  present  proprietor.  It  was  changed  by  him  in  1885 
to  a  roller  mill  of  seventy- five  barrels  capacity. 

The  Raqiiette  River  Paper  Company. — The  organization  of  this  com- 
pany was  effected  in  February,  iSgr,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $50,000, 
and  the  following  officers :  George  W.  Sisson,  president ;  Carlton  E. 
Sanford,  vice  president;  F.  T.  Flint,  secretary  and  treasurer;  James 
A.  Outterson,  superintendent.  Other  stockholders  are  Fred.  L.  Dewey 
and  Flora  E  Snell  The  mill  stands  on  the  east  side  of  the  Raquette 
River,  on  an  old  saw  mill  site  below  Potsdam  village.  The  old  build- 
ings on  this  property  were  removed  to  make  way  for  the  paper  mill 
plant,  for  which  two  large  structures  were  erected.  The  power  is  fur- 
nished by  five  large  water  wheels,  and  the  product  is  now  about  eight 
tons  per  day.  A  sulphite  department  was  added  to  the  plant  in  the 
fall  of  1893. 

Tanneries. — At  an  early  day  tanning  was  carried  on  in  a  small  way 
by  L  W.  Fuller,  but  was  soon  given  up.  Another  early  tannery,  situated 
at  the  foot  of  Raymond  street,  was  built  by  Davis  &  Sa}'les,  who  oper- 
ated the  tannery  a  few  years,  when  Davis  purchased  his  partner's  in- 
terest. In  1858  the  property  was  sold  to  Duff  &  Barnes,  who  operated 
it  five  years.  After  several  changes  were  made,  the  property,  in  1880, 
was  sold  to  A.  Sherman,  who  remodeled  the  old  tannery  into  a  planing 
mill  and  furniture  factory. 

Cabinet  Shop — Previous  to  1841  almost  all  the  furniture  used  in  this 
section  of  the  country  was  made  by  hand.  In  that  year  Benjamin  T. 
Batchelder  established  a  factory   for    making    furniture   by   machinery. 


480  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

It  was  situated  on  Fall  Island,  but  in  different  localities  in  the  village  at 
several  dififerent  periods.  Three  times  the  factory  has  been  totally  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  once  by  a  freshet,  and  once  partly  burned.  It  is  worthy 
of  mention  that  on  all  of  these  occasions  the  fire  started  elsewhere  and 
communicated  to  Mr.  Batchelder's  building.  In  1869  he  was  joined  by 
his  son,  Henry  C.  Batchelder,  and  in  1874  a  younger  son,  Charles  E., 
came  into  the  firm.  In  1874  they  opened  a  wareroom  in  the  village  in 
connection  with  their  manufactory.  The  elder  Mr.  Batchelder  died  in 
1882,  but  the  firm  name  has  been  retained  and  the  business  is  carried 
on  by  the  brothers. 

Wait  &  Sons,  manufacturers  of  fine  cabinet  ware,  stair  builders  and 
general  jobbers  in  wood  work,  established  their  business  in  1878. 
They  have  all  the  necessary  machinery  for  carrying  on  a  successful 
business. 

Picture  Studio. — N.  L.  Stone  &  Son  carry  on  a  business  in  a  three 
story  building  fronting  ninety  four  feet  on  Market  street,  which  consists 
in  part  of  the  copying  and  enlarging  of  photographs.  In  this  business 
Mr.  N.  L.  Stone  was  one  of  the  first  to  commence,  and  the  first  one  in 
Potsdam,  where  he  settled  in  1870  and  began  business  in  1872.  The 
firm  now  makes  seven  grades  of  crayon  pictures,  six  of  ink  work,  two 
of  pastel,  and  three  of  water-colors  and  one  in  oil  This  firm  has  in- 
troduced every  facility  that  skill  can  devise,  aside  from  the  employment 
of  artists  or  specialists,  in  their  particular  line.  Competent  men  are 
employed  to  solicit  orders  throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
About  15,000  portraits  are  now  made  annually. 

The  Thatcher  Manufacturing  Company. — This  company  was  organ- 
ized in  1879,  consisting  of  H.  D.  Thatcher  and  H.  P.  Barnhart,  for  the 
manufacture  of  "  Orange  Butter  Color."  Mr.  Thatcher  began  in  1862 
experimenting,  and  continued  his  researches  until  the  object  was  ob- 
tained and  the  company  formed.  Other  inventions  in  the  line  of  dairy 
implements  have  since  been  perfected,  such  as  a  cream  and  milk  protec- 
tor, a  milk  can  measurer,  bottle,  etc.  In  1887  Dr.  Thatcher  sold  his 
interest  in  the  manufacturing  company  to  H.  P.  and  S.  L.  Barnhart. 

In  December,  1889.  a  stock  company  was  formed  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $60,000.  The  officers  were  as  follows  :  Thomas  S.  Clarkson, 
president;   George  Z.   Erwin,  vice-president ;   Carleton  E.  Sanford,  W. 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  481 

R.  Weed,  Louis  E.  Ransom  (of  New  York),  H.  J.  Sanford  (of  Parish- 
ville),  with  H.  P.  Barnhart,  and  S  L.  Barnhart,  the  first  being  treas- 
urer and  the  latter  secretary.  The  active  management  of  the  company 
rests  with  the  two  Barnhart  brothers.  After  the  formation  of  the  stock 
company  they  erected,a  plant  on  Depot  street,  in  Potsdam  village,  with 
a  brick  building  thirty  by  one  hundred  feet.  The  basement  is  occupied 
by  the  machinery  and  the  compounding  of  the  butter  color.  The 
packing  is  done  on  the  third  floor,  while  the  main  floor  is  used  for  the 
offices  and  the  labeling  of  goods. 

A  new  invention  of  the  managers  is  attracting  attention,  consisting 
of  a  machine  for  printing  and  cutting  the  milk  jar  caps  simultaneously. 
Attached  to  this  machine  is  a  device  for  paraffining  the  caps  as  they 
come  from  the  press.  They  have  also  perfected  a  cheese  color  for 
which  there  is  a  large  demand. 

The  Potsdam  Milk- Sugar  Company. — This  company  was  organized 
January  i,  1893  for  the  manufacture  of  milk  products,  including  but- 
ter, fancy  French  cheese  and  milk  sugar.  Thomas  S.  Clarkson  is  pres- 
ident;  Henry  S.  Wilson,  vice-president;  D.  F.  Ellis,  secretary  and 
treasurer.  The  capital  is  $25,000.  The  buildings  are  on  the  site  of 
the  door,  sash  and  blind  factory  formerly  operated  by  Mr.  Clarkson, 
and  which  burned  down  in  1887.  The  stone  building  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  D  F.  Ellis  Butter  Company,  which  began  business  April 
I,  1890,  is  also  used  by  The  Milk- Sugar  Company.  The  business  of 
this  company  is  rapidly  assuming  large  proportions,  employing  as  they 
do  men  who  have  given  years  to  the  business  and  who  can  make  as 
fine  goods  as  the  markets  aff'ord.  Their  products  are  sold  largely  in 
this  State,  although  quite  an  amount  of  their  butter  and  fancy  cheese 
find  sale  in  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut.  The  milk-sugar  finds  ready 
sale  among  manufacturing  chemists  and  for  baby  foods,  and  is  pro- 
nounced by  experts  to  be  the  finest  product  of  this  nature  manufactured 
in  this  country. 

A  very  destructive  flood  occurred  in  the  village  in  May,  1871. 
Heavy  rains  swelled  the  volume  of  water  and  the  reservoir  dam  gave 
way,  bringing  down  toward  the  village  a  terrible  flood,  carrying  along 
the  wreck  of  the  Ellsworth  mill,  a  quantity  of  logs,  etc.  This  was  on  a 
Saturday,  and  all  night  long  the  inhabitants  remained  up  to  watch  the 
61 


482  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

expected  catastrophe.  At  noon  on  the  following  Sunday  a  bulkhead 
above  the  island  was  crushed,  and  the  torrent  poured  through,  carrying 
away  part  of  the  Batchelder  furniture  factory  and  taking  the  east  part 
of  the  building  of  Watkins  &  Leete's  shop.  The  upper  part  of  Spar- 
row &  Swan's  shop  was  carried  off  and  the  floor  on  which  was  the 
heavy  machinery  was  left.  The  booms  at  SissonviUe,  with  their  logs, 
were  carried  down,  and  at  Hewittville  parts  of  the  dam  and  the  bridge 
and  the  booms  filled  with  logs  went  down  with  the  flood.  Most  of  the 
property  was  recovered  at  Norwood,  where  the  booms  withstood  the 
torrent. 

A  destructive  fire  occurred  on  the  17th  of  January,  1890,  which 
burned  all  of  the  property  between  the  old  American  House  and  Ray- 
mond street,  causing  a  loss  of  $20,000  on  buildings  and  about  $50,000 
on  goods,  etc.  But  the  burned  district  has  been  rebuilt  and  with  a  far 
better  class  of  buildings. 

The  Potsdam  Savings  and  Loan  and  Building  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  May,  1890,  with  Hosea  Bicknell,  president;  Hollis  Snell,  vice- 
president  ;  B.  T.  Scott,  secretary ;  F.  M.  Peck,  treasurer.  It  is  a 
prosperous  institution. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  supervisors  of  the  town  : 

BpDJamin  Raymond,  1807 ;  Charles  Cox,  1808 ;  Benjamin  Raymond,  1809;  Charles 
Cox,  1810-11  ;  Benjamin  Raymond,  1812  to  1S17,  inclusive;  Gnrdon  Smith,  1818  to 
1821.  inclusive;  Samuel  Partridge,  1822;  Gurdon  Smith,  1823-1824  ;  Samuel  Partridge, 
1825;  Horace  Allen,  1836-27  ;  Samuel  Partridge,  1828-29  ;  Zenas  Clark,  1830  to  1834, 
inclusive;  Ansel  Bailey,  1835  to  1837,  inchisive ;  Amos  W.  Brown,  1838;  Ansel  Bailey, 
1839;  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  1840  to  1843,  inclusive;  Thomas  Swift,  1844-45;  Isaac 
Parker,  1846-47;  Charles  Dart,  1848-49;  Amos  Blood,  1850-51  ;  Isaac  Parker,  1852 
to  1854,  inclusive  ;  Benjamin  G.  Baldwin,  1855  ;  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  1856  to  1860,  in- 
clusive; Edward  W.  Foster,  1861  to  1876,  inclusive ;  Erasmus  D.Brooks,  1877-81; 
John  A.  Vance,  1882-92  ;    M.  V.  B.  Ives,  elected  Februarv,  1894. 

National  Bank  of  Potsdam. — This  institution  is  the  successor  of  the 
Frontier  Bank,  which  began  business  in  Potsdam,  May  i,  185 1. 
Previous  to  that  time  the  village  had  been  without  a  bank.  There  were 
originally  three  stockholders — H.  P.  Alexander,  of  Herkimer;  J.  C. 
Dann,  of  Sackett's  Harbor ;  and  Bloomfield  Usher,  of  Potsdam.  The 
capital  was  $50,000.  On  the  1st  day  of  May,  1854,  it  was  reorganized 
under  the  State  laws  and  its  capital  increased  to  $100,000.     The  bank 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  483 

continued  a  successful  career  until  October  28,  1866,  when  the  Frontier 
Bank  ceased  to  exist  under  that  name  and  the  National  Bank  of  Potsdam 
succeeded,  with  its  capital  increased  to  $162,000.  The  next  increase 
of  capital  was  made  March  i,  1871,  when  it  was  raised  to  $200,000. 
The  stock  of  the  institution  has  always  been  largely  held  by  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  Usher  family,  and  the  monopoly  of  banking  business 
of  this  section  held  by  the  bank  for  m;iny  years  gave  it  great  prosperity. 
It  has  now  a  surplus  and  profits  of  about  $60,000.  Bloomfield  Usher 
held  the  office  of  piesident  from  the  beginning  until  January,  1890, 
when  Luke  Usher  was  elected  president  and  William  Usher  was  made 
cashier.  The  present  board  of  directors  are  as  follows :  Bloomfield 
Usher,  Luke  Usher,  George  A.  Hardin,  William  Usher,  P.  F.  Bellinger. 
W.  Y.  Henry  is  teller  and  book  keeper.  The  bank  building  was 
erected  in    1853. 

The  People's  Bank  of  Potsdam. — This  financial  institution  was  organ- 
ized on  the  1st  of  May,  1889,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  Its  president 
and  one  of  the  principal  promoters  was,  and  still  is,  Carleton  E.  Sanford 
(see  biography  in  later  pages).  Its  vice-president  was  William  A, 
Herrick,  who  was  succeeded  by  W.  W.  Weed,  and  he  by  C.  M.  Peck, 
who  is  the  present  incumbent.  The  first  cashier  was  William  L.  Pert, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Frank  D.  Barry,  the  present  cashier.  F.  M. 
Peck  was  the  first  teller.  In  the  board  of  directors  were  C.  E.  Sanford, 
W.  A.  Herrick,  Theodore  H.  Swift,  W.  W.  Weed,  Hosea  Bicknell, 
HoUis  Snell,  John  S.  Thompson,  George  S.  Wright  and  Royal  Newton. 
C.  M.  Peck  succeeded  to  a  directorship  when  Mr.  Herrick  died,  and 
A.  D.  Heath,  Frank  F.  Flint  and  Rufus  L.  Sisson  have  succeeded 
Messrs.  Weed,  Snell  and  Wright.  Under  the  progressive  and  liberal 
management  of  these  men  the  People's  Bank  has  been  especially  pros- 
perous and  has  already  accumulated  over  $10,000  surplus.  Its  bank 
offices  are  convenient  and  commodious,  and  contain  a  large  and  secure 
vault,  with  Yale  time  locks,  built  especially  for  it.  It  has  the  entire 
confidence  and  liberal  support  of  the  community. 

TJie  Press. — The  first  paper  in  the  town  was  The  Potsdam  Gazette, 
started  January  13,  18 16,  by  Frederick  Powell.  It  was  a  small  sheet, 
eighteen  by  twenty-two  inches,  and  neutral  in  politics.  It  was  a  weekly, 
had  four  columns  to  the  page,  and  survived  to  April,  1823.      In  January, 


484  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1824,  Mr.  Powell  began  the  issue  of  another  paper  similar  in  character, 
a  little  larger,  and  called  The  Potsdam  American.  It  was  later  pub- 
lished by  the  firm  of  Powell  &  Redington,  and  lived  until  April,  1829. 
In  May,  1829,  Elias  Williams  issued  from  the  same  press  an  anti- 
Masonic  weekly  called  The  Herald ;  it  was  discontinued  in  August  the 
same  year.  In  April,  1830,  William  Hughes  published  on  the  same 
press  The  Patriot.,  another  anti-Masonic  sheet;  it  was  continued  to 
early  in  1831,  when  the  press  was  removed  to  Ogdensburg  by  W.  B. 
Rogers,  and  used  in  the  publication  of  The  Northern  Light 

On  the  iith  of  April,  1844,  Mr.  Charles  Boynton  began  the  publica- 
tion at  Canton  of  the  Enquirer  and  Tariff  Advocate,  a  campaign  paper, 
devoted  to  Whig  politics;  it  was  stopped  in  November  following.  From 
the  same  office  was  issued  the  Democratic  sheet  called  The  Northern 
Cabinet  and  Literary  Repository,  started  by  Mr.  Boynton  January 
2,  1843.  The  latter  became  unpopular  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
was  removed  at  the  close  of  the  second  year  to  Potsdam,  where  it  con- 
tinued on  its  former  plan  one  year,  when  the  literary  department  of  the 
paper  was  issued  semi-monthly,  in  octavo  form  and  in  covers,  given  up 
almost  wholly  to  literary  matter,  and  its  name  changed  to  The  Reposi- 
tory ;  the  first  number  of  this  was  dated  July  20,  1846.  At  the  end  of 
the  fourth  volume  The  Cabitiet  was  sold  to  William  L.  Knowles,  and 
thenceforth  issued  under  the  name  The  St.  Lawrence  Mercury.  Mr. 
Knowles  continued  it  two  years,  when  he  sold  out  to  Wm.  H.  Wallace, 
who  continued  it  about  two  years  longer  under  the  same  name.  In 
June,  185  I,  he  sold  to  H.  C.  Fay,  who  changed  the  name  to  The  St. 
Lawrence  Journal.  In  July,  1852,  he  consolidated  the  paper  with  The 
Potsdam  Courier,  under  the  name  of  The  Courier  and  Journal.  The 
latter  journal  was  started  by  Vernon  Harrington  in  the  fall  of  185  i,  and 
was  neutral  in  politics.  The  union  of  these  two  papers  under  the  very 
able  and  intelligent  management  and  editorship  of  Mr.  Fay  at  once 
made  an  impression  upon  the  reading  public  of  Northern  New  York. 
About  the  year  1858  The  Northern  Freeman  was  started  by  Doty  and 
Greenleaf  in  Canton.  O.  D.  Baker  succeeded  Greenleaf,  and  the  paper 
was  removed  to  Potsdam,  where  in  1861  it  was  united  with  The  Courier 
and  Jouriial,  and  the  name  made  The  Courier  and  Freeman,  by  the  firm 
of  Fay,  Baker  &  Co.      In  1862    Baker  &   Fay  succeeded,  and  after  one 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  485 

or  two  other  unimportant  changes  in  the  firm  the  estabHshment  came 
into  the  sole  ownership  of  ElHott  Fay,  wlio  conducted  the  business  until 
May  13,  1891,  wlien  he  associated  with  himself  his  son,  Ernest  A.  Fay, 
under  the  style  of  Elliott  Fay  &  Son.  The  paper  is  now  a  large  nine- 
column  folio,  and  is  devoted  to  Republican  politics, 

TJie  St.  Lawrence  Herald. — This  paper  was  started  in  January,  1878, 
by  William  M.  Hawkins  &  Son  (Watson  S.  Hawkins),  as  a  temperance 
advocate.  It  was  soon  afterward  changed  in  character  to  a  local  Re- 
publican journal,  and  in  October,  1881,  was  sold  to  Rollin  E.  Sumner. 
He  has  conducted  the  business  and  edited  the  paper  ever  since,  and 
with  gratifying  success.  Beginning  with  about  1,000  subscribers,  it  has 
steadily  increased  in  circulation  until  at  present  there  are  printed  from 
2,000  to  3,000  copies,  while  the  editorial  conduct  has  merited  the  re- 
spect of  the  public. 

Tlie  Potsdam  Recorder. — This  journal  was  established  at  Hermon, 
under  the  name  of  the  Hermon  Recorder,  in  1886',  by  P.  L.  Doyle. 
After  six  years  of  successful  publication  in  that  village,  the  establish- 
ment was  removed  to  Potsdam  in  October,  1892,  and  the  name  changed 
to  its  present  form.  The  business  is  now  conducted  by  Mr.  Doyle  and 
B.  G.  Parker,  editor  of  the  Gouverneur  Free  Press.  The  Recorder  is  a 
four  page  paper,  twenty-eight  by  forty  four  inches,  and  aims  to  be  in- 
dependent on  all  public  questions. 

Reading  Room. — A  movement  was  inaugurated  in  1887  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  free  reading  room  and  library  in  Potsdam.  Its  direc- 
tion was  placed  with  Thomas  S.  Clarkson,  Timothy  O'Brien  and  George 
H.  Sweet.  After  the  preliminaries  were  settled  and  a  liberal  fund  se- 
cured by  subscription,  the  two  stores  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Albion 
Hotel  building  were  leased  for  a  term  of  three  years  from  March  i, 
1887,  at  $500  annually.  The  rooms  were  opened  to  the  public  April 
16,  leading  periodicals  were  provided,  and  tiie  attendance  was  encour- 
aging from  the  beginning.  The  expenses  for  the  first  year  were  about 
$1,500.  The  institution  continued  with  increasing  attendance  during 
the  second  and  third  years  and  was  so  encouraging  to  those  whose  lib- 
erality had  supported  it.  that  the  rooms  were  leased  for  a  second  term 
of  three  years.  The  benefits  conferred  upon  the  community  by  this 
institution  are  incalculable,  and  promise  to  be  permanent. 


486  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Schools  and  Academy. — It  is  believed  that  the  first  school  taught  in 
the  town  was  by  Howard  J.  Pierce,  on  the  North  Canton  road  ;  Mr. 
Pierce  was  one  of  the  early  purchasers  of  land.  In  the  summer  of  1810 
Judge  Raymond  built  a  frame  building,  twenty- four  by  thirty- six  feet, 
between  what  is  now  Main  and  Elm  streets,  a  little  east  of  Market  street, 
which  he  intended  should  be  used  for  both  church  and  school  purposes. 
It  had  a  porch  and  a  small  bell,  and  as  the  question  of  having  an  acad- 
emy here  had  by  that  time  received  some  discussion,  this  building  often 
was  called  the  academy.  At  that  time  no  regular  school  organization 
existed  in  the  town.  This  building  was  used  for  private  and  district 
schools  until  the  organization  of  the  old  academj'.  Acting  under  the 
law  passed  in  181 2,  the  electors  of  Potsdam  assembled  in  special  town 
meeting  at  the  academy  on  the  ist  day  of  September,  1813,  and  chose 
Benjamin  Raymond,  Gurdon  Smith  and  Howard  J.  Pierce  as  commis- 
sioners of  common  schools.  At  the  same  time  they  elected  four  in- 
spectors of  common  schools  :  James  Johnson,  Liberty  Knowles,  Thomas 
Swift  and  Sylvester  Bacon.  Since  the  first  division  of  the  town  into 
school  districts  there  have  been  many  changes.  There  are  now  thirty- 
three  districts  in  the  town.  District  No  17  has  the  school  building  on 
Market  street ;  No.  8  in  the  new  building  on  Main  street,  and  No.  30 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Other  schools  will  be  noticed  in  the  ac- 
count of  Norwood. 

The  discussion  of  the  project  of  having  an  academy  in  Potsdam,  stim- 
ulated, doubtless,  by  the  erection  of  the  building  before  mentioned,  by 
Judge  Raymond,  at  last  bore  fruit.  When  it  was  finally  decided  to 
make  the  effort  a  subscription  was  started  and  a  liberal  sum  secured 
during  the  War  of  1 812— 14.  Benjamin  Raymond  subscribed  for  a 
hundred  shares  of  ten  dollars  each,  including  the  building  he  had  al- 
ready erected,  with  the  lot  on  which  it  stood,  and  Liberty  Knowles, 
Asel  Lyman,  Samuel  Pease,  Robert  McChesney,  Benjamin  Burton, 
Anthony  Y.  Elderkin,  Joseph  P.  Reynolds,  William  Smith,  James 
Johnson,  R.  Taylor,  Pierce  Shepard,  Lemuel  Pinney,  John  Burroughs, 
Sewall  Raymond,  David  Parish,  and  Jacob  Redington  each  took  ten 
shares.  Eighteen  others  took  lesser  amounts,  making  in  all  312  shares 
— $3,120.  In  the  month  of  January,  1813,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the 
Legislature  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  but   nothing  was  accomplished 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  487 

at  that  time.  The  incorporation  was  effected  in  i8i6,  with  the  follow- 
ing as  the  trustees :  Benjamin  Raymond,  Liberty  Knowles,  Pierce 
Shepard,  Asel  Lyman,  Joseph  P.  Reynolds,  Sewall  Raj-mond,  Robert 
McChesney,  David  Parish,  Nathan  Ford,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  Roswell 
Hopkins.  Russell  Atwater,  and  Ebenezer  Hulburd.  Benjamin  Ray- 
mond was  the  first  president  of  the  board  and  held  the  office  until 
1 8 19.  He  was  succeeded  by  Liberty  Knowles,  who  held  the  office 
until  his  death  in   1839. 

By  the  act  of  incorporation  the  lands  in  Potsdam  reserved  for  literary 
purposes  were  transferred  to  the   trustees,  with  power  to  lease,  but  not 
to  sell  them.      At  the  first  meeting  of  the  trustees  in  September,  18 16, 
they  directed  the  clerk  to  lease  the  land  in  lots  of  sixty  acres  or  less  for 
a  term   of  fourteen    years,  for  a  peck  of  wheat  per  acre,  after  the  first 
two   years.     But  even  at   this   low   rental  it   was   almost  impossible  to 
find    men  who  would   clear  the   land   under   those  conditions.      At  the 
same  meeting  a  precepter  was   employed  at  $428  a  year,  and  prices  of 
tuition  in  the  several  branches  were  fixed       Nathan  Dixon,  a  graduate 
of  Middlebury  College,  Vermont,  was  the  first  preceptor  ;   he  began  in 
the  fall  of  18 16,  but   remained   only  one  year.      He   and  his   successors 
for  nine  years  taught  in  the  building  erected  and  donated  by  Mr.  Ray- 
mond.     Mr.  Dixon   had  forty- two   students.      After  he  left  the  school 
was  closed  two  years,  when    Levi  S.  Ives  was  employed   and   remained 
two  years.      He  was   succeeded    by  Charles   Orvis,  who    remained   one 
year,  and   was  followed   by  Rev.  Daniel   Banks.      He   was  a  successful 
teacher,  and  under  his  administration  of  about  five   years  the  academy 
acquired  a  high  reputation.      In   April,  1825,  the  Legislature  appropri- 
ated $2,500  to  the  academy,  on  condition    that  a  brick  or  stone  edifice 
should  be  erected  on  ground  owned  by  the  trustees.    In  the  same  month 
the  commissioners  of  highways  were  authorized  to  convey,  and  soon  did 
so,  a  suitable   lot  to  the   trustees   out  of  land    granted    by   the  original 
proprietors   to  the  town    for   public  purposes.     The  trustees  then  pro- 
ceeded  to  erect  a  stone   building   facing  the  public   square,  and  on  the 
site  of  the   present    north  wing  of  the  Normal   School   building.      The 
corner-stone   was  laid  by    Harmony    Lodge   of  Masons,  June  i,  1825. 
The  building  was  of  Potsdam  sandstone,  sixty- eight  by  thirty-six  feet 
in  size,  with    three  stories  and  a  basement,  a  cupola   and   belfry.     The 


488  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

cost  was  $4,000,  the  surplus  over  the  $2,500  given  by  the  State  being 
contributed  by  citizens.  The  building  was  erected  by  Samuel  Partridge, 
under  direction  of  Liberty  Knowles,  John  C.  Smitli,  and  Joseph  P. 
Reynolds,  and  was  finished  the  same  year.  Soon  afterward  the  old 
academy  was  sold  to  the  Presbyter  an  church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Banks  died  in  1827.  and  the  school  for  the  year  was  finished 
by  his  assistant,  Joseph  Hopkins.  In  the  following  year  the  Legislature 
authorized  the  sale  of  the  "  literature  lot,"  the  proceeds  to  be  invested 
in  a  fund,  the  interest  only  of  which  was  to  be  applied  to  the  payment 
of  teachers  ;  this  was  accordingly  done.  In  the  beginning  of  the  same 
year  Asa  Brainerd,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  was  em- 
ployed as  principal,  and  held  the  position  until  the  summer  of  1847, 
nearly  twenty  years.  During  this  long  period  the  school  was  exceed- 
ingly prosperous,  and  in  1835  it  was  designated  by  the  Regents  of  the 
University  as  one  of  the  institutions  to  which  State  aid  should  be  given 
for  the  instruction  of  common  school  teachers.  In  consequence  of 
this  action  the  town  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  an  act,  which  was 
passed,  imposing  on  the  town  a  tax  of  $500  in  1836,  and  the  same  in 
1837,  to  help  in  the  construction  of  another  building.  The  new  struc- 
ture was  erected  in  1836,  near  the  other  and  facing  the  square  from  the 
east,  leaving  the  church  between  the  two  academy  buildings.  This 
building  was  seventy- six  by  thirty- six  feet  and  four  stories  high,  and 
built  of  the  Potsdam  sandstone,  and  cost  $5,200.  The  school  con- 
tinued to  prosper  and  was  considerably  extended,  and  thenceforward 
about  one  hundred  teachers  were  fitted  annually  to  teach  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  In  1847  Ml"-  Brainerd  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by 
William  H.  Parker,  who  remained  two  years,  and  was  followed  by 
William  F.  Bascom.  He  remained  until  1852,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev  E.  W.  Plumb,  D.D.,  who  continued  as  principal  until  1864,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  1855,  when  H.  B  Bucknam  acted  in  the 
position.  George  H  Sweet  served  as  principal  from  1865  to  the  clos- 
ing of  the  academy.  In  1867  the  trustees  conveyed  all  the  property 
to  the  State,  in  trust  for  the  new  Normal  and  Training  School,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1868  the  two  stone  structures  were  removed  to  make  a 
site  for  the  new  building.  The  academy,  as  a  school,  was  removed 
across   the   square  to  the   old    Methodist   church,   and    continued   until 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  489 

April,  1869,  when  the  academic  department  of  the  Normal  School  was 
established  and  the  old  historical  institution  went  out  of  existence. 

STATE    NORMAL   SCHOOL   OF   POTSDAM. 

The  State  Normal  School  at  Albany  was  established  in  1844,  and 
until  1 86 1  it  remained  the  only  school  supported  by  the  State  for  the 
education  of  its  common  school  teachers  In  1861  another  school  of 
like  character  was  established  at  Oswego.  Their  graduates  demon- 
strating that  special  training  for  their  important  work  enabled  them  the 
better  to  perform  it,  a  public  sentiment  was  soon  created  in  favor  of 
the  normal  system.  The  War  of  the  Rebellion  for  a  time  turned  the 
thought  and  energies  of  the  people  in  another  direction,  and  for  four 
years  no  new  normal  school  were  organized.  But  April  7,  1866,  the 
Legislature,  upon  the  recommendation  of  Victor  M.  Rice,  superintendent 
of  public  instruction,  passed  chapter  466,  laws  of  1866,  naming  the 
governor,  lieutenant-governor,  secretary  of  state,  the  comptroller,  the 
state  treasurer,  the  attorney- general,  and  the  superintendent  of  public 
instruction,  as  a  commission  "  to  receive  proposals  in  writing  in  regard 
to  the  establishment  of  normal  and  training  schools  for  the  education 
and  discipline  of  teachers  for  the  common  schools  of  this  State,  from 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  any  county,  from  the  corporate  authorities 
of  any  city  or  village,  from  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  any  college  or 
academy,  and  from  one  or  more  individuals."  The  commission  was 
given  the  power  to  locate  within  the  State  four  additional  normal  schools. 
The  act  provided  for  the  appointment  by  the  state  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  of  a  local  board,  which  should  have  the  immediate 
supervision  and  management  of  any  school  so  located.  The  act  con- 
templated that  these  schools  would  be  deemed  of  such  special  impor- 
tance to  the  place  where  they  might  be  located,  that  dififerent  localities 
would  compete  with  each  other  in  offering  to  supply  the  necessary  site, 
buildings,  furniture,  and  apparatus  for  their  use. 

This  theory  proved  correct,  and  a  lively  competition  was  elicited. 
One  of  the  first  places  to  realize  the  importance  of  such  an  institution 
was  Potsdam.  For  half  a  century  St.  Lawrence  Academy  had  been 
maintained   here,  as   before   described,  and  had  a  name  and  reputation 

62 


490  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

as  broad  as  the  continent.     It  had,  from  its  organization  in    i8i6,  edu- 
cated a  large  number  of  teachers  for  the  common  schools. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1866  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  academy 
passed  a  resolution  tendering  to  the  State  Normal  School  Commission 
the  grounds,  buildings,  library  and  apparatus  belonging  to  that  institu- 
tion for  the  use  of  a  normal  school,  if  located  at  Potsdam.  At  that  time 
General  E.  A.  Merritt  was  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Governor  Fenton. 
He  had  assisted  Superintendent  Rice  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the 
normal  school  bill,  was  quick  to  realize  the  importance  to  any  locality 
of  securing  such  a  school,  was  probably  the  first  to  suggest  that  Pots- 
dam might  secure  one  of  the  four  prizes  permitted  by  the  bill,  and 
labored  zealously  and  indefatigably  until  the  end  was  accomplished. 

Henry  A.  Watkins  and  Charles  O.  Tappan,  president  and  secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  were  among  the  most  active  promoters  of 
this  enterprise,  and  caused  petitions  to  be  circulated  in  the  principal 
towns  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  asking  that  efforts  be  made  to  locate  a 
normal  school  at  Potsdam.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  held  June  19,  1866,  the  board  pledged  the  payment  by  the 
county  of  the  sum  of  $10,000,  to  be  used  in  establishing  said  school  at 
Potsdam,  and  the  village  of  Potsdam,  at  a  special  corporation  meeting, 
pledged  $12,000  more.  It  its  annual  meeting,  November  19,  1866,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  voted  $25,000  for  the  same  purpose.  This  was 
subsequently  modified  so  as  to  rescind  the  former  resolution  of  $10,000, 
leaving  $25,000  as  the  whole  amount  contributed  by  the  county.  Soon 
after  this  action  was  taken  the  Normal  School  Commission  officially 
announced  that  it  would  locate  one  of  the  schools  at  Potsdam  upon  the 
condition  that  the  sum  of  $72,000,  in  addition  to  the  property  donated 
by  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  should  be  raised  to  construct  the  necessary 
buildings,  etc.  The  amount  was  much  larger  than  was  supposed  to  be 
needed,  and  must  be  raised  by  a  fixed  date.  People  in  other  parts  of 
the  county  opposed  the  appropriation  made  by  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  for  a  time  the  success  of  the  project  seemed  in  doubt.  The 
friends  of  the  proposed  school  used  their  utmost  endeavors  to  overcome 
the  arguments  and  efforts  of  its  opponents,  who  many  times  seemed 
likely  to  succeed,  but  at  last  all  opposition  was  defeated.  December 
19,  1866,  at  a  special   town    meeting,    the  citizens  of  Potsdam   nobly 


f^.^  ci^^i..^^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  491 

came  to  the  rescue  and  voted  the  sum  of  $35,000  to  complete  the 
necessary  amount  to  secure  the  school.  The  Presbyterian  church  lot 
was  purchased  for  $10,000,  with  the  academy  lot  and  the  $72,000  which 
had  been  pledged,  as  above  mentioned,  less  the  amount  to  be  paid  for 
the  church  lot,  was  tendered  to  the  Normal  School  Commission  and 
accepted  by  it,  and  the  school  located  at  Potsdam. 

January  23,  1867,  chapter  6  of  the  laws  of  that  year  was  passed, 
which  imposed  taxes  upon  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence,  the  town  of 
Potsdam,  and  the  village  of  Potsdam  to  raise  the  money  donated  by 
them  respectively,  and  created  a  commission,  consisting  of  Bloomfield 
Usher,  T.  Streatfield  Clarkson  2d,  Hiram  H.  Peck,  Henry  Watkins, 
Erasmus  D.  Brooks  and  Charles  Cox,  to  prepare  and  improve  the  lands 
donated,  provide  suitable  buildings  thereon,  and  furnish  proper  appa- 
ratus, books  and  furniture  for  the  school.  Bloomfield  Usher  declined 
to  act  as  a  member  of  the  commission,  and  Charles  O.  Tappan  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  place  by  the  other  commissioners,  by  virtue  of  authority 
given  them  under  the  act.  The  moneys  were  raised  by  tax,  and  turned 
over  to  the  commission  and  expended  by  it  for  the  purposes  mentioned 
in  the  act. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1867,  a  contract  was  entered  into  with 
Joseph  N.  Greene  for  the  construction  of  the  buildings.  On  the  24th 
of  June,  1868,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  imposing  ceremonies  by 
the  F.  and  A.  Masons  of  the  county,  G.  B.  Winslow  acting  as  Grand 
Master  Mason  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in  the  course  of  that  sea- 
son the  buildings  were  erected.  April  27,  1869,  the  school  was  organ- 
ized and  commenced  in  the  buildings  provided  for  it,  with  Malcolm 
McVicar  as  principal.      Dr.  T.   B.  Stowell  came  to  the  school  in  1890. 

Members  of  the  local  board  of  the  State  Normal  School  of  Potsdam 
from  the  date  of  its  location  ;  the  first  since  the  original  board  appointed 
by  Superintendent  V.  M.  Rice,  August  10,  1867: 

Henry  Watkins,  president,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  deceased  ;  Charles  0.  Tappan, 
secretary,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  resigned  January  23,  1878;  *Dr.  Jesse  Reynolds, 
appointed  August  10,  1867 ;  Ebenezer  Fisher,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  deceased ; 
*John  I.  Gilbert,  appointed  August  10,  1867  ;  R.  G.  Pettibone,  appointed  August  10, 
1867,  resigned  July  3,  1890;  Noble  S.  Elderkin,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  resigned 
December  31,  1875;  A.  W.  Deming,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  resigned  August  14, 
1873;  Abraham  X.  Parker,  appointed  August  10,  1867,  resigned  January  12,  1882; 
*Edwin  A.  Merritt,  president,  appointed  August  14,  1873  ;  William  H.  Wallace,  ap- 


492  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

pointed  December  31,  1875,  resigned  May  6,  1878 ;  *G-eorge  Z.  Erwin,  treasurer,  ap- 
pointed January  23,  1878;  William  A.  Poste,  appointed  May  6,  1878,  resigned  July  3, 
1S90  ;  ^Absalom  G.  Gaines,  appointed  June  4,  1879 ;  *John  G.  Mclntyre,  secretary, 
appointed  January  12,  1882;  *George  H.  Sweet,  appointed  July  3,  1890;  William  R. 
Weed,  appointed  July  3,  1890  ;  *John  A.  Yance,  appointed  July  1,  1891. 

Those  marked  with  an  *  are  members  of  the  present  board. 

The  State  Normal  and  Training  School  at  Potsdam  is  a  finely  con- 
structed building.  The  brown  stone  from  the  neighboring  quarry  has 
been  utilized  to  make  a  very  handsome  structure.  It  stands  in  the 
center  of  a  large  block,  and  a  beautiful  campus  covered  with  shade  trees 
stretches  before  it. 

It  is  a  three  story  and  basement  building,  containing  every  appliance 
and  convenience  for  the  instruction  of  the  pupils.  Upon  the  roof  is  a 
cupola  which  contains  a  deep  toned  bell  by  which  the  pupils  are  ad- 
monished as  to  their  hours  for  study,  the  sessions  of  the  school,  bed 
time,  etc.      In  shape  it  is  a  somewhat  modified  T. 

Upon  the  lower  floor  are  the  principal's  office,  the  faculty  room,  re- 
ception room,  janitor's  apartments,  the  offices  of  the  principals  of  the 
priinary  and  intermediate  departments,  and  the  class  rooms  of  the 
training  school.  In  the  body  of  the  T,  on  the  second  floor,  is  the 
assembly  room  of  the  normal  department,  an  ample  and  well  lighted 
hall.  On  this  floor  also  are  many  class  rooms,  the  office  of  the  pre- 
ceptress, and  the  libraries ;  of  these  there  are  two.  the  text  book  and 
the  reference  library.  The  third  floor  contains  the  piano  department, 
the  museum,  and  several  society  class  rooms. 

The  buildings  are  heated  by  steam  and  hot  air,  and  there  is  a  fair 
system  of  ventilation,  but  not  a  thoroughly  satisfactory  one  by  any 
means.  The  basement  is  dry,  ceinented,  and  suitable  for  manual  train- 
ing rooms,  if  such  are  ever  needed.  The  boilers  are  in  a  separate 
building. 

The  extreme  measurements  are:  length  of  front,  232  feet;  depth, 
180  feet.  The  body  of  the  T  is  forty-five  feet  in  width,  while  the  other 
divisions  average  thirty-six  feet. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

The  early  settlers  of  Potsdam  were  religiously  inclined.  Judge  Ray- 
mond, the  pioneer  settler,  conducted    religious  services  in  his  home  on 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  493 

the  Sabbath  for  the  benefit  of  his  neighbors.  The  community,  later 
known  as  the  "Union,"  who  settled  in  the  town  in  1804,  formed  a 
society  in  1 806,  and  later,  in  18 15,  an  organization  was  effected  by 
Bela  Palmer,  which  included  most  of  the  Union  members,  who  were 
of  a  Unitarian  cast,  became  quite  numerous  at  one  time,  and  continued 
its  organization  for  a  number  of  years.  The  congregational  mission- 
ary, Amos  Pettengill.  with  others,  held  services  in  the  settlement  as 
early  as  1806,  which  were  continued  from  time  to  time  and  culminated 
in  the  formation  of  a  society.  A  few  years  later  the  society  was  organ- 
ized into  a  Congregational  church.  A  council  was  called  consisting  of 
Rev.  A.  Pettengill,  of  Champlain  ;  Rev.  A.  Parmele,  of  Malone  ;  Rev. 
E.  Wright,  of  Russell;  J.  Winchester,  of  Madrid,  and  Amasa  Blanchard 
and  Salmon  Gray,  delegates  from  Hopkinton.  The  church  was  duly 
organized  on  June  9,  181 1,  by  the  assistance  of  Rev.  William  Wright 
and  Rev.  James  Johnson,  with  twenty  members.  Rev.  James  John- 
son became  their  first  pastor,  and  was  installed  the  following  spring. 
Regular  services  were  held  in  school-houses,  and  the  church  prospered 
for  a  number  of  years. 

St.  Paul's  CJitirch  Society. — A  Presbyterian  branch  was  formed  Au- 
gust 14,  181 1,  with  Liberty  Knowles,  J.  P.  Reynolds,  and  Azel  Ly- 
man, trustees.  This  society  united  with  the  congregational  body  in 
holding  meetings,  congregating  in  school- houses,  and  often  in  the  Ray- 
mond building,  called  the  old  academy,  that  they  became  known  as 
the  Congregational  Presbyterian  Church.  At  length,  exceptions  hav- 
ing been  taken  at  the  name  St.  Paul's  Church  Society,  and  a  desire  to 
form  a  union  of  the  two  bodies,  when  a  general  meeting  was  called  for 
that  purpose  on  the  16th  of  December,  1820.  After  due  consultation 
as  to  the  benefits  of  a  union,  a  vote  was  taken,  when  the  St.  Paul's 
Society,  being  a  trifle  more  numerous,  the  name  of  Presbyterian  was 
carried  and  adopted  by  both  societies.  Hence  the  First  Presbyterian 
Society  of  Potsdam  dates  its  organization,  and  a  frame  church  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,500.  The  fall  and  winter  of  1826-27  were 
periods  of  unusual  religious  interest,  and  the  membership  of  the  united 
bodies  was  greatly  increased.  In  1853  a  brick  church  was  erected  on 
the  old  grounds  (now  part  of  the  Normal  School)  at  a  cost  of  $10,000. 
In  1868    the   property  was  sold   to  the   commissioners  of  the   Normal 


494  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

School  for  $10,000,  and  in  1867  the  present  beautiful  stone  structure 
was  erected  at  the  intersection  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Elm  streets,  at  a 
cost  of  $37,000.      The  Rev.  George   O.  Phelps  is  their  present  pastor. 

TJie  First  Methodist  Church. — A  station  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Circuit 
was  organized  in  Potsdam  in  November,  1820,  and  an  ancient  record 
states  that  "  Brothers  Powell,  Miles,  Denning  and  Clark  "  joined  on 
trial  on  the  day  of  organization,  and  were  received  into  full  communion 
the  next  spring  There  had  been  Methodist  preaching  here  probably 
ten  years  prior  to  the  above  date.  Josiah  Keyes  and  William  W. 
Randall  were  preachers  on  this  circuit  at  the  time  in  question.  In  1821 
a  small  frame  church  was  erected  which  now  serves  the  village  as 
"Firemen's  Hall,"  on  June  21,  1821,  and  dedicated  before  its  entire 
completion,  on  the  22dday  of  January,  1822.  the  first  church  dedication 
in  town.  Potsdam  Circuit  was  formed  in  1823  with  two  classes,  one 
of  them  being  in  the  village.  This  church  became  an  independent 
station  prior  to  1833,  and  in  1835  ^^^d  130  members — eleven  classes 
which  extended  over  a  considerable  tract.  The  first  church  was  re- 
paired and  enlarged  in  1844.  In  1 859-60  the  present  brick  church 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000.  In  1882,  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  J.  C.  Darling,  its  present  parsonage  was  built,  refurnished, 
etc.,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  and  in  1883  over  $4,000  were  expended  in 
renovating  and  repairing  the  church.  The  present  membership  (1893) 
is  320. 

First  Baptist  Church. — This  church  was  organized  January  9,  1824, 
with  thirteen  members,  viz.  ;  John  Tickenor  and  wife,  Norman  Clin- 
ton and  wife,  Henry  Myers  and  wife,  Charles  Grandy  and  wife,  Silas 
Taft  and  wife,  Josiah  Doolittle,  Phcebe  Collins,  and  Rowena  Fobes. 
The  first  deacons  were  Norman  Clinton  and  Josiah  Doolittle  and  the 
first  pastor,  R.  Batchelor.  The  society  was  feeble  for  a  number  of  years 
and  had  no  house  of  worship  until  1858,  when  a  society  was  incorpo- 
rated and  a  frame  church  erected  on  Elm  street  at  a  cost  of  $5,100. 
This  was  improved  in  1875  at  an  expense  of  $2,500.  Rev.  A.  L. 
Fox  is  the  present  pastor.  The  present  membership  is  168  and  the 
Sunday  school  has  an  average  attendance  of  ninety  pupils;  the  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school  is  F.  F.  Flint.  The  parsonage  on  Elm 
street  was  erected  by  the  society  in  1867. 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  495 

Universalist  Church. — The  earliest  record  we  have  of  the  formation 
of  the  Universalist  Society  was  at  a  meeting  called  January  3,  1824, 
and  was  incorporated  October  2,  1825,  with  James  Whitcomb,  Asher 
Brown,  and  Stewart  Bannister,  trustees.  The  early  efforts  failed  to 
secure  the  means  for  building  a  church  until  1832,  the  meetings  being 
previously  held  in  the  old  academy.  A  committee  was  then  appointed, 
who  in  1835-36  erected  a  small  wooden  church  edifice.  Rev.  Jona- 
than Wallace  was  the  first  pastor,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  William 
H.  Waggoner,  and  he  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Douglass.  The  church  was 
reorganized  January  17,  1852,  with  twenty-four  members,  and  Joseph 
Miller,  Timothy  Bacon,  Solomon  Parmeter  and  John  Lucas,  trustees. 
There  were  several  reorganizations  from  that  time  until  1859,  when  the 
number  of  trustees  was  changed  to  five.  In  1874  there  was  a  marked 
revival  of  interest,  and  twenty-three  new  members  were  added  to  the 
church.  In  ^^'/6-'/J  an  elegant  and  substantial  edifice  was  erected  on 
the  site  of  the  old  one,  built  of  Potsdam  sandstone,  forty- five  by  sixty- 
five  feet  in  size,  and  cost  about  $13,000,  aside  from  the  ground.  Since 
the  reorganization  of  ihe  church  in  1852  the  pastors  have  been  U.  M. 
Fish,  E.  Fisher,  M.  Goodrich,  Frank  M.  Hicks,  Moses  Marston,  E. 
Hathaway,  A.  U.  Hutchins,  O.  A.  Rounds,  E.  J.  ChafTee,  Francis  E. 
Webster,  and  the  present  pastor,  W.  O.  Tuttle.  The  present  Board 
of  Trustees  are  General  E.  A.  Merritt,  William  S.  Brown,  Merrill 
Hosmer,  Dr.  Oliver  Bliss,  and   Chapin  W.   Hazelton. 

Trinity  Church  {^Episcopal) — As  early  as  18 16  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Nash,  while  on  his  missionary  tour  through  the  county,  visited  Pots- 
dam. In  June,  18 18,  Rev.  Amos  G.  Baldwin,  who  had  the  Waddington 
and  Ogdensburg  parishes  in  charge,  made  a  tour  through  the  several 
towns  in  the  county  and  visited  Potsdam.  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Hobart, 
bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  made  a  visit  to  Potsdam  in  Au- 
gust of  the  same  year,  but  nothing  resulted  in  regard  to  establishing 
services  there.  For  many  years  after  the  church  people  were  de- 
pendent for  ministration  on  the  missionaries  at  Waddington,  held  in  the 
old  academy.  In  the  year  1831,  July  15,  Rev.  Aaron  Humphrey 
officiated  at  Potsdam.  Again  on  the  21st  of  May,  1833,  he  held  serv- 
ices, examined  candidates,  and  baptized  one  adult.  On  the  following 
Sunday  the  Rt.   Rev.  Dr.  Onderdonk,  Bishop  of  New  York,  held  serv- 


496 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


ices  in  the  Methodist  church  and  administered  the  rite  of  confirmation 
to  eleven  candidates.  A  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Richard  Bury, 
of  Ogdensburg,  on  the  iith  ot  November,  1834,  who  entered  upon  his 
labors  soon  after,  and  became  the  first  rector  of  the  parish.  On  the 
23d  of  March,  1835,  ^  parish  was  organized  under  the  name  of  "  Trinity 
Church,"  (Potsdam),  and  articles  of  incorporation  were  duly  executed. 


with  John  C.  and  Augustus  Clarkson,  wardens  ;  David  L.  Clarkson, 
Zenas  Clark,  Theodore  Clark,  Myron  C.  Munson,  Noble  S.  Elderkin, 
Samuel  Partridge,  Frederick  Miller,  jr..  and  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  vestry- 
men. The  southerly  half  of  Fall  Island  was  offered  by  the  proprietor 
for  a  site  for  a  church  ;  the  w'ork  was  commenced  and  the  corner-stone 
laid  in  June  of  1835.  The  church  was  completed  and  consecrated  on 
the  morning  of  the  7th  of  August,  1836,  by  Bishop  Onderdonk,  and 
on   the  afternoon    of  the  same  day  ten  persons   were   confirmed.     The 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  497 

edifice  and  furnishing  cost  $5,880;  all  of  this  sum,  except  $1,500  do- 
nated by  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  after  which  the  plan  was  taken, 
was  raised  in  the  parish.  In  1858  the  interior  of  the  church  was  re- 
modeled at  a  cost  of  $5,698.  The  sum  of  $3,000  was  bequeathed  to 
the  parish  by  the  late  Augustus  L  Clarkson.  The  chapel  erected  in 
1884  was  provided  for  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Clarkson  as  a  memorial  to 
her  late  husband,  Thomas  S.  Clarkson.  In  February,  1886,  the  church 
was  reconsecrated  by  Bishop  Dr.  C.  Doan,  after  the  erection  of  a  new 
front  to  the  structure.  This  work  was  the  gift  of  Thomas  S.  Clarkson 
and  his  sister.  The  tower  is  a  memorial  to  their  parents.  The  nave 
window,  "  Christ  the  Light  of  the  World,"  was  a  gift  of  Mrs.  George 
H.  Allan,  of  New  York,  as  a  memorial  to  her  parents,  the  late  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  N.   Hopkins. 

Catholic  Apostolic  Church. — There  are  only  a  very  few  organizations 
of  the  peculiar  character  of  this  one  in  the  United  States.  The  sect 
originated  in  Scotland  about  1830,  spread  to  England,  and  in  a  {qv^ 
years  men  were  named  for  office  of  apostle,  as  was  believed  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  speaking  through  prophets.  In  time  twelve  such  apostles 
were  selected,  and  under  their  guidance  the  church  has  gradually  in- 
creased, especially  in  the  old  countries.  The  beginning  of  the  church 
in  Potsdam  was  in  1837,  when  two  evangelists  named  Card  and  Cuth- 
bert  came  at  the  invitation  of  David  Lewis  and  began  preaching.  Since 
that  time  various  persons  have  conducted  the  peculiar  service,  which  in 
1893  is  imder  charge  of  W.  F.  G.  Sealy.      The  membership  is  small. 

Roman  Catholic  Church. — The  first  mass  said  in  Potsdam  was  cele 
brated  in  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Burk  in  1832  by  Father  Salmon,  to  about 
a  dozen  people.  In  1841  there  were  twenty-five  families  in  that  dis- 
trict, where  Father  Mackey,  of  Ogdensburg,  said  mass  for  a  few  months. 
He  purchased  a  large  dwelling  house,  where  he  said  mass  three  or  four 
times  a  year  to  about  fifty  persons.  He  blessed  the  house  and  gave  it 
the  title  of  St.  Mary's.  In  1857  Potsdam  became  an  independent  parish 
with  Father  Philip  Keveny  as  its  first  pastor.  Father  McGlinn  soon 
succeeded  him,  and  erected  a  church  in  the  place  of  the  old  house. 
Bishop  McCloskey  in  1859  dedicated  the  new  building  capable  of  hold- 
ing 600  persons. 

63 


498  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  1879  the  Catholic  population  in  the  parish  numbered  1,350  souls. 
Bishop  Wadhams  twice  visited  the  parish  and  confirmed  205  persons. 
The  Catholic  spirit  of  the  parish  is  very  good  and  has  never  lost  its  tone 
from  the  beginning. 

A  Free-will  Baptist  Church  was  formed  at  West  Potsdam  July  4, 
1 841,  by  Elder  D.  F.  Willis,  of  thirty  members.  This  church  erected 
a  house  of  worship,  in  connection  with  the  M.  E.  society,  in  1842,  at  a 
cost  of  $600,  which  was  dedicated  October  2  of  the  same  year.  The 
society  was  incorporated  June  29,  1843,  with  G.  S.  Hathaway,  Horace 
Hathaway  and  B.  Lane,  trustees. 

THE   VILLAGE   OF   NORWOOD. 

The  early  settlement  of  Raquetteville,  which  is  now  the  thriving  vil- 
lage of  Norwood,  has  already  been  described.  It  is  situated  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  town  of  Potsdam,  on  the  Raquette  River,  at 
the  junction  of  what  was  formerly  the  Northern  Railroad  (afterwards 
the  Vermont  Central)  and  the  Rome,  Watertown  &  Ogdensburg  Rail- 
road. 

The  building  of  the  Northern  Railroad,  which  ran  through  the  north- 
ern part  of  this  town,  between  1847  and  1850  (see  page  177)  marked 
a  new  era  in  this  section.  The  railroad  at  one  point  crossed  the 
Raquette  River  on  the  farm  of  Benjamin  G.  Baldwin,  and  there  Mr. 
Baldwin  donated  to  the  company  fifteen  acres  of  land  with  a  right  of 
way  across  his  farm.  From  this  action  a  station  was  founded.  In  1850 
Mr.  Baldwin  built  a  tavern,  which  was  burned  in  March  of  the  next 
year,,  and  in  185 1  two  other  taverns  and  several  dwellings  were  erected. 
In  1852  a  substantial  dam,  vi'ith  a  fall  of  eight  feet,  was  constructed 
across  the  river,  affording  a  valuable  water  power.  A  highway  bridge 
was  built  a  little  below  the  dam.  The  lands  were  laid  out  into  village 
lots  and  streets,  houses  multiplied  and  mills  were  erected.  A  post- office 
having  been  established  in  January,  1847,  ^h^  village  was  incorporated 
in  1872,  and  the  name  changed  to  Potsdam  Junction;  also,  in  1875,  to 
Norwood. 

In  1878  there  were  in  the  place  one  general  store,  four  dry  goods 
stores,  seven  groceries,  two  of  which  were  large  ones,  two  hardware 
stores,  two   drug   stores,   one  jewelry   store,   one   furniture   store,  and 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  499 

numerous  other  minor  places  of  business  and  shops.  There  was  also  a 
steam  grist  mill  of  H.  S.  Martin  &  Son,  which  was  started  in  1874,  and 
now  discontinued ;  a  hub  factory  operated  by  the  same  firm  ;  the  flour- 
ing mill  of  Hiram  Rodee,  a  substantial  stone  structure  with  five  run  of 
stone,  run  by  water,  built  by  parties  in  Potsdam  village,  has  since  been 
burned;  the  Davis  threshing  machine  factory,  now  discontinued; 
Pearson's  broom  handle  and  hoop  factory,  recently  burned  ;  Beam  & 
Waldron's  tannery,  built  in  1877,  now  discontinued,  and  the  Norwood 
Lumber  Company. 

This  destructive  fire  alluded  to  occurred  in  1871,  which  also  destroyed 
a  large  portion  of  the  business  establishments  of  the  village  on  the 
main  street,  which  are  now  covered  almost  wholly  by  handsome  brick 
structures.  There  are  now  for  fighting  fire  three  good  hand  engines, 
with  two  organized  fire  companies,  hose  carts  and  other  equipments. 
Music  Hall  was  erected  in  1889  b}'-  the  village  and  the  town  sharing 
equally  in  the  expense.  It  is  an  attractive  brick  structure,  which  cost 
$6,500,  and  is  used  for  public  meetings  and  entertainments;  for  the 
latter  purpose  a  stage  and  scenery  were  fitted  up.  The  village  and  a 
small  part  of  the  town  of  Norfolk  are  embraced  in  the  Union  School 
District  No.  i.  It  was  organized  as  a  graded  school  in  the  spring  of 
1870,  the  school  comprising  four  grades,  academic,  senior,  junior  and 
primary.  The  school  building  in  use  at  the  time  the  graded  school  was 
established  was  erected  eight  years  earlier.  This  was  supplanted  in 
1884  by  a  new  brick  structure  which  cost  with  its  furnishings  about 
$15,000.  Seven  teachers,  including  one  for  music,  are  now  employed 
in  the  school,  with  E.  F.  McDonald  as  principal.  The  present  officers 
of  the  village  (1893)  are  as  follows  :  Henry  Ashley,  president ;  trustees, 
M.  F.  Bartlett,  William  Smith,  T.  N.  Murphy  ;  treasurer,  George  F. 
Clark;   collector,  E.  I.  Wait;   clerk,  George  Harris. 

The  manufacturing  operations  of  Norwood  are  now  almost  wholly 
under  control  of  the  Norwood  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was 
organized  in  1875.  The  officers  are  L.  R.  Ashley,  president;  H.  H. 
Day,  superintendent;  I.  B.  Hosley,  managing  trustee  and  superintend- 
ent ;  William  McEchron  and  F.  L.  Day,  the  last  two  men  being  of 
Glens  Falls.  They  operate  what  was  formerly  the  Reynolds  saw  mill, 
built  many  years  ago  by  Amos  Bicknell;  a  structure  built  at  the  same 


500  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

time  for  a  starch  factory,  and  afterwards  changed  to  a  shingle  mill  and 
a  door  and  sash  factory  ;  the  mill  originally  built  by  James  Morgan  & 
Co.,  which  passed  through  several  ownerships  to  Lovelace  &  Fonda, 
who  erected  a  steam  mill  and  transferred  the  whole  to  the  Norwood 
Lumber  Company.  All  of  these  various  properties  are  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  company,  which  have  been  extensively  enlarged  and  im- 
proved. Their  product  consists  of  spruce  and  pine  lumber,  which  is 
manufactured  and  sold,  box  shooks,  butter  tubs,  lath,  shingles,  doors 
and  sash,  etc.     The  capital  of  the  company  is  $8o,000. 

State  Bank  of  Norwood. — This  institution  was  organized  in  1887, 
with  a  capital  of  $25,000  paid  up.  The  officers  from  the  beginning 
have  been  as  follows:  president,  C.  P.  Vedder ;  vice-president,  L.  R. 
Ashley ;  cashier,  F.  L.  Smith.  The  bank  has  been  prosperous  and 
now  has  a  surplus  of  about  $6,000,  and  average  deposits  of  $125,000. 

Newspaper. —  TJie  Norwood  News  was  started  in  1877  ^y  E.  D. 
Parker,  who  conducted  it  for  about  five  years,  when  it  was  purchased 
by  F.  R.  Smith  and  F.  R.  Martin.  The  paper  is  Republican  in  politics, 
is  ably  edited,  and  has  a  large  circulation. 

Cyclone. — A  destructive  wind  storm  passed  over  Norwood,  coming 
from  the  southwest,  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  August  12, 
1885.  Some  twenty  minutes  previous  to  its  arrival,  a  dark  blue  cloud 
was  noticed  coming  up  from  the  horizon,  which  was  preceded  by  an 
ominous  calm  that  settled  over  every  visible  thing.  The  trees  stood 
motionless,  birds  ceased  chirping,  men  and  women  were  silently  hurry- 
ing for  places  of  shelter,  and  all  seemed  to  have  a  premonition  of  danger 
at  hand.  As  the  cloud  drew  nearer,  a  roaring,  hissing  sound  was 
plainly  heard  at  a  distance  of  five  or  six  miles,  which  increased  to  a 
wild  crash  as  it  struck.  Hailstones  as  large  as  walnuts  added  to  the 
din,  while  the  air  was  filled  with  all  kinds  of  missiles,  such  as  boards, 
shingles,  hen-coops  and  dirt.  Persons  who  were  caught  out  were 
dashed  to  the  ground  and  pummeled  along  before  the  wind  like  a  foot- 
ball. Several  houses  were  demolished,  while  some  others  were  tossed 
about  like  toys.  Trees  were  wrenched  from  the  ground  and  scattered 
in  all  directions,  houses  unroofed,  chimneys  blown  off,  and  about  every 
window  light  exposed  to  the  storm  in  the  village  was  broken.  The 
railroad  bridge,  a  truss  structure  some  250  feet  long,  was  lifted  from  its 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  501 

foundation,  wrenching  it  from  the  bed  ties,  and  was  carried  some  thirty 
or  forty  feet  down  stream  and  dropped  into  the  river.  Two  persons 
were  killed  outright,  Mrs.  David  Fitzgibbons  and  Michael  McMartin, 
by  falling  timbers  of  a  house  and  barn,  and  several  others  were  more  or 
less  badly  injured.  It  was  estimated  that  $150,000  damage  was  done 
in  Norwood  and  vicinity. 

Methodist  Church. — In  the  year  1855  the  Methodist  Church  at  Nor- 
wood was  organized,  though  services  had  occasionally  been  held  here 
in  school-houses  previous  to  that  date.  Various  pastors  served  the 
church  until  i86r,  when  they  joined  with  the  Congregationalists  in 
building  a  church.  The  two  congregations  remained  in  that  connection 
for  six  years,  when  the  Methodists  withdrew  according  to  the  original 
agreement,  and  with  the  money  received  from  the  Congregationalists, 
and  with  a  liberal  subscription  from  their  people,  erected  the  present 
house  of  worship,  a  substantial  brick  building.  The  society  a  few  years 
later  built  a  parsonage.  The  church  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  and 
is  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  John  W.  Simpson,  who  is  also 
pastor  of  a  small  congregation  at  Knapp's  Station.  The  membership 
is  138,  and  the  trustees  as  follows:  Harris  Wilbur,  George  W.  Drew, 
H.  L.  Collins,  and  W.  H.  Wells. 

First  Co7igregational  Church  of  Norwood. — This  church  was  organ- 
ized March  4,  1858,  with  nineteen  members,  also  with  Norman  Ashley, 
Robert  McGill,  and  A.  T.  Holbrook  as  trustees,  and  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  E.  W.  Plumb,  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  who 
preached  about  three  years.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1861 
at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  and  was  dedicated  February  13,  1 861,  in  connection 
with  the  Methodists.  In  1868  the  society  bought  the  interest  of  the 
Methodists,  and  repaired  the  present  house  of  worship  at  a  cost  of  $1,200. 
The  deacons  of  this  church  are  O.  H.  Hale  and  George  F.  Clark  ;  the 
trustees,  S.  D.  Leonard,  George  F.  Clark  and  George  Harris 

St.  Andrew'' s  Missioji  [Episcopal). — This  mission  was  formed  Febru- 
ary 7,  1874.  Services  were  held  for  a  time  in  the  Congregational 
church  on  the  first  and  third  Sundays  of  the  month.  Since  May,  1892, 
Rev.  E.  R.  Earle  has  been  the  pastor.  A  pretty  brick  church  has  been 
in  process  of  construction  a  number  of  years  and  is  just  finished  in  1892- 
93;  its  cost  is  about  $5,000.  The  warden  is  M.  Valley;  treasurer,  J. 
A.  Valley ;  clerk,  F.  G.  Partridge. 


502  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Church  of  Visitation. — This  Catholic  church  was  founded  about  the 
year  1878,  and  is  an  offshoot  from  the  church  in  Potsdam.  Tlie  first 
attendant  pastor  was  Father  Walsh,  and  the  first  resident  priest  is 
Father  John  Fitzgerald,  who  is  at  present  over  the  church.  Under 
his  administration  the  land  and  property  has  been  acquired.  There  are 
about  ninety- eight  families  in  the  church. 

Besides  these  churches  in  the  villages  of  Potsdam  and  Norwood  there 
is  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  organization  which  branched  from  the  church 
of  that  section  in  the  town  of  Madrid  in  1852  and  built  a  church  edifice 
in  the  following  year,  about  two  miles  northwesterly  from  Norwood. 
Services  have  been  maintained  most  of  the  time  since. 

Buck's  Bridge. — This  is  a  small  hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town  on  the  Grass  River,  and  on  the  road  leading  from  Madrid  to  Can- 
ton. The  place  derives  its  name  from  Isaac  Buck,  of  Shoreham,  Vt., 
who  settled  here  about  1807.  In  1809  he  built  a  saw  mill,  cleared  a 
tract  of  land,  and  about  the  same  time  opened  a  store.  He  traded 
some  years,  and  from  1838  to  1848  Orrin  Buck  had  a  store  Other 
former  merchants  were  W.  H.  Wilcox,  A.  A.  Simmons,  and  in  1867 
Franklin  Castle  had  a  small  store  which  was  purchased  in  the  next  year 
by  A.  G.  Buck,  who  has  carried  on  the  business  ever  since,  and  is  now 
postmaster  also.  The  old  saw  mill  that  has  passed  through  the  hands 
of  various  owners  is  now  operated  by  James  Spears,  who  purchased  the 
property  about  two  years  ago. 

In  the  year  1837  a  separate  Methodist  charge  was  formed  from  the 
Canton  Circuit,  one  of  the  classes  being  at  Buck's  Bridge.  There  had 
been  preaching,  however,  at  this  place  in  still  earlier  years.  A  frame 
church  was  erected  about  the  same  time,  and  has  in  later  years  been 
extensively  repaired.  The  membership  at  the  present  time  is  about 
sixty,  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  R.  Kay. 

A  house  of  worship  was  built  at  Buck's   Bridge  for  the  Second  Ad 
ventists  in  1856,  and  preaching  was  kept  up  for  a  number  of  years  with 
considerable  regularity;   but  there  is  no  pastor  at  the  present  time  and 
the  membership  is  very  small. 

West  Potsdam. — This  hamlet,  formerly  known  as  "  Smith's  Corners," 
is  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town,  and  received  its  former  name 
from  Gurdon  Smith,  the  first  settler.     When  the  post-of?ice  was  estab- 


THE  TOWN  OF  POTSDAM.  503 

Hshed  it  was  given  the  name  of  West  Potsdam.  Philander  Simmons  is 
the  present  postmaster,  and  has  kept  a  store  and  shoe  shop  there  for 
nearly  forty  years.  The  first  mercantile  business  at  this  point  was  car- 
ried on  by  A.  M.  &  O.  N.  Skeels,  beginning  nearly  or  quite  sixty  years 
ago.  Nathan  Crary  then  had  a  store  a  few  years  in  connection  with  a 
law  office  ;  he  closed  out  and  went  to  Potsdam.  There  is  no  manufac- 
turing here  except  butter  and  cheese,  in  which  William  H.  and  Au- 
gustus Lewis  are  engaged. 

A  small  church  was  built  at  West  Potsdam  for  the  use  of  the  Meth- 
odists and  Free- Will  Baptists  in  union  in  the  year  1842.  The  Methodist 
Society  was  formed  there  in  1846,  with  John  Wellwood,  Erastus 
Robbins  and  William  S.  Horr,  trustees.  The  Free  Will  Baptist  Society 
was  formed  in  1841  b}-  Elder  D.  F.  Willis  and  thirty  members.  The 
society  was  incorporated  June  29,  1843,  with  G.  S  Hathaway,  Horace 
Hathaway  and  B  Lane,  trustees.  A  Congregational  church  in  West 
Potsdam  was  incorporated  July  8,  1842,  with  David  Barnum,  B.  Hem- 
ingway and  Henry  Dayton,  trustees.  About  the  year  1857  the  church 
edifice  which  this  society  had  erected  was  transferred  to  the  Methodist 
Society  (above  described),  and  the  old  church  built  b\'  the  Methodists 
and  Free- Will  Baptists  was  abandoned.  The  present  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  church  here  is  Rev.  Robert  Kay  and  the  membership  is 
small. 

The  early  settlement  of  what  has  been  known  as  Yaleville  has  been 
described.  The  principal  business  there  at  the  present  time  is  the  grist 
mill  operated  by  David  Clark  and  owned  by  O.  E.  Martin.  Mr.  Martin 
has  also  established  there  a  pulp  mill,  which  is  located  on  the  Norfolk 
side  of  the  river  (see  Norfolk). 


504  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB-ORGANIZED  IN  1806. 

DE  KALB,  the  eighth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature^ 
passed  February  21,  1806.  It  was  one  of  the  original  ten  town- 
ships, No.  7,  often  miles  square,  and  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Oswegatchie. 

The  act  creating  this  town  designated  "  the  Cooper  Hotel  in  said 
town  "  as  the  place  for  holding  the  first  town  meeting,  and  there  the 
following  officers  were  elected  on  the  i8th  day  of  March,  1806:  super- 
visor, Isaac  Stacy  ;  town  clerk,  Amos  Comly  ;  assessors,  James  Burnett, 
John  Seeley,  Thomas  Benedict ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Potter 
Gofif,  Timothy  Utley,  Elias  Alexander  ;  overseers  of  the  poor,  Eseck 
Whipple,  Timothy  Utley  ;  constable  and  collector,  Elijah  Farr.  These 
officers  were  sworn  in  before  James  Cooper,  justice  of  the  peace. 

The  limits  of  the  town  have  twice  been  curtailed  :  first,  in  1825,  when 
part  of  De  Peyster  was  taken  from  it,  and  again  in  1830,  when  a  strip 
one  mile  wide  and  six  long,  in  the  southeastern  corner,  was  annexed  to 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Hermon.  The  town  now  lies  toward  the  cen- 
tral part  of  the  county,  with  De  Peyster  on  the  north.  Canton  on  the 
east,  Hermon  on  the  south,  and  Macomb  and  Gouverneur  on  the  west. 
The  town  was  named  from  the  celebrated  Baron  De  Kalb,  a  native  of 
Alsace,  Germany,  formerly  a  province  ceded  to  France.  He  came  out 
with  Lafayette  in  1777,  and  performed  important  service  under  General 
Washington  in  our  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  killed  in  a  battle  near 
Camden  in  1780,  where  a  monument  has  been  raised  to  his  memory. 
The  town  contains  49,657  acres;  its  surface,  while  not  hilly,  is  much 
broken  by  ridges  of  gneiss  and  white  limestone.  The  soil  is  fertile  and 
generally  under  good  cultivation,  and  the  dairying  interests  of  later 
years  are  large  and  prosperous.  The  Oswegatchie  River  flows  in  a 
diagonal  course  nearly  through  the  center  of  the  town  ;  Beaver  Creek 
forms  the  boundary  between   De   Kalb   and   De   Peyster;    Harrison's 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB.  505 

Creek  flows  across  the  southeastern  corner,  and  there  are  other  small 
streams.  Lead  ore  exists  in  the  town  and  some  mining  has  been  pros- 
ecuted in  the  southeastern  part  in  past  years.  Pyrites  and  barytes  are 
found  which  possess  value  as  a  product,  and  near  Richville  are  now  ex- 
tensive lime  manufactories. 

The  territory  of  De  Kalb  was  originally  owned  by  Samuel  Ogden, 
and  by  him  was  sold  to  Judge  William  Cooper,  father  of  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper,  the  distinguished  author,  of  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.  In 
May,  1803,  Judge  Cooper,  accompanied  by  thirty- four  persons,  mostly 
from  the  towns  of  Cooperstown  and  Richfield,  in  Otsego  county,  started 
to  form  a  settlement  on  his  purchase.  A  number  of  the  party,  with 
two  wagons  and  spans  of  horses  and  a  cart  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen, 
proceeded  by  way  of  the  Black  River  country  and  the  old  State  road 
to  the  clearing  of  Abram  Vrooman,  near  the  site  of  the  little  village  of 
Oxbow.  There  they  found  the  roads  in  such  a  condition  that  it  was 
necessary  to  build  boats  for  a  part  of  their  loads,  and  two  canoes  were 
constructed  from  logs,  under  direction  of  Jehiel  Dimick  ;  these  were 
lashed  together  and  loaded  with  part  of  the  freight.  This  party  con- 
sisted of  the  following :  William  Cooper,  the  proprietor,  Salmon  Rich, 
Isaac  Stacy,  Eseck  Whipple,  Richard  Merrill,  Elisha  Cook,  William 
Brown,  Gardner  Brown,  William  Stone,  Asa  Ransom,  Timothy  and 
Elijah  Utley,  Abner  Wright,  Andrew  McCollom,  Asa  Ransom,  jr., 
James  and  Elijah  Farr,  and  the  wife  and  sister- in  law  of  the  latter, 
Joseph  and  William  Woodhouse,  Dr.  Robert  Campbell,  Ralph  R.  Bell, 
wife,  sister  and  daughter,  Elijah  Stockwell,  Jehiel  Dimick,  John  Hew- 
lett, and  William  Sloan.  Of  these,  Dimick,  Rich,  Bell  and  Hewlett 
came  down  the  Oswegatchie  River  with  the  load,  while  the  others  came 
along  the  road  towards  Ogdensburg.  Their  first  night  was  passed  in  a 
deserted  shanty  five  miles  from  Oxbow,  where  they  narrowly  escaped 
being  crushed  by  a  falling  tree  which  they  had  fired  to  keep  off"  mos- 
quitos.  On  the  second  night  they  reached  Bristol's  tavern,  half  a  mile 
north  of  the  Corners,  in  the  present  town  of  De  Peyster.  There  the 
women  were  left  while  the  men  cleared  a  road  and  bridged  Beaver 
Creek  in  order  to  reach  their  future  homes.  This  was  accomplished  in 
eight  days,  the  distance  being  seven  or  eight  miles,  and  the  settlement 

was  made  on  the  banks  of  the  Oswegatchie,  just  above  Cooper's  Falls. 
64 


506  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Alexander  McCollom,  Peter  Gofif  and  Stephen  Cook,  of  the  original 
party,  went  in  boats  up  the  Mohawk  River  with  goods  which  Judge 
Cooper  had  purchased  in  Albany  with  which  to  open  a  store,  and  they 
reached  their  destination  by  way  of  Oneida  Lake,  Lake  Ontario,  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  the  Oswegatchie,  arriving  with  others  of  the  party  on 
the  site  of  De  Kalb  village  June  12,  1803.  The  usual  custom  of  putting 
up  log  houses  was  begun,  and  the  first  night  was  passed  within  the 
walls  of  one  without  a  roof.  On  the  second  day  another  house  was 
built,  and  on  the  third  a  building  for  the  store,  all  roofed  with  bark  or 
boughs.  Gofif,  Campbell  and  Andrew  McCollom  were  surveyors,  and 
soon  laid  out  several  farms.  Salmon  Rich  took  up  1 1,850  acres  in  the 
southern  corner  of  the  town  ;  Mr.  Farr  a  large  tract  in  the  eastern  part, 
and  Stacy  another  tract  in  the  northern  part.  A  large  part  of  these 
lands  afterwards  reverted  to  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Cooper.  Among  the 
names  in  the  foregoing  list  of  pioneers  will  be  found  many  of  persons 
and  their  descendants  who  in  after  years  and  even  to  the  present  day 
have  been  prominent  in  the  county  in  various  ways. 

While  some  of  the  settlers  proceeded  with  their  clearings,  others,  in 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Cooper,  made  preparations  by  getting  out 
timber,  digging  and  blasting  a  canal,  etc.,  for  building  a  mill  at  the 
falls.  This  place  has  ever  since  been  known  as  "  Cooper's  Falls." 
William  Brown  sowed  two  acres  of  winter  wheat,  and  in  the  year  1803 
the  first  saw  mill  was  built.  The  entire  town  was  afterwards  surveyed 
into  lots,  furnishing  a  basis  for  all  subsequent  titles. 

Three  of  the  families  mentioned  and  most  of  the  men  of  the  first  party 
remained  in  the  settlement  during  the  first  winter,  and  in  the  spring  the 
families  of  Salmon  Rich,  Isaac  Stacy,  James  Farr,  Jonathan  Haskins, 
James  and  Richard  Merrill,  Timothy  Utley,  and  Sackett  Dodge  came  in, 
and  also  Dr.  J.  Seeley,  Barton  Carver,  Seth  Alexander  (the  man  that  was 
drafted  in  the  summer  of  1812,  see  anecdote,  page  140)  and  Elias  Alexan- 
der, Elijah  Pooler,  James  Burnett,  Nathaniel  Holt,  James  Cooper  (a  brother 
of  the  proprietor),  Elisha  Griffin,  and  others.  The  year  1805  saw  the 
arrival  of  Philo  Lord,  Thomas  B.  Benedict,  Horatio  Johnson,  Obadiah 
Johnson,  Jacob  Preston,  William  Cleghorn,  Daniel  Smith  and  his  six 
sons  (Harvey,  John,  Nathaniel,  Daniel,  Phineas  and  Richard),  the  latter 
family  from  Canada,  and  Solomon  Pratt,  and  probably  others. 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB.  507 

The  following  list  of  jurors  of  the  town  in  i8o6  adds  a  few  to  the 
foregoing  names  of  residents,  and  is  of  interest  in  this  connection  : 
Joseph  Anderson,  Elias  Alexander,  Seth  Alexander,  Ichabod  Arnold, 
Isaac  Burnham,  Thomas  S.  Benedict  (then  a  merchant),  James  Burnett, 
Amos  Comly,  James  Farr,  James  Farr,  jr.,  Elisha  Griffin,  Potter  Goff, 
Nathaniel  Holt  (a  shoemaker),  Levi  Holt,  Jonathan  Haskins,  Horatio 
G.  Johnson,  Obadiah  Johnson,  Israel  Porter,  Solomon  Pratt  (a  black- 
smith), Solomon  Rich,  Isaac  Stacy,  Henry  Smith,  Nathaniel  Smith, 
Timothy  Utley,  Abner  Wright,  Joseph  Woodhouse  (a  carpenter),  Will- 
iam Woodhouse  and  Joshua  Sweet. 

One  more  list  comprising  fifty-four  names  is  worthy  of  preservation 
here,  consisting  of  the  electors  of  the  town  (though  it  then  embraced  a 
part  of  De  Peyster)  in  December,  1807,  all  of  whom  were  heads  of  fam- 
ilies excepting  Nathaniel  Holt ;  they  are  as  follows  :  Joseph  Anderson, 
Ichabod  Arnold,  Elias  Alexander,  Setii  Alexander,  Daniel  Barker, 
Ralph  R.  Bell,  Mansfield  Bristol,  Truman  Bristol,  James  Burnett,  Isaac 
Burnham,  Barton  Carver,  Abraham  Cole,  Elisha  Cook,  James  Cooper, 
William  Cleghorn,  Abel  Cook,  David  Day,  James  Farr,  Elisha  Farr, 
Joseph  Fisk,  Ephraim  Fisk,  Matthew  Grover,  Elisha  Griffin,  Potter 
Goff,  Russell  Goff,  Nathaniel  Holt,  Levi  Holt,  Philo  Hurlbut,  John 
Jackson,  David  Judson,  Philo  Lord,  Abial  Lyon  (chairmaker),  Richard 
Merrill,  James  Merrill,  Solomon  Pratt,  Jacob  Preston,  Samuel  Phelps, 
Solomon  Rich,  Salmon  Rich,  Joseph  Rounds,  William  Sloan,  Nathaniel 
Smith,  Joshua  Sweet,  John  Seeley,  M.D.,  Isaac  Stacy,  Elijah  Stock- 
well,  Marvel  Thair,  Josiah  Thornton,  Samuel  Thatcher,  Timothy  Utley, 
William  Van  Booscirk,  William  Woodhouse,  Abner  Wright,  Eseck 
Whipple, 

In  the  spring  of  1804  Mr.  Cooper  began  the  erection  of  that  great 
necessity  to  the  pioneer,  a  grist  mill,  under  direction  of  three  brothers 
named  Jackson — Cyrus,  Asahel  and  Asa.  The  latter  was  severely  in- 
jured during  the  work  by  falling  on  his  head,  and  it  is  said  that  Dr. 
John  Seeley  performed  on  him  .  the  operation  of  trephining  with  no 
other  instrument  than  a  steel  thimble,  which  he  fashioned  into  an 
annular  saw  and  fitted  to  a  handle.  Further  notice  of  the  hamlet  at  the 
Falls  is  given  a  little  further  on. 


508  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Aside  from  Mr.  Cooper,  probably  Thomas  B.  Benedict  was  the  first 
merchant  in  the  town,  as  he  was  granted  a  license  for  that  purpose  in 
1806,  and  WilHam  Cleghorn  received  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern  in  the 
same  year.  To  these  were  added  licenses  to  Solomon  Pratt  and  Elijah 
Utley  in  the  year  1807.  In  1808  John  Ross  began  working  as  a  cooper 
in  the  town,  and  Peter  Thatcher  started  a  chair  shop  at  De  Kalb  vil- 
lage, and  Abner  Wright  a  wagon  shop.  These  were  the  first  in  the 
town.  In  the  next  year  tavern  licenses  were  granted  to  Jonathan  Has- 
kins  and  Solomon  Rich.  A  tannery  was  in  operation  in  18 14  by  Gideon 
Townsley,  who  was  then  agent  for  the  lands  of  the  Daubeny  and  Wad- 
dell  estates.  He  wrote  in  a  memoranda  that  he  was  operating  a  tan- 
nery and  "  was  accumulating  money  fast."  The  late  E.  P.  Townsley, 
who  died  about  two  years  ago,  succeeded  his  father  as  agent  for  the 
lands  mentioned,  and  they  were  not  sold  out  until  about  thirty  years 
later.  A  mill  lot  of  two  and  a  half  acres  was  sold  by  Salmon  Rich  in 
June,  1808,  near  the  site  of  Richville,  to  Ralph  R.  Thrall,  for  "a  ton  of 
potash  and  fifty  dollars  worth  of  sawing  after  the  mill  was  completed." 
The  mill  was  built  and  operated  until  18 14,  when  it  was  burned  ;  but  a 
new  one  was  erected  in  the  following  spring  through  aid  of  many  of  the 
settlers.  Russell  Goff,  who  bought  a  farm  of  his  brother,  Potter  GofT, 
in  1806,  built  a  saw  mill  on  his  place  (lot  503)  as  early  as  18 14.  He 
was  a  mason  by  trade  and  noted  for  his  great  strength.  Elijah  Farr,  son 
of  James,  built  a  dam  on  Parr's  Creek  and  started  a  carding  machine 
before  18 14.  It  had  to  be  abandoned  after  some  years  on  account  of 
scarcity  of  water  in  the  creek. 

The  first  death  in  the  town  of  De  Kalb  was  that  of  George  Cowdry, 
one  of  the  first  party  of  settlers,  who  was  drowned  by  going  over  the 
falls  in  the  Oswegatchie,  September  13,  1804.  The  first  birth  was  in 
the  family  of  Jehiel  Dimick,  in  1804,  and  the  second  that  of  Mary  Ann 
Rich,  daughter  of  Salmon  Rich,  born  May  16,  1804.  The  first  mar- 
riage was  that  of  Elisha  Cook  and  Letta  Willey,  May  27,  1804;  they 
were  married  by  Stillman  Foote,  then  of  Canton,  and  the  nearest  magis- 
trate. The  first  road  that  is  on  record  as  being  laid  out  in  this  town 
was  on  the  28th  of  June,  1806,  "Beginning  at  the  State  road  on  Mr. 
John  Jackson's  southwest  line,  near  Mud  lake,"  and  thence  easterly  to 
"Beaver   Creek    Bridge."     A  second  one,  under   date  of  July  7,   1806, 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB.  500 

ran  "  from  Captain  Farr's  place  to  the  town  line  towards  the  Ballybeen 
road."  From  the  village  to  Captain  Farr's  was  laid  out  in  1805  by- 
Salmon  Rich  and  Kelsey  Thurber.  Of  course  the  first  road  in  the  town 
was  that  already  mentioned  as  having  been  cut  through  by  the  first 
party  of  settlers  in  1803,  from  the  State  road  to  the  site  of  De  Kalb 
village. 

The  settlement  of  De  Kalb  progressed  with  encouraging  prospects  and 
by  a  class  of  people  who  were  competent  to  build  up  the  community  in 
both  its  material  and  moral  aspects.  The  War  of  18 12  was  scarcely 
felt  here,  except  in  the  effect  it  had  upon  the  general  interests  and  the 
anxiety  and  unsettled  condition  of  mind  everywhere  prevalent, 
,  Although  many  enlisted,  as  well  as  being  drafted  (see  Chapter  on  the 
War  of  1 812),  by  the  year  1818  the  population  of  the  town  was  725,  and 
the  principal  land  owners  at  that  time  were  James  Cooper,  Luther  Bra- 
dish,  Lloyd  Daubeny,  Henry  Waddell,  and  Frederick  De  Peyster. 

In  relation  to  the  educational  question  in  De  Kalb,  we  quote  as  fol- 
lows from  Dr.  Hough's  work  : 

In  this,  as  in  some  other  towns,  a  large  amcint  of  poor  money  had  accumulated,  by 
taxes  levied  ostensibly  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  for  which  there  was  no  use  after  the 
adoption  of  the  poor-house  system.  By  an  act  of  February  22,  1830,  the  overseers  of  the 
poor  in  this  town  were  directed  to  pay  a  thousand  dollars  to  the  trustees  of  the  public 
lots,  to  be  invested  for  the  support  of  schools.  From  this  source  and  the  sale  of  the 
school  lot  this  town  acquired  a  very  large  fund.  The  location  of  the  two  reserved  lots 
was  at  first  not  known,  and  they  were  sold  by  Mr.  Cooper.  This  afterwards  became  a 
subject  of  difference,  and  SimeDn  Dewitt,  the  surveyor-general,  was  empowered  by  an 
act  passed  April  3,  1811,  to  settle  with  the  legal  representatives  of  William  Cooper,  on 
such  terms  as  he  might  deem  just  and  reasonable,  for  any  differences  which  might  have 
arisen  between  the  State  and  the  said  Cooper,  in  consequence  of  any  mistakes  com- 
mitted in  locating  the  public  lots  in  De  Kalb.  In  the  general  law  relating  to  the  gospel 
and  school  lots  of  these  towns,  De  Kalb  was  excepted. 

During  the  early  years  the  settlers  depended  principally  on  the 
lumber  sent  down  the  river  to  Ogdensburg  market,  and  the  "  black 
salts"  they  made  in  clearing  up  their  farms,  to  raise  money.  With  the 
passing  of  the  years  in  such  industry  the  lands  of  De  Kalb  became 
largely  cleared,  and  the  agricultural  interests  developed  in  ratio  with 
those  of  other  localities.  Dairying  interests  have  in  recent  years  greatly 
advanced,  and  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese  has  become  an  im- 
portant branch.     The  cheese  factory  formerly  operated  at  De  Kalb  was 


510  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

burned  in  the  winter  of  1882  and  was  rebuilt  in  the  following  spring, 
and  has  since  been  operated  as  a  creamery  for  the  making  of  choice 
butter,  which  finds  a  market  in  Boston.  The  factory  is  owned  by 
Gardner  Murphy  &  Co.,  of  tliat  city,  and  is  conducted  by  William 
Keyes.  Aside  from  this  factory,  cheese  is  the  principal  product.  The 
first  factory,  near  Richville,  was  built  in  1863,  which  was  the  first  north 
of  Black  River.  There  are  several  prosperous  factories  now  in  opera- 
tion, and  the  town  ranks  third  in  the  county  in  the  quantity  of  cheese 
made. 

In  educational  afifairs  this  town  has  always  shown  a  proper  degree  of 
interest.  There  are  twenty-two  districts  in  the* town,  and  all  have  well 
conducted  schools.  The  village  of  Richville  has  a  union  free  school,  for 
which  a  commodious  house  was  built  in  1874,  and  three  teachers  are 
employed.  At  De  Kalb  Junction  also  is  a  graded  school  with  three 
departments,  in  which  J.  C.  Holland  acts  as  principal. 

The  opening  of  the  railroad  and  the  establishment  of  the  junction 
with  the  line  leading  to  Ogdensburg  had  a  permanent  effect  upon  the 
business  interests  of  the  town,  drawing  trade  largely  to  the  Junction  and 
to  Richville,  and  away  from  the  interior  of  the  town,  as  recounted 
further  on. 

During  the  war  period  De  Kalb  put  forth  patriotic  efforts  in  support 
of  the  government,  and  sent  her  quota  of  men  to  the  front,  providing 
liberally  for  the  payment  to  them  of  bounties.  A  special  town  meeting 
was  held  December  15,  1863,  at  which  a  resolution  was  adopted  pledg- 
ing the  payment  of  $300  to  each  volunteer  enlisting  after  the  17th  of 
October  of  that  year,  until  the  quota  was  filled  under  the  call  for  300,000 
men.  Similar  action  was  taken  on  the  27th  of  February,  1864,  to  fill 
the  quota  under  the  call  of  February  i  of  that  year.  At  a  special 
meeting,  August  17,  1864,  after  the  call  for  500,000  men,  the  town 
board  was  authorized  to  issue  certificates  of  indebtedness  to  the  amount 
of  $600  to  each  volunteer  or  substitute,  but  owing  to  some  alleged 
illegality  in  these  proceedings  and  the  fact  that  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
authorized  the  payment  of  a  county  bounty  of  $400  each,  this  action 
was  annulled.  On  the  30th  of  August  the  town  board  was  authorized 
to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $500  for  each  volunteer  in  addition  to 
the  county  bounty  of  $400  each,  and  the  quota  was  thus  filled.     There 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KA.LB.  511 

were  some  unappropriated  moneys  in  the  hands  of  the  committee  which 
were  by  resolution  appropriated  to  the  payment  of  the  taxes  of  persons 
who  enHsted  in  the  years  1861  and  1862.  The  total  amount  of  bonds 
issued  by  the  town  was  $29,231. 

Following  are  the   names  of  the  supervisors   of  the   town  from  its 
formation  to  the  present  time,  with  years  of  service  : 

1807-15,  Isaac  Burnham  ;  1816-18,  Gideon  Townsley  ;  1819-20,  Elisha  Griffin  ;  1821- 
28,  Asa  Sprague,  jr. ;  1829-30,  Jonathan  Round;  18.31,  Nathaniel  Martin;  upon  his 
failing  to  qualify,  Roswell  White  was  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  ;  1832-35,  Asa  Sprague  ; 
1836-39.  Seth  Alexander;  1840-42,  Harlow  Godard ;  1843-45,  Asa  Sprague;  1846, 
Dwight  Spencer ;  1847-49,  Orin  M.  Fisk;  1850,  Edward  H.  Hopkins;  in  September, 
Onn  M.  Fisk  appointed  to  fill  vacancy;  1851-56,  Orin  M.  Fisk;  1857-60,  Elias  P. 
Townsley;  1861-63,  George  D.Hastings;  1864  Henry  Thompson  ;  1865,  Abel  Godard; 
1866,  Henry  Thompson  ;  1867-75,  Darius  A.  Moore;  1876-78,  Thomas  M.  Wells  ;  1879- 
81,  Abel  Godard;  1882-4,  Geo.  E.  Gibbons;  1885-6,  Ara  J.  Moore;  1887-8.  G.  E. 
Gibbons ;  1889-91,  Chas.  R.  Walker ;  1892,  John  W.  Morrison  ;  1893-94,  A.  J.  AToore. 

De  Kalb  Village. — The  first  settlement  of  this  place  (then  called 
Cooper's  Village)  and  the  building  of  a  public  house  by  Judge  Cooper 
in  1805,  has  been  alluded  to.  Around  that  house,  which  was  a  large 
structure,  sixty  feet  square  and  three  stories  high,  the  stores  and  shops 
of  the  place  sprang  up.  After  being  kept  by  various  persons,  among 
them  Isaac  Stacy  and  Wm.  Cleghorn,  the  building  fell  into  decay  and 
was  taken  down.  Mr.  Holt  built  a  hotel  about  this  time,  which  was 
favorably  known  throughout  the  country.  The  first  school  in  the  town 
was  opened  here  in  1807,  by  Bela  Willis,  a  Methodist  exhorter.  The 
post-office  was  established  in  1820,  the  mails  being  carried  through 
from  the  Black  River  country  on  horseback.  Thomas  B.  Benedict  was 
probably  the  first  postmaster.  Among  those  who  have  held  the  office 
since  then  may  be  mentioned  Gideon  Townsley,  his  son,  Elias  P.,  Na- 
thaniel Holt,  Asa  Sprague,  Stephen  Slosson,  John  Kingsbury,  L  D. 
Townsley,  John  Whipple,  and  the  present  incumbent,  A.  J.  Moore. 

Among  the  former  merchants  of  this  place  were  Asa  Sprague,  jr., 
Hiram  McCollom,  John  Rounds,  Stephen  Slosson  and  D.  A.  Moore. 
Stores  are  now  kept  by  D.  A.  Moore  &  Son,  and  Joseph  Thraves.  The 
only  hotel  in  the  place  is  the  Seymour  House,  kept  by  Edward  Sey- 
mour. 

At  Cooper's  Falls  was  formerly  concentrated  a  little  settlement  and 
some  business  interests.     The    falls   are    about  six   feet   high,  and  are 


512  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

about  a  mile  below  De  Kalb  village.  There  Judge  Cooper  erected  a 
saw  mill  and  a  grist  mill  in  1804— 5.  Subsequently  a  stock  company- 
built  a  furnace  there,  the  ore  being  obtained  in  the  town  of  Hermon. 
The  mine  was  abandoned,  the  grist  mill  went  to  decay,  and  the  water 
power  now  is  not  in  use. 

Richville. — The  first  settlement  made  on  the  site  of  Richville  was  by 
Salmon  Rich  and  Jonathan  Haskins  in  1804.  It  is  said  that  they 
reached  this  point  from  Cooper's  village  in  the  winter,  drawing  a  sled, 
with  the  help  of  two  or  three  others,  up  the  winding  river  on  the  ice, 
a  distance  of  about  ten  miles.  They  formed  a  camp  opposite  the  vil- 
lage site  and  began  a  clearing.  In  April  of  the  next  year  Haskins  built 
a  log  house  near  the  river,  and  in  June,  P.  Rich  began  clearing  on  the 
site  of  the  village.  The  first  school  taught  here  was  by  Joseph  Knee- 
land,  who  was  killed  in  a  skirmish  at  the  taking  of  Ogdensburg  by  the 
British  in  181 3.  About  1807  the  first  tavern  was  opened  by  Solomon 
Pratt.  About  the  year  18 10  Charles  Boreland  built  a  grist  mill  on  the 
stream  that  bore  his  name,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  Richville,  where 
Salmon  Rich  built  a  saw  mill  in  the  previous  year  ;  this  grist  mill  was  the 
second  one  in  town.  Jonathan  Haskins  was  granted  a  license  in  1809 
and  opened  the  second  public  house  here.  About  the  }'ear  18 19  John 
C.  Rich  erected  a  building  for  hotel  purposes.  This  was  burned  in 
1870,  and  on  the  site,  what  is  now  the  Lynde  House  (formerly  the 
Godard  House)  was  erected  ;  it  is  now  kept  by  F.  W.  Foster.  The 
first  store  at  this  point  was  established  by  James  Phelps  on  the  road 
leading  to  the  station  ;  he  was  a  shoemaker  and  combined  work  at  his 
trade  with  his  store.  Among  the  merchants  of  the  past  at  this  point 
are  W.  E.  Carpenter,  Charles  Higbee,  E.  P.  Griffith,  Spooner  &  Wiser, 
J.  C.  Wiser,  and  Charles  R.  Walker.  The  present  merchants  are  J.  F. 
Wiser,  William  Walker,  A.  D.  Gardner,  F.  P.  Beaman,  Alexander  Mc- 
Coy. The  present  postmaster  is  Willis  P.  Hendrick,  the  office  having 
been  in  existence  since  1824,  when  John  C.  Rich  took  the  office  and 
held  it  about  twenty-five  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Salmon  Rich,  the 
first  master  of  Northern  Light  Lodge,  No.  1 1  (see  page  225),  and  long 
a  prominent  citizen  of  the  town.  The  village  was  known  for  many 
years  as  "  Rich's  Settlement."  The  grist  mill  here  and  the  saw  mill 
connected  were  burned  in  1877,  when  they  were  the  property  of  James 


L..J^  /yuZ<Scc,<....^ 


THE  TO^N  OF  DE  KALB.  513 

O'Connor.  They  were  rebuilt  a  few  years  afterward  and  again  burned 
in  1 88 1,  while  owned  by  Abel  Godard,  who  rebuilt  them  and  sold  the 
property  to  A.  D.  Lawyer,  the  present  owner.  The  mill  is  on  the  site 
of  the  one  built  in  1815,  and  described  a  few  pages  back. 

With  the  opening  of  the  railroad  a  considerable  settlement  grew  up  at 
what  has  been  named  Richville  Station,  near  Richville  village,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town.  A  post-office  is  located  there  now 
under  the  name  of  "  Bigelow,"  and  H.  N.  Williams  is  postmaster  and 
general  merchant.  An  extensive  lime  kiln  has  been  in  operation  at 
the  station,  and  quite  recently  quarrying  of  lime  stone  and  sand  stone 
near  the  station  has  been  entered  upon  extensively  by  Williams  &  John- 
son and  the  Clarksons,  of  Potsdam.  This  industry  is  probably  destined 
to  become  an  important  one.  S.  W.  Phelps  has  a  mercantile  business 
here,  and  a  saw  mill,  built  in  1884  by  S.  A.  Martin,  is  now  owned  and 
operated  by  H.  M.  Townsley. 

De  Kalb  J?inctioJi. — At  this  point  the  opening  of  the  railroads  has 
built  up  a  thriving  community.  The  Ogdensburg  extension  of  the  rail- 
road was  opened  in  September,  1862,  and  from  the  then  only  building 
of  the  place,  a  log  house,  the  present  village  has  grown.  The  first  store 
was  opened  in  the  fall  of  that  year  by  T.  M.  Craig,  and  about  three 
years  later  Patrick  Green  built  what  was  called  the  "Union  Hotel." 
Later  on  two  other  hotels  were  built,  one  by  Israel  Smith  and  the  other 
by  Patrick  Green,  and  they,  with  two  steam  mills  owned  by  Joseph 
Ray,  were  burned  with  other  buildings.  The  post-office  here  was  es- 
tablished in  January.  1864,  with  Israel  D.  Smith  as  postmaster.  The 
present  postmaster  is  W.  E.  Vandelinder.  A.  C.  Hine  built  a  grist 
mill  in  1877,  ^vhich  he  conducted  a  number  of  years.  A  saw  and  a  plan- 
ing mill  was  built  in  1880  and  burned  January  31,  1892  ;  it  was  then 
rebuilt,  and  is  now  doing  a  thriving  business  in  the  hands  of  John  D. 
Smith.  The  flour  and  feed  mill  is  now  operated  by  Fairbanks  &  Lewis. 
The  merchants  of  the  place  are  W.  E.  Vandelinder,  George  A.  Sheldon 
&  Co.,  Dr.  E.  :\I.  Cole,  D.  McGruer,  Frank  Green,  I.  G.  Haven,  W.  L. 
Thomas,  M.  D  Alverson,  L.  M.  Wainwright,  and  G.  E.  Gibbons.  A. 
Stiles  sells  flour  and  feed,  and  S.  T.  Walker  has  the  meat  business.  A 
pump  and  oar  factory  was  started  in  1878  by  S.  Smithers,  who  continues 

the   business.      A  sash  and   blind    factory  was   established   by    Lemuel 
65 


514  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Clark  in  the  spring  of  1893,  and  is  now  operated  by  Gibbons  &  Clark. 
The  Union  Hotel  was  burned  in  1888  and  has  not  been  rebuilt  The 
Goulding  House  is  kept  by  Hurley  Brothers,  and  the  Thomas  House 
by  N.  G.  Thomas. 

There  was  formerly  a  post-office  and  a  small  settlement  at  East  De 
Kalb,  the  post-office  of  that  name  having  been  opened  in  1853,  with 
Harvey  Bartlett  as  postmaster.  The  office  is  not  now  in  existence. 
The  locality  was  settled  by  Elijah  Pooler  and  Chester  Dewey.  Thomas 
and  Isaac  Tanner,  John  Williams,  Freeman  Stewart,  and  a  Mr.  Adams 
settled  here  in  the  winter  of  1810-11.  Harvey  Bartlett  built  a  hotel 
here  at  an  early  day,  and  kept  it  for  some  years  ;  it  was  afterwards  con- 
ducted by  others  and  finally  closed. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

The  former  record  of  these  "societies  has  been  somewhat  mixed.  De 
Kalb  was  one  of  the  towns  visited  by  the  missionaries  sent  out  by  the 
Massachusetts  Society  in  1806,  when  meetings  were  held  in  private 
houses.  In  this  way  a  circle  of  friends  would  congregate  as  a  society 
without  a  formal  organization.  During  a  series  of  meetings  held  in  the 
town  of  Russell  by  Rev.  James  Johnson,  in  the  summer  of  1817,  Mr. 
Seth  Pomeroy,  of  De  Kalb,  invited  him  to  come  and  preach  to  his 
people.  Arrangements  were  made,  and  his  preaching  awakened  a  deep 
interest  in  the  minds  of  a  few,  and  warmed  up  several  backsliders,  which 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  Congregational  church  at  Old  De  Kalb, 
with  ten  members,  on  August  30,  18 17.  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  was  their 
first  pastor,  and  continued  to  supply  them,  in  connection  with  the  Rus- 
sell church,  for  some  two  years.  The  society  was  incorporated  De- 
cember 18,  1 8 18,  with  Seth  Pomeroy,  Joshua  Dewey,  Isaac  Burnham 
(see  page  126;  he  was  also  S.  W.  of  F.  and  A.  M.),  Elisha  Griffin, 
Isaac  Stacy,  jr.,  and  Jonathan  Haskins,  trustees.  A  revival  soon  fol- 
lowed, when  the  church  was  greatly  strengthened.  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson 
soon  returned  to  Vermont,  when  the  Rev.  Thomas  Kennon  was  engaged 
to  supply  them  a  part  of  the  time.  A  small  church  was  built  by  the 
united  effi^rts  of  the  people,  including  other  denominations,  about  18 18. 
A  few  years  later  a  stone  church  was  built  by  the  Congregationalists 
at  East  De  Kalb,  where  regular  services  were  held  until  about  1853, 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB.  515 

when,  a  number  of  the  more  prominent  members  having  died  and 
others  moved  West,  services  were  discontinued,  the  members,  however, 
going  either  to  Richville  or  to  Old  De  Kalb  church.  The  Presbyterian 
minister  serving  a  small  church  at  Old  De  Kalb  commenced  to  hold 
services  at  the  stone  church,  but  the  spiritual  life  of  the  people  in  that 
neighborhood  was  on  the  wane,  and  after  a  short  time  the  meetings 
were  discontinued  and  the  stone  house  left  to  decay. 

The  Congregational  Church  located  at  Richville  was  formed  by  a  few 
of  the  waning  society  at  East  De  Kalb  then  living  in  the  place.  The 
organization  was  effected  in  1828,  with  Marshall  Allen,  Darius  Wiser, 
Jonathan  Baker,  Josiah  Walker,  Orson  White  and  A.  V.  Chandler, 
trustees.  Rev.  Thomas  Kennon  supplied  them  in  connection  with  the 
church  at  East  De  Kalb.  Rev.  Gorham  Cross  came  into  the  place  in 
the  summer  of  1839  took  charge  of  the  church,  and  brought  his  family 
on  the  following  spring,  and  served  the  church  in  connection  with 
others  near  by  for  fifty  years,  and  who  is  now  (1894;  aged  eighty-four) 
living  in  the  place  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  In  1840  the  society, 
with  the  Methodists,  built  a  small  wooden  church,  and  each  held  meet- 
ings on  alternate  Sabbaths.  In  1859  a  new  church  was  built  on  a  lot 
donated  by  A.  B.  Lynd.  In  the  spring  of  1877  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon  came 
to  minister  to  the  Methodist  portion  of  the  congregation,  when  a  desire 
on  their  part  led  to  a  separation.  The  Congregational  society  paid 
them  for  their  interest  in  the  church  and  became  full  owners  of  the 
property  the  following  year.  A  parsonage  was  built  on  the  lot,  and  in 
1890  the  church  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  refurnished  at  an  expense 
of  $1,500.  Rev.  T.  T.  Davis  served  this  church,  with  the  Welsh  society, 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  resigned  December,  1893. 

The  Congregational  church  located  at  De  Kalb  village  was  reorgan- 
ized in  December,  1829,  with  Stephen  Thompson  and  two  other  trustees. 
The  society  has  continued  to  maintain  services  most  of  the  time  since 
with  varied  success.  In  1878  a  new  church  building  was  built,  in 
modern  style,  at  a  cost  of  $4,500,  which  was  erected  principally  through 
the  influence  and  means  of  A.  D.  Moore.  The  membership  is  not  large 
and  is  now  coupled  with  South  Hermon  church,  and  served  by  Rev. 
W.  Y.  Roberts. 

Welsh   Congregational  Society,  located  at  Richville.     The  settlement 
at  an  early  period  of  a  large  number  of  Welsh  people   led  to  the  for- 


516  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

mation  in  1856  of  the  Welsh  Congregational  church,  by  Rev.  Thomas 
D.  Rees.  Meetings  were  first  held  in  the  stone  dwelling  of  James 
Jones,  near  the  village,  but  in  the  summer  of  1859  a  frame  church  was 
erected.  The  church  prospered  and  at  one  time  had  a  membership  of 
more  than  125  ;  it  is  now  about  forty,  and  Rev.  T.  T.  Davis  ministered 
to  the  church  a  number  of  years  up  to  December,  1893. 

The  MetJiodis-t  Episcopal  Society. — This  body  of  believers  was  among 
the  first  to  commence  their  labors  in  town,  but  they  did  not  form  a  legal 
organization  until  February  25,  1829,  when  a  society  was  formed  at 
Old  De  Kalb,  with  Seth  Alexander  (see  war  incident,  page  140),  Dwight 
Spencer,  Obadiah  R.  Rundell,  Orin  C.  Spencer,  Elijah  Pooler,  Thomas 
Spafford  and  John  D.  Smith,  trustees.  They  had  a  part  interest  in  the 
union  church  where  they  had  previously  met  for  worship.  The  society 
built  a  church  at  East  De  Kalb  in  1839,  smd  have  continued  since  to 
hold  forth  in  both  places. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  society  was  formed  at  Richville  about  1835. 
They  united  in  building  a  church  with  the  Congregationalists  in  1840, 
also  in  1859.  In  1877  the  Rev.  Mr,  Dixon  had  charge  of  the  society, 
when  it  was  thought  best  by  that  body  to  withdraw  frojn  the  Congre- 
gational or  union  house  and  build  for  themselves.  Consent  was  given, 
and  they  received  the  value  agreed  upon  from  the  other  body.  A  lot 
was  purchased  a  short  distance  north  of  the  other  church  and  a  contract 
made  with  Albon  F.  Deen  to  erect  a  wooden  church,  which  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  about  December  i,  1878.  The  entire  cost,  in- 
cluding lot,  furnishings,  etc.,  was  $2,500.  The  membership  is  now 
about  eighty.  F.  W.  Thompson  is  the  present  pastor,  who  also  supplies 
a  small  church  of  about  forty  members  just  over  the  line  in  North 
Gouverneur. 

The  M.  E.  Church  located  at  De  Kalb  Junction  was  formed  when 
that  place,  on  account  of  the  two  railroad  lines  passing  that  point,  at- 
tracted the  people  to  locate  there.  A  neat  wooden  church  was  erected 
in  1880.  It  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  about  135  mem- 
bers, with  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Dunham,  pastor. 

What  has  been  known  as  the  Kendrew  Methodist  church  (the  first 
class  having  been  formed  by  Thomas  Kendrew,  sr.),  was  located  a  few 
miles  below  De  Kalb  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.     The  frame 


THE  TOWN  OF  DE  KALB.  517 

church  was  erected  in  1859  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  W.  C.  Lent.  In  recent  years  the  church  has  commonly  been  sup- 
pHed  by  the  pastor  at  Rensselaer  Falls  (see  history  of  Canton). 

Presbyterian  Societies. — This  body  of  believers  was  early  on  the 
ground,  and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  a  small  union  church  at  Old  De 
Kalb  in  18 18,  and  organized  a  church  soon  after.  The  names  of  the 
officers  and  members  were  not  preserved.  Services  have  been  continued 
most  of  the  time  since,  and  meetings  were  also  held  at  East  De  Kalb 
for  a  time.  When  the  Congregational  society  built  a  church  in  1879, 
the  Presbyterians  and  Methodists  overhauled  the  union  church  and  re- 
furnished it,  which  has  served  the  two  bodies  since. 

A  second  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  at  De  Kalb  Junction  in 
1 879,  and  erected  a  convenient  edifice  in  1 880,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000. 
The  membership  is  now  about  forty-eight,  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  George 
F.  Walker. 

Baptist  Church — The  Baptist  society  of  Richville  was  formed  March 
13,  1836,  with  Nathan  Barker,  Harlow  Godard,  John  Chase,  James 
Phelps,  Danford  Johnson,  Russell  Johnson  and  several  others.  A  small 
building  was  erected  for  worship  the  summer  following,  and  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1837,  the  society  was  incorporated,  with  Eleazer  Dewey, 
Jacob  C.  Temple,  Jabez  Bosworth,  John  C.  Rich,  Harlow  Godard  and 
Simeon  Millen,  trustees.  Some  years  later  the  first  building  was  de- 
molished and  the  present  frame  edifice  erected.  In  1876  about  $2,500 
were  expended  in  improving  the  church.  The  membership  is  now  about 
eighty,  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  George  Barnes. 

St.  Henry  s  CatJiolic  Chtirch  was  formed  at  De  Kalb  Junction,  and 
labor  commenced  August  15,  1893.  The  organization  was  effected 
under  the  guidance  of  Father  Conroy,  of  Ogdensburg.  James  Cun- 
ningham and  Timothy  Sullivan  were  elected  trustees,  and  Mr.  Vanda- 
lind  and  Daniel  Hurley,  building  committee.  A  brick  church  30x40 
feet  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  exclusive  of  the  lot,  which  was 
donated  by  D.  Tupper,  non- catholic.  The  people  in  that  vicinity,  irre- 
spective of  sect  or  creeds,  assisted  in  the  enterprise,  and  are  proud  of 
the  beautiful  structure.  The  church  was  formally  opened  for  services 
January  16,  1894. 


518  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
THE   TOWN   OF   STOCKHOLM— ORGANIZED    IN    1806. 

STOCKHOLM,  the  ninth  town  organized,  was  one  of  the  original 
"Ten  Townships  No  2."  It  was  erected  from  Massena  jurisdic- 
tion by  legislative  act  passed  February  2i,  i8o6.  It  received  its 
name  by  the  surveyors  from  Stockholm,  Sweden.  It  retained  its  orig- 
inal territory  until  April  g,  1823,  when  a  part  was  annexed  to  Norfolk, 
and  on  April  15,  1834,  another  portion  was  annexed  to  the  same  town, 
and  now  contains  54,276  acres. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  rolling  and  is  watered  by  the  St.  Regis 
River,  and  its  eastern  branch,  which  unite  near  the  eastern  border 
Trout,  Plumb  and  Squeak  brooks.  The  soil  is  a  productive  loam,  mak- 
ing it  one  of  the  best  agricultural  districts  in  the  county.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  ordered  at  the  home  of  Dr.  Luman  Pettibone,  but  the 
date  passed  without  an  election,  and  under  the  Act  of  March  7,  1801, 
Nathan  Walker,  of  Canton,  and  Gordon  Smith  and  Benjamin  Raymond, 
of  Potsdam  (magistrates),  appointed  the  following  officers  :  Supervisor, 
Ebenezer  Hulburd  ;  clerk,  William  Staples ;  assessors,  Stephen  A. 
Tambling,  Benjamin  Wright,  and  Arba  Woodward  ;  constable  and  col- 
lector, Samuel  Webster  ;  overseers  of  the  poor,  S.  A.  Tambling,  Luman 
Pettibone  ;  commissioners  of  highways,  S.  A.  Tambling,  E.  Hulburd, 
and  W.  Webster;  fence  viewers,  S.  A.  Tambling  and  B.  Wright;  over- 
seer of  highways,  E.  Hulburd;   pound  master,  E.  Hulburd. 

Settlements  in  the  territory  of  this  town  began  a  few  years  previous 
to  its  formation,  when  Dr.  Luman  Pettibone,  in  the  summer  of  1800, 
came  into  the  town  as  an  agent  for  the  proprietor,  Mr.  McVickers,  made 
preparations  for  himself  and  others  to  follow.  In  that  and  the  follow- 
ing years  several  families  came  in.  Ebenezer  Hulburd  was  the  next 
agent,  and  in  1802  he  and  Dr.  Pettibone,  with  Benjamin  Wright,  Isaac 
Kelsey,  Abram  Sheldon,  and  a  few  others,  came  to  the  town,  and  on 
the  7th  of  March,  1803,  seven  families  arrived,  six  of  whom  were  from 


I 


THE  TOWN  OF  STOCKHOLM.  519 

Orwell,  Vt.,  and  made  permanent  settlements.  There  were,  besides  the 
above,  William  Staples,  John  and  Robert  Bisbee.  They  came  by  way 
of  Chateaugay  and  the  St.  Regis.  In  September,  1.804,  a  tremendous 
freshet  so  swelled  that  river  that  four  of  the  seven  families  were  com- 
pelled to  fly  from  their  homes,  which  were  devastated.  Samuel  and 
Warren  Webster,  brothers,  of  Orwell,  Vt.,  began  clearing  their  pur- 
chases of  105  acres  each  on  lots  44  and  45  in  1805,  and  the  following 
year  brought  in  their  families.  In  1806  Isaac  Marsh  came  from  Sharon, 
Vt.,  and  settled  on  200  acres  of  lot  65.  Luther  Hulburd  settled  on  lot 
33,  and  members  of  that  family  have  always  been  prominent  in  the 
town.  Other  early  settlers  (mostly  from  Vermont)  were  Stephen  A. 
Tambling,  Daniel  Harrington  (father  of  G.  W,  Harrington),  Amos 
Bicknell,  long  a  prominet  citizen,  Simeon  Nash,  Zephaniah  French,  A. 
Woodward,  John  Graves,  Alpheus  Johnson,  Josiah  L.  Hill,  Ralph  P. 
Stearns,  Reuben  Kelsey,  and  Harvey  Thatcher.  The  latter,  with 
George  Streight,  John  Partridge,  Eldad  Taylor,  Stiles  Nelson,  Martin 
Doud,  Nathan  Osborn  (who  succeeded  Dr.  Pettibone  as  proprietor's 
agent  in  the  west  part  of  the  town),  Clark  and  Warren  T.  Phippen,  A. 
S.  Tucker,  and  others,  located  in  the  western  part.  In  the  southern 
part  located  Shi>bel  Gurley,  George  A.  Flower,  Parley  and  Delos  Dus- 
tin,  Joseph  Merrill,  John  McNeal,  Anthony  Thomas.  Allen  Lyman 
(who  removed  to  West  Stockholm),  Carlton  Wires,  John  Simonds,  Jon- 
athan Emery,  Oliver  Osgood,  Samuel  and  Levi  Corey,  Dr.  Hosea 
Brooks  (the  first  physician  in  that  section),  Benjamin  Reeve  and  Mor- 
gan Marsh.  Samuel  Newton,  who  served  in  the  War  of  18 12,  settled 
in  town  in  181 5.  Ira  Lewis  came  in  1828.  Members  of  many  of  these 
families  have  been  instrumental  in  aiding  to  build  up  the  several  com- 
munities. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  this  town  was  William  Bisbee,  son  of 
John  Bisbee,  in  1803  ;  the  second  was  Julius,  son  of  Ebenezer  Hul- 
burd, April  20,  1803.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Alba  Woodward, 
and  Almira,  daughter  of  Dr.  Luman  Pettibone,  July  20,  1808.  Eb- 
enezer Hulburd  taught  the  first  school  in  the  winter  of  1807.  Dr.  Pet- 
tibone was  the  first  physician,  but  practiced  very  little.  Dr.  Lemuel 
Winslow,  who  came  in  181 1,  was  the  first  to  devote  himself  to  his 
practice.      Previous  to  181 1  the  settlers  went  to  mill,  chiefly  in  Hopkin- 


520  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ton  (where  a  mill  was  built  in  1804),  to  Canada,  or  to  what  is  now 
Madrid,  but  in  the  first  year  named  Amos  Bicknell  built  a  grist  mill  at 
what  became  known  as  "  Bickneyville,"  now  West  Stockholm,  where  a 
mill  has  ever  since  been  operated.  Samuel  Reynolds,  who  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land  not  far  from  the  east  village,  built  a  saw  mill  in  1804, 
the  first  one  in  the  town. 

The  number  of  settlers  had  largely  increased  by  the  opening  of  the 
War  of  1 8 12,  but  that  event  caused  a  great  deal  of  consternation  in 
anticipation  of  Indian  excursions,  and  a  number  of  families  fled,  while 
others  adopted  measures  for  self-protection.  Stockades  were  build 
around  the  dwelling  of  Dr.  Pettibone  and  partly  around  that  of  Warren 
Webster,  a  little  east  of  the  center  of  the  town  Here  the  inhabitants 
assembled  on  occasions  of  alarm,  but  the  defences  were  fortunately  not 
needed.  After  the  close  of  the  war  a  portion  of  those  who  left  the  coun- 
try never  returned,  and  others  came  back  to  witness  the  waste  and 
destruction  which  their  own  folly  and  neglect  had  brought  upon  them. 
Settlements  again  became  active,  and  the  clearing  of  farms  and  the 
progress  of  agriculture  has  been  unchecked  to  the  present  time.  The 
dairying  industry  has  been  greatly  developed  in  recent  years,  and  now 
butter-making  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  farmers,  through  the 
agency  of  a  large  number  of  factories 

The  history  of  St.  Lawrence  county  in  its  relation  to  the  great  War 
of  the  Rebellion  has  been  given  in  an  earlier  chapter.  As  far  as  this 
town  is  concerned  in  meeting  the  calls  of  the  government  for  men  and 
material  means,  the  same  energetic  and  liberal  efibrts  were  made  that 
characterized  every  town  in  the  county.  Bounties  continued  to  be  ad- 
vanced from  $50  until  near  the  close  of  the  war  they  reached  a  total  of 
nearly  $1,000  for  each  volunteer.  The  vacant  places  in  many  homes 
afterwards  testified  -to  the  loyalty  and  heroism  of  the  people  of  the 
town. 

The  town  records  for  a  number  of  years  at  first  show  that  the  place 
was  overrun  by  ravenous  beasts.  At  various  times  bounties  were  offered 
from  five  dollars  to  twenty  dollars  on  panthers  and  wolves.  The  bounty 
tax  for  several  years  was  much  larger  than  the  poor  tax  on  the  town. 
Deer  were  also  very  plentiful,  and  venison  was  the  principal  meat  used 
by  the  settlers  for  a  number  of  years. 


THE  TOWN  OF  STOCKHOLM.  521 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation, 
with  years  of  their  services: 

Ebenezer  Hulburd,  1806;  Simeon  Nash,  1807;  Zephaniah  French,  1808-9;  Stephen 

A.  Tambling,  1810-11;  Warren  Webster,  1812-13;  Nathaniel  F.  Winslow,  1814-22; 
Chauncey  Pettibone,  at  a  special  meeting  in  1823  ;  Chauncey  Pettibone,  1823-29  ; 
Shiveric  Holmes,  1830-32  ;  Joseph  Sanford,  1833;  Benjamin  Holmes,  1834;  William 
T.  Osborne,  1835-3fi ;  Joseph  H.  Sanford,  1837-38;  Dorus  Pettibone.  1839;  Thomas 
Dunton,  1840;  J.  H.  Sanford,  1841-42;  Ziba  L.Smith,  1843-45;  Sidney  Kelsey,  1846; 

B.  Holmes,  1847;  Allen  Lyman,  1848-49;  Daniel  P.  Rose,  1850-51;  Hiram  Hulburd, 
1852-55;  Harvey  Merrill,  1856  ;  Daniel  Shaw,  1857-59 ;  Hiram  Hulburd,  1860-63; 
Ira  Hale,  1864-65  ;  Hiram  Hulburd,  1867  ;  Philo  Abbott,  1868  ;  George  N.  Culver, 
1869  ;  Jason  W.  Stearns,  1870  (died  in  office,  and  E.  S.  Crapser  was  appointed  to  com- 
plete term);  E.  S.  Crapser.  1870-79 ;  B.  N.  Burnap,  1880-1 :  James  W.  Culver,  1882-85  ; 
S  H.  Stearns,  1886-89;  John  S.  Thompson,  1890-91  ;  John  W.  Morrison,  1892-94.  ' 

West  Stockholm. — This  pretty  village  is  situated  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town,  on  the  west  branch  of  the  St.  Regis,  and  has  been 
locally  known  as  "  Bickneyville,"  from  Amos  Bicknell,  the  pioneer, 
whose  settlement  and  building  of  the  mills  has  been  mentioned.  Other 
settlers  on  or  near  the  village  site  were  Luman  Newell,  Roswell  and 
Stiles  Nelson,  Thomas  and  Benjamin  Knowlton,  Benjamin  Bisbee, 
Martin  Doud,  John  Thatcher,  Abner  Dodge,  Eli  Parkwell,  Samuel 
Culver  and  others. 

About  1815  a  road  was  opened  by  Mr.  Pierrepont,  proprietor,  from 
Parishville  to  Norfolk,  which  became  a  very  important  thoroughfare  for 
transporting  potash  and  produce  through  to  the  navigable  waters  of  the 
Raquette  River.  It  became  known  as  the  "  Market  Road,"  and  event- 
ually passed  near  BicknelTs  mills,  though  originally  laid  out  a  mile  east 
of  the  settlement. 

The  mills  established  by  Mr.  Bicknell  have  been  rebuilt,  and  are  now 
operated  by  George  W.  Gibson.  In  18 15  a  carding  mill  was  established 
by  Mr.  Bicknell.  which,  after  numerous  changes,  was  converted  into  a 
woolen  factory,  and  is  now  operated  by  Robert  Stafford.  A  foundry 
and  machine  shop  was  started  in  1846  by  Carlton  Smith,  which  he  con- 
ducted many  years  ;  it  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Eugene  Smith.  A  butter 
tub  factory  is  carried  on  by  Levi  Wellington,  and  a  shingle  mill  by 
George  W.  Gibson,  and  the  latter  also  runs  a  starch  factory.  The  mer- 
chants of  the  place  are  H.  D.  Pinney,  George  W.  Gibson  and  Carl 
Wellington.     Mrs.  Myra  Trussell  is  postmistress. 

66 


522  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Winthrop. — This  is  the  name  of  the  village  formerly  called  "  Stock- 
holm," or  "Stockholm  Depot,"  situated  on  the  O.  &  L.  C.  Railroad, 
near  the  confluence  of  the  east  and  west  branches  of  the  St.  Regis.  The 
first  settler  here  was  Isaac  Kelsey.  The  post-office  was  not  established 
until  1852,  when  Philo  Abbott  was  appointed  postmaster.  The  first 
store  was  opened  in  1 850  by  Culver  Stearns.  Daniel  Shaw  soon  after- 
ward began  business  and  continued  many  years;  he  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens.  Ebenezer  S.  Crapser,  now  residing  on  Ogden's 
Island  (see  history  of  Waddington),  formerly  was  a  prominent  business 
man  here,  and  manufactured  lumber,  shingles,  starch,  etc.,  and  carried 
on  the  mills  at  Brasher  Falls.  The  mercantile  business  of  the  place  is 
now  represented  by  E.  M.  Shaw  (who  is  also  postmaster),  E.  F.  Russell, 
J.  W.  Morrison,  J.  W.  White,  G.  H.  Russell,  A.  D.  Miller.  There  are 
also  the  usual  village  shops.  The  hotel  is  kept  by  C.  C.  Corey.  Be- 
sides the  two  villages  just  described,  there  are  no  less  than  six  other 
hamlets  and  post-offices  in  the  town  of  Stockholm.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

Sotithville  (or  South  Stockholm),  situated  on  the  southern  line  of  the 
town.  The  first  settlers  in  this  locality  were  Shubel  Gurley,  Daniel 
Harrington,  Dr.  Hosea  Brooks,  John  L.  Mayhew  and  others.  The  first 
post-office  was  established  in  1825,  with  Dr.  Brooks,  postmaster;  he 
also  kept  a  store.  There  has  never  been  much  business  here.  One  of 
the  numerous  butter  factories  is  in  operation  here,  and  Mrs.  Henry  M. 
Jarvis  is  postmistress. 

Skinnerville. — This  hamlet  is  situated  on  the  St.  Regis  River,  one 
mile  and  a  half  west  of  Winthrop.  A  grist  mill  and  a  shingle  mill  have 
been  operated  here  many  years  and  are  now  in  possession  of  M.  D. 
Smith.  A  saw  mill  is  operated  by  E.  M.  Shaw.  A  tannery  and  a 
starch  factory,  formerly  operated  here,  are  now  closed. 

Stockholm  (or  East  Stockholm). — On  the  site  of  this  hamlet  the  first 
settlement  in  the  town  was  made  by  Dr.  Luman  Pettibone  and  Ebenezer 
Hulburd.  A  store  was  conducted  here  many  years,  and  a  saw  mill, 
with  several  shops.  There  is  no  business  here  now,  and  Mrs.  L.  C. 
Burnap  is  postmistress. 

Btcckton  (Buck's  Corners). — This  hamlet  received  its  name  from 
Asahel  Buck,  who  settled  here  about  1825.     The  saw  mill  built  here  in 


THE  TOWN  OF  STOCKHOLM.  523 

early  years  and  a  small  grist  mill  are  conducted  by  H.  P.  Riggs.  A 
starch  factory  formerly  carried  on  has  been  abandoned.  A  butter 
factory  is  now  in  operation,  and  H.  H.  Burroughs  has  a  store  and  is 
postmaster. 

Knapp's  Station  (North  Stockholm  P.  O.). — Moses  Knapp  settled 
here  in  1828,  and  when  the  O.  &  L.  C.  Railroad  was  built  the  place 
took  its  name.  The  post-office  was  established  at  that  time,  and  E.  L. 
Brush  is  now  postmaster.  Mr.  Knapp  built  a  steam  saw  mill  in  1863, 
but  the  business  has  been  abandoned. 

Brookdale  (Scotland). — This  locality  was  settled  by  John  Grandy. 
A  saw  mill  formerly  in  operation  here  has  been  abandoned.  Joseph  W. 
Brothers  is  postmaster  and  has  a  store. 

Stockholm  Center. — A  little  hamlet  has  existed  here  for  many  years, 
and  a  post  office  is  now  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Ann  C.  Ainger. 

A  small  settlement  on  the  St.  Regis,  below  West  Stockholm,  with 
former  saw  mills  and  shops,  is  known  as  Sanfordville  ;  but  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  place  have  been  abandoned,  excepting  a  shingle 
mill. 

Chicrc lies. —The:  first  religious  meetings  were  held  in  this  town  by 
the  settlers  assembling  in  private  houses  in  1803.  Elder  Webster,  a 
Baptist,  from  Orwell,  Vt.,  soon  after  preached  a  short  time  to  them. 
In  1806  Rev.  Amos  Pettingill  held  services  a  few  weeks,  and  in  the 
next  year  Rev.  E.  Hibbard  spent  a  few  Sundays  with  the  people,  re- 
sulting in  the  formation  of  a  Congregational  church  at  East  Stockholm, 
with  seven  members,  consisting  of  Dr.  Luman  Pettibone  and  wife,  and 
Almira,  their  daughter,  Stephen  A.  Tamblin  and  wife,  Miss  Eleanor 
Nash,  and  Mrs.  Rosalinda  Murray,  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Hulburd, 
March  10,  1807.  Meetings  at  first  were  held  in  barns  in  the  summer 
and  private  houses  in  the  winter  season.  They  were  supplied  until 
1813,  when  Rev.  Hiram  S.  Johnson  was  employed  to  preach  half  of  the 
time  until  18 19,  when  the  Rev.  Moses  Parmalee  succeeded  him  and 
served  them  until  1824,  holding  services  most  of  the  time  in  school 
houses.  In  1829  a  church  was  erected,  and  it  became  known  as  the 
White  Church.  On  June  6,  1837,  t^^  society  was  incorporated,  with 
Sidney  Kelsey,  Ashbel  Skinner  and  Calvin  T.  Hulburd,  trustees.  This 
building  was  used   until  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  was  taken  down  and 


524  HISTORY   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

rebuilt  at  Winthrop,  where  it  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition,  with  a 
membership  of  between   200  and   300.      Rev.  F.  Hassold  is  the  pastor. 

A  second  Congregational  church  was  formed  at  West  Stockholm 
about  1823,  with  five  members,  Rev.  Roswell  Pettibone  being  their  first 
pastor.  A  church  edifice  was  erected  in  183 1,  at  a  cost  of  $i,Soo, 
principally  through  the  influence  and  means  of  J.  H.  Sanford.  The 
society  retained  its  organization  about  thirty- six  years. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  West  Stockholm  was  formed  in 
1828,  succeeding  a  class  which  was  in  existence  before  that  time.  The 
"  Parishville  circuit"  was  formed  September  21,  1828,  and  in  August, 
1833,  the  name  was  changed  to  "  Hopkinton  circuit,"  with  Rev.  J.  W. 
Barney  as  pastor.  The  society  was  incorporated  November  19,  1840, 
with  Loren  Ashley,  Ziba  Smith,  Ruel  Lincoln,  Roswell  B.  Webb, 
Horace  Doud,  Martin  Strait,  Henry  B.  Sumner,  Norman  Ashley  and 
Joseph  Page,  trustees.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  C.  F.  Allen,  who 
also  preaches  at  Buckton,  where  the  church  was  organized  January  10, 
1872,  by  Rev.  A.  F.  Bigelow,  and  placed  in  the  Fort  Jackson  charge.  1 
A  brick  church  was  built  the  same  year,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  The  .. 
membership  is  about  100.  I 

The  First  Episcopal  Methodist  church  at  North  Stockholm  (Knapp's 
Station)    was   organized  in    February,  1865,  with  about  fifty  members. 
A  church  was  built  in  1867,  at  a  cost  of  $2,800.      Rev.  J.  W.  Simpson        . 
was   called  to  preach   for  them,  coming   from   Norwood,  where  he  also 
serves  a  church. 

An  Episcopal  Methodist  church  was  formed  at  Brookdale  in  the 
spring  of  1867,  and  a  house  erected  during  the  summer  following,  which 
was  used  a  few  years  only.  There  has  been  no  pastor  or  meetings 
held  in  several  years,  and  the  organization  is  substantially  extinct. 

Wesieyan  Methodist. — The  first  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  of  East 
Stockholm  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1  843  with  eight  members. 
The  society  was  incorporated  October  11,  1852,  and  in  the  following 
year  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,350. 

A  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  was  also  organized  at  North  Stock- 
holm in  the  fall  of  1843,  ^"^  ^  church  erected  in  1867  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500. 

A  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  was  formed  at  Buckton  some  years 
ago,  but  it  has  no  pastor  at  the  present  time. 


THE  TOWN  OF  STOCKHOLM.  525 

A  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  at  Brookdale  was  organized  in  1844- 
45,  and  a  church  erected  about  that  time.  A  parsonage  was  built  in 
1858-59.  and  the  property  is  worth  about  $2,800.  Rev  A.  E.  Moses 
is  the  present  pastor,  and  the  membership  is  about  fifty-five. 

A  Wesleyan  Methodist  Society  in  East  Stockholm  was  incorporated 
October  11,  1852,  with  Ira  Beach,  Stillman  Austin,  Elias  Jenkins, 
Hugh  Allen  and  James  Kelsey,  trustees.  A  church  was  erected  not 
long  after,  and  services  have  been  kept  up  with  tolerable  regularity. 
At  the  present  time  there  is  no  pastor  over  the  society. 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Stockholm,  at  "  Stockholm  Center,"  was 
organized  prior  to  18  12,  and  was  incorporated  May  25,  1822,  with  P. 
Stearns,  Warren  Webster,  and  Luther  Fuller,  trustees.  The  church  has 
subsequently  died  out. 

A  Free- Will  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  June,  1839,  by  Elder 
Samuel  Hart,  at  Stockholm.  The  society  was  not  very  numerous, 
which  soon  became  scattered,  and  finally  became  absorbed  by  other 
churches. 

A  Universalist  Church  was  incorporated  at  Winthrop  on  March  26, 
1888,  over  which  Rev.  L.  W.  Coons  is  the  pastor.  The  society  built  a 
church  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1888,  at  a  cost  of  $2,850,  includ- 
ing furniture.  The  membership  is  twenty- nine.  The  officers  of  the 
society  were  Delos  D.  Kelsey,  moderator ;  H,  W.  Stearns,  clerk ; 
Spencer  H.  Stearns,  treasurer;  Philo  A.  Davis,  Jesse  P.  Sawin,  and 
Isaac  W.  Thomas,  trustees. 


526  HISTORF  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
THE  TOWN  OF  RUSSELL— ORGANIZED  IN  1807. 

RUSSELL,  the  tenth  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  March  27,  1807.  It  comprised  the  whole  of  the  great 
Tract  No.  3,  except  so  much  of  Township  No.  3  as  is  now  included  in 
Pierrepont,  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Hopkinton.  On  April  10, 
18 1 8,  the  townships  of  Edwards  and  Fitz  William  (now  Hermon  and 
Edwards)  were  taken  from  Russell  and  attached  to  Fowler.  Rossie 
was  taken  ofif  January  27,  1813  ;  a  portion  of  Fowler  April  15,  181 5  ; 
Pierrepont,  April  15,  1818,  and  a  part  of  Fine,  March  27,  1849,  thus  re- 
ducing the  territory  of  Russell  to  about   58,000  acres. 

The  town  was  originally  heavily  timbered,  and  the  southern  part  is 
still  largely  forest- covered,  hilly  or  mountainous  and  rugged.  The 
soil  where  susceptible  of  cultivation  is  very  fertile.  Grass  River  flows 
diagonally  across  the  town,  and  numerous  other  smaller  streams  give 
the  town  excellent  drainage.  By  the  terms  of  the  act  forming  the 
town,  the  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Reuben  Ashman,  when 
the  following  town  officers  were  elected  :  Ru<=sell  Attwater,  supervisor ; 
Reuben  Ashman,  town  clerk  ;  Ezra  Moore,  Joseph  Hutchison,  Philip 
Viall,  assessors;  Calvin  Hill,  constable  and  collector;  John  Knox, 
Joseph  Hutchinson,  overseers  of  the  poor;  Samuel  Eaton,  John  Wat- 
son, John  Knox,  commissioners  of  highways;  John  Watson,  Thomas 
Gillmore,  fence  viewers;  Azel  Clark,  Simeon  Stiles,  Elihu  Morgan  and 
Joel  Clark,   overseers  of  highways. 

In  1798  Russell  Attwater  (from  whom  the  town  was  named)  purchased 
of  McCormick  a  tract  embracing  13,600  acres,  all  of  which  except  the 
north  half  of  No.  5  was  subsequently  reconveyed  to  McCormick,  and 
later  became  the  property  of  Joseph  Pitcairn.  Mr.  Attwater  made  an 
exploring  trip  here  in  1 806,  and  in  the  following  year  came  in  with 
Timothy  Blair  (a  surveyor  who  surveyed  the  town  into  farms),  Nathan 
Knox,  Heman  Morgan,  Elias  Hayden,  Loren  Knox,  Reuben  Ashman, 


THE  TOWN  OF  RUSSELL.  527 

Jesse  Bunnell,  Elihu  Morgan  and  David  Knox.  Nathaniel  Higgins  was 
the  first  to  bring  in  his  family,  and  in  the  fall  of  1805  Joel  Clark  and 
his  family  located  on  Plum  Creek.  In  April,  1806,  Mr.  Attvvater  re- 
turned, and  in  that  and  the  succeding  year  the  following  settlers  came 
in :  Joseph  Hutchinson,  Michael  Coffin,  Philip  and  Sampson  Viall,  John 
Potter,  John  Cooper,  Calvin  Hill,  Simeon  Stiles,  Elihu  Phelps,  Samuel 
Clark,  John  Watson,  Horace  Dickenson,  Enos  Bunnell,  Luther  and 
David  Phelps,  and  Philetus  Clark.  The  first  white  child  born  in  town 
was  a  son  of  Reuben  Ashman,  in  October  1806;  the  second  was  a 
daughter  in  the  family  of  Nathaniel  Higgins,  in  May,  1807.  Calvin 
Hill  and  Harriet  Knox  were  the  first  persons  married  and  the  first 
death  was  a  Mr.  Curtis  in  1807.  Between  1810  and  1816  the  town  was 
very  rapidly  settled,  and  anticipations  were  indulged  that  it  would  soon 
become  a  populous  and  wealthy  community.  But  these  anticipations 
were  clouded  by  a  season  of  adversity.  Mr.  Attwater  had  in  his  busi- 
ness mortgaged  his  lands  to  the  Mohawk  Valley  Bank,  and  being  unable 
to  meet  his  payments  a  foreclosure  followed,  which  affected  the  titles  of 
the  settlers  and  caused  the  utmost  disappointment.  Many  went  away 
and  only  by  the  most  urgent  appeals  were  others  prevailed  upon  to  re- 
main. The  lands  passed  into  the  hands  of  Gerrit  Smith,  whose  native 
benevolence  led  him  to  give  all  possible  accommodation  to  those  who 
needed  it,  and  the  settlements  finally  recovered  and  continued  to  ad- 
vance. 

This  town  attracted  some  attention  in  the  War  of  18 12,  on  account 
of  the  location  here  of  an  arsenal  an  the  opening  of  the  roads  toward 
Lake  George  and  Albany,  which,  concentrating  in  town,  were  supposed 
to  promise  prospects  of  future  greatness,  together  with  the  St.  Lawrence 
turnpike,  then  in  course  of  completion,  and  by  its  enormous  business 
during  the  first  few  years,  gave  encouragement  that  this  prosperity 
would  last.  On  account  of  the  blockade  of  Sackett's  Harbor  by  the 
British,  troops  and  munitions  of  war  to  a  certain  extent  were  sent  from 
Plattsburg  through  the  woods  to  the  former  place,  who  passed  by  the 
way  of  Russell  and  Edwards  ;  but  at  the  close  of  the  war  trade  was 
diverted,  and  the  roads  soon  fell  into  disuse,  which  greatly  checked  the 
growth  of  the  place.  Dr.  Hough  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
arsenal : 


528  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

A.a  act  was  passed  February  24,  1809,  which  directed  the  governor  to  cause  to  be 
deposited,  if  he  should  deem  necessary,  an  amount  not  exceeding  500  stand  of  arms, 
in  such  place  in  St.  Lawrence  county  as  he  should  select,  with  such  quantities  of  am- 
munition and  military  stores  as  in  his  opinion  would  be  necessary  in  case  of  invasion. 
The  village  of  Russell,  from  its  being  interior  and  on  the  St.  Lawrence  turnpike,  was 
selected,  and  a  building  erected.  It  stands  on  a  commanding  elevation,  a  little  north 
of  the  village,  on  a  lot  given  to  the  State  by  Mr.  Attwater  for  the  purpose  of  an  arsenal, 
and  is  a  massive  stone  building,  three  stories  high,  30  by  50  feet  on  the  ground,  and 
originally  surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall,  bristling  with  iron  spikes.  The  lower  story 
was  designed  for  artillery,  the  second  for  small  arms,  and  the  third  for  ammunition. 
During  the  war  a  guard  was  posted  around  the  premises  for  its  protection,  but  since  that 
period  no  further  supervision  has  been  maintained  than  the  care  of  a  keeper,  who  was 
a  citizen  residing  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  summer  of  1850  the  arsenal  building  was  sold 
at  auction,  in  pursuance  of  a  general  law,  for  the  sum  of  $525.  The  arms,  amounting 
to  four  hundred  stand,  and  some  twenty  thousand  cartridges  were  sold  in  small  lots  at 
the  same  time. 

After  the  Russell  arsenal  was  disposed  of  an  appropriation  was  made 
by  the  State  for  a  new  one  to  be  built  at  Ogdensburg,  which  was  car- 
ried out  within  a  few  }ears  after.  It  was  built  of  blue  limestone  on  the 
bank  of  the  Oswegatchie  River,  a  few  rods  above  the  east  end  of  the 
dam.  It  was  soon  after  abandoned,  and  the  property,  costing  about 
$io,ooo,  was  sold  to  the  city  of  Ogdensburg  about  1875,  for  $1,000 
which  has  since  been  used  as  a  storehouse  for  the  water  works. 

We  learn  from  an  old  resident  of  the  town  the  following:  The  walls 
of  the  building  are  thirty- five  to  forty  feet  high,  thirty  inches  thick,  and 
are  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  The  property  was  bid  in  by 
Benjamin  Smith,  of  Russell,  at  the  time  and  at  the  price  before  stated, 
who  sold  the  same  to  the  town  about  ten  years  later  for  school  purposes, 
he  having  experimented  in  the  mean  time  in  establishing  a  high  school, 
but  without  success.  In  addition  to  the  stone  wall  surrounding  the 
building,  as  mentioned,  there  was  erected  a  guard  house  or  a  small 
barrack  with  the  necessary  conveniences  to  accommodate  a  company  of 
soldiers.  It  was  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  arsenal,  and  several 
booths  were  placed  around  the  arsenal  enclosure,  with  lights  on  either 
side,  for  the  use  of  the  guards  while  on  duty.  During  the  War  of  18 12 
Corporal  Horace  Dickinson,  with  a  small  company  of  soldiers,  was 
stationed  there.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the  arsenal  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  citizen  of  the  place. 


THE  TOWN  OF  RUSSELL.  529 

Notes. — The  town  records  show  that  a  bounty  of  five  dollars  was 
offered  for  each  wolf  destroyed,  and  one  dollar  for  foxes.  It  seemed  to 
be  the  custom  to  take  a  vote  at  their  town  meetings  to  raise  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each  year,  from  which  sum  bounties  were  paid.  Should 
this  bounty  mone}'  accumulate  beyond  what  was  required  for  the  space 
of  a  few  years,  then  a  certain  portion  of  this  money  set  apart  to  pay  the 
bounties  on  wolves  or  other  obnoxious  animals  was  devoted  to  making 
roads  or  building  bridges.  A  regulation  was  passed  in  1810  that  sleds 
should  be  four  feet  wide,  and  a  fine  of  two  dollars  was  the  penalty  for 
going  on  the  public  highway  with  a  sled  under  that  measure.  A  pen- 
alty of  one  dollar  was  voted  for  allowing  Canada  thistles  to  grow  and 
go  to  seed. 

The  following  names  are  given  of  persons  who  were  active  in  build- 
ing up  the  various  interests  of  the  town  after  the  period  of  adversity 
before  alluded  to  :  Rollin  Smith.  Philip  Viall,  Ezra  Moore,  Stephen 
Kimball,  James  Williams,  Timothy  Kimball,  Enos  Wright,  Consider 
Hall,  Benj.  Gibbons,  James  Mathews,  John  Boyd.  Anthony  C.  Brown, 
Enos  Green,  David  Loop,  W^m.  Danforth,  Elanson  Ray,  Thomas  Gibbs, 
Royal  and  Justus  Stiles,  Erastus  Lloyd,  H.  Van  Ornam,  Charles  and 
Benjamin  Smith. 

The  town  of  Russell  has  prided  itself  upon  the  results  of  its  efforts  in 
aid  of  the  government  during  the  great  war  of  1861-65.  She  furnished 
423  volunteers,  among  whom  were  thirty-one  commissioned  officers ; 
raised  $21,369  for  the  various  war  purposes,  and  seventy- one  of  her 
brave  soldiers  sleep  in  heroes'  graves.  The  customary  bounties  were 
paid  to  volunteers,  and  so  liberal  were  the  contributions  that  nearly 
$1,000  remained  on  hand  when  the  last  of  these  obligations  was  paid. 

Following  are  names  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  forma- 
tion, with  the  years  of  their  service  : 

180S-9,  Russell  Attwater;  at  a  special  meeting,  March  27,  1809,  Reuben  Ashman; 
1810-14,  Reuben  Ashman;  1815-17,  Anthony  C.  Brown;  1818,  Reuben  Ashman; 
1819-21,  Phmeas  Attwater  ;  1822,  Reuben  Ashman  :  1823-27,  James  WilhatDs ;  1828- 
33,  Rolhn  Smith ;  1834-38,  Elihu  Phelps;  1839-40,  Holmes  Nevin;  1841-42,  Rollin 
Smith;  1843-46,  Benjamin  Smith ;  1847,  Rollin  Smith;  1848,  James  Wilhams;  1849- 
50,  Nelson  Doolittle ;  1851-54,  Rollin  C.  Jackson  ;  1855,  Nelson  Doolittle;  1856,  Wm. 
B.  Rose :  September  27,  1856,  John  Goodside  was  elected  to  fill  vacancy  ;  1857-59. 
Joseph  H.  Gibbons ;  1860-61,  Charles  Smith;  1862-G6,  Julius  M.  Palmer;  1867-68, 
Wm.  E.Boyd;  1869-70,  Benjamin  Smith;  1871-76,  Hiram  Bartlett;  1877,  Wm.  H. 
67 


530  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Lewis,  jr. ;  1878,  Julius  M.  Palmer;  1879-80,  Hiram  Bartlett;  1881-86,  James  R. 
Smith  ;  1887-8,  H.  Stanley  Derby  ;  1889,  Wm.  Stephenson ;  1890,  H.  Stanley  Derby  ; 
1891-4,  RoUin  G.  Smith. 

Russell  village  is  situated  near  the  center  of  the  town  on  both  sides  of 
the  Grass  River.  The  place  was  settled  in  1805,  when  Nathaniel 
Higgins  located  near  the  village  site  ;  Russell  Attwater  came  the  next 
year  with  Reuben  Ashman,  Nathan,  David  and  Loren  Knox,  Jesse  and 
and  Moses  A.  Bunnell,  and  in  1807  the  Phelps  brothers,  Horace  Dick- 
inson, John  Watson,  and  Dr.  Goddard  came  in.  The  manufacturing 
interests  of  the  place  began  with  the  building  of  a  saw  mill  by  Mr.  Att- 
water in  1807,  and  the  site  was  occupied  for  the  same  purpose  until 
recent  years.  A  saw  mill,  however,  was  put  in  operation  on  Plum 
Creek,  about  half  a  mile  from  its  mouth,  near  Russell,  by  Joel  Clark,  in 
the  fall  of  1805.  Mr.  Clark  and  Higgins,  with  their  families,  were  the 
only  ones  settled  in  that  neighborhood  until  1 807.  In  18 10  Mr.  Att- 
water put  up  a  small  grist  mill  near  the  site  of  the  present  mill  ;  the 
latter  was  erected  in  1863  by  Hit-am  Bartlett,  and  is  now  operated  by 
Charles  Bartlett.  Other  manufactures  that  have  been  carried  on  here 
were  a  fanning  mill  factory,  which  subsequently  became  a  furniture 
shop,  run  by  Palmer  &  Boyd  ;  a  cloth  dressing  business  carried  on  by 
George  L.  Hosford,  M.  Van  Brocklin  and  others,  now  abandoned.  A 
forge  was  built  by  Benjamin  Smith  at  the  village  on  Grass  River  in 
1846.  It  had  two  fires  capable  of  producing  about  400  pounds  of  bar 
iron  per  day.  It  was  worked  with  bog  and  magnetic  ores  and  with 
scrap  iron.  The  ores  were  obtained  from  beds  about  eleven  miles  from 
the  forge  in  unlimited  quantities.  The  business  was  abandoned  a  few 
years  later.  An  axe  factory  was  established  in  1850  and  discontinued 
a  few  years  later.  The  present  manufactures  are  a  furniture  shop  by 
Daniel  Colton,  who  also  deals  in  furniture ;  Hepburn,  Brown  &  Co. 
make  butter  tubs  ;  and  F.  W,  Blanchard  is  proprietor  of  a  cheese  fac- 
tory;  James  Gore  is  a  harness  maker  and  deals  in  horse  fittings. 

The  first  school  in  Russell  was  taught  in  a  log  house  in  the  Knox 
settlement  by  Phineas  Attwater.  In  January,  18 14,  three  school  dis- 
tricts were  formed,  which  have  been  subdivided  until  there  are  nineteen 
districts  at  the  present  time. 


THE  TOWN  OF  RUSSELL.  531 

Russell  is  prominent  as  a  dairy  town,  and  considerable  attention  has 
been  given  to  raising  blooded  stock.  There  are  now  eight  cheese  fac- 
tories in  operation,  and  the  product  enjoys  a  high  reputation. 

The  village  of  North  Russell  is  situated  near  the  Canton  line,  and  the 
immediate  locality  was  settled  by  nine  members  of  the  Knox  family, 
of  whom  John  came  in  1805  and  with  him  his  son  Chester.  Joseph 
Hutchinson,  Samuel  Clark  and  his  six  sons,  Rollin  Smith,  Alvin  White 
and  others  located  in  that  section  of  the  town,  the  latter  on  Rensselaer 
Creek.  On  that  stream  Jacob  Hutchins  built  a  log  grist  mill  in  1806. 
The  present  mill  succeeded  the  first  one,  and  is  operated  by  Almon 
Oilman.  At  a  later  day  Dr.  Alanson  Ray  built  a  saw  mill  here  for 
Joseph  Pitcairn,  which  was  swept  away  ;  but  a  mill  has  always  been 
maintained,  and  is  now  operated  by  Almon  Oilman  in  connection  with 
the  grist  mill  farther  up  the  stream.  Other  saw  mills  were  built  and 
are  now  operated,  one  by  A.  E.  Burdick,  known  as  the  Robinson  mill ; 
and  one  by  A.  Gates  at  what  is  called  "  Palmerville ;  "  and  one  by 
Chester  Van  Ornam  at  what  is  called  "  Silver  Hill."  The  post-office 
was  established  in  February,  1848,  with  Linus  Clark,  postmaster.  The 
present  official  is  Leland  D.  Clark,  Clark  Brothers  carry  on  a  mer- 
cantile business,  and  one  of  the  cheese  factories  is  established  here. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  Anthony  C.  Brown,  a  lawyer,  of  Og- 
densburg,  about  18 14  William  Danforth  and  J.  P.  Moulton  were  also 
pioneer  merchants,  and  later  came  John  Goodrich,  Hiry  Derby  and  J. 
M.  Palmer,  Charles  Smith,  O.  Baker  and  others.  Present  merchants 
are  R.  G.  Smith,  J.  M.  Palmer,  O.  M.  Baker,  George  W.  Burt  and  P. 
G.  Carr. 

The  first  tavern  was  built  in  181 2  by  Moses  A.  Bunnell,  and  kept  by 
him  a  number  of  years.  The  building,  with  many  others,  was  burned 
in  1874,  and  another  built  on  its  site.  It  is  now  kept  by  O.  Richard- 
son. The  post-office  was  established  in  June,  18 12,  with  Pliny  God- 
dard  postmaster.     The  present  official  in  the  office  is  J.  M,  Palmer. 

RELIGIOUS   SOCIETIES. 

In  the  summer  of  1806  the  missionary,  Rev.  Royal  Phelps,  visited 
the  new  neighborhood  and  held  services  at  the  house  of  Russell  Att- 
water,    where   meetings   were   occasionally   held   until   the  erection   of 


532  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

school  houses.  In  the  spring  of  1817  Rev.  James  Jolinson  held  meet- 
ings in  the  village  in  connection  with  the  De  Kalb  Mission,  when  a  con- 
gregational church  was  organized  with  ten  members,  and  James  Will- 
iams and  Enos  Wright  were  elected  deacons.  In  1840  the  membership 
had  increased  to  thirty,  when  they  contemplated  building  a  church,  the 
Revs.  Mr.  Montague  and  Graves  having  officiated  in  connection  with 
other  charges  up  to  this  time.  But  the  removal  of  several  of  the  lead- 
ing members  prevented  this  purpose,  and  the  services  shortly  after  were 
discontinued. 

The  Zion  Episcopal  Church. — The  first  meetings  of  this  denomination 
was  held  in  the  summer  of  1807  by  Bishop  Hobart.  A  parish  or  church 
was  formed  on  July  15,  1809,  with  fifteen  members,  Russell  Attwater 
and  Jesse  Bunnell  as  wardens  ;  Justus  Ives,  Levi  Frost,  John  Boyd, 
Moses  A.  Bunnell,  Reuben  Ashman,  Phineas  Attwater,  William  Att- 
water and  Nathan  Knox,  vestrymen.  The  church  never  had  a  regular 
rector,  and  after  a  few  years  the  work  was  abandoned. 

The  Baptist  Society. — Services  of  this  denomination  were  held  here  as 
early  as  1809  by  Rev.  Samuel  Rowley,  who  was  one  of  the  advance 
missionaries  sent  out  to  look  up  this  people.  Meetings  were  held  in  the 
house  of  Philip  Viall  and  in  school-houses  for  a  number  of  years,  when 
a  society  was  formed  without  a  legal  organization  previous  to  1845. 
At  this  time  a  small  frame  church  was  erected,  being  the  first  church 
edifice  in  town,  which  was  dedicated  October  15,  1845.  The  society  in 
connection  with  this  church  was  incorporated  December  29,  1846,  with 
H.  Van  Ornam,  William  G.  Gibbons,  and  Gilbert  Stewart,  trustees. 

In  1874  the  old  church  was  thoroughly  reconstructed,  a  basement 
and  tower  added,  and  finished  off  in  good  style,  valued  now  at  $4,000, 
and  rededicated  in  August  of  that  year  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Barnes,  mostly 
through  the  efforts  and  means  of  J.  M.  Palmer. 

A  second  Baptist  church  was  organized  at  Monterey  settlement  in 
June,  1877,  with  twenty- five  members,  most  of  whom  had  withdrawn 
from  the  above  named  church  for  the  purpose  of  forming  this  one.  A. 
Colton  and  A.  A.  Baker  were  elected  deacons.  Services  were  held  in 
school  houses. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Russell  was  formed  in  1847  with 
eight  members.      Services  in  this  faith  had  been  held  here  prior  to  that 


THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE.  533 

year  at  North  Russell  and  at  Elm  Creek.  In  February,  185  i,  the  so- 
ciety was  incorporated  with  Hiry  Derby,  M.  Van  Brocklin  and  Charles 
Rundell,  trustees.  In  1857  a  substantial  frame  church  was  erected 
costing,  with  a  parsonage  built  in  185 1,  about  $2,500.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  Linus  Green.  Preaching  and  other  services  under  this 
charge  are  held  at  North  Russell,  Silver  Hill,  Belleville,  South  Russell 
and  Monterery,  with  Sunday  schools  organized  at  most  of  these  places. 
The  Universalists  and  other  denominations  also  hold  services  occasion- 
ally in  some  parts  of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE— ORGANIZED  IN  1810. 

THIS  was  the  eleventh  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  April  5,  18 10.  Louisville  is  one  of  the  northern  towns  of 
the  county,  borders  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  county,  and  comprises  the  larger  portiorf  of  the  original  township 
No.  I.  It  now  contains  33,424  acres,  and  was  formerly  under  the  ju- 
risdiction of  Massena.  It  is  bounded  by  Massena  on  the  east,  Norfolk 
on  the  south,  Waddington  on  the  west,  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River  on 
the  north.  The  Grass  River  flows  across  the  central  part  nearly  paral- 
lel with  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  surface  is  level  or  gently  rolling,  and 
the  soil  a  fertile  loam  Several  islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  more 
important  being  Croil's  and  Goose  Neck,  belong  to  the  town. 

Louisville  was  settled  about  ten  years  before  its  formation.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  directed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  John  Wilson,  but 
the  loss  or  absence  of  the  records  of  the  first  five  years  of  its  existence 
renders  its  history  somewhat  obscure  for  a  time.  In  April.  1800, 
Nahum  Wilson,  the  first  settler,  arrived  in  the  town,  coming  in  from 
Canada,  where  he  had  lived  a  year.  He  was  originally  from  Peru,  N. 
Y.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  two  sons  and  Aaron  Allen,  but  did 
not  bring  his  family  until  the  following  winter.  He  settled  on  the  lot 
next   east  of  the   one   recently    occupied    by   his    grandson,   Jeremiah 


534  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Wilson.  They  raised  some  corn  the  first  season  and  in  the  next  some 
wheat,  the  first  produced  in  the  town.  Mr.  Allen  and  Samuel  W. 
Wilson,  son  of  Nahum,  cut  down  the  first  tree  in  their  clearing  and 
built  the  first  log  house  in  the  town.  The  next  settler  was  John  Wil- 
son, who  came  from  Vermont  in  the  spring  of  1801.  He  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  Lyman  Bostwick,  Dr.  Elisha  W.  Barber  and  several  of  his 
brothers,  Grifiin  Place,  Joseph  Bradford,  Alexander  Loughrey,  Charles 
Whalen,  Jube  Day,  Jeremiah  Wood.  Among  those  of  later  arrival 
were  Samuel  Wells,  Ephraim  Wood,  Thomas  Bingham,  C.  S.  Willard, 
Amos  Underwood,  Levi  Cole,  Chistopher  G.  Stowe,  Timothy  W.  Os- 
borne, and  others  whose  names  will  appear  in  the  succeeding  pages. 
The  first  birth  in  town  was  a  son  of  Nahum  Wilson,  Nahum,  jr.,  born 
October  28,  1 801,  and  the  first  death  that  of  Philo  Barber,  in  either  1801 
or  1802.  After  about  1805  settlement  was  quite  active  and  the  lands 
were  eagerly  taken  up.  In  1805  Asa  Day,  one  of  the  pioneers,  erected 
a  saw  mill  on  the  Grass  River  about  a  mile  below  the  site  of  Louisville 
village.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Elisha  Barber,  probably  in 
1809,  in  a  log  school -house  in  the  Wilson  neighborhood.  Sylvester 
Drake  and  Lucinda  Cole,  and  Joel  Case  and  Lucy  Haws,  were  married 
in  the  year  1809,  but  wl\ich  twain  has  the  honor  of  priority  is  not  now 
known. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1806,  a  sad  event  occurred  in  the  town  which 
spread  a  pall  of  gloom  and  mourning  in  the  little  community.  The  fol- 
lowing account  of  it  is  condensed  from  Mr.  Hough's  writing  : 

Dr.  Barber  and  Mr.  Chapman,,  from  Madrid,  and  Messrs.  Powell  and  Alexander,  of 
Louisville,  were  accidentally  drowned  while  crossing  the  St.  Lawrence,  about  opposite 
the  center  of  the  town.  They  had  been  over  to  Canada,  where  they  were  detained  by 
the  roughness  of  the  river  occasioned  by  a  strong  east  wind.  Towards  night,  the  wind 
having  abated,  they  attempted  to  cross  in  a  log  canoe,  but  their  boat  capsized  and  two 
of  their  nurnber  are  supposed  to  have  drowned  immediately.  The  other  two  clung  to 
their  boat  and  endeavored  by  cries  to  obtain  assistance.  These  cries  were  heard  on 
both  sides  of  the  river  and  to  a  great  distance  below  as  they  floated  down,  but  no  one 
paid  any  particular  attention  to  them,  not  realizing  that  they  proceeded  from  persons  in 
distress,  and  these  two  also  perished.  Three  of  the  bodies  were  found  several  miles 
below,  and  the  fourth  a  great  distance  from  the  place  of  the  capsize,  among  the  islands. 
A  large  dog  which  was  aboard  had  been  tied  to  keep  him  quiet,  and  he  is  supposed,  in 
his  struggles  to  get  free,  to  have  overturned  them.  This  sad  accident  spread  a  gloom 
through  the  settlements,  and  was  a  cause  of  unavailing  regret  to  those  who  had  heard 


THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE.  535 

the  cries  without  hastening  to  their  assistance.  No  blame  was  attached  to  any  one, 
and  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  roughness  of  the  river  were  such  that  aid  could 
scarcely  have  been  afforded  had  the  situation  of  the  sufferers  been  appreciated.  A 
touching  incident  that  occurred  in  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  the  accident  hap- 
pened was  rendered  peculiarly  affecting  by  the  fatal  event.  As  one  of  the  number  was 
about  leaving  home,  a  little  daughter,  who  evinced  great  fondness  for  her  father,  came 
to  him  in  a  manner  unusually  affectionate,  tenderly  embraced  and  kissed  him,  and  ex- 
acted of  him  a  promise  that  he  would  certainly  return  before  night.  She  seemed  to 
have  an  instinctive  foreboding  of  evil,  and  by  the  artless  innocence  of  childlike  entreaty 
endeavored  to  prevent  him  leaving  home. 

The  formation  of  Norfolk  in  1823  diminished  the  size  of  Louisville 
nearly  one  half,  but  a  small  part  of  that  town  was  reannexed  to  Louis- 
ville in  April,  1844.  Among  the  regulations  adopted  in  18 19  was  one 
offering  a  bounty  of  ten  dollars  for  wolves  killed,  and  two  years  later 
one  of  one  dollar  for  foxes.  Relative  to  proposed  divisions  of  the  town 
in  1823,  two  notices  were  promulgated;  one  was  to  form  a  town  six 
miles  square  from  Lisbon,  Madrid,  Stockholm  and  Potsdam,  with  Nor- 
folk village  as  its  center;  the  other  was  for  the  division  which  was  sub- 
sequently made  in  the  formation  of  Norfolk.  An  attempt  was  made  in 
1849  to  take  a  part  of  the  town  and  annex  it  to  Massena.  This  project 
was  undoubtedly  most  objectionable  to  the  people  of  Louisville,  for  they 
voted  to  lay  the  proposition  under  the  table. 

Mr.  Hough  has  made  special  reference  to  the  fact  that  the  pioneers 
of  Louisville  previous  to  the  War  of  1812  were  the  recipients  of  nu- 
merous favors  from  their  neighbors  on  the  Canada  shore.  Why  this 
should  be  true  of  Louisville  any  more  than  of  other  towns  is  not  wholly 
clear,  unless  it  was  a  fact  that  the  residents  across  the  river  at  that  par- 
ticular locality  were  in  better  circumstances  than  others  farther  east  or 
west  Many  of  those  Canadian  settlers  were  Germans  who  had  come 
from  the  Mohawk  Valley  during  the  Revolution — were  Tories,  in  fact — 
and  they  had  early  become  well  and  comfortably  established,  had  built 
mills,  were  raising  crops  of  grain  and  vegetables,  and  it  is  a  credit  to 
them  that  they  contributed  to  the  necessities  of  the  pioneers  on  the 
south  shore,  though  they  had  differed  in  their  former  attitude  towards 
the  English  king  and   the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Hough  says : 

Previous  to  the  declaration  of  war  (1812)  the  most  friendly  relations  existed ;  families 
exchanged  visits  with  as  much  freedom  and  frequency  as  if  the  river  was  but  a  common 


536  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

street,  and  they  were  constantly  in  the  habit  of  borrowing  and  lending  those  articles 
which  their  limited  means  did  not  allow  each  one  to  possess.  The  war  for  a  time  made 
each  suspicious  of  the  other  and  entirely  stopped  all  intercourse  for  a  time,  but  neces- 
sity led  them  ere  long  to  look  back  with  regret  on  the  customs  of  former  times  and 
secretly  long  for  their  return.  During  the  first  summer  of  the  war  many  of  the  Can- 
adians were  called  off  to  perform  military  duty  and  labor  on  the  fortifications  at  Pres- 
cott,  and  their  families  were  left  to  provide  for  themselves  as  they  might  best  be  able. 
Provisions  became  scarce  and  want  stared  them  in  the  face.  Pressed  with  hunger  the 
children  of  one  of  the  families,  remembering  the  homely  but  wholesome  fare  which  they 
had  formerly  observed  on  the  south  shore,  one  night  entered  a  boat,  and  being  skillful 
in  its  use,  crossed  over  and  humbly  begged  at  the  door  of  a  house  at  which  they  were 
acquainted  for  food.  The  family  were  overjoyed  at  the  visit,  and  on  their  return  sent 
back  an  invitation  for  their  parents  to  come  over  on  a  certain  night  and  renew  their  old 
acquaintance.  They  did  so,  and  never  were  people  more  delighted  than  these  when 
they  met,  exchanged  salutations  and  learned  by  those  expressions  which  come  from  the 
heart  that  although  the  two  governments  had  declared  them  enemies  they  were  still 
friends. 

It  is  said  that  from  that  time  onward  the  nightly  clandestine  visits 
were  of  constant  occurrence  until  the  close  of  the  war  made  them  un- 
necessary. With  the  end  of  that  struggle  settlers  came  more  rapidly 
into  the  town  ;  the  forests  fell  before  the  pioneer's  axe,  and  the  found- 
ations of  future  prosperity  were  securely  laid. 

Inhabitants  of  Louisville  were  directly  interested  in  that  struggle,  and 
early  in  the  summer  of  1812  organized  a  volunteer  company  for  self- 
protection,  consisting  of  -forty  men.  That  number  comprised  all  the 
male  population  who  were  capable  of  bearing  arms.  Benjamin  Daniels 
was  chosen  "  high  sergeant,"  an  ofifice  which  they  must  have  created 
for  their  own  special  accommodation.  Soon  after  their  organization 
they  received  orders  from  General  Brown  at  Ogdensburg  to  stop  all 
craft  on  the  river  opposite  the  town.  This  led  to  the  capture  of  a  raft, 
in  the  cabin  of  which  they  found  a  large  quantity  of  stores,  most  of 
which  they  forwarded  to  the  collector  of  the  district.  Before  the  close 
of  that  season  a  regular  militia  company  was  organized,  with  Benjamin 
Willard  as  captain,  which  drew  arms  from  the  arsenal  at  Russell  and 
was  in  service  from  August  to  November,  but  the}'  did  not  come  into 
active  conflict  with  the  enemy. 

It  is  worthy  of  rcord  to  state  that  the  first  death  penalty  inflicted  in 
St.  Lawrence  county  was  for  the  murder  of  three  persons  in  this  town 
on  the  22d  of  February,  1816,  details  of  which  event  ha\'e  been  given 
on  pages  354-6. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE.  537 

Croil's  Island,  which  has  been  mentioned,  has  had  several  different 
names,  that  of  the  French  being  "  He  au  Chamailles,"  while  its  inhabi- 
tants in  later  years  have  called  it  Baxter's,  Stacy's  and  now  Croil's, 
after  the  names  of  its  owners.  Previous  to  i8i8,  when  the  boundaries 
between  the  two  countries  was  fixed,  this  island  was  considered  British 
territory  ;  under  that  belief,  Asa  Baxter,  who  then  owned  it,  was  drafted 
into  the  British  army  in  i8i2,  and  on  his  refusal  to  serve,  the  island 
was  confiscated.  Baxter  appears  to  have  been  made  of  patriotic  ma- 
terial, for  he  deserted  the  British  and  fled  to  Vermont,  where  he  remained 
to  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  to  his  island,  he  was  promptly 
arrested  as  a  deserter  and  confined  in  the  Cornwall  jail  from  April  to 
August,  1 8 14.  On  the  way  to  Kingston  for  his  trial  he  escaped  from 
the  officers.  When  the  island  was  finally  assigned  to  this  country  he 
he  gave  himself  up  for  trial  at  Cornwall,  but  the  court,  of  course,  had 
no  jurisdiction  over  him,  and  he  returned  to  the  island  and  lived  there 
several  years.  He  was  dispossessed  through  the  purchase  of  the  islands 
in  the  St.  Lawrence  by  Judge  Ogden,  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  be- 
tween the  land  commissioners  and  the  attorney-general,  but  he  was  in 
some  measure  recompensed  at  a  later  date.  The  island  contains  about 
1,800  acres  and  is  now  divided  into  several  farms. 

This  town,  in  common  with  others,  on  the  river  was  visited  by  the 
cholera  in  1832,  but  not  with  great  severity.  There  were  ten  cases, 
only  one  of  which  was  fatal.  A  board  of  health  was  organized,  with 
Dr.  Ira  Gibson  as  health  officer,  and  designated  the  shore  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  "  between  Robert  Crawford's  and  Allen  McLeod's  farms  "  as 
quarantine  grounds. 

The  chief  industry  of  the  town  has  always  been  farming.  Aside  from 
that  a  few  mills  and  manufacturing  industries  have  been  started,  but 
most  of  them  have  gone  out  of  existence.  The  site  of  the  little  village 
of  Louisville  (  formerly  called  "  Millerville  "  from  the  Rev.  Levi  Miller), 
is  on  the  Grass  River  and  has  a  good  water  power.  Mr.  Miller  was  a 
licentiate  Methodist  preacher,  originally  from  Massachusetts,  but  later 
from  Turin,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  this  town  as  agent  for 
Janes  McVicker,  the  purchaser  from  Macomb  of  the  tract  which  em- 
braced the  village  site.      Mr.  Miller  arrived  in  March,  1823,   and  found 

a  small  clearing  made  a  few  years  earlier  by   Oliver   Ames.      A  bridge 

68 


538  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

which  had  been  built  in  1820,  also  crossed  the  river,  and  the  founda- 
tions for  a  saw  mill  were  also  laid.  McVicker  began  making  improve- 
ments and  in  1833  built  the  stone  part  of  the  grist  mill  now  standing. 
In  1837  George  Redington  came  in  and  purchased  the  water  power,  of 
which  Mr.  Miller  owned  one- quarter,  finished  the  mill  building,  put  in 
the  machinery  and  put  it  in  operation.  This  mill  has  since  been  en- 
larged by  a  wooden  part  and  is  now  operated  by  M.  &  E.  Whalen. 
Redington  owned  the  mill  until  his  death  in  September,  1850,  and  after- 
wards it  passed  through  various  hands  to  the  present  owners 

There  was  a  dam  and  a  small  grinding  mill  built  about  a  mile  lower 
down  the  river,  but  it  long  since  passed  away. 

Other  manufactures  were  a  carriage  factory  established  in  1853  by 
a  Mr.  Sullivan,  but  it  was  closed  up  after  a  long  and  successful  career. 
A  saw  and  shingle  mill  now  in  operation  was  lately  taken  by  S.  F. 
Wells  ;  it  had  been  carried  on  about  twenty  years.  The  post-office 
here  was  established  in  1827,  with  Levi  Miller  as  postmaster.  The 
present  official  is  Willard  Loughrey,  who  also  conducts  a  mercantile 
business.  John  B.  Willson  was  a  merchant  and  hotel  keeper  for  many 
years  and  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen  ;  he  held  the  office  of  super- 
visor for  many  years  and  was  held  in  high  respect.  He  died  August 
14,  1893.  Wm.  J.  Mien  &  Co.  are  merchants  and  A.  G.  Taylor  sells 
boots  and  shoes. 

Settlement  was  begun  at  what  is  known  as  Chase's  Mills,  by  Alden 
Chase,  and  hence  its  name.  Others  who  settled  early  in  that  section 
were  Eben  and  Varnum  Polley  and  James  and  Elijah  Stearns.  The 
hamlet  is  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  and  for  many  years  had 
only  a  few  houses  and  a  grist  mill ;  but  the  water  power  is  excellent 
and  led  to  starting  several  other  manufactures.  The  first  grist  mill  was 
built  in  1834  and  burned  ten  years  later.  Elijah  H.  Stearns  erected 
the  second  mill  in  i860,  which  suffered  the  fate  of  its  predecessor  after 
some  twenty  years  of  existence.  A  feed  mill  is  now  operated  by  M. 
Eobair.  A  successful  tannery  owned  by  George  Graves  &  Son,  of  Rut- 
land, Vt.,  was  operated  several  years,  and  also  a  shingle  and  saw  mill. 
A  pump  factory  was  carried  on  by  Haggett  &  Son,  but  it  has  gone 
down.  L.  E.  Barnett  has  been  many  years  and  still  is  a  merchant,  and 
a  second  store  is  kept  by  Nolan  &  Ballou.  Mr.  Barnett  is  postmaster 
and  has  held  the  office  many  years. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LOUISVILLE.  539 

Louisville  Landing  is  a  port  of  entry  from  Canada,  with  a  few  houses 
and  two  stores,  a  hotel  and  a  few  shops.  James  Matthews  has  one  of 
the  stores  and  is  customs  officer  in  1893.  H.  T.  Clark  carries  on  the 
other  store,  and  Adelia  Gibson  is  postmistress. 

The  agricultural  industry  of  this  town,  since  the  days  of  lumbering 
and  black  salts,  has  in  recent  years  undergone  the  same  changes  wrought 
elsewhere  in  this  section.  The  dairying  interest  is  large  and  almost 
wholly  devoted  to  the  production  of  butter.  There  is  one  large  factory 
and  several  smaller  ones  which  are  tributary  to  it,  and  the  product  en- 
joys a  high  reputation. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

It  is  believed  that  there  was  no  church  organization  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  this  town  until  1 820.  There  was  a  church  in  Raymond- 
ville  at  an  earlier  date,  which  was,  until  1823,  in  this  town.  Meetings 
for  religious  services  were,  however,  held  by  different  denominations 
long  before  the  year  mentioned,  often  by  ministers  from  Canada. 
Through  the  efforts  of  Benjamin  and  Peter  Powers  a  small  society  was 
gathered  and  meetings  held  in  the  dwelling  occupied  in  recent  years  by 
John  Whalen,  and  there  the  Rev.  Levi  Miller  formed  a  Methodist 
class.  The  church  was  not  organized  until  1839,  and  on  the  3d  of  June 
of  that  year  the  following  trustees  were  chosen  :  Levi  Miller,  Levi 
Miller,  jr.,  Israel  G.  Stowe,  John  Power  and  John  Doud.  The  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  1840  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  W.  T.  Best. 

The  Second  Methodist  ChiircJi  was  organized  at  Chase's  Mills  with 
about  twenty- two  members,  July  12,  1869.  The  first  officers  were 
L  E.  Barnett,  Robert  Bardon,  R.  C.  Allen,  Apollos  Jones,  and  I.  A. 
Harriman,  trustees;  William  Bardon,  treasurer;  L.  E.  Barnett,  church 
clerk.  The  house  was  erected  in  the  same  year  of  brick,  and  cost 
$2,400.  Of  this  amount  $1,000  were  contributed  by  the  inhabitants, 
and  on  dedication  day,  contrary  to  predictions  of  many,  the  $1,400  re- 
maining was  all  paid  up.  Athough  not  numerous  in  membership,  this 
church  has  always  been  active  and  prosperous.  The  pulpit  is  now  sup- 
plied by  Rev.  Frank  H.  Taylor. 

A  Methodist  Society  was  organized  with  forty  members  at  Louis- 
ville Landing  in  1852,  by  Rev.  H.  Chittenden,  and  a  church  was  built 


540  IIISTORV   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  the  same  year.      Services  have  been  regularly  held.      The  member- 
ship is  small  and  the  pulpit  is  supplied  from  Louisville  village. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Louisville  was  organized  just  previous  to 
the  erection  of  the  present  brick  edifice  in  1880.  The  building  cost 
$4,500.  The  membership  is  about  fifty  five,  and  the  church  is  now 
supplied  on  Sabbath  afternoons  by  the  congregational  minister,  Rev. 
A.  S   Warden,  from  Massena. 

The  St.  Lawrence  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  organized  with  sixty- 
four  families,  October  2,  1869.  John  B.  Whalen  presided,  and  Michael 
Power  was  secretary  of  the  meeting  held  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  the 
formation  of  the  society.  The  church  was  erected  in  187  1-72,  at  a  cost 
of  $7,000.  The  first  trustees  were  Bishop  Wadhams,  Very  Rev.  James 
Mackey,  Father  Welsh,  then  pastor  in  charge,  and  John  B.  Whalen  and 
Michael  Power.  Tlie  membership  is  about  300,  and  Father  D.  Nolan 
is  in  charge. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  first  school  in  the  town  by  Elisha  Barber  in 
1808,  in  the  Willson  neighborhood,  and  of  another  a  little  later  by  Rev. 
Levi  Miller,  near  the  Louisville  village  site,  great  changes  have  been  ef- 
fected. The  rude  log  school  house  has  given  way  to  tidy  frame 
buildings,  comfortably  furnished  and  supplied  with  teachers  of  educa- 
tion and  experience.  There  are  now  fourteen  districts  in  the  town,  all 
of  which  are  in  prosperous  circumstances 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  Louisville  from  18 16  to  the 
present,  with  dates  of  service  : 

1816,  Elisha  W.  Barber;  1819,  Christopher  G.  Stowe ;  1820,  Benjamin  Raymond; 
1821,  Timothy  W.  Osborne;  1822-23,  C.  G.  Stowe;  1824,  Samuel  R.  Anderson;  1825- 
2S,  William  Bradford;  1829,  September  19,  Gould,  to  fill  vacancy  from  Brad- 
ford's death;  1829-33,  Jube  E.  Day  ;  1834,  Allen  McL.  od,  jr.  ;  1835,  J.  E.  Day  ;  1836, 
Allen  McLeod  ;  1837-40,  Samuel  Bradford;  1841-42,  John  Doud  ;  1843,  Thomas  Bing- 
ham; 1844,  S.  Bradford;  1845,  T.  Bingham;  1846-47,  Nathaniel  D.  Moore;  1848, 
John  Gibson  ;  1848,  March  25,  Levi  Miller,  jr.,  to  fill  vacancy ;  1849,  Levi  Miller,  jr. ; 
1850-54,  John  Gibson  ;  1855,  Mark  A.  Moore;  1856-57,  Samuel  Bradford;  1858,  Will- 
iam Miller  ;  1859-60,  Samuel  Bradford;  1861,  Levi  Miller;  1862-63,  John  Whalen; 
1864-65,  James  Miller;  1866-68,  William  Bradford;  1869,  Otis  H.  Wells;  1870-71, 
John  Whalen;  1872.  James  Miller;  1873-77,  William  Bradford;  1878-79,  W.  W.  Tut- 
tle;  1880,  Otis  H.  Wells;  1881,  W.  W.  Tuttle  ;  1882,  Otis  H.  Wells;  1883-84,  Henry 
Mulholland;  1885-86,  John  B.  Wilson:  1887-89,  Guy  R.  Cook;  1890-93,  John  B. 
Wilson;  Otis  Wells,  1894. 


O,    "t^^^^-— ;^ 


TFIE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  541 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVER>f EUR— ORGANIZED  IN   ISIO. 

THIS  town  was  erected  b\'  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  April 
15,  1 8 10.  It  comprised  the  original  township  of  "  Cambria,"  No. 
10,  lying  in  the  extreme  southwestern  corner  of  the  ten  towns  and  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  Oswegatchie.  It  was  patented  by  the  State  to 
Alexander  Macomb.  December  17,  1787,  after  which  it  passed  through 
various  owners  to  Gouverneur  Morris  between  the  years  of  1798  and 
1808,  and  in  honor  of  whom  the  town  was  named.  The  territory  was 
somewhat  dimished  by  the  erection  of  Macomb  in  1841.  The  first  town 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Spencer,  where  the  following 
officers  were  elected  :  Richard  Townsend,  supervisor  ;  Amos  Comley, 
town  clerk  ;  Rufus  Washburn,  Isaac  Morgan,  Pardon  Babcock,  assessors  ; 
Amos  Comley,  Benjamin  Smith,  Ephriam  Case,  commissioners  of  high- 
ways; Jonathan  S.  Colton,  Isaac  Morgan,  fence  viewers;  Israel  Porter, 
pound  master.  A  portion  of  the  surface  of  the  town  is  rolling,  while 
in  other  parts  rugged  hills  and  rocky  limestone  ledges  prevail,  furnish- 
ing valuable  building  material  which  will  be  more  fully  explained  fur- 
ther on  The  soil  is  sand\'  in  places,  mixed  with  clay  and  gravel  suitable 
for  agricultural  purposes.  The  town  is  well  watered  with  numerous 
springs,  brooks  and  the  Oswegaichie  River  passing  nearly  twice  through 
the  ce.itral  part  (see  page  109).  The  forest  growth  of  timber  of  the 
various  kinds  was  equal  to  other  localities  in  the  county. 

This  territory  was  first  settled  by  white  men,  as  far  as  known,  in  the 
summer  of  1805,  when  several  men  under  leadership  of  Dr.  Richard 
Townsend,  from  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  came  into  the  locality.  Dr. 
Townsend  had  been  engaged  by  Mr.  Morris  to  act  as  his  agent  for  the 
Cambray  lands  and  to  promote  their  settlement.  The  names  of  the 
party  were  Willard  Smith,  Isaac  Austin,  Pardon  Babcock,  John  Alden, 
Ambi  Higby  and  Morris  Mead.  Their  route  into  the  town  was  from 
the  head  of  Lake  George  through  the  wilderness   to   the   Smith   settle- 


542  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ment  in  De  Kalb,  whence  they  proceeded  southwest  to  the  Oswegat- 
chie  just  above  the  natural  dam.  Thence  they  passed  down  and  crossed 
the  river  near  the  present  h'ne  of  Rossie.  After  looking  over  the  coun- 
try, they  returned  home  by  way  of  Indian  and  Black  Rivers.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  Dr.  Townsend,  with  a  party  of  those  before  named 
and  others,  made  a  second  visit  to  the  town,  coming  up  from  the  south 
to  the  Oswegatchie  and  up  that  stream  to  the  small  island  on  the  site 
of  Gouverneur  village.  This  locality  greatly  pleased  them.  Lands 
were  selected  for  settement,  a  surveyor  secured,  tracts  laid  out  and  a 
beginning  made  in  clearing  away  the  forest.  The  party  then  returned 
to  their  homes 

Early  in  February,  i8o6,  Willard  Smith,  Pardon  Babcock,  Isaac 
Austin  and  Eleazer  Nichols  set  out  with  their  families  from  Hartford, 
Washington  county,  to  take  up  their  permanent  residence  in  Cambray. 
They  were  provided  with  eight  bushels  of  beans,  eleven  hundred  pounds 
of  boneless  pork,  sugar,  tea  and  coffee,  with  a  small  outfit  of  furniture 
and  cooking  utensils.  Mrs.  Austin  had  been  many  years  a  rheumatic 
invalid  and  was  carried  the  whole  distance  in  a  crib.  Seven  cows  and 
four  yoke  of  oxen  were  driven  in  by  the  part3\  The  women  and  chil- 
dren were  left  with  Gershom  Mattoon,  who  had  opened  a  tavern  on  the 
site  of  Antwerp  village,  while  the  men  went  forward  to  build  the  first 
rude  dwelling  places.  Isaac  Austin  established  himself  within  the  lim- 
its of  the  present  village  ;  Babcock  on  what  became  known  as  the  Joel 
Keyes  place  ;  and  Smith  and  Nichols  built  a  shanty  together  where 
James  Maddock  recently  lived.  On  the  31st  of  March,  Isaac  Morgan 
and  his  wife  came  in  from  Vermont,  and  Dr.  Townsend  came  soon  after- 
ward, but  did  not  bring  his  family  until  the  following  year. 

Through  the  influence  of  the  first  four  pioneers  and  the  reported 
value  of  the  farming  lands  and  the  water  power,  other  settlers  soon 
arrived,  and  in  the  spring  of  1807  there  were  twelve  families,  the  eight 
besides  the  four  being  Dr.  John  Spencer,  Isaac  Morgan,  Dr.  Richard 
Townsend,  Daniel  Austen,  Stephen  Patterson,  Benjamin  Smith,  Israel 
Porter  and  Stephen  Smith.  Land  began  to  advance  in  value  and  a 
large  tract  was  purchased  and  divided  into  farms.  The  original  price 
was  $2.50  per  acre  but  was  soon  raised  to  $3.00  and  $4.00.  As  con- 
siderable land  was  occupied  on  both  sides  of  the   river,   the  need  of  a 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  543 

bridge  was  felt  as  crossing  was  by  boats  or  on  a  log  foot  path  which  was 
made  by  felling  trees  in  the  river.  Therefore  an  effort  was  made  to 
provide  a  bridge,  and  as  the  town  of  Oswegatchie  declined  to  aid  in 
the  undertaking,  the  settlers  with  commendable  zeal  and  energy  raised 
the  sum  of  $500,  when  Isaac  Kendall  built  a  log  bridge,  in  the  summer 
of  1807,  which  served  its  purpose  about  twelve  years.  In  the  same 
summer  the  route  from  Antwerp  was  worked  in  a  more  direct  line  and 
continued  through  to  Richville.  Many  families  of  the  St.  Regis  Indians 
were  camping  in  the  neighborhood,  who  were  generally  friendly  when 
sober,  though  their  native  shyness  proved  a  source  of  annoyance.  Re- 
ligious exercises  were  regularly  held,  consisting  of  prayer  meetings  and 
the  reading  of  Scripture  and  exhortation  on  the  Sabbath,  the  latter  ser- 
vice being  often    conducted   by    Stephen    Patterson.      In   the   spring  of 

1806,  two  Congregational  missionaries,  named  Pettengill  and  Nicholas, 
came  from  Massachusetts  and  remained  in  the  little  settlement  a  short 
time,  and  a  Methodist  preacher  named  Heath  came  occasionally  from 
De  Kalb  and  held  service.  Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  181 1,  religious  harmony  prevailed  and  no  outward  feeling 
was  manifested  regarding  sect  or  belief,  and  all  parties  worshiped  to- 
gether. The  first  families  were  Baptist,  but  a  large  Congregational 
element  was  early  developed,  each  giving  of  his  ability  for  the  support 
of  the  Gospel  by  whomsoever  declared.  Concerning  the  privations  of 
the  pioneers,  while  establishing  their  homes  in  the  wilderness,  see  Chap- 
ter IX.  The  nearest  mill  was  at  Cooper's  Falls,  a  distance  of  many 
miles  through  the  woods  to  go  for  a  supply  of  meal. 

The  first  birth  in  the  town  was  that  of  Allen  Smith,  son  of  Willard 
Smith,  born  May  8,  1806.  The  first  death  was  that  of  a  two  year- old 
daughter  of  Tsael  Porter,  in  August,    1808.      Previous   to   the  spring  of 

1807,  the  nearest  physician  was  Dr.  Seeley  of  De  Kalb,  until  Dr.  John 
Spencer  arrived. 

Other  arrivals  in  1807  were  Colburn  Barrell  and  Roswell  Wilder, 
while  in  1808  there  came  Joel  Wilder,  James  Parker,  John  Parker, 
Ephraim  Case,  Jonathan  S.  Colton,  W'illiam  Cleghorn,  Henry  Welch, 
Jeremiah  Merrihew,  Jesse  Dewey  and  Stephen  Patterson.  James 
Thompson,  James  Haile  and  Jonathan  Paine  came  in  1808.  Among 
those  who  came  in  the  following  year  were  Timothy   Sheldon,  Reuben 


544  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Nobles,  William  W.  Rhodes,  Richard  Kimball  and  Capt.  Rockwell 
Barnes,  a  millwright  and  a  man  of  enterprise,  who  did  much  to  advance 
the  prosperity  of  the  town.  From  this  time  forward,  settlements  in- 
creased rapidly  and  farms  were  cleared  from  year  to  }ear  of  the  original 
forest.  In  1809  a  clearing  of  eighty  acres  was  made  in  the  vicinity  of 
Natural  Dam  by  Joseph  Bolton,  for  Mr.  Morris,  who  erected  a  saw 
and  grist  mill,  which  were  long  known  as  Morris's  mills.  In  the 
autumn  of  1809  the  first  district  school  was  opened,  and  soon  after- 
wards a  small  school  house  was  built  near  the  site  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  taught  by  Silas  Brooks.  After  a  week  he  left  the  school  and 
was  succeeded  by  Betsey  S.  Sackett,  who  later  became  the  wife  of  John 
Parker. 

The  first  slave  and  probably  the  only  one  brought  to  town  was  one 
Jenny,  a  cripple,  who  came  with  the  family  of  Dr.  Richard  Townsend, 
in  the  spring  of  1807.  She  was  conveyed  to  P^phraim  Gates  for  the 
consideration  of  a  span  of  horses  and  sleigh,  but  her  health  failing,  so 
as  to  render  her  nearl\-  useless,  she  was  repurchased  b}-  her  former 
owner,  by  whom  she  was  treated  kindly  until  her  death  a  year  later. 

The  customary  regulations  for  the  public  good  were  voted,  including 
the  destruction  of  noxious  weeds,  bount}'  on  wolves  and  other  ferocious 
animals,  the  control  of  domestic  animals,  the  building  of  a  pound,  etc. 
The  encounter  with  wild  beasts  and  the  depredations  committed,  caused 
bounties  to  be  offered  for  their  destruction,  which  laws  or  regulations 
at  the  present  time  are  a  dead  letter. 

Dr.  John  Spencer,  who  came  in  with  his  family  from  Windsor,  Ont., 
in  the  spring  of  1807,  was  the  onl\'  practicing  physician  within  a  cir- 
cuit of  many  miles.  Several  families  in  Antwerp  were  prostrated  with 
a  malignant  fever,  whom  the  doctor  visited  from  time  to  time,  going 
through  the  woods  on  foot.  On  one  of  his  visits  in  December,  in  the 
year  of  his  arrival,  and  when  about  three  miles  from  the  settlement,  he 
was  startled  by  the  sight  of  a  deer  pursued  by  a  black  wolf  While 
watchmg  the  chase  he  observed  eleven  other  wolves  following  after. 
The  wolves,  on  discovering  new  game,  abandoned  the  chase  of  the  deer 
and  circled  around  the  doctor  with  loud  howls  and  open  jaws  ready  to 
attack  him.  Mr.  Spencer's  first  thought  was  to  retreat  to  the  settle- 
ment, but   this   seemed  to  be  impractical.      The   next  thought   was   to 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  545 

climb  a  tree  ;  this  he  also  considered  was  not  safe,  as  the  cold  was  so 
intense  he  would  freeze  to  death  if  obliged  to  stop  there  through  the 
night,  for  the  wolves  would  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  leave.  He  therefore 
resolved  to  fight;  so,  divesting  himself  of  unnecessary  burdens,  he  cut 
a  heavy  beech  cudgel  and  rushed  at  his  assailants,  beating  the  icy 
bushes  right  and  left  and  making  all  the  noise  possible,  when  the  pack 
of  disappointed  beasts  retired  ;  he  then  pursued  his  journey  unmolested. 
Encounters  with  wolves  similar  to  this  were  quite  frequent  for  several 
years  after.  The  bear  was  just  about  as  lawless  as  the  Indian.  He 
trampled  down  and  carried  off  the  corn,  stole  maple  sugar  when  left  in 
the  bush,  stuck  his  nose  and  paw  into  boiling  syrup,  tipped  over  sap 
troughs,  and  carried  off  pigs,  calves  and  lambs.  A  Mr.  Case  adopted  a 
novel  mode  of  capturing  a  bear  which  was  foraging  on  his  premises. 
He  attached  a  piece  of  meat  to  the  end  of  a  long  rope  and  retired  to  a 
hill  that  was  frequented  by  the  animal.  With  his  gun  he  waited  for  his 
victim,  but  becoming  drows}'  he  fastened  the  rope  to  his  leg  and  fell 
asleep,  when  he  was  awakened  by  an  unceremonious  journey  down  the 
hill.  He  at  once  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  motor  when  the  bear  took 
fright  and  fled. 

The  above  is  sufficient  to  show  what  had  to  be  contended  with  in  the 
settlement  of  a  new  country.      For  particulars  see  Chapter  IX. 

The  first  public  house  was  opened  in  1808,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  and  was  kept  by  Israel  Porter.  A  commodious  log  school  house 
was  built  near  what  became  known  as  Fosgate's  Four  Corners,  where 
John  Chene\'  was  the  first  teacher.  This  part  of  the  town  improved 
faster  for  a  period  than  the  east  side,  but  the  valuable  water  power,  and 
the  opening  of  a  store  by  John  Brown,  soon  turned  the  scale. 

James  and  John  Parker  came  into  the  town  in  April,  18 10,  and  the 
former  located  on  a  farm.  William  Downs,  a  clothmaker,  in  18 14 
operated  a  carding    machine   and  fulling  mill,  as   mentioned    hereafter. 

The  first  frame  house  built  in  the  place  was  for  Dr.  John  Spencer, 
by  Rockwell  Barnes  and  Isaac  Austen,  and  is  still  standing.  Rockwell 
Barnes  was  a  noted  mechanic  and  came  to  the  town  in  1808.  He  built 
many  of  the  mills  in  the  vicinity,  and  was  conspicuous  in  the  early 
militia. 

69 


546  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  War  of  1 812-14  created  much  excitement  in  the  town.  For 
the  history  of  the  doings  at  Ogdensburg  see  Chapter  XI.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  war  the  people  in  the  village  of  Gouverneur,  be- 
ing panic-stricken  in  the  fear  of  Indian  excursions,  erected  a  block 
house  in  the  road  between  the  residence  of  F.  M.  Holbrook  and  H.  H. 
Hoover's  livery  stable,  enclosed  by  a  stockade  containing  about  one 
acre  of  ground.  The  main  building  was  formed  of  heavy  timbers  cal- 
culated to  withstand  a  siege  and  stop  musket  balls.  The  modern  Babel 
was  not  molested  by  the  enemy,  though  a  watch  by  day  and  sentinels 
by  night  were  maintained  for  a  time,  when  the  people  returned  to  their 
vocations.  The  building  was  finally  sold  and  the  timbers  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  dam,  bridges  and  houses. 

Stephen  Patterson,  William  Fanning,  Isaac  Austen  and  Stephen 
Mitchell  were  among  the  volunteers  who  went  to  the  frontier.  Silas 
Spencer,  a  brother  of  Dr.  John  Spencer,  went  as  substitute  for  John 
Parker,  and  by  his  heroism  in  firing  a  small  cannon  upon  a  party  of 
British  who  were  attempting  a  landing  from  the  ice  at  Ogdensburg, 
gained  local  fame. 

Dr.  John  Spencer,  while  living  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Wallace 
McKean,  kept  a  small  tavern.  A  company  of  soldiers  on  their  way  to 
Ogdensburg  in  the  fall  of  18 12  stopped  at  his  house  for  breakfast,  and 
while  they  were  thus  occupied  the  doctor  inspected  their  ordnance. 
Looking  into  the  mouth  of  a  cannon  he  discovered,  instead  of  powder 
and  ball,  several  of  his  own  chickens,  which  a  short  time  before  were 
running  around  the  yard,  their  necks  having  been  rung  and  their  cackle 
hushed.  A  few  years  later  a  stranger  called  on  the  doctor  and  asked 
him  if  he  had  kept  a  tavern  down  the  river  during  the  war  time.  Being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  added  :  "  Did  you  breakfast  some  sol- 
diers one  morning  ?  and  did  you  miss  any  chickens  ?  "  The  doctor 
said  he  did  and  knew  of  the  theft  at  the  time,  but  felt  it  a  privilege  to 
do  something  for  his  country,  and  was  willing  that  they  should  select 
their  own  provisions. 

With  the  close  of  the  war  the  prospects  of  the  town  were  brighter 
than  ever  before.  In  18 16  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  families 
in  the  town  and  a  population  in  the  village  of  nearly  two  hundred,  while 
immigration  was  active.     This  progress  received  a  check  between  1820 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUYERNEUR.  547 

and  1825.  A  few  additions  were  made  in  that  period,  among  them 
Daniel  Keys  (1822)  and  Harvey  D.  Smith  (1824),  a  most  valuable 
citizen  ;  but  on  account  of  scarcity  of  money,  poor  markets  for  pro- 
ducts, difficulty  in  meeting  the  interest  accounts  on  purchased  lands, 
the  people  were  much    discouraged. 

But  a  better  and  more  prosperous  era  was  at  hand,  and  following 
1830,  and  continuing  to  the  present  time,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
have  experienced  almost  uninterrupted  progress. 

The  agricultural  interests,  in  common  with  those  of  other  sections, 
have  undergone  much  change  since  early  times.  The  most  important 
feature  of  this  change  has  been  eftected  within  the  past  twenty-five 
years,  resulting  in  great  increase  of  the  dairying  interest,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  grain  growing.  This  has  been,  on  the  whole,  beneficial  to 
the  farmers,  for  a  large  portion  of  their  lands  is  better  adapted  for 
grazing  than  tillage.  The  first  cheese  factory  in  the  town  was  estab- 
lished by  A.  G.  Gillette  in  1869  ;  this  was  rapidly  followed  by  one  at 
North  Gouverneur,  by  Elias  Kelsey,  1870;  one  at  Little  Bow  Corners, 
by  S.  W.  Crandall,  in  1867;  one  at  Smith's  Mills,  by  Conray  &  Drake, 
in  1875  ;  one  west  of  the  village,  by  C.  W.  Overacker,  in  1875  ;  and  one 
near  the  Rock   Island  bridge,   by   Caleb  Thornton,  in   1875. 

Gouverneur  Village  was  incorporated  August  8,  1850.  It  is  situated 
on  both  sides  of  the  Oswegatchie.  near  the  center  of  the  town.  The 
incorporation  was  accomplished  in  pursuance  of  an  order  of  the  Court 
of  Sessions,  under  condition  that  the  electors  of  the  village  should  assent 
thereto.  James  Sherwin,  Rodney  Smith  and  John  W.  Overacker  were 
designated  inspectors  of  the  election,  which  was  held  on  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1850.  The  vote  was  thirty  in  favor  of  incorporation  and  four 
against.  The  first  corporation  election  was  held  on  the  1 2th  of  the 
succeeding  month,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  Trustees, 
N.  D.  Arnot,  Edwin  Dodge,  Peter  Van  Buren,  S.  B.  Van  Duzee  and 
J.  P.  Smith  (Mr.  Arnot  being  elected  president  by  the  board  at  its  first 
meeting) ;  assessors,  H.  Schermerhorn,  Richard  Parsons  and  O.  G. 
Barnum  ;  clerk,  Chauncey  Dodge  ;  collector,  Zebina  Smith;  treasurer, 
H.  D.  Smith. 

The  presidents  of  the  village  from  that  time  until  the  present  have 
been  as  follows : 


548  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Peter  Van  Buren,  1851 ;  John  Fosgate,  1852;  Richard  Parsons,  1853-55;  Charles  S. 
Cone,  185G;  Whitfield  M.  Goodrich,  1857;  James  D.  Easton,  1858;  Gilbert  L.  A^an 
Namee,  1859-60;  Charles  Anthony,  1861;  Charles  A.  Van  Duzee,  1861-62;  Charles  E. 
Clark,  1864-66;  and  J.  B.  Preston,  in  1867. 

By  act  of  Legislature  the  original  village  charter  was  repealed  in 
April,  1 868,  and  a  new  act  of  incorporation  passed,  and  the  first  elec- 
tion thereunder  occurred  on  the  5th  day  of  May,  1868.  The  list  of 
presidents  is  continued  : 

W.  H.  Bowne,  1869-70;  S.  B.  Stinson,  1871;  Edwin  G.  Dodge,  1872-76;  William 
Whitney,  1877;  W.  H.  Bowne,  1878;  A.  K.  Jepson,  1879;  E.  F.  Beardslee,  1880;  W. 
R.  Dodge,  1881;  Dr.  J.  B.  Carpenter,  1882;  Newton  Aldrich,  1883;  B.  L.  Barney, 
1884-5;  G.  M.  Gleason,  1886;  John  McCarthy,  1887-8;  Henry  Sudds,  1889-91;  G.  S. 
Conger.  1892 ;  J.  B.  Preston,  1893. 

Some  of  the  early  operations  of  the  pioneers  in  the  settlement  here 
have  already  been  noticed.  The  building  of  the  first  bridge  across  the 
river  was  in  1808.  The  second  bridge  was  built  by  James  Parker  in 
1820,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  This  was  also  replaced  by  the  present  iron 
bridge  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $18,000.  It  was  placed  a  trifle  higher  up 
stream  than  the  former  ones,  and  the  approaches  to  it  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  were  greatly  improved. 

In  1809  John  Brown  opened  the  first  store,  at  the  east  end  of  the 
bridge  Not  long  after,  Moses  Rowley  opened  the  second  store.  The 
products  of  the  early  manufacture  of  potash,  maple  sugar,  grain,  etc., 
found  market  in  the  village,  whence  they  were  sent  to  Ogdensburg, 
Watertovvn  or  Sackett's  Harbor,  to  be  exchanged  for  goods.  Mr.  Will- 
iam Downs  in  18 14  entered  into  a  contract  with  Mr.  Morris  to  build  a 
dam  and  fulling  mill  at  the  village.  The  conditions  of  his  contract  were 
that  his  mill  should  be  in  operation  in  time  to  work  the  wool  clip  of 
that  season,  which  was  performed.  This  mill  was  operated  many  years, 
Downs  being  succeeded  by  Eli  Robinson.  Sylvester  Cone  was  the 
next  owner,  and  rebuilt  it.  It  was  afterwards  converted  into  a  wood- 
working establishment  by  Isaac  P.  Fisher,  and  was  burned  in  1853. 
Mr.  Fisher  erected  on  its  site  the  fine  grist  mill  now  owned  by  Graves 
Bros.  (C.  H.  and  W.  C),  who  bought  it  April  11,  1893,  of  their  father, 
S.  Graves. 

John  Brown  erected  and  carried  on  a  distillery  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war  ;   it  was  situated  above  the  mills,  and   for  a  number  of  years 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR  549 

did  quite  a  large  business.  What  the  efifect  of  the  distillery  alone  may 
have  been  on  the  morals  of  the  community,  we  cannot  say,  but  it 
was  not  beneficial,  according  to  the  recollection  of  the  older  inhabitants. 

The  first  saw  mill  in  the  village  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  in  1815  by  Israel  Porter,  Rockwell  Barnes,  Raymond  Austin  and 
Benjamin  Smith,  each  having  a  quarter  interest.  After  passing  through 
the  ownership  of  many  persons,  it  was  finally  burned  in  1853,  when 
John  Fosgate  was  its  owner.  He  rebuilt  it,  and  it  afterwards  passed 
into  possession  of  Bidwell  &  Baldwin,  who  remodeled  it  and  sold  it  to 
Starbuck,  McCarty  &  Co.,  in  1869.  ^n  1882-3  they  erected  the  steam 
mill  which  was  burned  July  9,  1887,  and  was  immediately  rebuilt.  The 
company  continues  to  operate  the  steam  and  the  water  mill,  have 
several  lumber  yards,  and  carry  on  a  large  business.  They  manufacture 
sash,  doors  and  blinds,  and  run  a  planing  mill. 

The  first  grist  mill  was  built  by  Israel  Porter  about  1820,  on  the  west 
side,  and  was  furnished  with  two  runs  of  rock  stone  brought  from  Ant- 
werp. This  mill  was  burned  in  1825  ;  rebuilt  by  Porter,  who  operated 
it  until  his  death  in  1836,  when  it  passed  to  Almeron  Thomas,  and  later 
to  John  Fosgate,  who  operated  it  in  connection  with  the  saw  mill  above 
described.  The  mill  was  burned  in  the  fire  of  1 85 3,  but  Mr.  Fosgate 
rebuilt  it.  At  his  death  it  was  purchased  by  Edwin  C.  Dodge.  The 
firm  was  then  Dodge  &  Beardslee.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Dodge,  Nelson 
H.  Howard  bought  into  the  firm  of  Howard  &  Beardslee.  Mr.  Howard 
bought  out  his  partner  and  sold  one  half  to  J.  E.  McAllaster  in  1887. 
The  two  remained  together  until  1890.  when  Mr.  McAllaster  purchased 
the  remaining  half  and  took  his  son,  A.  F.  McAllaster,  and  his  son  in- 
law, R.  T.  Allen,  into  the  partnership,  the  same  firm  carrying  on  a 
large  mercantile  business  also.  In  the  summer  of  1893  an  extensive 
addition  was  made  to  the  mill,  which  now  contains  six  sets  of  rollers 
and  all  modern  machinery  for  a  merchant  milling  business. 

Harvey  D.  Smith,  whose  name  has  been  mentioned,  settled  in  the 
town  in  1824,  and  until  his  death,  in  1864,  was  conspicuous  in  all  good 
works.  In  that  year  (1824)  the  first  post-office  was  officially  established 
on  the  3d  of  August,  Moses  Rowley,  postmaster. 

In  the  earlier  years  most  of  the  mail  had  been  received  from  the 
Black  River  country  by  whatever  agency  the  people  could  make  use  of 


550  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  deposited  with  Haile  Coffeen  for  distribution.  About  1816  Dr. 
Richard  Townsend  performed  the  duties  of  postmaster,  though  not  an 
appointee  of  the  government,  and  so  continued  to  do  until  the  regular 
appointment  Dr.  Townsend  made  an  office  of  his  table  drawer,  which 
was  subsequently  removed  by  Mr.  Rowley  to  his  store.  His  successor 
was  Edwin  Dodge,  from  about  1830  to  1849.  Mr.  Dodge  came  to 
Gouverneur  as  the  agent  of  the  Morris  estate,  and  by  his  liberal  and 
forbearing  policy  exerted  a  strong  influence  upon  the  upbuilding  of  the 
place.  He  died  in  1877.  Chauncey  Dodge  succeeded  him  as  post- 
master, and  was  followed  by  Charles  Anthony,  William  H.  Bowne,  S. 
S.  Van  Duzee,  George  B.  Winslow,  Horace  G.  Reynolds,  Wm.  R. 
Dodge  and  A.  C.  Gates. 

The  deep  interest  that  has  uniformly  been  evinced  in  Gouverneur  in 
educational  affairs  found  early  expression  in  efforts  to  establish  an 
academical  school.  Agitation  of  the  subject  began  in  1826,  when  a 
one-story  brick  school  house  was  in  process  of  erection.  It  vi^as  pro- 
posed to  add  another  story  for  a  school  of  higher  grades,  funds  for  the 
purpose  to  be  raised  by  subscription.  In  pursuance  of  the  plan  $640 
were  raised  and  divided  into  fifty-four  shares,  the  shareholders  to  con- 
stitute an  association  which  should  use  the  upper  half  of  the  building 
and  control  the  school.  The  name  of  "  The  Gouverneur  Union  Acad- 
emy "  was  adopted,  and  its  affairs  placed  under  control  of  three  trustees 
to  be  elected  annually.  The  school  was  opened  in  1827  with  a  Mr. 
Ruger  as  principal.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1828,  this  academy  was  in- 
corporated as  "  The  Gouverneur  High  School,"  with  John  Spencer, 
Aaron  Rowley,  David  Barrell,  Harvey  D.  Smith,  Josiah  Waid,  Alba 
Smith,  Almond  Z.  Madison,  Joel  Keyes  and  Robert  Conant  as  the  first 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  authorized  capital  stock  was  $20,000,  divided 
into  2,000  equal  shares.  In  the  fall  of  1828  the  charge  of  the  school 
was  assumed  by  Isaac  Green,  who  was  to  receive  as  remuneration  all 
the  proceeds  of  tuitions,  and  was  granted  the  use  of  the  school  room 
free  during  the  first  term. 

The  school  was  admitted  to  the  benefits  of  the  Regents  of  the  Univer- 
sity in  1829,  and  in  the  following  year  the  necessity  for  additional  room 
was  met  by  raising  $2,755  and  the  beginning  in  September  of  a  new 
building  on  a  lot  secured  from  James  Averill  ;  this  lot  constituted  the 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOTTVERNEUR.  551 

easterly  end  of  what  is  now  the  public  park.  The  fund  mentioned 
being  insufficient  for  the  purpose,  the  stockholders  in  the  upper  story 
of  the  old  building  conveyed  their  shares  to  the  trustees  of  the  High 
School,  under  agreement  that  the  latter  should  sell  the  property,  donate 
the  proceeds  to  the  erection  of  the  new  building,  and  give  the  stock- 
holders an  equal  amount  of  stock  authorized  by  the  act  of  1828.  Ar- 
rangement was  made  with  Joseph  Hopkins,  a  graduate  of  Hamilton 
College,  who  had  taught  in  Potsdam,  to  take  charge  of  this  school,  re- 
ceiving as  remuneration  all  the  tuition  money  in  addition  to  that  received 
from  the  Regents. 

The  building  was  of  brick,  two  stories  high  and  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy in  April,  1834,  when  the  school  was  opened  with  Joseph  Hop- 
kins as  principal,  assisted  by  A.  Z.  Madison  and  Mary  A.  Hopkins. 
In  March,  1836,  Mr.  Hopkins  resigned  and  under  arrangements  with 
the  Black  River  Conference  the  school  was  taken  under  the  charge  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  principal  features  of  the  agree- 
ment under  which  this  change  was  made  were  that  the  Methodists  were 
prohibited  from  procuring  sufficient  of  the  stock,  exclusix^eof  100  shares 
which  were  properly  transferred  to  them,  to  give  them  entire  control  of 
the  institution;  and  that  if  the  Methodists  should  fail  to  maintain  the 
school  ( by  which  failure  they  would  forfeit  the  said  transferred  stock  ) 
then  the  institution  should  be  returned  to  the  former  proprietors  free 
of  all  encumbrance.  On  March  29,  1837,  '^3  shares  were  transferred 
to  John  Loveys,  William  C.  Mason,  Jesse  T.  Peck,  C.  W.  Leet  and  Reu- 
ben Reynolds,  ministers  acting  for  the  conference.  The  first  principal 
under  the  new  regime  was  Rev.  Jesse  T.  Peck.  On  the  night  of  Janu- 
ary I,  1839,  the  building  and  all  of  its  contents  were  burned.  In  this 
trying  emergency  rooms  were  fitted  up  in  the  upper  story  of  the  old 
school  building  and  occupied.  Of  the  $2,300  insurance,  $1,800  were 
lost ;  the  remainder,  with  about  $2,600  in  subscriptions,  a  large  part  of 
which  was  not  yet  due,  constituted  the  resources  of  the  institution, 
while  there  was  an  indebtedness  of  about  $4,000.  A  loan  of  $2,000  was 
obtained  from  the  State,  to  be  repaid  through  a  tax  in  four  years, 
which,  with  additional  subscriptions,  enabled  the  authorities  to  rebuild. 
A  lot  fronting  225  feet  on  what  is  now  Main  street,  and  182  feet  on 
what  is  now  Grove  street,  was   purchased   of  Wolcott   Griffin,   May  6, 


552  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1839,  and  there  a  substantial  stone  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$5,500.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1840,  the  name  of  the  institution  was 
changed  by  act  of  Legislature  to  "  Gouverneur  Wesieyan  Seminary" 
and  so  remained.  By  an  act  of  1851,  an  appropriation  of  $2,000  was 
made  by  the  State,  which  relieved  the  seminary  of  all  incumbrances. 
The  institution  remained  in  charge  of  the  Methodists,  enjoying  a  high 
degree  of  prosperity,  until  1869,  when  they  transferred  their  support  to 
a  school  at  Antwerp.  The  town  citizens  thereupon  held  a  meeting  at 
which  a  vote  was  passed  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $20,000  to 
insure  the  continuance  of  the  seminary  in  Gouverneur.  The  law  author- 
izing these  bonds  passed  April  23,  1869,  and  it  also  authorized  an  in- 
crease of  the  capital  stock  to  $50,000.  Of  the  principal  of  the  bonds, 
$4,000  were  used  in  repairing  the  buildings  and  other  improvements. 
The  stockholders'  meeting  of  September  6,  1869,  developed  considera- 
ble friction.  Rev.  L.  Clark,  for  the  conference,  offered  a  vote  on  the 
103  shares  transferred  to  them  in  1837,  which  votes  were  rejected.  He 
also  offered  to  vote  on  300  other  shares,  which  votes  were  finally  re- 
ceived. The  supervisor  of  the  town  voted  on  2,000  shares,  under  the 
strenuous  opposition  of  Mr.  Clark.  This  effectually  disposed  of  secta- 
rian influence  in  the  seminary,  and  the  following  trustees  were  elected  : 
Hon.  Edwin  Dodge,  Isaac  Starbuck,  Hezekiah  S.  Randall,  Stephen  B. 
Van  Duzee,  Griswold  E.  Burt,  William  A.  Paul,  George  M.  Gleason, 
Edward  H.  Neary  and  Francis  M.  Holbrook. 

West  Side  School  Building. — The  rapid  increase  in  population  on  the 
"  West  Side  "  in  1888,  owing  to  the  development  of  the  marble  busi- 
ness, had  so  far  outrun  the  capacity  of  the  school  facilities,  that  it  was 
decided,  after  a  fiercely  fought  fight,  to  erect  a  new  and  more  commo- 
dious school  building. 

Great  opposition  was  made  by  the  extremely  conservative  portion 
of  the  population,  but  the  indomitable  energy  and  dogged  perseverance 
of  John  McCarty  triumphed  over  all  opposition,  and  in  1889,  under  his 
personal  supervision,  a  splendid  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,300. 
The  structure  is  of  wood,  two  stories  high,  has  a  floor  area  of  3,300  feet, 
eight  class  rooms,  and  can  conveniently  seat  360  pupils.  It  is  furnished 
with  modern  seats  and  all  other  needful  paraphernalia  in  keeping  with 
the  progress  of  the  age,  and   is   warmed   by  three   furnaces,  which   are 


'^^^^rl^^/^^d-^'^J^^ 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  553 

located  in  the  basement.  A  fine  bell  was  donated  by  the  workmen  who 
constructed  the  edifice,  which  is  an  honor  to  the  town,  and  a  fitting 
monument  to  the  enterprise  and  dauntless  pluck  of  John  McCarty,  to 
whom  it  owes  its  existence. 

It  will  be  proper  to  close  our  account  of  educational  affairs  in 
Gouverneur  in  this  connection.  In  1873  the  old  brick  school  house, 
corner  of  Church  and  John  streets  (erected  in  1826)  was  purchased 
by  Dr.  McFalls,  who  fitted  it  for  a  dwelling.  A  lot  had  already  been 
purchased  on  Gordon  street,  where,  in  1870,  a  new  and  more  com- 
modious school  building  was  erected,  to  which  several  additions  have 
been  made  at  various  times,  as  necessity  demanded.  Early  in  the 
year  1880  agitation  was  begun  for  a  change  in  the  school  system 
to  a  Union  Free  School.  While  the  old  seminary  had  many  friends 
who  deplored  the  necessity  of  seeing  it  lose  its  identity,  they  still  realized 
that  it  had  lost  much  of  its  prestige  and  usefulness  through  competition 
in  larger  places,  and  acquiesced  in  the  general  movement  for  a  change. 

A  meeting  was  called  in  March,  1887,  to  consider  the  establishment 
of  a  Union  Free  School  in  the  village  and  the  uniting  of  Districts  Nos. 
I  and  2.  The  majority  voting  in  favor  of  the  project  was  large,  and  the 
meeting  proceeded  to  the  appointment  of  a  board  of  nine  trustees,  as 
follows  :  H.  Sudds,  J.  B.  Johnson,  L.  M.  Lee,  J.  W.  Ormiston,  J.  La- 
berdee,  B.  L  Barney,  John  McCarty,  A.  S.  Whitney,  and  F.  H.  Hor- 
ton.  The  school  opened  in  the  following  autumn  and  has  continued 
with  gratifying  success.  A  new  school  building  was  erected  on  Depot 
street  in  1890. 

The  Gouverneur  Union  Library  was  incorporated  in  181 5,  and 
through  contributions  of  money  and  books  from  private  collections  at 
home  and  abroad,  a  valuable  library  was  soon  secured.  The  trustees 
were  Rockwell  Barnes,  Israel  Porter,  Aaron  Atwood,  Richard  Kim- 
ball, Benjamin  Brown,  Timothy  Sheldon.  Pardon  Babcock,  and  Joseph 
Smith,  all  of  whom  served  at  one  time  or  another.  The  library  was 
eventually  transferred  to  the  High  School  and  then  to  Gouverneur 
Wesleyan  Seminary,  where  it  was  burned  with  that  institution  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1839,  after  being  a  means  of  untold  good. 

On  November  19,  1885,  the  Ladies'  Reading  Room  Association  was 
organized,  with  a  president,  five  vice-presidents  (one  of  the  latter  from 
70 


554  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

each  religious  denomination  in  the  village),  a  secretary,  treasurer, 
librarian,  and  executive  committee.  The  library  of  the  association  has 
now  nearly  a  thousand  volumes,  which,  with  the  current  literature  kept 
constantly  in  the  rooms,  render  it  a  popular  and  beneficial  resort.  The 
early  success  of  the  reading-room  was  greatly  promoted  by  the  action 
of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  (organized  1884)  in  turn- 
ing over  to  it  a  considerable  accumulation  of  books,  etc. 

Sewers  and  Street  Lighting. — There  were  no  sewers  in  Gouverneur 
until  the  year  1876,  since  which  date  they  have  been  extended  in  sev- 
eral of  the  principal  streets.  Extensive  improvements  in  this  direction 
have  been  made  since  1886,  until  now  the  village  is  thoroughly  drained 
and  the  streets  are  in  excellent  condition.  In  the  year  just  mentioned, 
also,  was  established  the  fountain  in  the  park,  which  was  paid  for  by 
a  dollar  subscription. 

The  American  Illuminating  and  Power  Company  was  formed  with 
a  capital  of  $20,000,  and  the  electric  plant  erected  in  the  summer  of  1 887. 
The  first  officers  were  :  E.  D.  Barry,  president ;  W.  F.  Sudds,  vice-presi- 
dent;  V.  P.  Abbott,  treasurer;  C.  Arthur  Parker,  secretary.  Power 
was  obtained  from  the  Gouverneur  Machine  Company,  and  the  village 
voted  to  adopt  the  lights  of  the  company  for  three  years.  They  gave 
satisfaction  and  have  continued  in  use,  while  many  firms  and  individuals 
have  adopted  them  in  places  of  business  and  residences. 

Water  Works  and  Fire  Department. — In  the  year  1868  the  Gouver- 
neur Water  Works  Company  was  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $20,- 
000,  the  incorporators  being  Charles  Anthony,  Augustus  E.  Norton, 
Edwin  Dodge,  Peter  Van  Buren,  Stephen  B.  Van  Duzee,  Lyman 
Litchfield  and  Charles  E.  Clark.  In  the  same  year  the  company 
erected  the  works  on  the  "  Holly  "  system  on  one  of  the  islands, 
driven  by  water  power.  Since  the  establishing  of  the  works  several 
changes  have  been  made.  A  stand  pipe  has  been  erected  above  the 
dam  and  a  steam  engine  put  in  to  drive  the  works  at  low  water.  Suf- 
ficient pressure  is  now  obtained  to  force  water  from  the  various  hydrants 
to  the  top  of  the  highest  buildings.  The  facilities  for  extinguishing 
fires  in  the  village  were  inadequate  for  many  years,  and  the  people 
were  taught  several  salutary  lessons  upon  the  economy  of  having  all 
necessary  apparatus  for  the  purpose.     Gouverneur  Hose  Company  No. 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  555 

I  was  organized  by  Act  of  Legislature  April  29,  1868.  It  was  well 
equipped  with  carriage,  hose,  hooks,  ladders,  etc.  Early  in  the  year 
1880,  a  fine  La  France  steam  fire  engine  was  purchased,  which  has 
since  on  several  occasions  saved  a  vast  amount  of  valuable  property 
when  threatened  by  fire.  The  fire  department  of  the  village  now  con- 
sists of  the  engine  above  mentioned  and  two  hose  carts  and  equipments. 
The  public  hydrants  are  the  chief  reliance  in  case  of  fire. 

Conflagrations  and  Rebiiilding. — On  January  15,  1875,  a  block  of 
five  wooden  buildings,  three  stories  high,  on  Main  street,  was  burned 
with  their  valuable  contents,  and  the  old  Catholic  church.  The  burned 
district  was  promptly  covered  with  handsome  brick  structures  ;  and  it 
may  be  added  that  in  the  same  year  the  old  brick  stores  on  the  corner 
of  Church  and  William  streets,  built  by  Thomas  Thompson  and  Rock- 
well Barnes  about  1833,  were  removed  to  make  room  for  the  Union 
Hall  Block,  which  owes  its  existence  to  S.  B.  Van  Duzee  and  Willett 
Bowne.  It  supplied  the  long  felt  want  of  a  public  hall  for  various  pur- 
poses. It  was  burned,  as  explained  a  little  further  on.  The  second 
destructive  fire  in  the  village  occurred  in  the  evening  of  May  i,  1877, 
when  seven  stores  on  Main  street,  where  Van  Namee's  Block  was 
erected,  were  burned,  with  a  loss  of  $60,000.  The  site  was  promptly 
and  handsomely  rebuilt  Again,  on  the  morning  of  October  7,  1877, 
fire  broke  out  in  the  rear  of  the  Union  Hall  Block,  which  was  nearly 
destroyed ;  but  some  of  the  walls  were  used  in  rebuilding.  These 
severe  calamities  had  the  usual  effect  in  impelling  the  citizens  to  make 
better  preparations  to  combat  the  devouring  element.  In  1878  a  sub- 
stantial brick  building  was  erected  on  Clinton  street,  where  a  lot  had 
been  purchased.  It  has  a  stone  basement  which  is  used  as  a  lock-up, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  building  is  for  the  fire  apparatus. 

Manufactures. — Aside  from  the  mills  which  have  been  described, 
there  has  never  been  extensive  manufacturing  in  Gouverneur,  until  the 
development  of  the  great  marble  and  talc  industries  of  recent  years, 
which  are  described  further  on.  Joel  Keyes  had  a  shop  with  tripham- 
mer, in  1827,  on  the  site  of  the  Van  Duzee  Manufacturing  Company's 
plant,  where  he  made  tools,  etc.  It  was  burned  about  1848  and  the  site 
passed  to  Asa  Hunt,  from  whom  Mr.  Van  Duzee  purchased  it  and  built 
the  furniture  manufactory.     The  latter   was   burned    in    1881    and  the 


5r,6  HISTORY   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

present  factory  put  up  ;  at  the  same  time  the  business  was  placed  in 
control  of  a  stock  company  with  $50,000  capital.  Mr.  Van  Duzee  was 
president,  Lewis  Eckman,  vice  president,  and  C.  A.  Van  Duzee,  super- 
intendent. Mr.  S  B.  Van  Duzee  died  in  April,  1893,  but  the  business 
continues. 

On  the  site  adjoining  the  above  factory  Capt.  Rockwell  Barnes  had  a 
saw  mill  and  wood- working  shop  about  1829.  It  passed  to  Milton 
Barney  who  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  chairs  until  about  1840  when 
the  works  burned.  The  shops  were  rebuilt  and  passed  through  several 
hands,  finally  to  Richard  Grinnell,  who  continued  the  manufacture  of 
sash,  doors,  etc.,  for  some  years,  when  the  establishment  was  again 
burned. 

A  foundry  and  machine  shop  started  about  1850  was  carried  on  suc- 
cessively by  O.  S.  Hill,  Fox  &  Rich,  Litchfield  &  Moore,  Litchfield  & 
Corbin  and  finally  by  J.  S.  &  A.  Corbin.  The  business  was  subsquently 
given  up  and  the  property  passed  to  the  St.  Lawrence  Manufacturing 
Company,  with  other  additional  real  estate,  which  company  began 
the  manufacture  of  wagons.  This  business  was  also  subsequently 
abandoned. 

A  large  tannery  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  about  1841  by 
H.  Schermerhorn,  which  was  burned,  rebuilt  and  purchased  by  Newell 
Havens  in  185  i.  F.  Freeman  and  Charles  E.  Clark  also  owned  it,  and 
about  1865  it  was  again  burned.  Mr.  Clark  rebuilt  it  and  sold  it  to 
William  P.  Herring  &  Co.  It  again  burned  and  was  rebuilt  by  that 
firm,  who  did  a  large  business  for  some  years,  but  finally  abandoned  it. 
Allen  and  Thomas  Goodrich  also  carried  on  tanning  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river  in  early  years,  and  another  was  operated  by  Benjamin  H. 
Smith  in  the  north  part  of  the  village  as  early  as  1828. 

The  Gouverneur  Machine  Company  wasorganized  for  the  prosecution 
of  general  machine  work  and  the  manufacture  of  quarry  mill  machinery. 
The  works  are  in  a  building  formerly  used  in  similar  business  by  a  firm 
composed  of  Starbuck  &  McCarthy  and  B.  L.  Barney,  on  the  west  side. 
On  the  20th  of  December,  1886,  the  Gouverneur  Machine  Company 
was  organized  by  B.  L.  Barney,  Newton  Aldrich,  Isaac  Starbuck, 
Charles  Anthony,  Frank  Starbuck,  J.  B.  Johnson,  W.  P.  Stacy,  W.  H. 
Hill  and  Joseph  Laberdee,  to  carry  on   the   same   business   on   a   more 


THE  TOWN  OF  aOUVERNEUR.  557 

extensive  scale.  The  capital  stock  is  $25,000  and  the  officers  are  as 
follows:  President,  John  McCarty;  treasurer,  Frank  Starbuck  ;  secre- 
tary and  manager,  J.  B.  Johnson. 

Gonverneiir  Ba7iks. — The  earliest  demand  for  banking  facilities  in 
Gouverneur  was  supplied  by  the  late  Charles  Anthony,  who  organized 
the  private  banking  firm  of  Charles  Anthony  &  Co.,  on  the  ist  of  Octo- 
ber, i860.  The  proprietors  were  Charles  Anthony,  James  G.  Averill 
and  William  J.  Averill.  Henry  Sudds  was  made  cashier  of  the  institu- 
tion. The  direct  successor  of  this  bank  was  the  present  Bank  of  Gou- 
verneur which  was  organized  in  July.  1879,  with  capital  of  $50,000 ; 
this  has  twice  been  increased,  first  to  $80,000  and  then  to  $100,000. 
The  first  officers  were  Charles  Anthony,  president;  William  J.  Averill, 
vice  president ;  Henry  Sudds,  cashier.  There  has  been  no  change 
excepting  that  Newton  Aldrich  succeeded  Mr.  Anthony  as  president, 
when  the  latter  died  in  May,  1892.  The  bank  has  a  surplus  of  about 
$31,500. 

In  1874  the  banking  firm  of  A.  Godard  &  Co,  was  formed  consisting 
of  Abel  Godard  and  Hiram  Herring  ;  A.  J.  Holbrook  was  made  cashier. 
The  institution  closed  up  its  affairs  in  1880,  G.  M.  Gleason  having  in 
the  meantime  purchased  the  interests  of  both  Mr.  Godard  and  Mr.  Her- 
ring. The  present  First  National  Bank  of  Gouverneur  was  then  organ- 
ized in  the  spring  of  1881,  with  a  capital  of  $55,000,  which  still  remains 
the  same.  The  officers  were  G.  M.  Gleason,  president ;  Newton  Al- 
drich, vice-president;  F.  M.  Burdick  has  since  been  substituted  as  vice- 
president.      The  surplus  of  the  bank  is  $13,500. 

Hotels. — The  first  tavern  in  Governeur  has  already  been  mentioned, 
and  for  many  years  it  was  the  only  one  in  the  place.  What  was  formerly 
known  as  "  The  Brick  Hotel  "  was  on  Main  street  near  the  east  end  of 
the  bridge,  and  a  portion  of  it  was  built  by  John  Brown,  the  early  mer- 
chant, in  1 81 8,  for  his  residence.  It  was  purchased  in  1822  by  Dr. 
John  Spencer,  who  enlarged  the  building  and  opened  it  as  a  public 
house.  It  was  kept  for  this  purpose  by  various  proprietors  until  1848. 
The  Spencer  House  was  in  the  east  part  of  the  village,  was  built  in 
1828-29,  and  kept  by  Dr.  Spencer  fourteen  years,  and  subsequently  by 
his  son.  Col.  J.  M.  Spencer,  and  was  burned  several  years  ago.  The  Van 
Buren  House  was  built  by  Peter  Van  Buren  immediately  after  the  burn- 


558  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ing  of  his  brick  hotel.  He  was  a  popular  landlord  and  the  house  con- 
tinued under  his  management  until  1869,  the  year  before  his  death.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  J.  B.  Van  Buren.  The  house  burned  in  Janu- 
ary, 1893,  in  the  night,  the  guests  barely  escaping  with  their  lives.  The 
Fuller  House,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Park  streets,  was 
built  by  C.  T.  Fuller  and  opened  in  1876,  by  Daniel  Peck,  who  is  still 
the  proprietor,  the  name  of  the  hotel  being  the  Peck  House 

Following  is  a  list  of  supervisors  of  this  town,  with  their  years  of  ser- 
vices :  Richard  Townsend,  181 1  to  18 14;  John  Brown,  181 5  to  18 19; 
Israel  Porter,  1820  21;  Aaron  Atwood,  1822  to  and  including  1826; 
Harvey  D.  Smith.  1827  to  1834  inclusive,  also  in  1837;  Almond  Z. 
Madison,  1836  and  1838;  William  E.  Sterling,  1839,  '40,  '41  and  '43; 
Peter  Van  Buren,  1842,  '44-45  ;  George  S.  Winslow,  1846  to  1849; 
Charles  Anthony,  1850,  '51,  '52  ;  Milton  Barney,  in  1853,  '57,  '58,  '59  ; 
O.  G.  Barnum,  1855;  Charles  S.  Cone,  1856;  John  Pooler,  jr.,  i860 
to  1865  inclusive;  Robert  Ormiston,  1865  to  1871  inclusive;  Newton 
Aldrich,  1872,  '78-79;  George  M.  Gleason,  1880-81;  A.  K.  Jepson, 
1882;  Amasa  Corbin,  jr.,  1882  to  1892;  Newton  Aldrich,  1892  to 
1894. 

Natural  Dam. — This  is  a  small  hamlet  a  little  more  than  a  mile  below 
Gouverneur  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie,  and  takes  its  name 
from  a  rock  which  nature  has  thrown  across  the  liver  at  that  point, 
forming  a  dam  which  with  the  fall  affords  an  excellent  water  power. 
Here  the  proprietor,  Gouverneur  Morris,  had  put  up  the  first  mills  in 
the  town,  which  were  long  known  by  his  name.  A  massive  stone  house 
was  also  erected  here  for  the  use  of  his  agent.  After  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  first  mills  and  about  the  year  1838,  Capt.  Rockwell  Barnes 
purchased  the  site  and  adjoining  land  and  erected  a  saw  mill,  dwelling, 
etc.  The  property  subsequently  passed  to  F.  M.  Beardslee  and  by  him 
was  sold  in  1866  to  Weston,  Dean  &  Aldrich,  who  in  the  following 
year  began  the  erection  of  the  extensive  mills  which  they  have  ever 
since  operated.  The  mills  now  embrace  machinery  for  manufacturing 
all  kinds  of  lumber,  shingles,  plarring  mills,  lath  and  picket  machinery, 
etc.  The  company  own  immense  tracts  of  timber  lands  and  have 
cleared  thousands  of  acres,  while  the  large  number  of  employees  in  the 
mills  and  the  several  interests  drawn  thither  by  the  industry  have  made 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUE.  559 

the  little  village  a  busy  place.  There  are  three  stores  kept  respectively 
by  John  A  Lalone,  William  Laberdee  and  Ambrose  Laquier.  The 
firm  of  Weston,  Dean  &  Aldrich  is  composed  of  Abijah  Weston,  Orison 
Dean  and  Newton  Aldrich.  A  post-office  is  located  here  and  E.  J. 
Loveless  is  postmaster. 

One  of  the  earliest  mills  for  the  manufacture  of  talc  was  situated 
about  half  a  mile  below  the  lumber  mills,  which  was  established  in 
1876,  the  proprietors  being  D.  Minthorn,  B.  P.  Sharp,  Thomas  Girvan 
and  A.  C.  Smith.  The  works  had  previously  been  used  in  grinding 
mineral  paint. 

At  a  small  settlement,  known  as  the  "  Little  Row  Corners,"  the  first 
settler  was  Benjamin  Smith,  who  located  there  in  1806.  with  his  three 
sons.  His  brothers,  Rufus  and  Stephen,  also  settled  near  there  in 
1807.  Mr.  Smith  built  a  saw  mill  on  a  creek,  which  was  operated  until 
worn  out.  Moses  Rowley  kept  a  store  and  had  an  ashery  here  before 
1820,  and  another  store  was  kept  by  R.  K.  Smith.  In  early  years 
there  were  persons  who  looked  upon  this  settlement  as  a  possible  rival 
for  Gouverneur  and  the  site  of  the  coming  village. 

What  has  been  known  as  "  Olds'  Mills  "  is  in  the  northwest  part  of 
the  town,  where  Aaron  Carrington  settled  about  1825  and  built  a  saw 
mill,  which  was  burned  ten  years  later  while  owned  by  Hiram  Drake. 
Asa  Hunt  rebuilt  the  mill,  and  it  passed  through  possession  of  R.  K. 
Smith,  Stephen  Johnson,  Jason  Smith  (during  whose  ownership  it  was 
called  "  Smith's  Mills"),  William  Sudds,  and  finally  to  Benjamin  Olds. 
A  tannery  was  operated  here  for  a  time  in  early  years. 

GOUVERNEUR  QUARRY  INDUSTRIES. 

The  town  of  Gouverneur  is  blest  with  many  natural  resources,  and 
one  which  stands  near  the  head  of  the  long  list  is  variously  known  to 
the  outside  trade  as  "  Gouverneur,"  "  St.  Lawrence,"  and  "  Whitney 
marble." 

This  beautiful  stone,  though  so  recently  utilized,  has  already  gained 
an  almost  nation-wide  reputation  both  for  monumental  and  building 
purposes.  It  is  a  very  hard  and  heavy  marble,  of  close  and  even  text- 
ure, and  susceptible  of  a  high  polish.  It  has  a  rich,  dark-blue  color, 
is  finely  mottled,  and  by  reason  of  its  marked  crystalline  structure  pre- 


560  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sents,  when  finished  as  a  buildhig  material,  an  unusually  clean  and 
sparkling  appearance.  Both  as  rough  ashler  and  when  polished  this 
marble  is  known  as  "live  stone,"  in  contradistinction  to  most  of  the 
dark  American  marbles  which  are  generally  of  a  dull  or  dead  color. 
Its  close  texture  prevents  the  absorption  of  moisture  and  thus  protects 
it  from  disintegration  from  the  effects  of  frost.  The  absence  of  an  ap- 
preciable amount  of  iron  guards  against  the  appearance  of  rust  ;  because 
of  its  peculiar  structure  it  does  not  absorb  dirt  or  become  streaked  or 
stained,  and  each  recurring  rain  washes  it  fresh  and  clean. 

Having  successfully  stood  the  severe  and  searching  tests  that  all 
building  material  must  undergo  before  acceptance  by  the  United  States 
authorities,  this  marble  now  stands  on  an  enviable  equality  with  granite 
and  the  various  other  durable  stones  used  in  the  construction  of  Gov- 
ernment works  or  in  the  erection  of  public  buildings. 

A  chemical  analysis  shows  its  composition  to  be  : 

Carbonate  of  Lime  ...      51.65 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 42.15 

Oxide  of  Iron  and  Aluminum  a  mere  trace. 

Silica ....  3.70 

Water  and  loss 2.50 


1 00.00 

Its  resistance  to  pressure  or  crushing  strength  is  12,692  pounds  per 
square  inch  ;   its  weight  is  169.99  pounds  per  cubic  foot. 

This  truly  valuable  marble,  although  existing  in  almost  unlimited 
quantities  and  cropping  out  in  innumerable  places  in  this  vicinity,  was 
utilized  only  for  ordinary  rough  wall  purposes  until  the  year  1825, 
when  Jasper  C.  Clark,  of  Hailesboro,  town  of  Fowler,  extemporized  a 
small  mill  at  that  place  for  sawing  this  material,  which  was  then  known 
as  "  gray  lime-stone."  This  mill  stood  on  "  Mill  Creek,"  near  the 
spot  occupied  by  the  Agalite  Fiber  Company's  first  talc  mill  in  Hailes- 
boro. Mr.  Clark  was  succeeded  by  Addison  Giles  in  the  marble-sawing 
business. 

This  industry  continued  in  a  small  way  for  several  years,  but  lacking 
a  demand  which  warranted  its  continuance,  was  abandoned  in  the  year 
1837.  Numerous  headstones  there  sawed  are  still  standing  in  the 
cemeteries   of  this  vicinity.      Their  almost  perfect  state  of  preservation 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUYERNEUR.  561 

are  enduring  monuments  not  only  to  the  virtues  of  the  dead  whose 
resting  places  they  mark,  but  also  to  the  excellent  qualities  of  the 
marble,  which  seems  to  defy  the  "  ruthless  tooth  of  time."  Water 
tables,  window-sills  and  caps,  mantels,  fire  jambs,  and  other  articles 
which  the  times  demanded,  were  also  sawed  and  placed  upon  the  mar- 
ket. The  old  Spencer  House,  erected  in  1825,  was  trimmed  with  this 
marble.  The  late  Isaac  Starbuck's  residence,  the  old  Eager  House, 
and  the  Gouverneur  Seminary  still  show  samples  of  this  marble  which 
was  sawed  in   Hailesboro 

About  the  year  1838,  Hermon  Rice,  of  Wegatchie,  town  of  Rossie, 
constructed  a  mill  for  sawing  this  marble  at  that  village.  His  mill  stood 
on  the  bank  of  the  Oswegatchie  River,  on  the  spot  now  vacant,  between 
the  woolen  and  saw  mills.  The  stone  for  sawing  was  quarried  on  what 
is  now  the  Elias  Teal  and  Titus  Downey  farms,  near  Wegatchie  vil- 
lage. This  business  was  continued  with  small  success  and  in  a  desultory 
manner  for  about  ten  years,  when  it  was  abandoned.  Although  over 
fifty  years  have  elapsed  since  the  business  was  given  up  there  are  many 
grave  stones  still  standing  in  the  Wegatchie  and  neighboring  cemeteries, 
besides  pieces  of  sawed  marble  in  some  of  the  older  dwellings  of  that 
town,  which  testify  to  the  prior  existence  of  that  dead  industry. 

Early  in  the  year  the  firm  of  "  Whitneys  ( D.  J.  and  T.  J.)  &  Honey- 
comb "  (  John  S.)  was  formed  in  Gouverneur  for  the  purpose  of  doing 
the  mason  work  for  the  erection  of  the  present  Main  street  bridge  across 
the  Oswegatchie  River,  in  Gouverneur  village.  In  searching  for  suita- 
ble stone  for  piers  and  abutments,  they  found  on  what  was  then  known 
as  the  J.  C.  Barney  dwelling-house  lot  on  Somerville  street,  near  the 
village,  marble  in  layers  of  convenient  thickness  for  quarrying.  This 
marble  was  cap  rock  of  a  light  color.  The  company  readily  procured 
a  sufficient  quantity  for  their  purpose.  This  was  practically  the  initial 
step  toward  the  revival  of  the  marble. industry,  which  had  been  aban- 
doned many  years  before. 

Outside  of  the  bridge  contract  D.  J.  &  T.  J.  Whitney  had  contracts 
for  building  work  in  1876,  among  which  was  the  marble  trimmings  for 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Canton,  N.  Y.,  the  quarried  marble  in  the 
rough  being  purchased  by  them  of  the  firm  of  "  Whitneys  and  Honey- 
comb." 

71 


562  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

This  firm  was  dissolved  in  1877,  the  Whitneys  continuing  the  quarry- 
in  connection  with  their  monumental  marble  business.  The  same  year 
they  furnished  marble  trimmings  for  the  County  Clerk's  ofifice  in  Canton 
and  dressed  and  furnished  the  marble  for  the  fronts  of  the  Draper  and 
Van  Namee  blocks,  now  standing  on  Main  street  in  Gouverneur. 

Up  to  this  time  the  only  marble  ever  quarried  or  sawed  in  this  vicin- 
ity had  been  the  cap  rock,  or  light  colored  variety.  In  December, 
1877,  the  Whitneys  quarried  a  few  blocks  of  the  dark  colored  variety 
on  the"  Barney  lot,"  the  opening  being  made  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Somerville  road,  nearly  opposite  the  northeasterly  end  of  the  present  St. 
Lawrence  Marble  Company's  mill.  In  1878  the  first  dark  colored  Gouv- 
erneur marble  monument  was  finished  by  the  Whitney  Brothers  and  was 
subsequently  erected  on  the  Joseph  E.  McAllaster  lot  in  the  River  Side 
Cemetery,  Gouverneur. 

In  the  fall  of  1878  the  Whitney  Brothers  dissolved  and  the  business 
was  continued  by  Daniel  J.  Whitney,  and  he  in,  1879,  sold  and  shipped 
small  quantities  of  the  dark  colored,  and  unfinished  marble  to  dealers  in 
several  different  States  and  Canada.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  he 
shipped  several  car  loads  of  rough  blocks  to  marble  sawing  mills  in  South- 
erland  Falls,  Vt.,  and  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  they  were  prepared  and 
sold  to  the  trade  for  monumental  purposes.  In  the  spring  of  1880  the 
demand  for  this  marble  was  largely  in  excess  of  Mr.  Whitney's  limited 
financial  ability  to  produce.  By  reason  of  legal  complications  between 
Mr.  Barney  and  the  Barney  heirs,  Mr.  Whitney  abandoned  his  quarry 
and  moving  his  tools  and  machinery  directly  across  the  road  to  the  Pres- 
ton farm  he  opened  what  is  now  the  famous  St.  Lawrence  Marble  Com- 
pany's quarry.  At  this  time  Joseph  E.  McAllaster  of  Gouverneur,  who, 
having  become  financially  and  otherwise  interested  in  the  enterprise,  se- 
cured a  lease  of  the  about  nine  acre  triangular  piece  of  the  J.  B.  Preston 
farm,  which  comes  to  a  point  at  the  intersection  of  the  R.,  W.  and  O.  rail- 
road with  the  Somerville  road,  and  July  i,  1880,  under  the  name  of  the 
*  •  Whitney  Granite  and  Gouverneur  Marble  Company,"  the  marble  busi- 
ness was  begun  on  a  scale  more  commensurate  with  the  importance  of 
this  very  promising  industry.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  system  of 
quarrying  by  cutting  channels  with  hand  drills  was  introduced.  This 
method  proved  too  slow  for  practical  purposes  and  in   March,    1882,  a 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOTJVERNEUR.  563 

diamond- drill  channeling  machine,  run  by  steam,  was  put  in  operation, 
A  little  later  a  large  derrick  was  erected  and  steam  pumps  were  intro- 
duced to  clear  the  quarry  of  water.  Thus  equipped,  the  getting  out  of 
large  blocks  was  vigorously  pushed,  and  as  fast  as  raised,  were  shipped 
by  rail  to  Lyman  Strong  &  Son,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  they  were 
sawed,  finished  and  sold  to  the  trade.  D.  J.  Whitney  was  interested  in 
and  continued  as  superintendent  of  this  quarry  and  business  until  it 
changed  hands. 

After  extended  negotiations,  this  plant  was  sold  to  capitalists  of  New 
York  city,  and  in  May,  1884,  the  "  St.  Lawrence  Marble  Company"  was 
organized  with  a  capital  stock  of  $250,000.  The  officers  are :  John 
Benham,  president  and  treasurer  ;  J.  W.  Griswold,  first  vice-president ; 
M.  M.  Belding,  jr.,  second  vice-president;  John  R.  Emery,  secretary; 
and  T.  J.  Whitney,  superintendent.  The  present  16 -gang  mill  was 
erected  and  sawing  began  the  following  November.  The  mill  is  one 
story  high,  82x221  feet  in  size,  and  stands  half  a  mile  southwest  of  the 
corporate  limits  of  Gouverneur  village.  The  mill,  which  is  substan- 
tially built,  is  equipped  with  rubbing  beds,  turning  lathes  and  every 
other  labor-saving  appliance.  A  branch  of  the  R  ,  W.  and  O.  railroad 
runs  into  their  stock  yard  alongside  a  wharf  of  the  right  height  for  con- 
venience in  loading  cars.  The  motive  power,  which  is  steam,  is  gener- 
ated by  a  battery  of  four  boilers  and  runs  a  150  horse-power  Water- 
town  steam  engine,  which  drives  the  almost  endless  machinery  of  mill, 
quarry,  pumps  and  derricks.  An  artesian  well,  450  feet  deep,  furnishes 
abundant  water  for  all  desired  purposes. 

Quarry  No.  i,  which  has  a  surface  opening  of  1 10x200  feet,  has 
reached  a  depth  of  95  feet,  and  yet  huge  blocks  weighing  20  tons  are 
readily  raised  to  the  surface  by  their  mighty  derricks.  The  stock  list 
of  this  and  all  other  companies  here  includes  building  stone  in  all  forms, 
rough,  dressed,  turned  and  polished,  as  well  as  monumental  material. 

The  first  rough,  broken  ashler  of  a  dark  color,  was  used  by  J.  T.  Rey- 
nolds in  1884  for  the  front  of  the  four- story  Reynolds  Block,  on  Main 
street,  Gouverneur. 

Gouverneur  Marble  Company. — The  present  officers  are :  Daniel 
Peck,  president;  A.  Z.  Turnbull,  vice-president ;  Lewis  Eckman,  treas- 
urer ;   and  George  P.  Ormiston,  secretary.   The  capital  stock  is  $75,000. 


564  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In    November,    1881,  the    following  citizens  of  Gouverneur,  locally 
named  "  the  Twelve  Apostles,"  viz.:   S.  B.  Van  Duzee,  John  S.  Honey- 
comb, John  W.  Tracy,  Daniel  Peck,  Henry  E.  Gates.  George  P.  Ormis- 
ton,  Abel  Godard,  T.  J.  Whitney,  Austin  Meyeur,  Fred    Haile,   E.   H. 
Neary  and  Lewis  Eckman,  purchased  thirty  acres   of  land   of  William 
McKean,  near  the  southwest  limits  of   Gouverneur  village,  and  January 
3,   1882  organized    the    "Whitney    Marble    Company"    with   a   capital 
stock  of  $750,000.      A  quarry  was  at  once   opened,    a   four  gang    mill 
erected  and  equipped,  and  sawing  begun  the  following  fall.     The   busi- 
ness prospered  until  May  3,   1884,  when  the  mill   and    machinery  were 
wrecked  by  the  explosion  of  a  boiler,   which   killed    the  following  per- 
sons :   Joseph  Oliver  and  Oliver  Dashneau,  boiler  makers  of  Watertown, 
N.  Y.  (  who  were  making  repairs  )  ;   W.  Frank  Newcomb,  Eli  Jackson, 
W.  T.    Miller   and   Charles   Murray,    employees.      The   company's  loss 
was  $20,000.     The  mill  was  at  once  rebuilt  and  business  was  continued 
until  1888,  when,  owing  to  financial    complications,    the   company  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  D.  G.  Wood,  as  receiver,  who   continued   opera- 
tions until  the  following  fall,  when  matters  were  adjusted  and  the  com- 
pany was  reorganized  August  23,  1888,  as   the    "Gouverneur  Marble 
Company  " 

April,  1889,  D.  J.  Whitney  became  general  manager,  business  pros 
pered  and  the  mill  was  enlarged  to  a  capacity  of  nine  gangs  of  saws,  a 
rubbing  bed  was  added  and  now  the  plant  is  complete  and  first-class 
in  every  particular.  The  regular  force  employed  is  fifty  men,  and  the 
annual  output  of  stock  is  about  50,000  cubic  feet.  The  quarry  is  L 
shaped,  being  lOO  x  lOO  feet  and  lOO  x  60  feet. 

The  Davidson  Marble  Company  was  organized  July  25,  1890,  with 
Alexander  Davidson,  president;  John  A.  Davidson,  treasurer;  Charles 
Stedman,  secretary;  A.  C.  Davis,  superintendent  of  mill  ;  and  Erwin  B. 
Hurlbut,  superintendent  of  quarry.      Capital  stock,  $300,000. 

In  1888  Messrs  Davidson  &  Son  of  Chicago,  who  are  very  extensive 
producers  and  manufacturers  of,  and  dealers  in,  marble,  having  quarries 
and  mills  in  several  States  of  the  Union,  purchased  of  J.  B.  Preston,  ten 
acres  of  land  lying  southwest  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Marble  Company's 
property,  and  at  once  opened  a  quarry  under  the  supervision  of  E.  B. 
Hurlbut.      This   quarry,  which  is   known    as    No.    i,    was   successfully 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  565 

worked  until  July,  1893,  when  a  superior  quality  of  marble  was  uncov- 
ered on  the  Milton  Barney  farm,  during  the  grading  of  the  Gouverneur 
and  Oswegatchie  Railroad.  This  deposit  being  convenient  to  the  rail- 
road, the  company  secured  land,  transferred  their  quarry  machinery  to, 
and  opened  quarry  No.  2,  from  which  they  are  taking  material  for 
sawing. 

The  leading  members  of  this  company,  believing  that  water  power 
was  preferable  to  steam,  and  a  suitable  building  site  and  water  power 
having  been  tendered  them  on  satisfactory  terms  on  the  Black  River, 
near  the  R.,  W.  and  O  Railroad,  just  east  of  the  city  of  Watertown,  N. 
Y.,  a  splendid  18  gang  mill,  with  two  rubbing  beds,  turning  lathes  and 
other  finishing  works  were  erected  there  in  1889  and    1890. 

This  company  advertises  its  product  as  "  New  York  marble." 

Empire  State  Marble  Company. — The  deposit  from  which  this  com- 
pany takes  its  material  is  located  on  the  Charles  Overacker  farm,  a  little 
over  a  mile  southwest  of  Gouverneur  village.  In  1890  John  W.  Tracy 
of  Gouvernenr  discovered  an  excellent  quality  of  marble,  which  crops 
out  as  a  ledge,  and  after  securing  the  right  to  prospect  ^nd  an  option 
for  purchase,  induced  capitalists  to  join  him  in  the  marble  business. 
The  above  named  company  was  organized  early  in  1891,  land  was  pur- 
chased, a  quarry  opened  and  a  fine  four-gang  mill  was  erected  the  same 
year.  The  company  officers  are:  John  R.  Wood,  president;  Gilbert 
Mollison,  secretary  ;  James  Dowdle,  treasurer  ;  and  J.  M.  Esser,  super- 
intendent. The  directors  are  J.  R.  Wood  of  Appleton,  Wis.,  G.  Molli- 
son and  J.  Dowdle  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  and  J.  W.  Tracy  of  Gouverneur. 
A  spur  from  the  R.,  W.  and  O.  Railroad  runs  to  the  mill. 

The  company  employs  twenty- five  men  and  is  doing  a  prosperous 
business. 

NortJiern  Neiv  York  Marble  Company. — The  late  D.  G.  Wood  of 
Gouverneur  was  the  active  agent  in  organizing  this  company  in  Janu- 
ary, 1891.  The  officers  are  ;  Samuel  H.  Beach,  president  and  treas- 
urer ;  and  Samuel  F.  Bagg,  vice-president  (  both  of  Watertown,  N.  Y.)  ; 
and  John  Webb,  jr.,  of  Gouverneur,  secretary. 

A  model  eight  gang  mill,  equipped  with  rubbing  bed,  turning  lathes 
and  all  modern  conveniences  was  erected  and  put  in  operation  the  same 
year.     The  quarry  and  mill  are  located  west  of  andadjoining  the  Em- 


566  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

pire  State  Marble  Company's  property  on  a  plot  of  seventeen  acres  of 
land  from  the  William  Kitts  farm.  The  company's  works  are  connected 
with  the  R  ,  W.  and  O.  Railroad  by  a  side  track.  This  company  em- 
ploys a  force  of  forty  men  under  the  superintendence  of  Peter  Finegan, 
and  is  doing  successful  business. 

Red  Granite. — Red  granite,  of  a  superior  quality,  crops  out  at 
Hailesboro,  town  of  Fowler,  and  Natural  Dam,  in  Gouverneur.  Noth- 
ing has  been  done  towards  working  the  Hailesboro  deposit.  This 
granite  shows,  on  the  surface,  on  a  rocky  ridge  running  nearly  east  and 
west  near  Natural  Dam  on  a  farm  of  the  late  Edwin  G.  Dodge,  of 
Gouverneur.  Several  years  ago  specimen  pieces  were  taken  out  and 
polished  by  VV.  H.  Andrews,  of  Gouverneur,  and  are  now  in  his  collec- 
tion of  polished  specimens. 

At  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  beautiful  city  hall  and  opera  house 
in  Ogdensburg,  Mr.  Dodge  had  two  suitable  blocks  of  this  granite 
quarried  and  donated  them  to  that  city.  They  were  turned  and  pol- 
ished and  now  are  the  column  parts  of  the  two  main  supports  for  the 
central  portion  of  the  front  of  said  opera  house. 

Although  the  material  for  these  columns  was  taken  out  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  ledge,  their  extreme  hardness,  beauty  of  color,  and  suscep- 
tibility to  a  high  polish  demonstrate  the  value  of  the  material  and 
warrants  the  general  belief  that  a  granite  equal  to  the  famous  red 
Scotch  variety  here  awaits  development,  and  will  amply  reward  the 
enterprise  which  results  in  opening  up  its  buried  treasures. 

Serpentine  Marble. — Serpentine  marbles  in  endless  quantities  are 
known  to  exist  in  Gouverneur.  It  crops  out  in  all  directions,  and  is 
encountered  very  frequently  where  excavations  are  made  in  Gouverneur 
village  ;  and,  being  of  fine  texture,  bearing  many  shades  of  color  from 
a  rich  verde  antique  green,  through  various  shades  of  yellow,  red  and 
pink,  down  to  a  pure  white,  it  is  sure,  at  no  distant  day,  to  attract 
sufficient  attention  to  insure  its  development  as  a  new  source  of  wealth 
for  this  locality. 

Porphyry. — Among  the  many  splendid  mineralogical  specimens  of 
polished  stone  which  has  given  Mr.  Andrews's  collection  a  nation-wide 
reputation,  a  piece  of  polished  porphyry  from  a  large  rock,  found  in  the 
village  of  Gouverneur,  holds  a  position  of  high  honor. 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  567 

Both  talc  and  marble,  which  are  now  most  eagerly  sought  as  sure 
sources  of  wealth,  were  but  recently  cursed  as  a  nuisance  by  the 
farmer,  whose  plough  they  impeded. 

But,  under  the  mystic  touch  of  the  magic  wand  of  capitalistic  enter  - 
prise,  present  mutterings  of  disapproval  will  be  changed  to  pagans  of 
praise,  when  the  owning  of  a  ledge  of  porphyry,  like  the  discovery  of  a 
talc  deposit  to-day,  is  equal  to  the  finding  of  an  ample  fortune. 

GOUVERNEUR   TALC. 

Talc  is  a  mineral  product  composed  of  silica  and  magnesia.  While 
this  material  is  locally  known  as  talc  its  chemical  properties  are  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  asbestos,  steatite  and  soap  stone.  It  has  the 
greasy  feeling  of  soap-stone  and  the  fibrous  properties  of  asbestos. 

Talc  is  found  in  France,  Italy,  Scotland,  South  Carolina  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. But  little  French  talc  is  exported,  being  mostly  used  at  home. 
Scotch  talc  exists  in  too  limited  quantities  to  pay  for  working.  The 
South  Carolina  and  Pennsylvania  varieties  are  of  the  non -fibrous  nature 
of  soap-stone.  The  Pennsylvania  material  is  valueless  by  reason  of  the 
large  amount  of  iron  mingled  with  it.  The  fibrous  qualities  of  the  talc 
of  this  locality  renders  it  peculiarly  valuable  as  a  "  filler  "  in  the  manu- 
facture of  paper,  and,  so  far  as  known,  these  are  the  only  mines  in  the 
world  from  which  this  species  of  talc  is  taken. 

Where  Found. — This  mineral  was  first  discovered  in  the  town  of 
Gouverneur,  near  Natural  Dam  and  Little  Bow,  as  early  as  1867  by 
Daniel  Minthorn,  of  Watertown,  N.Y..  who  is  an  expert  mineralogist, 
and  to  whom  this  locality  is  largely  indebted  for  its  world-wide  fame 
as  one  of  the  richest  and  most  prolific  mineral  bearing  sections,  not 
only  of  the  United  States,  but  of  the  known  world.  (For  the  formid- 
able list  of  minerals  of  Gouverneur  and  vicinity  see  "  Dand,"  page 
386.) 

Taking  the  village  of  Gouverneur  as  a  center,  talcose  indications  may 
be  found  throughout  a  radius  of  ten  miles  in  every  direction.  The 
time  will  doubtless  come  when  this  valuable  mineral  will  be  found  and 
profitably  mined  in  numerous  places  at  every  point  of  the  compass  from 
Gouverneur,  where  only  surface  indications  now  exist  to  show  its  pres- 
ence.     Deep  digging  must  be  resorted  to  find  it  in  many  places.      Past 


568  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

experience  has  demonstrated  that  talc  exists  here  at  great  and  unknown 
depths,  and  improves  in  quality  with  the  increasing  depths  of  the 
mines,  some  of  which  have  already  reached  a  depth  of  350  feet  with 
good  size  veins  in  sight,  which  show  no  signs  of  exhaustion. 

So  far  as  it  has  been  developed  in  paying  quantities,  present  mining 
is  confined  to  what  is  known  as  "  the  talc  belt,"  from  seven  to  nine 
miles  long,  and  from  four  to  five  miles  wide,  in  the  towns  of  Fowler 
and  Edwards,  and  running  northeast  and  southwest. 

First  Talc  Mining. — The  first  attempt  at  talc  mining  in  this  section 
was  made  by  Daniel  Minthorn  at  Natural  Dam  and  Little  Bow  during 
the  winter  of  1869  and  '70.  Enough  material  was  found  to  warrant 
the  erection  of  a  mill  for  testing  its  value.  Mr.  Minthorn  was  joined  in 
the  enterprise  by  George  W.  Goodrich  and  George  Paddock,  of  Water- 
town,  N.Y.  A  mill  was  erected  at  Natural  Dam  in  1871  for  preparing 
the  material  for  market.  The  product  lacked  fiber,  contained  grit  and 
other  impurities  which  rendered  it  unsuitable  as  a  filler  in  paper- making, 
and  for  these  reasons  the  parties  interested  became  so  discouraged  that 
the  grinding  enterprise  was  temporarily  abandoned. 

In  the  winter  of  1873  and  '74  Mr  Minthorn,  having  discovered  foliated 
talc  on  the  Abner  Wight  farm,  near  Little  York,  town  of  Fowler,  se- 
cured samples  and  carried  them,  with  various  other  mineralogical  speci- 
mens, to  New  York  city,  hoping  to  induce  capitalists  to  join  him  in 
opening  and  developing  mines.  Among  others,  he  showed  his  talc 
specimens  to  G.  A  Menden,  who  was  a  partner  of  A.  L.  McCrea,  sen  , 
in  "promoting  stock  companies."  Menden  brought  the  talc  to  the 
attention  of  his  partner,  who  at  once  became  interested  and  believed 
this  material  could  be  used  in  place  of  various  clays  as  a  "  paper  filler." 
They  visited  Gouverneur  in  the  spring  of  1873,  examined  the  material 
on  the  Wight  farm,  secured  a  lease  covering  the  right  to  open  and 
work  mines,  and  in  the  spring  of  1874  McCrea  and  Menden  took  pos- 
session of  the  old  plaster  mill,  in  the  basement  of  what  is  now  the  Star- 
buck  and  McCarty  planing  mill,  in  Gouverneur,  and  in  an  experimental 
way  began  grinding  talc  from  the  Abner  Wight  farm.  These  operations 
continued  with  encouraging  success  until  the  spring  of  1875,  when 
James  McCrea,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  became  financially  interested  in  the 
enterprise,  and  it  was  decided  to  enlarge  the   business. 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  ;jG9 

The  Agalite  Fiber  Company  was  organized  with  A.  L.  McCrea,  presi- 
dent; James  McCrea,  vice-president;  and  G.  A.  Menden,  secretary;  suit- 
able machinery  was  secured,  a  small  steam  mill  was  erected  near  the  mine 
on  the  Wight  farm  and  the  business  was  thus  continued  until,  with  a 
steadily  increasing  business,  experience  had  demonstrated  the  folly  of 
using  steam  as  a  motive  power  in  a  vicinity  which  was  blessed  with 
many  water  powers  which  were  then  unused  and  could  be  had  at  a 
trifling  expense. 

In  June,  1 877,  A.  L.  McCrea,  jr.,  visited  Gouverneur  on  an  intended 
trip  from  New  York  city  to  the  Pacific  coast.  His  father  and  uncle  be- 
ing largely  interested  in  the  talc  enterprise,  he  visited  their  mills  and 
mines.  Being  a  young  man  of  a  decidedly  practical  business  turn,  he 
pointed  out  many  expensive  mistakes  in  the  business  as  then  conducted 
and  suggested  numerous  changes  and  improvements.  His  ideas  met 
with  such  favor  that  he  was  urged  to  abandon  his  western  journey,  in- 
vest a  considerable  sum  of  money  and  take  a  personal  interest  in  the 
enterprise.  To  this  he  consented  on  condition  that  he  become  (as  he 
at  once  did)  the  general  superintendent  of  the  mines  and  mills  with  a 
potential  voice  in  the  general  management.  From  this  time  the  busi- 
ness moved  forward  with  new  and  increasing  energy.  From  then  until 
the  present  time  the  personal  influence  of  but  one  other  individual 
("  Gus  "  McDonald,  now  superintendent  of  the  International  Talc  Com- 
pany) has  compared  at  all  favorably  with  that  of  "  Gus  "  McCrea  in 
lifting  the  talc  industry  to  its  present  enviable  height  of  almost  peerless 
prosperity. 

Having  purchased  the  Clark  &  Howard  saw  mill,  which  has  one  of 
the  best  water  powers  on  the  Oswegatchie  River,  and  fitted  it  up  with 
the  best  machinery  then  known  for  their  business,  they,  in  1878,  moved 
their  milling  operations  to  Hailesboro  where  they  continued  to  grind 
material  from  the  Wight  farm  until  1879.  Experiencing  extreme  diffi- 
culty in  reducing  foliated  talc  to  a  degree  of  fineness  required  by  the 
trade,  this  company  introduced  the  Alsing  revolving  cylinders,  which 
are  capable  of  pulverizing  the  most  refractory  rock  into  an  impalpable 
powder. 

After  the  fibrous  talc  had  been  discovered,  near  Freemansburg,  in  the 

town  of  Edwards,  this  company  secured  mineral  rights,  and  having  de- 
72 


570  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

veloped  valuable  mines  in  that  locality,  they,  in  1879,  abandoned  their 
mines  on  the  Wight  farm,  and  drew  all  material  for  grinding  from  their 
new  mines.  Now  their  business  boomed  and  orders  far  exceeding  the 
capacity  of  their  mills  being  received,  the  company,  in  1880,  purchased 
the  old  Henry  Haile  flouring  mill,  which  nearly  adjoined  their  works 
and  when  refitted  for  use  their  output  was  increased  several  fold.  The 
two  mills  with  magnificent  water  powers  and  the  many  improvements 
added,  made  an  excellent  business  plant  and  continued  in  successful 
operation  until  early  in  1893  when  this  company  was  absorbed  or 
merged  in  the  "  International  Pulp  Company.  " 

Natural  Dam  Pulp  Company. — In  1877  the  "  Mineral  Attrition  Mills 
Company  "  was  organized  to  grind  talc,  soapstone,  etc.,  into  pulp  for 
papermakers'  use.  The  mill  erected  at  Natural  Dam  by  Minthorn  and 
others,  and  which  had  also  been  used  for  grinding  iron  ore  for  paint, 
having  lain  idle  for  a  number  of  years,  was  refitted  with  a  milling  plant 
on  the  attrition  plan.  For  about  one  year  the  company  ground  foliated 
talc  found  near  Little  York,  town  of  Fowler.  This  material  lacked  fiber 
and  although  ground  to  an  impalpable  powder  was  neither  attractive 
to  the  paper  trade  nor  remunerative  to  the  company.  These  things, 
with  the  hard  times  of  1887  and  1888  caused  the  company  to  fail. 
Early  in  1879  Mr.  W.  Bayand  of  New  York  city,  a  large  creditor  of 
the  company,  bought  the  property  and  continued  the  business  long 
enough  to  become  satisfied  that  neither  soapstone  nor  foliated  talc  could 
be  made  acceptable  to  the  trade  with  the  machinery  in  his  mills.  He 
acquired  mines  at  Freemansburg  and  continued  the  business  (using 
fibrous  talc)  successfully  under  the  able  management  of  A.  J.  McDon- 
ald, until  1886,  when  the  property  was  organized  into  a  stock  company 
under  the  name  and  style  of  the  "  Natural  Dam  Pulp  Company."  Mr. 
Bayand  retaining  a  controlling  interest  in  its  affairs  until  its  transfer  to 
to  the  "  International  Pulp  Company,"  in  which  he  is  largely  interested, 
being  one  of  its  directors. 

The  plant  of  the  Natural  Dam  Pulp  Company  at  the  time  of  its  trans- 
fer, consisted  of  Mill  No.  i  at  Natural  Dam  and  their  splendid  new  mill 
No.  2  at  Hailesboro  which  had  just  been  completed. 

Goiiverneur  Pulp  Compa^iy. — The  name  of  Col.  Henrx-  Palmer  stands 
next  to  that  of  Daniel  Minthorn  on  the  roll   of  honor  as  a  discoverer 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  571 

and  inaugurator  of  the  talc  industry.  The  colonel  having  been  in  the 
service  of  the  Agalite  Fiber  Compan}%  as  superintendent  of  its  mining 
operations,  withdrew  from  its  employ  in  June,  1877,  and  soon  after  an- 
nounced the  discovery  of  the  genuine  fibrous  talc  on  the  Brayton  farm 
at  Freemansburg,  town  of  Edwards,  which  has  since  proven  such  a  big 
"bonanza."  Having  secured  by  lease  the  mineral  rights  of  the  farm 
(which  he  subsequently  purchased),  he  tried,  for  a  time,  in  vain  to 
find  a  man  of  means  who  would  put  up  capital  against  his  valuable  find 
and  help  open  and  develop  mines. 

December  26,  1877,  the  colonel  entered  into  a  written  agreement 
with  John  S.  Honeycomb  of  Gouverneur,  in  which  he  covenanted  to 
assign  a  share  in  his  lease  in  case  he  should  induce  a  capitalist  to  fur- 
nish sufficient  money  to  develop  the  business.  Heneycomb  secured  the 
co-operation  of  S.  B.  Van  Duzee  of  Gouverneur,  who  agreed  to  furnish 
the  money  required,  and  articles  of  incorporation  were  formed  and  filed 
May  7,  1879,  under  the  name  of  the  "Gouverneur  Pulp  Company," 
with  Henry  Palmer,  president;  S.  B.  Van  Duzee,  treasurer;  and  John 
S.  Honeycomb,  secretary  ;  each  of  the  three  incorporators  owning  one- 
third  of  the  capital  stock. 

So  modest  were  their  ideas  and  ambitions  at  the  start,  that  they  con- 
sidered the  very  limited  quarters  first  used  by  McCrea  &  Menden  am- 
ple for  the  requirements  of  the  proposed  business.  The  basement  of 
the  Starbuck  &  McCarty  planing  mill  was  refitted  and  when  in 
"  full  blast,"  about  two  tons  per  day  of  marketable  material  was  pro- 
duced by  simply  grinding  the  crude  talc  with  ordinary  buhr  stones. 

The  business,  which  was  a  success  from  the  start,  grew  so  rapidly 
that  the  company  was  unable  to  fill  the  demand,  and  arrangements 
were  soon  completed  for  enlarging  the  business.  Thirty  acres  of  land, 
with  a  fine  water  power,  were  purchased  one  and  one-half  miles  up  the 
Oswegatchie  River,  and  in  December  following  a  splendid  new  mill  was 
in  operation  and  turning  out  an  average  product  of  twenty  tons  per  day. 
The  business  prospered  and  in  1882  was  purchased  by,  and  consolidated 
with  the 

Adirondac  Pulp  Company.  In  1880  Amasa  Corbin,jr.,  A,  G.  Gillett, 
L.  M.  Gardner  and  Samuel  Graves,  all  of  Gouverneur,  organized  the 
"  Gouverneur  Talc  Company,"  and  erected  a   fine    mill   on    the   Oswe- 


572  HISTORY   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

gatchie  River,  one  mile  south  of  Hailesboro,  town  of  Fowler.  After 
continuing  the  business  with  marked  success  this  plant  was  sold  to  the 
Adirondac  Pulp  Company.  The  latter  company  continued  the  business 
until  1893,  when  it  also  became  a  part  of  the  great  International  Pulp 
Company. 

Mr.  John  Manning,  a  prominent  paper  manufacturer  of  Troy,  N.  Y., 
who  was  identified  for  many  years  with  the  Adirondac  Pulp  Company, 
is  largely  interested  in  the  International  Pulp  Company,  and  is  one  of 
its  directors. 

St.  Lawreiice  Pulp  Company — In  1884  Messrs.  M.  Belding.  G.  H. 
Kenedy,  W.  B.  Putney,  and  Austin  Stevens  purchased  of  Fred  Haile 
twenty  acres  of  land,  on  which  was  good  water  power,  between  Gouver- 
neur  and  Hailesboro,  and  after  organizing  the  "  St.  Lawrence  Fiber  Pulp 
Company,"  erected  a  magnificent  mill.  Having  the  benefit  of  all  past 
experience  in  the  talc  business,  this  company  profited  by  the  experi- 
mental knowledge  of  all  who  had  preceded  them,  and  in  erecting  their 
mill  so  combined  the  excellence  of  all  as  to  earn  the  reputation  of  hav- 
ing the  "  Model  Mill."  Their  talc  was  obtained  from  newly  discovered 
mines  south  of  Fullersville,  town  of  Edwards.  Their  finished  product 
did  not  prove  to  be  suitable  for  the  paper  trade.  They  tried  foliated 
talc  with  the  same  result.  Financial  embarrassments  arose  and  the  prop- 
erty was  sold  under  mortgage  foreclosure.  The  company  was  reor- 
ganized under  the  name  of  the  "  St.  Lawrence  Pulp  Company."  Ma- 
terial for  grinding  was  now  obtained  from  the  Freemansburg  territory, 
and  business  proceeded  in  a  profitable  manner  until  1893,  when  it  was 
merged  in  the  "  International  Company." 

All  parties  closely  connected  with  the  "  St.  Lawrence  "  are  largely 
interested  in  the  "  International,"  and  their  views  and  experience  have 
due  weight  in  its  councils. 

The  Gardner  Pulp  Company. — In  1880  Capt.  W.  L.  Palmer,  of  Ro- 
chester, N.  Y.,  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  "  Northern  New  York 
Manufacturing  Company,"  The  parties  interested  were  Captain  Pal- 
mer, "  Arch"  Kennedy,  and  Donald  McNaughton,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
Josephus  Collett,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  Hon.  Leslie  J.  Russell,  Wm.  H. 
Kimball,  and  Milton  Packard,  of  Canton,  N.  Y. 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  573 

The  company  purchased  land  and  erected  a  steam  power  mill,  with  a 
daily  capacity  of  fifteen  tons,  ne?r  the  R.  W.  &  O.  R.  R.  track  on  the 
west  side  of  Gouverneur  village.  Talc  for  grinding  was  obtained  from 
the  Woodcock  farm  in  Fowler  and  adjoining  the  Abner  Wright  prem- 
ises. The  mill  was  started  and  run  but  a  short  time  when,  by  lack  of 
unity  of  business  sentiment,  the  mill  was  shut  down  and  remained  closed 
until  1892,  when  L.  M.  Gardner,  of  Gouverneur,  purchased  the  prop- 
erty, repaired  the  mill,  and  after  increasing  its  capacity  to  twenty  tons 
per  day,  started  the  works  the  following  September.  Soon  thereafter 
Mr.  Gardner  sold  a  half  interest  to  Josephus  CoUett,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
and  a  quarter  interest  to  Wm.  Whitney,  of  Gouverneur.  After  running 
the  business  but  a  short  time  Gardner  purchased  Collett's  half,  and  by 
selling  another  quarter  interest  to  Whitney  they  became  joint  and  equal 
owners  of  the  business.  In  December,  1893,  the  entire  plant,  including 
mines  and  mineral  right?,  were  purchased  by  A,  S  Bigelow  and  L.  M. 
Hair,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  F,  H,  Munson  and  F.  W,  Streeter,  of  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.,  and  A.  L.  McCrea,  jr.,  and  L.  M.  Gardner,  of  Gouverneur, 
Upon  a  reorganization  the  company  name  was  changed  to  the  "Gard- 
ner Pulp  Company."  The  officers  are  :  A.  L.  McCrea,  jr.,  president  ; 
F.  H.  Munson,  vice-president ;  and  F.  W.  Streeter,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  company  is  doing  a  fine  business,  and  have  extensive  mines 
on  the  Abner  Wright  farm,  town  of  Fowler,  being  the  original  mines  of 
the  Agalite  Fibre  Company,  which  were  the  first  mines  that  were  suc- 
cessfully worked.  Having  sunk  these  mines  to  a  considerable  depth 
the  nature  of  the  material  has  changed  to  a  fibrous  character,  and  im- 
proves in  quality  and  value  as  greater  depths  are  reached. 

The  Gardner  Pulp  Company's  mill  was  completely  destroyed  by  fire 
March  5,  1894.  As  this  company  owns  a  fine  waterpower  on  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  River  and  has  ample  financial  ability,  it  is  safe  to  predict  that, 
with  the  well  known  enterprise  of  the  owners,  it  is  more  than  probable 
that  they  will  soon  erect  a  new  mill  that  will  stand  second  to  none  in 
completeness  and  capacity. 

TJie  United  States  Talc  Cotnpany  was  organized  March  30,  1891.  Its 
officers  are:  Newton  Aldrich,  president;  F.  M.  Burdick,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  and  W.  R.  Dodge,  secretary  and  treasurer,  all  of  Gouverneur. 


574  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Their  plant  is  located  seven  miles  south  of  Gouverneur  on  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  River,  town  of  Edwards,  and  consists  of  seventy- five  acres  of 
land,  covering  both  sides  of  the  river  ;  a  magnificent  water  power  with 
a  fall  of  twenty-six  and  one  half  feet ;  a  sixteen  cylinder  mill  with  a 
capacity  of  sixty  tons  of  finished  product  per  day.  Both  mill  and  power 
are  fully  equal  to  a  daily  output  of  lOO  tons,  to  which  capacity  the  mill 
is  soon  to  be  increased. 

This  mill,  which  was  constructed  in  1893—4,  combines  all  improve- 
ments which  past  experience  in  the  business  have  proven  desirable. 
The  mill  is  so  situated,  with  reference  to  the  adjacent  high  land,  that 
the  crude  talc  rock  goes  in  at  the  top  and  is  carried  downward  by  the 
inexpensive  force  of  gravity,  through  the  various  processes  of  manufact- 
ure, from  floor  to  floor  until  it  reaches  the  bottom  a  completely  finished 
product,  sacked  and  ready  for  shipment  on  the  cars  of  the  G.  &  O.  R.  R., 
a  branch  of  which  runs  to  their  doors.  These  works  are  located  at  a 
railroad  station  known  as  Dodgeville,  and  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  W.  R. 
Dodge,  one  of  the  active  promoters  of  this  splendid  enterprise.  The 
company  has  erected  nine  commodious  dwellings,  convenient  to  the 
mills,  for  the  occupancy  of  some  of  its  employees.  The  company's  full 
force  consists  of  fifty- five  men. 

The  American  Talc  Company  wTis  incorporated  in  1891.  Its  officers 
are  :  C.  C.  Gray,  president ;  C.  P.  Darling,  secretary  and  treasurer  ; 
and  F.  G.  Wallis,  general  superintendent.  A  fine  mill  was  erected  in 
1892-3,  equipped  with  all  modern  improvements,  and  is  located  on  the 
famous  Balmat  farm  in  the  town  of  Fowler,  one  and  one-half  miles 
southeast  of  Little  York  and  seven  miles  south  of  Gouverneur.  The 
power  is  steam,  supplied  by  a  battery  of  boilers,  which  runs  a  fine  Cor- 
liss condensing  engine.  The  company's  mining  rights  cover  200  acres, 
and  the  talc  outcroppings  indicate  an  unlimited  supply  of  the  foliated 
variety  which  grows  more  fibrous  as  the  mines  increase  in  depth.  A 
chemical  analysis  of  their  talc  shows  a  remarkable  freedom  from  iron 
and  carbonates,  and  contains  from  thirty  six  to  eighty  percent,  of  mag- 
nesia. The  mills  have  a  daily  capacity  of  thirty  tons,  the  usual  force  of 
men  employed  is  forty  when   in  full  operation. 

In  connection  with  the  mines  now  open,  which  are  near  the  mills,  is 
a  storing  shed   with  a  capacity   of  6,000  tons   of  crude   rock,  which  is 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNBUR.  575 

conveyed  to  the  mills,  a  distance  of  350  feet,  in  cars  operated  by  a  cable. 
The  mill  machinery  includes  two  Blake  crushers,  three  buhr-stone 
mills,  and  three  Alsing  pulverizing  cylinders. 

Tlie  Asbestos  Pulp  Company  was  incorporated  in  April,  1892,  with 
the  following  officers:  E.  M.  Upton,  of  Charlotte,  N.  Y..  president ; 
M.  Doyle,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  vice-president;  A.  H.  Green,  of 
Rochester,   treasurer  ;   and   H.  S.  Predmore,  of  Gouverneur,  secretary. 

This  company  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  buying  out  and  com- 
bining the  partnership  known  as  the  "  Gouverneur  Asbestos  Pulp 
Company  "  and  the  L   M.  Gardner  mill  and  mines  at  Freemansburg. 

In  1891  L.  M.  Gardner,  of  Gouverneur,  who  owned  a  grand  water 
power  and  had  developed  what  is  known  as  the  Gardner  or  Gid  Free 
man  talc  mines  at  Freemansburg,  erected  a  first  class  talc  mill  equipped 
with  four  large  sized  Alsing  pulverizing  cylinders  and  other  necessary 
machinery  for  producing  twenty-five  tons  of  finished  product  per  day. 
This  plant  and  mines  were  transferred  to  the  Asbestos  Pulp  Company 
in  February,  1892. 

In  1891  A.  L.  McCrea,  jr..  and  James  M.  Sparks,  of  Gouverneur, 
F.  W.  Streeter  and  "  Frank  "  Munson,  of  Waterlown,  N.  Y.,  who  com- 
prised a  company  known  as  the  Gouverneur  Asbestos  Pulp  Company, 
purchased  the  Abbott  woolen  mills  at  Hailesboro'  and  fitted  them  up 
as  a  talc  mill,  with  a  capacity  of  twenty  tons  per  day.  The  mill  had 
been  in  operation  but  a  short  time  when  the  plant  and  business  was,  in 
April,  1892,  sold  to  the  Asbestos  Pulp  Company.  This  company  also 
purchased  of  "  Fred  "  Haile  a  lease  which  he  held  of  the  original  and 
therefore  famous  Col.  Palmer  mine  at  Freemansburg. 

By  improvements  in  mines  and  mills  this  company  has  increased 
their  output  to  over  fifty  tons  per  day,  employing  about  fifty  men. 

International  Pulp  Company. — This  company  was  organized  early  in 
1893  by  capitalists  of  New  York  city,  who  count  their  wealth  by  figures 
of  such  dazzling  dimensions  as  to  make  the  denizens  of  old  St.  Law- 
rence county  dizzy  when  attempting  to  comprehend  the  real  meaning 
of  so  many  millions.  The  officers  are :  Augustus  G.  Paine,  president; 
H.  Walter  Webb,  treasurer ;  Alfred  Rindskopf,  secretary ;  C.  R. 
Dimond,  jr.,  manager;  and  A.  J.  McDonald,  of  Gouverneur,  superin- 
tendent. 


576  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  company's  New  York  city  ofifice  is  No.  79  Times  Building  ;  its 
superintendent's  office  is  in  the  Union  Hall  building,  Gouverneur,  N.Y. 
Its  directors  are :  Chauncy  M.  Depew,  H.  Walter  Webb,  George  H. 
Daniels,  John  A.  Manning,  J.  Touro  Robertson,  Theo  W.  Bayard,  L. 
C.  Fuller,  Thomas  L.  James,  John  W.  Welch,  Augustus  G.  Paine, 
Edgar  Van  Etten,  Alfred  Rindskopf  and  Wm.  J.  Arkell,  mostly  of  New 
York  city. 

The  organization  of  this  company  resulted  in  the  consolidation  of  the 
mining  preperties  and  milling  plants  of  four  of  the  largest  and  most 
successful  concerns  in  the  talc  business  up  to  the  time  of  such  consoli- 
dation, viz  :  Natural  Dam  Pulp  Company,  Agalite  Fibre  Company, 
Adirondack  Pulp  Company,  and  St.  Lawrence  Pulp  Company. 

The  mining  territory  and  mineral  rights  acquired  cover  a  sufficient 
portion  of  the  fibrous  talc  district,  so  far  as  at  present  known,  as  to 
practically  insure  an  unlimited  quantity  of  the  unmined  material.  The 
milling  plant  consists  of  six  large  and  well  equipped  mills,  with  a  pres- 
ent capacity  of  not  less  than  200  tons  per  day,  and  which  with  the 
company's  unused  water  powers  can  be  made  equal  to  any  demand  that 
is  likely  to  be  made  upon  them.  The  number  of  men  now  employed 
by  this  company  averages  260  daily. 

Since  taking  possession  of  these  various  properties  the  company  has 
connected  all  of  its  mines  and  mills  with  the  Gouverneur  and  O.  R.  R. 
by  spurs  and  trestles,  thus  minimizing  the  expense  of  handling  both  the 
crude  material  and  finished  product.  Their  mills  have  been  submitted 
to  the  most  critical  inspection  of  practical  and  scientific  experts,  with  a 
view  to  adding  to  their  efficiency,  both  as  to  output  and  quality  of 
marketable  material.  Large  warehouses  have  been  erected  at  each  mill 
for  storing  any  surplus  above  present  demand,  so  their  milling  opera- 
tions may  be  continuous.  While  these  changes  and  improvements  have 
entailed  an  enormous  expense,  the  cost  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  the 
average  expense  of  production  is  lessened  and  the  output  increased. 

We  have  learned  from  a  reliable  source  that  it  is  the  intention  of  the 
International  Company  to  take  up  other  industries  in  the  near  future, 
and  thus  utilize  several  valuable  waterpowers  on  the  Oswegatchie  River 
which  this  company  owns  but  which  are  now  lying  idle.  Those  who 
are  at  all  familiar  with  the  business  habits  of  the  officers  and  directors 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUYERNEUR.  577 

of  this  company  consider  it  of  the  utmost  advantage  to  this  section  that 
their  energy,  experience  and  great  wealth  have  been  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  development  of  the  almost  limitless  natural  mineral  resources 
of  this  portion  of  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Talc  Mining. — This  mineral,  whose  presence  is  indicated  through 
a  wide  district  by  talcose  tracings,  crops  out  on  the  surface  in  many  lo- 
calities in  the  towns  of  Fowler  and  Edwards.  The  great  talc  find  in 
Freemansburg  was  uncovered  many  years  ago  by  the  grading  down  of 
a  rocky  side  hill  for  a  roadway,  and  was  heedlessly  passed  over  by  hoof 
and  wheel  until  1877,  when  the  trained  eye  of  the  veteran  miner,  Col. 
Henry  Palmer,  appreciated  its  value  and  thereby  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  handsome  fortune  which  he  had  accumulated  before  his  death. 

Talc  exists  in  veins  which  sometimes  grow  to  a  \'ast  deposit ;  often 
the  vein  pinches  out  to  very  small  proportions  and  then  expands  into 
"pockets"  of  great  and  small  dimensions. 

Talc  is  mined  by  drilling  and  blasting  and  the  product  when  broken 
to  a  suitable  size  for  handling,  is  hoisted  to  the  surface  by  the  various 
devices  used  in  raising  ores,  sometimes  by  horse  power,  but  generally 
by  machinery  whose  motive  power  is  steam. 

The  depth  of  talc  veins  are  not  known.  Some  of  the  mines  that  have 
been  longest  worked  have  reached  a  depth  of  350  feet,  the  material 
growing  finer  and  more  valuable  as  the  mine  increases  in  depth. 

Different  Kinds  of  Talc. — In  the  fibrous  variety  the  fiber  permeates 
every  part  of  the  material,  being  devoid  of  grit  and  soft  enough  to  be 
readily  sawed  or  cut.  It  is  readily  reduced  to  the  consistency  of  flour 
by  grinding  with  the  ordinary  buhr  stones.  The  foliated  kind  is  com- 
posed of  an  infinite  series  of  micaceous  scales  which  so  successfully  re- 
sists the  action  of  the  stones  that  no  matter  how  it  is  ground  it  retains 
its  seal}'  condition,  only  the  scales  are  smaller. 

Process  of  Mamifactiire. — In  many  respects  a  talc  mill  is  constructed 
on  a  plan  quite  similar  to  an  ordinary  flouring  mill,  with  hoppers,  buhr 
stones,  elevators,  etc.  Talc  is  brought  to  the  mill  in  the  shape  and  size 
of  rough  stone  used  by  masons  in  constructing  foundation  walls.  It  is 
first  reduced  to  a  size  that  will  admit  its  being  put  through  a  stone 
crusher,  whose  ponderous  jaws  mash  it  to  the  maximum  size  of  a  robin's 
^gg-  Then  it  goes  to  the  hopper,  and  by  one  or  more  grindings  is  re- 
73 


578  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

duced  to  a  powder  similar  to  flour  in  appearance.  Fibrous  talc  can  be 
made  fit  for  some  purposes  by  the  grinding  process  alone.  But  the 
finer  grades  are  bolted  to  rid  them  of  impurities,  then  conveyed  by  ele- 
vators to  the  floor  on  which  the  cylinders  are  located. 

Alsing  Pulverizing  Cylinders. — These  cylinders  had  formerly  been 
used  for  reducing  silica  and  other  refractory  materials  to  an  impalpa- 
ble powder  for  pottery  purposes.  The  Agalite  Fiber  Company,  having 
to  deal  with  foliated  talc,  was  the  first  to  introduce  the  cylinders,  which 
proving  a  perfect  success ;  the  example  in  this  regard  has  been  followed 
by  all  other  companies. 

The  cylinders  are  made  of  cast  iron,  strongly  bolted  together.  They 
are  from  six  to  eight  feet  long,  six  to  eight  feet  in  diameter,  lined  with 
thick  porcelain  brick,  also  having  chilled-iron  heads.  The  cylinders, 
each  having  a  "  man- hole"  for  filling  and  emptying,  are  filled  about 
one-third  full  of  the  hardest  known  pebbles  or  flint  stones,  averaging 
one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter,  which  are  brought  from  the  coast 
of  Labrador.  The  cylinders  are  then  nearly  filled  with  talc,  from  the 
buhr  stones,  and  the  "  man  hole  "  is  securely  fastened.  The  cylinders 
are  hung  by  means  of  a  pinion  at  each  end,  so  they  can  be  revolved  by 
machinery,  and  in  from  three  to  five  hours  after  starting,  the  most  stub- 
born material  is  reduced  to  a  suitable  condition  for  market. 

Uses  and  Market  of  the  Product. — Although  this  industry  is  still  in 
its  infancy  the  product  is  already  known  and  used  in  varying  quantities 
almost  around  the  globe.  Orders  are  received  and  talc  is  shipped  from 
Gouverneur  to  Enland,  Germany,  Spain,  Italy,  Russia,  all  over  Europe, 
and  even  to  far  distant  India.  It  is  principally  used  as  a  filler  in  the 
manufacture  of  paper.  Being  very  heavy  it  has  largely  taken  the  place 
of  the  various  clays  both  as  a  filler  and  a  make-weight  by  paper  makers. 
It  is  largely  used  as  an  adulterant  of  white  lead,  and  undoubtedly  finds 
its  way  into  many  articles  of  general  use  where  its  presence  is  neither 
suspected  nor  detected.  It  is  extensively  used  in  pharmacy  for  pow- 
ders, cosmetics,  also  in  making  various  kinds  of  soap.  Much  is  used 
by  pill  manufacturers  for  coating,  but  as  it  is  not  deleterious  to  the  hu- 
man system,  there  is  little  if  any  danger  from  its  use  as  an   adulterant. 

The  Press. — Although  several  attempts  had  been  made  to  establish 
a  newspaper  in  Gouverneur,  nothing  was  actually  accomplished  in  this 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERXEUR.  579 

direction  until  1849,  when,  in  April,  W.  M.  Goodrich  and  M.  Wilson 
issued  the  first  number  of  the  Northern  New  Yorker.  It  was  a  credit- 
able paper,  but  passed  into  the  hands  of  Nelson  Bruet  &  Company,  and 
was  discontinued  in  185  I. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  1852,  a  paper  called  The  Laborer  was  issued  by 
Martin  Mitchell,  of  Fowler,  but  after  a  time  he  secured  an  assistant,  Mr. 
Mason,  when  the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to  the  Free  Press. 
Harley  Mitchell  afterwards  succeeded  Mr.  Mason,  and  the  title  was  made 
The  St.  Lawrence  Free  Press.  In  1854,  when  it  appeared  an  impossible 
task  to  make  a  newspaper  self-supporting  in  the  place,  J.  J.  Emmes, 
of  Hammond,  assumed  the  control  of  the  enterprise  and  endeavored  to 
form  an  organization  to  liquidate  the  indebtedness  and  raise  a  fund  for 
future  emergency.  While  considerable  sums  were  subscribed  to  this 
fund,  they  were  not  at  all  realized,  and  after  a  short  time  the  whole 
venture  was  abandoned.  The  next  effort  to  establish  a  paper  here  was 
made  in  1864,  when  F.  E.  Merritt,  who  had  started  The  Times  in  Sandy 
Creek,  Oswego  county,  was  induced  to  remove  to  Gouverneur.  He 
came  in  Jul\-  and  called  his  paper  the  Gonverneicr  Times.  This  paper 
was,  April  i,  1880,  sold  to  The  Herald,  which  then  became  The  Herald- 
Times 

The  Gouverneur  Herald  was  established  April  10  1873.  It  had 
several  owners  within  a  short  time  and  was  then  purchased  by  H.  C. 
Reynolds,  who  continued  until  November,  1874,  when  Frank  L.  Cox 
purchased  a  half  interest.  Mr.  Cox  went  out  of  the  firm  October  28, 
1878,  his  half  interest  being  purchased  by  Jesse  T.  Reynolds,  who  now 
became  its  editor.  Prior  to  this  the  paper  had  been  neutral  in  politics, 
now  it  became  uncompromisingly  Republican.  At  this  time  the  Her- 
ald's circulation  was  about  900,  but  with  the  vigorous  and  spicy  edi- 
torials of  the  new  editor  it  rapidly  gained  both  popularity  and  patronage. 

April  I,  1880,  the  Times  was  consolidated  with  the  Herald,  making 
it  the  Herald  Times,  and  thus  adding  about  300  to  its  circulation.  That 
the  paper  was  now  ably  managed  was  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  its 
circulation,  which  became  general  throughout  St.  Lawrence  county, 
continually  grew  until  it  reached  a  little  over  5,000  (being  the  largest 
ever  reached  by  any  county  newspaper  in  Northern  New  York). 


580  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

May  lO,  1887,  H  G.  Reynolds  became  its  sole  owner,  and  continued 
its  management  until  May  23,  1892,  when  he  sold  it  to  R.  S.  Sackett, 
who  consolidated  it  with  the  Northern    Tribune. 

The  Northern  Tribune  was  established  in  1887  by  Prof,  M.  R.  Sack- 
ett. Meanwhile  the  Free  Press  had  been  started,  and  it  was  clear 
enough  that  Gouverneur  had  more  newspapers  than  could  be  supported. 
This  state  of  affairs  resulted  in  May,  1892,  in  the  consolidation  of  the 
Tribune  with  the  Herald-  Times.  The  name  of  the  new  publication  was 
made  the  Northern  Tribune  ajid  Gouverneur  Herald-  Times,  as  at  pres- 
ent. The  name  of  the  organization  is  the  Gouverneur  Publishing 
Company,  which  was  properly  capitalized.  M.  R.  Sackett  is  secretary 
of  the  company  and  editor  of  the  paper.  The  paper  is  Republican  in 
politics  and  is  ably  conducted,  having  a  circulation  of  over  4,000. 

The  Gouverneur  Free  Press  was  established  in  March,  1882,  by  B. 
G.  Parker,  who  is  still  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  paper.  Mr. 
Parker  is  a  practical  printer,  having  learned  his  trade  in  Gouverneur, 
and  at  nineteen  years  of  age  started  the  Norwood  News,  which  he  pub- 
lished five  years.  He  has  made  the  Free  Press  a  recognized  authority 
and  influence  in  Republican  politics  and  given  it  a  circulation  of  about 
4,000. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

Baptist  Church. — The  first  church  organization  in  the  town  was  ef- 
fected on  the  loth  of  February,  181 1,  when  a  committee  of  three  per- 
sons of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Hartford,  Washington  county,  N.Y., 
namely.  Elder  Amasa  Brown,  Timothy  Atwood.  and  Eli  Carrington, 
met  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Austin  and  organized  the  First  Baptist  church 
with  eighteen  members.  Jonathan  Payne  was  appointed  deacon  and 
soon  afterward  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  ordained  as  the  first  pastor. 
The  church  joined  the  association  in  18 12.  Mr.  Payne  continued  pas- 
tor until  1 8 16,  from  which  date  until  1825  there  was  no  settled  minister, 
but  the  church  was  supplied  most  of  the  time  by  various  elders  and 
licentiates.  For  eleven  years  meetings  were  held  in  dwellings,  barns, 
or  in  the  school-house,  but  in  1822  the  first  church  building  was  erected. 
This  was  a  plain  wooden  structure  and  was  used  until  1850,  when  it 
was  sold  to  James  Spencer  and  removed,  and  the  present  church  erected 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  581 

on  the  site.  The  church  has  been  prosperous  during  most  of  its  his- 
tory and  now  has  a  membership  of  more  than  two  hundred,  with  a 
largely  attended  Sabbath  school.  The  present  pastor  is  Donald  Dun- 
can Monro,  who  came  January  i,  1890.  The  society  is  prosperous  and 
the  attendance  large.  A  Baptist  church  was  in  existence  at  North  Gouv- 
erneur  from  about  1840  for  a  short  time;  was  reorganized  in  1859,  but 
disbanded  nearly  twenty  years  ago. 

Congregational  ChurcJi. — As  before  stated,  meetings  of  this  denomi- 
nation were  the  first  held  in  the  new  settlements,  which  were  continued 
for  several  years  without  a  formal  organization.  The  first  regular  or- 
ganization of  the  society  took  place  in  May,  18 17,  under  direction  of 
Rev  Nathaniel  Dutton,  of  Champion,  Jefferson  county,  with  fourteen 
members,  eight  were  received  on  profession  of  faith.  On  the  27th  of 
July  the  sacraments  were  first  administered  by  Mr.  Dutton,  when  ten 
more,  on  profession  of  faith,  united  with  the  church.  The  church  was 
legally  incorporated  April  13,  1820,  with  the  following  as  trustees: 
John  Spencer,  Richard  Kimball,  William  Cleghorn,  William  Colton, 
Rockwell  Barnes,  and  James  Parker.  Prior  to  this  time  the  members 
had  met  in  the  school  house,  or  in  their  dwellings  and  barns;  but  when 
the  organization  was  perfected,  a  beginning  was  made  upon  a  church. 
It  progressed  far  enough  that  year  for  occupancy  by  January,  1821, 
and  Rev.  James  Murdock,  the  first  regular  pastor,  began  his  service. 
The  house,  a  plain  but  convenient  meeting  place,  costing,  $1,400,  was 
completed  in  1824.  This  building  was  occupied  about  twenty  years, 
when  a  second  and  large  edifice  was  erected,  and  dedicated  August  29, 
1844,  costing  $3,500.  Several  years  later  it  was  considerably  enlarged, 
the  school-room  improved,  and  a  parsonage  built.  A  i^w  Presbyteri- 
ans at  first  united  in  the  formation  of  the  church.  Their  numbers  were 
greatly  increased  during  the  succeeding  years  by  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terians who  had  settled  in  that  vicinity,  when  the  society  became  known 
as  the  "  Presbyterian  Congregational  Church."  The  time  arrived  when 
it  became  necessary  to  repair  and  refurnish  the  church,  and  it  was  in- 
timated that  if  the  name  was  changed  to  Presbyterian,  the  means  to 
make  the  repairs  would  readily  be  furnished.  Therefore  a  meeting  was 
called  to  act  upon  the  proposition.  The  Congregational  element  had 
been  greatly  weakened  by  the  formation  of  a  second  church  of  that  de- 


582  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

nomination,  when  the  test  vote  decided  the  question,  and  the  church 
became  fully  Presbyterian  in  1863,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Baruch 
B.  Beck  with. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Several  persons  of  the  Methodist  faith 
lived  in  Gouverneur  from  early  days,  but  they  commonly  worshiped 
with  other  denominations,  except  when  an  occasional  itinerant  preacher 
held  a  service  in  a  private  house  or  the  school-room.  Rev.  Benjamin 
Dighton  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  of  these  preachers,  and  the 
record  book  of  the  society  is  authority  for  the  supposition  that  he 
preached  as  early  as  1828,  while  Mrs.  Parker  places  the  probable  date 
several  years  earlier;  but  the  first  organization  of  which  there  is  posi- 
tive record  was  effected  in  the  year  1832,  with  a  very  limited  member- 
ship. From  the  beginning  of  1833  until  about  the  close  of  1835  the 
meetings  were  held  in  the  school-house,  and  later  in  the  chapel  of  the 
seminary,  where  they  continued  until  the  institution  was  burned  in  1839  5 
then  the  school-house  was  again  used  for  the  purpose.  When  the  semi- 
nary was  rebuilt  it  was  used  as  the  meeting  place  of  the  Methodists  un- 
til 1862,  when  the  building  which  had  been  erected  by  the  Second  Con- 
gregational Society  was  purchased  for  $1,000.  This  was  used  for  about 
seven  years,  when  the  church  that  preceded  the  present  building  was 
erected  in  1870.  It  cost  $13,500,  besides  the  site,  and  was  dedicated 
February  9,  1871.  The  society  has  also  a  fine  parsonage  property- 
The  society  is  very  prosperous  and  active,  the  membership  in  the  charge 
is  about  350,  with  a  Sabbath  school  of  more  than  400  scholars.  The 
present  church  is  of  stone  and  cost  about  $30,000.  It  was  dedicated  in 
October,  1891.  Rev.  S.  J.  Greenfield,  the  present  pastor,  came  in  May, 
1893.  There  is  a  small  Methodist  church  at  Natural  Dam,  built  in 
1890,  which  is  in  the  Gouverneur  charge.  Rev.  L.  T.  Conrad  preaches 
there  and  at  Hailesborough.  A  Methodist  church  is  in  existence  at 
North  Gouverneur,  which  is  in  ihe  Richville  charge.  Rev.  F.  W. 
Thompson  is  pastor. 

A  Second  Congregational  Chrcrch  was  formed  in  February,  1842,  sev- 
eral having  withdrawn  from  the  first.  The  society  was  incorporated  on 
March  21,  1843,  with  Rockwell  Burns,  Nathan  W.  Smith,  and  John 
Leach,  trustees.  They  built  a  small  frame  church,  where  the  Rev.  E. 
Pond  preached  to  them  a  few  years      The  society  was  not  very  numer- 


THE  TOWN  OF  GOUVERNEUR.  583 

ous,  and  after  struggling  for  a   time   sold  their  house  to  the  Methodist 
society,  and  some  joined  the  first  church  when  the  society  went  down. 

Presbyterian  Church. — This  was  formed  from  the  Congregational 
body  in  1863  by  a  vote  of  that  church,  when  most  of  the  members  con- 
tinued their  relations  with  the  new  bod}^  but  a  few  went  over  to  the 
Methodists.  This  change  took  place  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  B.  B. 
Beckvvith,  when  it  took  on  that  character,  abandoning  its  partial  Con- 
gregational features,  and  electing  the  following  elders  :  George  Rodger, 
Melville  H.  Thrall,  Samuel  Wright,  James  Brodie,  Simeon  L.  Parmelee, 
Joseph  Howes,  and  George  Lockie.  The  church  has  continued  in  a 
flourishing  condition  since,  and  now  has  a  membership  of  nearly  400. 
The  society  continued  to  worship  in  the  same  place,  with  only  occa- 
sional repairs,  until  the  development  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  place 
caused  a  marked  improvement  in  the  prosperity  of  the  pleasant  village. 
This  was  plainly  visible  in  the  substantial  places  of  business  and  elegant 
homes  being  built  up  around  the  old  church,  which  seemed  to  admonish 
them  that  a  more  elegant  temple  should  be  raised.  In  the  spring  of 
1892  the  society  took  steps  in  that  direction,  when  preparations  were 
made  for  a  new  church,  resulting  in  the  construction  of  the  present 
edifice,  of  Gouverneur  marble,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $60,000.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  substantial  and  beautiful  churches  in  Northern  New  York,  and 
a  great  credit  to  the  town.  The  new  chtirch  was  dedicated  with  elab- 
orate and  interesting  ceremonies  on  the  31st  day  of  October,  1893,  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W.  F.  Skinner. 

Trinity  {^Episcopal)  Church. — The  first  Episcopalian  religious  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church  by  Rev.  Wilbur  F.  Paddock 
in  the  summer  of  1862,  and  a  church  was  incorporated  under  the  above 
name  on  the  i6th  of  April,  1866,  with  Benjamin  F.  Skinner  and  Aaron 
B.  Cutting  as  wardens.  Their  first  rector  was  Rev.  Jedediah  Winslow. 
The  congregation  usually  worshiped  in  the  Seminary  Chapel  until  the 
church  building  was  erected  ;  the  corner-stone  was  laid  in  September, 
1866,  and  the  church  was  dedicated,  free  of  debt,  July  29,  1869.  The 
cost  of  the  building  was  about  $7,500.  It  has  been  repaired  and  re- 
furnished recently  and  a  new  organ  put  in.  Rev.  James  A.  Dixon, 
pastor. 


584  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Catholic  Church. — There  were  only  about  twenty-five  Catholics  in 
Gouverneur  as  late  as  the  year  1850,  and  tliey  had  been  dependent  for 
public  religious  services  upon  various  priests  from  Ogdensburg.  A 
movement  was  inaugurated  in  1856  for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice, 
and  a  lot  was  purchased  on  South  street.  This  was  afterward  exchanged 
for  a  lot  and  building  on  Park  street  (the  former  church  of  the  Method- 
ists), which  was  dedicated  to  its  new  purpose  December  22,  1874  It 
was  burned  in  the  great  fire  of  January  13,  1875.  In  the  same  year  the 
present  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Rev.  Father 
Laramee  is  the  present  priest  in  charge. 

Universalist  ChurcJies. — The  first  Universalist  church  of  Gouverneur 
and  Fowler  was  organized  in  1832.  The  original  subscribers  to  the 
constitution  were  Israel  Porter  and  twenty- five  others.  The  first  Uni- 
versalist church  of  Gouverneur  and  Hailesborough  was  formed  in  Gouv- 
erneur village  January  27,  1849,  with  eighteen  members.  The  church 
continued  a  precarious  existence  several  years;  but  there  is  now  no 
church  of  this  denomination  in  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSIE— ORGANIZED  IN  1813. 

THIS  was  the  thirteenth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  on  the  27th  of  January,  18 13.  This  territory  was  formerly 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  town  of  Russell,  which  that  town  released 
on  a  vote  of  the  freeholders  assembled  for  that  purpose  January  i,  181 1, 
and  was  to  be  annexed  to  the  town  of  Gouverneur,  but  resulted  in  the 
formation  of  a  new  town. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  directed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Reuben  Streeter,  but  the  day  having  passed,  che  Legislature  appointed 
another,  and  the  first  town  election  was  held  at  the  block  house,  then 
the  residence  of  Mr.  Streeter.  The  dates  and  the  presiding  officer's 
name  were  not  preserved. 


THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSTE.  585 

As  originally  formed,  this  town  embraced  townships  i,  2  and  7,  or 
Hammond,  Somerville  (or  Kilkenny)  of  Tract  Number  3.  Fowler  and 
Hammond  have  since  been  taken  ofif,  and  the  line  between  Rossie  and 
Hammond  was  altered  February  7,  1844. 

The  town  lies  on  the  western  border  of  the  county,  south  of  Ham- 
mond, west  of  Macomb  and  Gouverneur.  with  Fowler  to  the  southward 
and  Jefferson  county  on  the  west.  The  surface  is  level  or  rolling  in  the 
eastern  part,  but  in  the  western  part  is  much  broken  by  ledges  of  gneiss, 
limestone  and  sandstone.  Numerous  streams  cross  the  town,  and  the 
Oswegatchie  crosses  it  twice,  forming  the  "  Ox- Bow."  Indian  River 
and  Grass  Creek  flow  through  the  northern  and  western  parts,  while 
the  central  part  is  crossed  by  the  Yellow  Lake,  which  is  connected  with 
the  Oswegatchie  by  a  small  stream. 

Settlement  began  in  what  is  now  Rossie  in  1807,  when  Joseph  Teall, 
of  Fairfield,  and  Reuben  Streeter,  of  Salisbury,  Herkimer  county,  who 
had  contracted  with  Lewis  R.  Morris,  nephew  of  Gouverneur  Morris, 
for  a  tract  of  land  between  the  Oswegatchie  and  the  south  line  of 
Gouverneur,  extending  to  the  county  line,  came  in  to  occupy  their 
possession.  On  the  2d  of  December,  1808,  David  Parish  purchased 
the  town  from  Gouverneur  Morris  and  J.  D.  Le  Ray.  Through  Mr. 
Parish  the  town  was  given  its  name  in  honor  of  his  sister  Rossie,  but 
she  usually  bore  the  name  of  Rosa,  The  castle  in  Scotland  which  was 
owned  by  her  husband  was  also  called  Rossie.  The  land  records  show 
the  following  purchases  under  date  of  December  2,  1806,  when  the  per- 
sons named  came  in  and  selected  lands  :  Ambrose  Simmons,  Oliver 
Malterner,  Amos  Keeney,  jr.,  Samuel  Bonfy,  Silvius  Waters,  Joshua 
Stearns,  Jerome  Waldo,  George  W.  Pike,  Benjamin  Pike,  jr.,  Ebenezer 
Bemis  and  David  Shepard ;  most  of  these  were  from  Herkimer  county 
and  many  of  them  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town.  The  first 
improvement  was  made  by  Reuben  Streeter  in  1807  on  a  farm  about 
half  a  mile  east  of  Wegatchie  hamlet.  In  the  next  year  he  built  a  mill 
on  the  Oswegatchie. 

Previous  to  the  spring  of  181 1  the  following  families  had   moved  in 

and  were  living  on  the  tract  purchased  by  Teall  and   Streeter,  besides 

those  already  named  ;  David  Freeman,  James  Streeter,  Joseph  Teall, 
74 


58G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Diamond  Wheeler,   Eli  Winchell,  Simeon  Stevens,  John  and  Wheaton 
Wilcox,  and  Daniel  Wilcox  came  soon  after. 

The  first  school  was  taught  about  a  mile  west  of  the  site  of  Somerville 
by  a  Mr.  Maynard. 

Other  names  which  appear  upon  an  early  assessment  roll  are  as  fol- 
lows, but  a  part  of  these  lived  in  what  is  now  Fowler  and  Hammond  : 
Lemuel  Arnold,  Jeduthan  Baker,  James  Barnes,  Horatio  G.  Berthrong 
(the  first  tavern  keeper  at  Rossie),  Samuel  B.  Brown,  Truman  Bristol, 
Joseph  Desbrow,  James  Haile,  Samuel  Hendrix,  Jedediah  Kingsley, 
Alexander  Osburne,  Ebenezer  Parker,  Richard  Townsend,  Joseph  Teall, 
jr.,  Elias  Teall  and  Alvin  Wright. 

That  part  of  this  town  lying  between  the  Indian  and  the  Oswegatchie 
Rivers  has  been  termed  "  the  Scotch  settlement,"  from  the  large  num- 
ber of  that  race  who  settled  there.  The  settlement  was  begun  in  1818, 
when  ten  families  came  in,  as  follows  :  Robert  Ormiston,  James  Dick- 
son, William  Fachney,  James  Fairbairn,  Corlan  McLaren,  Donald 
McCarrie,  Thomas  Elliott,  James  Henderson,  James  Douglas  and 
Andrew  Dodds.  These  families  emigrated  from  Scotland  by  way  of 
Quebec  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  While  going  up  that  river  in  a 
Durham  boat,  and  before  their  destination  had  been  fully  decided  upon, 
they  met  the  agent  of  Mr.  Parish  (Joseph  Roselle),  who  induced  them 
them  to  cross  to  Ogdensburg.  Their  families  were  there  provided  for, 
while  the  men  went  into  Rossie  to  view  the  country,  with  the  result  as 
stated.  Mr.  Parish  treated  them  with  liberality,  causing  ten  acres  to 
be  cleared  for  each  family,  built  a  log  house  for  each,  and  supplied  them 
with  an  ox  team  for  each  two  families,  and  a  cow,  provisions,  and  seed 
wheat  for  each,  also  a  fine  young  dog.  It  was  then  just  after  the  his- 
torical cold  season,  and  prices  were  very  high,  which  made  this  action 
on  Mr.  Parish's  part  doubly  generous  and  helpful  to  the  immigrants. 
In  the  following  year  other  families  came  in,  among  them  the  following  : 
James  Lockie,  David  Storie,  William  Laidlaw,  Robert  Clark,  Andrew 
Culbertson,  John  Henderson,  Andrew  Fleming,  John  Dodds,  James 
Hobkerk,  John  Wait  and  James  Ormiston.  In  1820  John  McRobbie, 
Thomas  Turnbull,  and  brothers  Michael,  Adam,  Andrew  and  William 
came  in.  Elizabeth  Fachney,  daughter  of  William,  born  January  13, 
1 8 19,  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  white  child  born  in  this  part  of 
the  town. 


THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSIE.  587 

Descendants  of  some  of  the  Scotch  settlers  live  in  the  town  and 
near  by,  but  they  are  not  numerous.  Among  them  are  David  Storie, 
who  lives  in  Oswegatchie  ;  A.  A.  Dickson,  grandson  of  James,  who  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  ;  Alexander  McLaren,  son  of  the  pioneer,  living 
in  the  "  Half- way  House,"  formerly  a  public  house,  between  Rossie  and 
Ox-Bow. 

The  War  of  i8i2  had  its  effects  in  this  town  as  well  as  in  others,  and 
the  law  of  self  preservation  prompted  the  inhabitants  to  build  a  block 
house  on  the  road  between  Summerville  and  Wegatchie,  and  thither  the 
people  went  to  spend  the  nights  in  times  of  apprehension.  The  block 
house  was  24  by  30  feet,  built  of  hewn  timber,  bullet  proof,  and  stood 
till  about  the  year  1840.  Rossie  also  during  the  war  time  became  a 
very  active  place,  as  it  was  a  great  resort  for  both  the  timid  and  the 
brave.  Several  families  from  Ogdensburg  and  other  exposed  points 
went  to  Rossie  to  stop  during  the  troubles,  or  after  the  siege  of  Ogdens- 
burg, as  they  supposed  that  its  retired  position  would  make  it  compar- 
atively safe  from  British  raids  Here  also  was  the  headquarters  of  a 
gang  of  hard  characters,  who  came  from  various  places,  even  from 
Canada,  who  would  go  over  the  line  into  the  Canadian  settlements, 
steal  horses  and  bring  them  back  to  Rossie,  where  they  had  several 
secret  hiding  places  among  the  ledges,  and  on  favorable  opportunities 
sell  them  to  the  government  agents  During  their  leisure  time,  or  be- 
tween raids,  they  loafed  around  the  village,  drinking  and  gambling. 
These  repeated  raids  caused  the  Canadian  authorities  to  make  an  effort 
to  squelch  them.  Therefore  Colonel  Frazer,  with  a  company  of  British 
soldiers,  having  a  knowledge  of  their  den,  came  over  in  the  summer  of 
18 13,  surrounded  the  village  and  captured  it  without  resistance.  He 
placed  sentinels  at  various  points,  then  searched  for  horse  thieves,  but 
only  found  a  few  innocent  old  men,  women  and  children.  The  next 
morning  he  formed  his  men  into  line  on  the  street,  and  called  the  peo- 
ple together  and  said  to  them,  that  he  came  there  to  catch  thieves,  and 
he  hoped  that  he  had  not  brought  any  with  him,  but  said  that  if  any  of 
the  Rossie  people  had  lost  anything  while  he  and  his  men  were  there, 
that  they  believed  his  men  had  taken,  he  wanted  they  should  say  so,  and  ■ 
he  would  have  every  man  searched  before  he  left.  No  complaint  being 
made,  the  squad  returned  to   Kingston.      A   day  or  two   later  a   Mrs. 


588  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Stevens,  missing  a  set  of  solid  silver  spoons,  sent  a  man  over  to  Kings- 
ton and  informed  the  colonel  of  the  fact,  when  he  instituted  a  search 
and  found  them  with  a  soldier  and  sent  them  back  to  the  woman.  Mr. 
Henry  Plumb  of  Ogdensburg  was  an  eye  witness  of  the  above  incident 
and  related  the  same  and  many  other  similar  ones,  to  the  writer.  It 
was  also  reported  that  the  colonel's  horse,  which  he  rode  over,  was  left 
to  graze  on  the  commons,  but  in  the  morning  was  not  found,  and  had 
either  strayed  away  or  been  stolen,  and  he  had  to  go  back  on  foot. 
Other  incidents  of  plundering  will  be  noticed  in  the  history  of  Ham- 
mond. 

During  the  summer  of  1812,  the  mill  built  by  Mr.  Streeter  was 
burned  in  the  night  by  an  incendiary,  who  laid  it  to  the  Indians.  It  was 
rebuilt  by  Mr.  Parish,  who  owned  and  operated  it  until  about  18 17, 
when  he  sold  it  to  James  Howard.  The  grist  mill  is  now  carried  on  by 
James  H.  Bolton.  VV.  B.  Wheelock  was  superintendent  of  all  of  A^r. 
Parish's  mills  and  mining  operations  for  a  number  of  years.  It  was 
Mr.  Howard's  wish  to  have  the  settlement  about  his  mills  called  "  Cale- 
donia," and  that  name  did  to  some  extent  attach  to  the  place  ;  but  it 
was  also  called  "  Howard's  Mills,"  "Church's  Mills,"  and  finally  We- 
gatchie,  which  name  was  applied  when  the  post-office  was  established 
in  1849. 

.A.  saw  mill  here  is  now  operated  by  David  Story.  George  D.  Story 
and  James  Reed  have  stores,  and  the  former  is  postmaster.  The  woolen 
mill  is  carried  on  by  John  Wright,  succeeding  Church  &  Wright.  The 
hotel  is  conducted  by  John  Brickley. 

The  first  settlement  at  the  Rossie  Iron  Works  (now  Rossie  P.  O.)  was 
made  by  men  sent  in  by  Mr.  Parish,  late  in  the  summer  of  18 10,  to 
build  mills  and  open  settlements.  This  was  an  important  point,  being 
at  the  head  of  navigation  of  twenty- seven  miles  towards  Fort  Stanwix 
(Rome),  and  the  pioneers  found  evidences  of  French  or  English  occu- 
pation there.  A  Durham  boat  was  found  sunk  with  stone  in  the  river, 
and  an  excavation,  perhaps  for  a  cellar,  was  on  the  site  of  the  stone 
store  at  Rossie.  D.  W.  Church,  who  had  superintended  the  building 
of  a  stone  store  at  Ogdensburg,  took  seven  men,  and  his  wife  to  act  as 
cook,  and  proceeded  in  a  bateau  with  furniture  and  tools,  to  the  head  of 
navigation  on  the  Indian  River,  and  landed  at  sunset  on  an  island  near 


THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSIE.  589 

where  the  foundry  was  located.  There  they  spent  the  night  and  the 
next  day  erected  a  hut  near  where  the  saw  mill  was  built,  and  by  win- 
ter had  a  saw  mill  in  operation  there.  In  December  the  party  was 
broken  up.  During  the  winter  parties  were  engaged  in  getting  out 
timber,  which  was  used  in  buildings  in  Ogdensburg  and  in  the  frame  of 
the  "  Genesee  packet,"  which  was  built  soon  afterward.  In  the  following 
summer  the  lumber  business  was  prosecuted  with  vigor,  and  in  the  suc- 
ceeding winter  the  bridge  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  built.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1813  a  furnace  was  begun  under  direction  of  James  Howard, 
and  from  that  time  onward  the  operations  of  the  town  were  ener- 
getically advanced  by  Mr.  Parish.  A  road  through  to  Ox-Bow  was  cut 
out  in  1 8 10  and  became  a  turnpike.  The  first  male  child  born  in  the 
village  was  William  Rossie  Williams,  born  March  31,  18I4. 

The  Rossie  Furnace  was  the  first  blast  furnace  built  in  Northern  New 
York,  and  was  started  up  in  the  year  18 15.  At  about  the  same  time 
what  was  known  as  the  Caledonia  Iron  Mine,  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
east  of  Somerville,  was  put  in  operation.  A  specimen  of  ore  was  sent 
to  Albany,  and  expectations  of  a  large  mining  interest  to  be  developed 
in  this  town  were  confidentially  entertained.  The  furnace  consisted  of 
two  stacks  about  thirty-two  feet  square  at  the  base  and  the  same 
height ;  only  one  of  them  was  ever  operated.  Mr.  Parish  engaged 
William  Bembo,  an  Englishman  experienced  in  iron  manufacturing,  but 
ignorant  of  this  ore  and  the  fuel  to  be  used,  the  result  was  discourage- 
ment and  failure.  At  this  juncture  Mr.  Parish  offered  the  eastern  firm 
of  Keith,  Marvin  &  Sykes,  the  free  use  of  his  furnace  and  coal  with  the 
best  ore  on  his  premises,  for  three  months,  if  they  would  give  it  a  trial. 
The  result  was  eminently  satisfactory,  good  iron  was  produced,  and  a 
large  profit  realized.  For  the  succeeding  three  years  the  furnace  was 
operated  by  S.  Fullers  &  Co.,  under  a  contract  for  five  years  ;  but 
George  Parish,  in  order  to  lease  for  a  longer  term,  bought  the  contract 
at  the  end  of  three  years  and  leased  to  Robert  R.  Burr,  of  New  Jersey. 
He  carried  on  the  business  two  or  three  years  and  left  about  1827.  The 
works  were  then  idle  for  about  ten  years,  when,  in  May,  1837,  Mr. 
Parish  again  took  up  tlie  business.  A  new  and  larger  stack  was  built, 
which  was  replaced  in  1844  by  a  still  larger  one,  capable  of  making 
eleven  tons  per  day.  The  last  blast  in  this  furnace  ended  October  14, 
1867. 


590  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Meanwhile,  iron  mines  situated  a  mile  and  a  quarter  east  of  Somer- 
ville  were  opened  in  the  fall  of  1812  and  continued  many  years  for  the 
supply  of  the  above  described  furnace.  From  one  to  three  dollars  per 
ton  was  paid  for  drawing  the  ore  thirteen  miles  to  the  furnace,  making 
a  sourse  of  income  from  which  many  settlers  paid  for  their  farms.  The 
work  was  mostly  done  in  the  winter.  The  Caledonia  Mine,  a  part  of 
the  Parish  estate,  was  estimated  to  have  supplied  one  hundred  thousand 
tons  of  ore  down  to  1852.  In  1865  the  mines  were  purchased  by  a  New 
■York  company  and  placed  under  supervision  of  Charles  R.  Westbrook. 
Extensive  improvement  was  made,  improved  machinery  put  in,  buildings 
erected,  and  a  track  connencting  the  ore  bed  with  the  railroad  was  laid. 
The  supply  of  iron  ore  was  apparently  inexhaustible  and  the  quality  of 
the  product  wa'ls  good,  but  unforeseen  causes  too  powerful  to  be  over- 
come caused  the  final  abandonment  of  the  business  about  1877.  Chief 
among  these  causes  was  the  enormous  and  cheap  production  of  iron  in 
other  localities  with  the  scarcity  of  fuel  here. 

Another  mining  interest,  which  at  one  period  promised  very  impor- 
tant results,  was  the  discovery  and  production  of  lead.  It  is  a  tradition 
brought  down  from  the  time  of  Indian  occupation,  that  the  red  men 
knew  of  the  existence  of  lead  in  this  section  and  made  use  of  it.  It 
is  said  that  Arthur  Bacon  was  one  of  the  very  first  to  discover  galena 
in  the  earth  at  the  roots  of  an  overturned  tree  in  this  town  What  was 
called  the  Victoria  vein  was  afterwards  discovered  by  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Jepson.  In  December,  1835,  ^^-  Parish  had  become  convinced 
that  the  industry  might  be  made  a  profitable  one,  and  he  contracted 
with  B.  T.  Nash  to  make  a  search  for  ore.  Fifty  cents  a  ton  was  to  be 
paid  the  latter  for  iron  ore  and  seventy-five  cents  for  lead  ore,  should 
he  discover  any  mines,  all  the  lead  ore  to  be  worked  in  Rossie.  The 
lease  was  to  run  ten  years.  Previous  to  this  time  a  company,  consist- 
ing of  B.  T.  Nash,  Joseph  Barber,  Zadoc  Day,  Joseph  Disbrow,  and 
another,  for  the  purpose  of  mineral  explorations,  and  the  Indian  tradi- 
tions, led  them  to  the  Rossie  district.  Mr.  Nash  soon  after  sold  the 
rights  to  J.  C.  Bush  Two  companies  were  incorporated  May  12,  1837, 
after  compromising  with  Nash's  associates  and  others,  for  working  the 
mines.  The  charters  of  the  two  companies  were  substantially  alike  as 
to  their  terms,  and  were   to   continue  to  January    i,    1847  ;  capital  of 


THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSIE.  591 

each,  $24,000.  The  company  holding  the  eastern  division  of  the 
"  coal  hill  "  vein  was  styled  the  "  Rossie  Lead  Mining  Company,"  and 
David  C.  Judson,  James  Averill.  Erastus  Vilas,  Peter  C.  Oakley,  and 
Royal  Vilas  were  its  first  directors.  The  western  division  of  the  same 
vein  was  held  by  the  "  Rossie  Galena  Company,"  of  which  John  C. 
Bush,  Bliss  T.  Nash,  Elias  J.  Drake,  Sylvester  Gilbert,  and  David  C. 
Judson  were  the  first  directors. 

Work  was  begun  on  the  western  section  in  1836,  but  systematic 
operations  were  not  commenced  until  Januar\-  i,  1837,  when  the  eastern 
company  also  began  operations.  A  large  number  of  laborers  was  em- 
ployed, and  the  business  seemed  to  prosper  for  a  considerable  time, 
notwithstanding  the  inexperience  of  those  engaged  and  the  great  ex- 
penditure for  smelting  houses  and  machinery,  which  were  later  found 
to  be  insufficient.  Large  dividends  were  made  b}^  the  companies  and 
the  stock  commanded  high  prices.  The  ore  was  principally  smelted  by 
Moss  &  Knapp  at  a  furnace  on  Indian  River,  about  a  mile  from  the 
mines,  at  twenty-five  dollars  per  ton,  with  a  contract  giving  them  all 
over  sixty- eight  per  cent.  A  reverberatory  furnace  was  built  at  the 
mines,  but  this  was  found  wasteful.  The  Victoria  and  Union  veins  were 
worked  a  short  time  by  Mr.  Parish,  A  "  working  "  was  begun  by  him 
on  the  Robinson,  or  Indian  River,  vein,  where  ore  was  found  upon  the 
surface,  and  about  300  pounds  of  lead  were  taken  out  directly  over  a 
cavitv  in  the  granite  which,  upon  blasting  to  the  solid  vein,  proved  to 
be  fifteen  feet  in  depth.  A  shaft  was  sunk  to  the  depth  of  seventy-six 
feet,  which  yielded  i  100  pounds  of  lead  ;  cost,  $1,600.  In  the  branch 
of  the  Union  vein  two  shafts  were  sunk,  the  western  fifty-five  and  the 
eastern  fifty- three  feet  in  depth. 

The  product  of  the  mines  was  in  all  3,250,690  pounds  or  1,625 
tons  of  metallic  lead,  the  average  yield  of  the  ore  being  sixty- seven  per 
cent.  Both  of  the  companies  discontinued  work  about  1840,  and  many 
persons  lost  largely  by  deterioration  of  the  stock.  During  the  summer 
of  1852,  these  mines  having  reverted  to  Mr.  Parish,  a  portion  of  the 
property  was  leased  by  R.  P.  Remington,  for  ten  years,  with  the  privi- 
lege of  another  ten  years,  with  one- twelfth  royalty,  arid  a  company 
styled  "The  Great  Northern  Lead  Company"  was  incorporated  Sep- 
tember  8,  1852,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000.     The  first  directors  were 


592  HISTORY-  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

James  C.  Forsyth,  Ernest  Tielder,  P.  Strachan,  John  F.  Sanford,  S.  T. 
Jones,  Silas  M.  Stilwell,  Charles  G.  Myers,  R.  P.  Remington,  and 
James  G.  Hopkins.  A  powerful  engine  was  put  in,  a  number  of 
practical  miners  from  Cornwall,  England,  were  imported,  and  work  was 
quite  extensively  prosecuted  for  about  three  years.  It  was  then  dis- 
continued, being  unable  to  pay  the  royalty  agreed  to  Mr.  Parish.  In 
1854  the  works  were  leased  by  J.  B.  Morgan  and  were  again  operated 
until  1868,  since  which  time  they  have  remained  entirely  idle. 

The  foregoing  description  of  the  extensive  mining  operations  in  the 
town  comprise  a  large  portion  of  its  general  history.  Compared  with 
the  somewhat  remarkable  activity  during  the  long  period  in  which  those 
industries  were  prosecuted,  the  affairs  of  the  town  since  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  (for  particulars  see  Chapter  XV.)  have  moved  peacefully 
along.  The  agricultural  interests  have  been  more  successfully  and  pro- 
gressively pursued,  the  attention  of  the  farmer?  now  being  largely 
devoted  to  dairying.  Cheese  is  the  principal  product,  which  has  an 
excellent  reputation,  and  considerable  butter  of  good  quality  is  pro- 
duced. 

Many  incidents  occurred  during  the  earlier  working  of  the  mines  that 
well-nigh  resulted  in  bloodshed,  which  were  peculiarly  common  in  those 
days  in  such  a  mixed  population  of  nationalities.  Such  as  suspending 
by  the  neck  an  effigy  in  Irish  costume  before  a  boarding-house  occu- 
pied by  laborers  on  St.  Patrick's  day  with  insulting  mottos  attached  to 
it.  This  was  done  by  thoughtless  chaps  merely  as  a  joke  on  a  certain 
class.  This,  however,  was  not  approved  of  by  the  better  class  of  citi- 
zens. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation 
to  the  present  time  with  the  years  of  their  service. 

1814,  Reuben  Streeter;  1815,  Theodosius  0.  Fowler;  181G-1818,  Reuben  Streeter  ; 
1822-24,  Louis  Franklin  :  1825,  Ebenezer  Martin  ;  1826-1827,  James  Howard ;  1828, 
William  Brown;  1829,  Reuben  Streeter  ;  1830-32.  S.  Pratt ;  1833-34,  W'lliam  Skmner; 
1835,  S.  Pratt;  1836-38,  Robert  Clark  ;  1839-40,  Martin  Thatcher;  1843-44,  William 
B.  Bostwick;  1845-46,  S.  Pratt;  1847-48,  H.  V.  R.  Wilmont;  1849,  Zacheus  Gates; 
1850,  Adam  Turnbull ;  1851-52,  Zacheus  Gates;  1853-4,  Solomon  S.  Pratt;  1855,  R. 
R.  Sh-rman;  1856-57.  L.  W.  Baldwin,  1858,  William  B.  Bostwick,  1859-63  ;  James 
H.  Church  ;  1864-66,  Thomas  A.  Turnbull ;  1867-69,  David  McFalis  ;  1870-74,  Thomas 
A.  Turnbull;    1875-77,  A.  E.  Helmer;    1878,  T.  A.  Turnbull;    1879-80,  A.  E.  Helmer; 


THE  TOWN  OF  ROSSIE.  593 

1881-83,  George  McLear ;   1884-1886,  A.  E.  Hehner;    1887-88,  John  Bany  ;    1889,  D. 
W.  Church;   1890-1894,  James  W.  Marsliall. 

Rossie  Village. — This  village  is  situated  at  the  head  of  navigation  on 
Indian  River,  where  there  is  a  f^ood  water  power.  The  early  settle- 
ments here  have  been  fully  described.  Mr.  Parish  built  the  mills  here 
at  an  early  day,  which  were  operated  by  him  in  connection  with  his 
other  large  industries.  The  grist  mill  is  now  operated  by  Robert  Mel- 
rose, and  the  saw-mill  by  W.  W.  Leonard.  Here  also  the  Rossie  Iron 
Company  built  a  furnace  and  a  machine  shop  and  a  foundry,  none  of 
which  are  now  in  operation.  A  freshet  in  April,  1892,  carried  away  the 
dam,  wheelhouse,  etc.,  but  a  new  one  has  been  built,  supplying  power 
for  the  saw-mill  and  grist  mill.  Among  the  various  persons  who  have 
done  business  at  this  point  may  be  mentioned  W.  W.  Leonard,  W.  W. 
Butterfield,  George  Backus,  William  A.  Paul,  Gates  &  Laidlaw,  and 
Hiram  Policy.  At  the  present  time  W.  W.  Leonard  and  Alexander 
Brown  sell  dry  goods  and  groceries  ;  C.  W.  Ormiston  and  Miss  Rose 
Gillen  sell  groceries,  and  the  latter  is  postmistress.  There  are  two 
hotels,  the  Rossie  House,  owned  by  George  McLear  and  conducted  by 
L.  D.  Ladd,  and  the  Laidlaw  House,  by  J.  Laidlaw. 

Somerville. — This  little  village  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
town,  on  the  road  between  Antwerp  and  Gouverneur.  It  took  its  name 
from  the  township  as  given  by  Surveyor-General  Dewitt  long  before  its 
settlement.  There  has  never  been  much  business  carried  on  here,  there 
being  no  natural  facilities  for  it.  There  has  been  a  small  mercantile 
business  here  for  many  years,  in  which  have  been  engaged  Solomon 
Pratt,  Lucius  Draper,  M.  G.  Wait,  C.  D.  Gilbert,  Wallace  Foster,  and 
J.  B.  Johnson.  At  the  present  time  John  Rickley  carries  on  a  store  and 
is  postmaster.  A  hotel  is  kept  by  William  Becker,  and  a  cheese  factory 
by  J.  W.  Marshall  Hiram  Hall  and  Orin  Freeman  formerly  manufact- 
ured furniture.  P.  M.  Crowley  made  carriages  and  still  does  a  small 
business  in  that  line. 

What  was  formerly  called  "  Sprague's  Corners,"  the  post-office  name 
now  being  Spragueville,  is  a  small  village  situated  in  the  extreme  south- 
ern end  of  this  town,  near  Keene's  station  on  the  R.  W.  &  O.  Railroad. 
A  part  of  the  village,  including  the  two  churches  (Methodist  and  Bap- 
tist), is  within  the  bounds  of  Jefferson  county.  D.  W.  Sprague  carries 
75 


594  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

on  a  store  here  and  is  postmaster,  and  A.  H.  Johnson  and  Steele  &  Co. 
also  have  stores. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

A  Universalist  church  was  organized  at  Somerville,  August  20,  1842, 
with  Lyman  Merriman,  Alva  Weeks,  and  William  Ayers,  trustees.  In 
1846  they  erected  a  house  of  worship  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  C.  C.  Swan.  For  many  years  past  there  has  been  only 
occasional  services. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Somerville  was  incorporated  De- 
cember 16,  1845,  with  Hiram  Hall,  Orin  Freeman,  John  Johnson,  Free- 
dom Freeman.  Augustus  Preston,  and  A.  C.  Van  Dyke,  trustees.  In 
1846  they  erected  a  house  of  worship  costing  $1,500,  which  is  still  in 
use.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr,  Warren. 

St.  Patrick's  church  (Catholic)  was  organized  in  1852  at  Rossie  with 
about  twenty-five  families,  and  in  the  same  year  the  society  erected  a 
building  costing  $2,000,  The  first  rector  was  Father  Michael  Clark. 
A  new  church  was  erected  about  six  years  ago,  and  the  member- 
ship is  now  about  150.  Father  Michael  O'Neill  is  in  charge  of  the  so- 
ciety. 

The  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Rossie  village  was  organized  with 
eighteen  members  in  October,  1855.  In  the  next  year  the  church  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  $1,600.  It  is  still  in  use  and  the  membership  is 
seventy-five.      Rev.  W.  A.  Fisher  is  pastor. 

The  Methodist  church  at  the  village  was  organized  in  1868  with  seven- 
teen members  by  Rev.  Lemuel  Clark.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  O.  F. 
Nichols. 


THE  TOWN  OF  PARISHVILLE.  595 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  PARISHVILLE-ORGANIZED  IN  1814. 

THIS  was  the  fourteenth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  March  i8,  1814.  It  was  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Hopkinton,  and  embraced  all  of  its  present  area  and  all  that  is  now  in- 
cluded in  the  town  of  Colton.  It  was  reduced  to  its  present  area  by  the 
formation  of  Colton  in  1843,  and  by  annexing  three  sections  to  the  latter 
town  in  185  i.  The  northern  part  of  the  town  is  rolling  and  adapted  to 
grazing,  and  the  southern  is  hilly  and  sandy.  It  is  watered  by  both 
the  Raquette  and  St.  Regis  Rivers,  and  contains  several  small  lakes. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  directed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Thom- 
as C.  Colburn,  April  5,  1814,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected  : 
Daniel  W.  Church,  supervisor ;  Abijah  Abbott,  town  clerk;  Stephen 
Goodman,  Ira  Ransom,  Daniel  Rockwell,  assessors  ;  Ephraim  Smith, 
collector  ;  Jonathan  M.  Derby,  Stephen  Paddock,  poormasters  ;  Abel 
Brown,  Peter  Mayhew,  E^lisha  Brooks,  commissioners  of  highways  ; 
Ephraim  Smith,  Mathew  Wallace,  constables ;  Peter  Mayhew,  Abel 
Brown,  overseers  of  highways  ;  Russell  Foot,  pound-keeper.  The  town 
was  named  in  honor  of  David  Parish,  who  purchased  the  territory  of  J. 
D.  Le  Ray  de  Chaumont,  December  2,   1808. 

The  settlement  of  the  town  was  begun  under  the  direction  of  Daniel 
Hoard,  who,  with  his  brother  Silvius,  natives  of  Springfield,  Vt.,  were 
employed  as  agents  for  David  Parish.  The  town  was  surveyed  by  Joseph 
Crary  in  1809,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Hoard  surveyed  and  cut 
out  a  road  from  the  Potsdam  line  to  the  site  of  Parishville  village.  Mr. 
Hoard  returned  to  Vermont  for  that  winter  and  in  the  spring  came  back 
with  Luke  Brown,  Isaac  Towner,  Hartwell  Shattuck  and  Levi  Sawyer. 
The  former  three  were  from  Vermont  and  the  latter  was  from  Massa- 
chusetts. They  were  engaged  in  making  clearings  on  the  site  of  Parish- 
ville village.  Mr.  Whitmore  and  his  wife  came  into  town  the  same 
summer  to  cook  for  the  men  clearing  land.     During  that  year  a  sawmill 


596  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  built  by  two  brothers  named  Barnes,  and  put  in  operation  in  the 
winter  of  i8io.  The  first  permanent  family  settlement  was  that  of 
Luke  Brown,  whose  family  came  the  last  of  March,  i8i  i.  Others  who 
came  in  that  year  were  Richard  Newton,  George  A.  Flower,  Joel  Haw- 
kins, Reuben  Thomas,  x\bijah  .A.bbott,  Otis  Daggett,  Foster  Brownell, 
Elisha  Brooks,  Nathan  Whittemore,  Chester  Rockwell  and  Simeon 
Tupper.  During  the  summer  of  i8ii  the  turnpike  from  Plattsburg  to 
the  Black  River  was  cut  through  the  town  and  a  large  number  of  set- 
tlers came  in  during  that  and  the  following  year,  many  of  whom  had 
fled  from  the  river  towns  below  on  account  of  the  war.  Among  them 
were  Abel  Brown,  Rufus  De  Land,  Peter  Mayhew,  Joseph  Thomas, 
Stephen  Paddock,  Ira  and  Oliver  Raymond,  Jonathan  M.  Derby  and 
Oliver  Forbes.  In  i8i4came  Joel  Barnes,  Joel  Button,  Moses  Sellick, 
Silas  and  Francis  Tupper  and  Peter  B.  Gilbert.  In  1815-16  Frank 
Priest,  William  Miller,  Isaac  Russell  and  Jacob  Rosevelt  came.  Others 
who  soon  followed  were,  Salmon  F"rost,  Daniel  P.  Rose,  James  Scott,  jr., 
John  Hoit,  Gustav^us  A.  Wakefield,  Seymour  Flower,  Nathan  Christy, 
and  others,  who  with  their  descendants  developed  the  town  and  made 
it  what  it  is. 

Parishville  village  was  surveyed  in  181 2  by  Sewell  Raymond,  and  is 
situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  on  the  west  branch  of  the  St. 
Regis  River,  where  there  is  an  excellent  water  power  on  a  fall  of  125 
feet  in  the  space  of  a  mile.  Here  the  first  grist  mill  was  built  by  Mr. 
D.  W.  Church,  in  181 1,  for  Mr.  Parish,  and  a  distillery  was  started  the 
same  season  by  Mr.  Hoard,  and  operated  by  him  for  many  years  there- 
after. In  1812-13  the  place  received  large  accessions  from  the  inhab- 
itants living  on  the  frontier,  on  account  of  the  danger  they  apprehended 
from  the  war,  and  this  gave  business  and  life  to  the  settlement. 

A  lamentable  affair  occurred  in  town  in  the  fall  of  18 12.      A  fiend  in 

human  form,  by  the  name  of  B ,  living  on  the  edge    of  Stockholm, 

committed  a  crime  and  was  sent  to  jail  in  Ogdensburg.  While  under- 
going his  trial  at  the  June  session,  he  threatened  vengeance  against  the 
neighborhood  where  the  crime  was  committed,  and  especially  against 
Mrs.  Miller,  one  of  the  principal  witnesses  against  him.  Shortly  after 
he  broke  jail  and  was  not  seen  until  the  morning  on  Monday,  October 
23,   following,  crossing  a  bridge  near   the   line    of  Pierrepont.      On   the 


THE  TOWN  OF  PARISHVILLE.  597 

following  Wednesday  morning  Mr.  Miller  went  to  a  neighbor's  to  get 
fire  to  start  his  own.  On  his  return  he  found  that  Mrs.  Miller  was  gone, 
but  her  shoes  and  stockings  and  part  of  her  clothing  were  lying  on  the 
floor.  A  search  was  instituted  but  proved  fruitless.  On  Friday  night  of 
the  same  week  several  houses  and  barns,  including  the  culprit's  own 
house  in  the  vicinity  were  burned,  and  on  Saturday  morning  the  jail  bird 
was  seen  crossing  the  bridge  and  was  followed  up  and  arrested  at  Carthage, 
having  in  his  possession  a  stolen  rifle.  He  was  5>ent  to  State's  prison 
and  died  there.  In  the  following  spring  Mrs.  Miller's  body  was  found 
in  the  woods  about  three  miles  above  Parishville,  her  head  having  been 
severed  from  the  body  and  lying  some  distance  away. 

In  the  summer  of  1812  a  large  three  story  building  was  erected  by 
Daniel  W.  Church  for  the  proprietor,  for  a  tavern,  at  a  cost  of  $12,000  ; 
it  was  burned  in  1875.  A  forge  was  built  and  put  in  operation  for  a 
time  in  early  years.  In  1813  progress  in  the  village  was  marked,  among 
other  buildings  erected  being  one  intended  for  an  academy,  which 
was  used  for  a  town  hall,  school  purposes,  for  religious  meetings  and 
public  purposes  until  1854,  when  it  was  burned.  The  first  school  was 
taught  in  18 13  by  Harriet  Bronson  in  Daniel  Hoard's  barn;  a  school 
house  was  soon  after  erected.  Dr.  Francis  Parker,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
was  the  first  practicing  physician  in  town.  In  January,  1820,  J.  &  J. 
Hoit  paid  $25  for  water  privilege  for  a  clothier's  factory.  Considerable 
manufacturing,  especially  in  lumber  and  its  products,  has  been  carried 
on  at  this  point.  The  Parishville  Lumber  Company  and  S.  L.  Clark  & 
Son  now  operate  large  saw  mills,  and  the  latter  also  a  butter  factory  ; 
and  A.  M.  Randall  a  planing  mill.  The  present  grist  mill  is  on  the  site 
of  the  original  mill  and  is  operated  by  C.  J.  Newell,  jr.  E.  Whittaker 
has  a  saw  mill  outside  of  the  village.  The  merchants  of  the  place  are 
Newton  &  Gilmore,  H.  L.  Daggett,  Adams  Brothers,  H.  J.  Sanford, 
J.  J.  Campbell  and  W.  W.  Baker.  Two  hotels  are  conducted  here,  the 
Eagle  House  by  Myron  G.  Hastings,  and  the  Commercial  House  by 
A.  F.  Cole.     Fred  D.  Gilmore  is  postmaster. 

Parishville  Center. — This  is  a  small  hamlet  four  miles  west  of  the 
village.  There  has  been  very  little  business  done  here.  G.  W.  Boodey 
is  now  the  postmaster  and  carries  on  a  store. 


598  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

At  Allen's  Falls,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  a  post-office  has 
been  established  recently,  and  W.  N.  Crouch  is  the  present  postmaster, 
and  operates  a  grist  mill  and  a  small  machine  shop. 

The  post-office  at  West  Parishville  is  in  charge  of  Charles   B,   Willis. 

Religious  Societies. — The  Congregational  missionaries  held  services 
in  the  settlement  as  early  as  i8ii,  but  no  regular  church  was  organized 
until  August  7,  1823,  which  was  by  a  council  consisting  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Parmelee  of  Stockholm,  Rev.  Oliver  Eastman,  pastor.  Rev.  Mr. 
Constant  Southworth  of  Canton,  Rev.  R.  Pettibone  of  Hopkinton,  Mr. 
Henry  Winchester  from  Madrid  and  Deacon  Samuel  P.  Reynolds  of 
Potsdam,  with  eleven  members.  The  society  was  incorporated  April 
23,  1827,  with  Noran  Rockwell,  James  Hardy  and  George  A.  Flower, 
trustees.  A  stone  church  was  built  in  1834,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  It 
was  burned  in  1854,  and  a  new  church  building  erected.  The  services 
are  now  held  (1893)  with  the  Methodists.  W.  F.  York  is  the  present 
pastor. 

A  Baptist  society  was  formed  at  the  Lower  Falls  in  October,  1823, 
with  thirteen  members.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1831,  a  society  was  or- 
ganized at  the  village,  with  Graton  Brand,  Seymour  Flower  and  David 
Burdit,  trustees.  They  built  a  church,  which  was  also  burned  in  the 
great  fire  of  1854.  A  new  edifice  was  erected  and  in  1870  a  parsonage 
was  purchased.  In  1874  the  church  and  house  were  repaired,  at  a  cost 
of  $500.  The  property  was  then  worth  about  $4,000  Rev.  E.  E. 
Brown  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  first  Methodist  class  was  formed  in  18 18,  though  meetings  had 
been  held  previous  to  that  date,  and  a  society  was  organized  March  10, 
1828.  During  that  year  the  first  church  was  built  near  the  Center.  A 
reorganization  took  place  in  August,  1833,  and  again  in  October,  1846, 
soon  after  which  the  church  was  removed  to  the  village,  repaired  and 
refitted.  The  organization  took  the  title  of  "  The  Parishville  Village 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  In  1832  a  Protestant 
society  of  Methodists  was  formed  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society, 
and  retained  its  organization  until  1843,  when  it  was  absorbed  by  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  organization  and  took  the  latter  name.  In  1859- 
60  the  parsonage  was  built,  and  the  present  house  of  worship  was  dedi- 
cated in  1867.  The  present  pastor  is  W.  F.  York;  membership  about 
sixty. 


THE  TOWN  OF  FOWLER.  599 

A  Free-will  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town  in  September,  1859,  and  a  church  built  in  the  same  year  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000.     There  has  been  no  regular  pastor  in  recent  years. 

The  usual  bounties  were  offered  for  wolves  and  other  obnoxious 
animals  during  the  early  period  of  the  settlement. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation, 
with  years  of  service  : 

Daniel  W.  Church,  1814;  Ahijah  Abbott,  181.5;  Daniel  Hoard,  1816-21;  William 
Allen,  1822;  Daniel  Hoard,  1823;  William  Allen,  1824-31  ;  John  Brownel',  1832-34 ; 
William  Allen,  1835-37;  John  Hoyt,  1838.  1839;  John  Brownell,  1840,  1841  ;  Ethan 
H.  Pease,  1842-44;  Sylvanus  B.  Merrill,  1S45-47  ;  Erasmus  D.  Brooks,  1848,  1849; 
Nathan  Christy,  1860,  1851  ;  William  F.  Gurley,  1852,  1853;  E.  D.  Brooks,  1854,  1855; 
Parker  W.  Rose,  1856-58;  Austin  Willis,  18.59,  1860;  Elam  Marsh,  1861-63;  Allen 
Whipple,  1864-6!) ;  P.  W.  Rose,  1870-74 ;  Edward  H.  Abram,  1875-87  ;  Fred.  D.  Gil- 
more,  1888-92  ;  Royal  Newton,  1893-94. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  FOWLER— ORGANIZED  IN   1815. 

THIS  was  the  fifteenth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  April  15,  1815,  The  first  town  meeting  was  directed  to 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Noah  Holcomb,  which  met  on  April  15,  18 16, 
where  the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Supervisor,  Theodosius  O. 
Fowler;  town  clerk,  Simeon  Hazleton  ;  assessors,  Noah  Holcomb, 
Eben  Cole,  Benjamin  Brown  ;  commissioners  of  highways,  John  Parker, 
Noah  Holcomb  ;  overseers  of  poor,  Noah  Holcomb,  Benjamin  Brown  ; 
overseers  of  highways,  Simeon  Hazleton,  Samuel  B.  Sprague;  con- 
stable and  collector,  Alvan  Wright;  commissioners  of  schools,  Alvan 
Wright,  Simeon  Hazleton,  Elam  Cole.  On  the  loth  of  April,  18 18, 
the  townships  of  Edwards  and  Fitzwilliam  were  attached  to  Fowler  and 
taken  from  Russell.  These  were  taken  from  Fowler  in  the  subsequent 
erection  of  Edwards. 

The  only  vote  taken  in  town  for  the  destruction  of  obnoxious  animals 
was  in  1824,  when  a  bounty  was  offered  for  wolves  and  wildcats  agree- 
able to  the  late  law. 


600  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  town  lies  on  the  southwestern  borders  of  the  county,  bordering 
on  both  Lewis  and  Jefferson  counties,  with  Gouverneur  and  Rossie  on 
the  northwest;  Hermon  on  the  north;  Edwards  on  the  east,  and  Pit- 
cairn  on  the  south.  The  principal  watercourse  is  the  Oswegatchie, 
which  crosses  the  town  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  while  the  south 
branch  of  that  river  flows  across  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  town 
and  then  takes  a  northerly  direction  and  passes  through  Fullerville  on 
into  Edwards,  where  it  joins  the  main  river.  Into  these  streams  small 
tributaries  flow,  the  principal  ones  being  the  outlets  of  Sylvia  and  Chub 
lakes.  In  the  western  part  are  Sawyer's  and  Shingle  creeks.  The 
surface  of  the  town  is  rough  and  hilly,  broken  by  rocky  ranges,  with 
productive  soil  between  and  along  the  streams.  The  town  now  em- 
braces the  survey  township  of  Kilkenny,  in  Great  Tract  No.  3,  and  a 
small  portion  of  that  of  Portaferry,  No.  ii.  The  town  takes  its  name 
from  Theodosius  Fowler,  a  Revolutionary  officer  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  to  whom,  and  Robert  Gilchrist,  Kilkenny  township  fell  in  the 
division  of  the  Great  Tract.  On  the  3d  of  August,  1810,  Gilchrist  con- 
veyed his  interest  to  Fowler,  and  the  latter  on  the  15th  of  May,  1821, 
conveyed  the  whole  to  his  son,  Theodosius  O.  Fowler,  under  whom  the 
settlement  of  the  locality  was  chiefly  promoted,  though  it  had  been 
begun  by  Gilchrist  and  the  elder  Fowler. 

The  first  purchaser  with  the  view  of  permanent  settlement  was  Gen. 
James  Haile,  who  made  a  tour  of  exploration  in  1807  and  selected  a 
tract  one  mile  square  covering  the  site  of  the  village  of  Hailesborough, 
which  was  named  from  him.  In  the  same  year  he  began  erecting  mills 
upon  the  superior  water  power  of  that  locality,  where  the  Oswegatchie 
falls  eighty-four  feet  in  half  a  mile,  and  within  a  mile  above  has  an 
equal  descent.  Eleven  years  later  General  Haile  removed  his  family 
to  his  purchase,  and  there  he  died  December  17,  1821.  Other  very 
early  settlers  were  Ebenezer  Parker,  John  Ryan,  S.  Cleveland,  Lemuel 
Arnold,  John  Parker,  Samuel  B.  Sprague,  Noah  Holcomb,  Oliver 
Wright,  Alvin  Wright,  Simeon  Hazleton,  Benjamin  Brown,  Richard 
Merrill,  Eben  Cole  and  Jedediah  Kingsley.  Theodosius  O.  Fowler 
came  to  Kilkenny  in  18 14,  and  insisted  that  his  father  should  not  only 
give  him  almost  the  entire  township,  but  should  also  build  him  a  stately 
mansion.      Upon  the  granting  of  this  request,  a  site  was  chosen  on  the 


THE  TOWN  OF  FOWLER.  601 

shores  of  the  beautiful  lake  then  called  "Lake  Kilkenny,"  but  rechris- 
tened  Sylvia  Lake  from  Miss  Sylvia  De  Pau,  of  New  York,  whom  the 
young  man  was  to  wed.  In  1816  the  erection  of  the  mansion  was 
begun  on  a  site  now  embraced  in  the  farm  of  John  L.  Parker,  occupied 
by  D.  E.  Parker.  About  three  years  later  it  was  finished  at  a  cost  of 
$16,000.  Here  Mr.  Fowler  lived  in  elegant  style  for  many  years.  He 
sold  his  estate  in  1838  to  Thomas  D.  Carpenter,  from  whom  it  passed 
to  Mr.  Parker.  The  wood-work  of  the  mansion  was  burned  about  1872, 
and  the  stones  in  the  walls  were  removed  and  placed  in  buildings  in 
Gouverneur.      Mr.  Fowler  died  in  1861. 

There  are  many  descendants  of  the  worthy  old  settlers  of  this  town 
still  living,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Ira  Arnold,  James  Hazle- 
ton,  Asa  Woodcock,  father  of  D.  P.  Woodcock,  and  others.  Settle- 
ments were  not  numerous  previous  to  the  War  of  1812,  but  a  few  years 
after  that  event  the  town  filled  up  rapidly.  The  first  marriage  was  that 
of  John  Parker  to  Elizabeth  S.  Sackett,  in  18 1 2.  He  settled  on  the 
south  branch  of  the  Oswegatchie,  a  little  below  the  site  of  Fullerville, 
on  the  Russell  turnpike,  and  there  he  opened  a  tavern  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  public.  Mr.  Parker  died  in  1866,  aged  eighty-three 
years.  Elijah  Sackett  was  the  first  person  who  died  in  the  town ;  his 
death  occurred  at  the  Haile  settlement  in  18 12.  During  the  war 
several  families  left  the  town  fearing  Indian  depredations,  and  settle- 
ment was  not  active  again  until  about  1820. 

This  town  was  originally  covered  with  a  dense  forest,  a  considerable 
portion  of  which  was  valuable  for  lumber,  the  manufacture  of  which 
gave  occupation  to  settlers  in  connection  with  farming  for  some  years. 
Tanning  was  also  carried  on  quite  extensively  until  the  supply  of  bark 
became  diminished.  At  the  present  time  dairying  is  followed,  but  not 
so  largely  as  in  other  towns,  the  character  of  which  is  better  adapted 
to  grazing.  In  quite  recent  years  an  immense  industry  has  been  in- 
augurated through  the  manufacture  of  pulp  and  talc,  as  explained 
further  on.  There  are  fifteen  school  districts  in  the  town,  where  schools 
are  generously  supported,  and  district  No.  i,  at  Little  York,  and  dis- 
trict No.  4,  at  Hailesborough,  are  graded  schools  with  two  departments. 

Little  York  (now   Fowler). — The  first  settlement   at  this   hamlet  was 
made   by   Samuel  B.    Sprague,  who   came   from   Gouverneur  in    181 1. 
76 


602  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Several  families  came  here  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  they  gave  the 
name  of  "  Little  York  "  to  the  place,  in  memory  of  the  then  recent 
capture  of  Toronto,  which  then  bore  that  name.  A  store  was  opened 
here  early  by  William  Lawrence,  who  came  from  New  York  to  take 
charge  of  the  Fowler  Mansion.  He  was  succeeded  by  Martin  Mitchell, 
Justus  Pickett  and  E.  W.  Abbott.  Another  early  merchant  was  Aaron 
Rowley,  who  was  succeeded  by  Simeon  Hazleton  and  his  sons.  A 
public  house  was  built  by  Jason  Wright,  who  was  succeeded  by  various 
landlords.  Here  the  meetings  and  elections  for  the  town  were  com- 
monly held.  The  post-office  was  established  in  November,  1821,  T. 
O.  Fowler  being  the  first  postmaster  ;  it  was  for  many  years  the  only 
post-office  in  the  town.  The  present  merchants  of  the  place  are  G.  C. 
Davis,  J.  F.  Herrick,  and  L.  L.  Austin,  the  latter  being  also  postmaster. 
The  hotel  is  kept  by  R.  E.  Webb.  There  has  never  been  any  manu- 
facturing at  this  point.  A  bed  of  red  hematite  iron  ore  was  discovered 
here  on  the  land  of  Justus  Pickit,  and  opened  in  1833  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  Fullerville  Iron  Works,  who,  with  others,  took  out  considerable 
of  the  ore.     Nothing  is  now  being  done  in  the  town  in  this  line. 

Hailesboroiigh. — This  village  is  situated  very  near  the  northern  line 
of  the  town  on  the  Oswegatchie.  The  settlement  of  the  site  is  described 
a  few  pages  back.  Under  the  terms  of  purchase  by  General  Haile  he 
was  obliged  to  erect  mills  within  a  year,  and  so  energetically  did  he 
push  his  work  that  the  saw-mill  was  in  operation  before  the  close  of  the 
year  1807,  while  the  following  season  saw  a  grist  mill  with  one  run  of 
quarried  stone  in  operation.  The  building  of  these  mills  was  the  real 
beginning  of  improvement  in  the  town.  The  old  saw- mill  with  various 
repairs  stood  until  1873,  when  it  was  rebuilt  by  Clark  &  Howard.  The 
grist  mill  was  carried  away  by  a  flood  in  1809;  was  rebuilt  the  next 
year,  and  in  18 19  a  second  run  of  stones  was  added.  This  was  oper- 
ated until  1844,  when  the  third  mill  was  built  by  H.  H.  Haile.  son  of 
the  general.  This  property  passed  into  possession  of  the  International 
Talc  Company  about  1881.  This  is  a  strong  business  organization  for 
the  prosecution  of  the  important  and  growing  talc  industry,  and  has  ab- 
sorbed a  number  of  mills  and  other  property.  Among  these,  besides 
the  one  just  mentioned,  are  a  mill  built  in  1881  by  the  Natural  Dam 
Pulp  Company,  and  the  mill  built  in  1884-5  by  the  St.  Lawrence  Pulp 


THE  TOWN  OF  FOWLER.  603 

Company.  (Further  details  of  this  business  are  given  in  the  history  of 
Gouverneur.)  In  1825  Jasper  Clark  began  quarrying,  sawing  and  work- 
ing the  veined  limestone,  resembling  coarse  marble,  which  is  found  here. 
The  business  was  abandoned,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  coarse  grain  of 
stone.  About  the  same  time  a  carding  mill  was  started  by  Raymond 
Austin,  who  was  succeeded  by  Addison  Giles,  and  James  and  Edwin 
Mcintosh  ;  the  latter  changed  it  into  or  added  to  it  a  woolen  cloth  fac- 
tory. J.  H.  Abbott  purchased  an  interest  in  the  factory  and  later  E. 
W.  Abbott  bought  the  remaining  interest.  The  business  was  prosper- 
ous for  some  years,  employing  twenty  hands  ;  but  in  1891  it  passed  by 
lease  into  the  hands  of  the  Abestos  Pulp  Company,  and  is  now  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  talc  ;  the  company  are  Rochester  capitalists.  Jesse 
Banister  started  a  cabinet  shop  about  1850,  which  after  various  changes 
passed  to  Carpenter  &  Tupper  ;  while  in  use  as  a  wood  working  shop  it 
burned  about  1871.  and  was  rebuilt  by  J.  H.  Carpenter,  and  is  now  car- 
ried on  by  him  as  a  planing  mill,  sash  factory,  etc.  An  upper  leather 
tannery  was  started  about  1865  by  Morse  &  Carpenter  and  operated 
twelve  or  fifteen  years.  It  was  subsequently  changed  to  a  grist  mill 
and  is  now  run  by  C.  A.  Clark. 

The  first  merchant  at  Hailesborough  of  consequence  was  probably 
William  Hurlbut,  who  began  business  about  1825.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Justus  Pickit,  who  continued  to  his  death  in  1842.  Other  later  mer- 
chants were  Horace  Barnes,  John  R.  Stewart,  Theodore  Clark,  Mathias 
Fithian,  S.  D.  Rich,  and  J.  T.  McCombs.  The  present  merchants  are 
Edwin  Nobles,  A.  A.  Potter  &  Co.,  and  Coats  &  Ayers. 

A  hotel  was  opened  about  1835  by  William  Hurlbut,  and  was  kept 
later  by  George  P.  Holmes,  Apollos  Leggett,  and  S.  D.  Rich,  the  pres- 
ent landlord.  The  post-office  at  Hailesborough  was  established  in  1858 
with  S.  M.  Farmer  as  postmaster.  The  present  official  is  Miss  Delight 
Coats.      (For  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  see  Chapter  XV). 

Fullerville. — This  village  is  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town  where 
John  Parker  built  his  early  saw  mill,  in  18 13,  on  the  south  branch  of 
the  Oswegatchie,  as  before  related.  This  mill  was  burned  in  1822  and 
rebuilt  in  the  next  year.  It  was  almost  the  only  improvement  there 
until  the  coming  of  four  brothers  from  Vermont  named  Fuller — Shel- 
don, Stillman,  Heman  and  Ashbel.     They  formed  a  business  firm  under 


G04  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  name  of  S.  Fuller  &  Co.  They  had  experience  in  iron  working  in 
the  town  of  Rossie,  and  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a  blast  furnace  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river;  it  was  finished  in  1833,  and  put  in  operation 
on  ores  from  the  Little  York  mine  before  noticed,  bog  ores  from  Ed- 
wards, and  the  magnetic  ores  from  Jayville  and  Clifton.  The  admission 
not  long  afterwards  of  a  Mr.  Maddock  changed  the  firm  to  Fullers  & 
Maddock  ;  but  the  latter  soon  retired.  The  furnace  finished  its  last 
blast  in  October,  1837,  having  produced  about  3,500  tons  of  iron.  In 
1846  the  firm  of  Fullers  &  Peck,  composed  of  Sheldon  Fuller,  Leman 
Fuller  and  Daniel  Peck,  rebuilt  the  old  furnace  and  put  in  the  hot  blast. 
They  operated  the  works  with  fair  success  until  1861,  when  they  were 
closed.  Ten  years  later  Daniel  Sterling  took  up  the  industry,  but  closed 
down  in  two  years.  In  1875  the  property  was  purchased  by  Bixby, 
Clark  &  Co.,  who  put  in  a  new  tuyere  and  other  improvements.  A 
little  later  George  H.  Clark  became  the  proprietor  and  continued  opera- 
tions to  about  1882,  when  the  business  was  given  up  for  good  Distance 
from  railroads,  character  of  ores,  distance  from  mines,  and  other  condi- 
tions combined  to  render  the  business  unprofitable. 

The  Fullers  built  a  grist  mill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  which  with 
fifteen  acres  of  adjoining  land  was  sold  to  Rockwell,  Bullard  &  Co.  (Ed- 
win Rockwell,  Luther  Bullard,  Chester  H.  Benton,  Oliver  Benton),  in 
1838.  Two  years  later  this  firm  finished  a  forge  for  making  blooms 
from  the  ore.  After  various  vicissitudes  in  the  hands  of  different  par- 
ties this  business  was  given  up  about  1850. 

The  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  here,  formerly  owned  by  Belmat  &  Bray- 
ton,  passed  recently  to  possession  of  the  Oswegatchie  Wood  Pulp  Com- 
pany, a  strong  business  organization  which  is  developing  the  pulp  busi- 
ness on  extensive  lines.  The  company  is  composed  of  F.  H.  Hale, 
president ;  S.  H.  Austin,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  Charles  Fuller,  as- 
sistant secretary  ;  and  George  H.  Clark.  This  mill  was  burned  in  the 
fall  of  1892,  and  is  now  being  rebuilt.  On  the  river  a  little  above  Ful- 
lerville  was  formerly  a  saw- mill,  cheese  box  factory,  and  shingle  mill, 
owned  by  Charles  H.  Sprague.  This  has  lately  been  changed  to  a  pulp 
mill  and  is  owned  by  Sprague  &  Keller. 

The  first  mercantile  business  at  Fullerville  was  by  Fuller  &  Co.  in 
connection   with  their  other   interests.      Rockwell,   Bullard   &   Co.   also 


THE  TOWN  OF  FOWLER.  605 

kept  a  store,  and  another  was  opened  about  1865  by  F.  H.  Davidson. 
The  present  merchants  are  C.  D.  Carr  and  Lloyd  Loomis.  The  first 
pubhc  house  was  kept  by  Charles  G.  Edgerton  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  which  was  closed  many  years  ago.  About  1839  a  hotel  was 
opened  on  the  west  side  by  James  R.  Bignall,  which  was  also  finally 
closed.  The  Franklin  House  was  opened  about  1850  by  Truelove 
Brewster  ;  various  proprietors  succeeded.  The  hotel  is  now  kept  by 
Thomas  VVhalen. 

The  post-office  was  established  in  1832  with  Heman  Fuller,  postmas- 
ter.    The  present  official  is  Charles  Fuller. 

There  was  formerly  a  post-office  at  "  West  Fowler,"  three  miles  west 
of  Little  York,  in  1850,  with  Thomas  Mitchell  postmaster.  A  little  set- 
tlement called  "  Homer's  Mills  "  existed  two  miles  northeast  of  Hailes- 
borough,  named  from  William  Homer,  who  had  a  saw  mill,  shingle  mill, 
butter  tub  factory,  etc.,  there.  They  have  passed  out  of  use.  What 
is  known  as  the  Willard  mill,  on  the  Chub  Lake  outlet  near  the  Hermon 
line,  was  built  by  Thaddeus  H.  Willard,  and  is  now  operated  by  Charles 
Potter.  Hiram  Baxter  built  a  mill  on  the  river  northeast  of  Little  York, 
and  on  the  same  dam  was  a  grist  mill,  and  above  these,  near  the  Ed- 
wards line,  was  the  Holcomb  mill,  built  by  Obadiah  Jenkins.  All  of 
these  have  passed  into  disuse.  Simeon  Hazleton  built  a  saw  mill  on  the 
Sylvia  Lake  outlet  as  early  as  1820;  he  was  the  only  owner.  John 
Frazier  built  a  mill  in  early  times  on  Sawyer's  Creek  above  West 
Fowler.  It  was  remodeled  into  a  circular  saw  mill  and  operated  by 
David  Myers.  Both  of  these  mills  are  abandoned.  A  circular  saw  mill 
on  Sawyer's  Creek  near  the  Pitcairn  line  was  remodeled  from  the  old 
Glazier  mill  and  is  now  operated  by  E.  &  J.  O.  Davis.  The  mills  known 
as  the  Knowlton  mill  on  Sawyer's  Creek,  built  by  Erastus  Knowlton  ; 
the  Draper  mill  on  the  same  stream,  and  the  one  built  by  John  L.  Parker 
and  operated  by  E.  H.  Kellogg,  are  all  abandoned. 

Following  are  the  names  of  supervisors  of  the  town,  with  years  of 

service : 

Theodosius  0.  Fowler,  1817;  Benjamin  Brown  (to  fill  vacancy),  1818;  Eben  Cole, 
1818  to  1821,  inclusive;  Justus  Picldt,  1825  to  1829,  1831-32,  1837-38;  Stillman  Ful- 
ler, 1830,  1833-34.  William  Hurlbut,  1835-36;  Henry  H.  Haile,  1839-40-41;  Asa  L. 
Hazleton,  1842-43;  Alfred  Burt,  1844-45;  Heman  Fuller,  3  846-47;  Addison  Giles, 
1848-49,  1855-56-57-58;  Thomas  J.  Hazleton,  1850-51,  1853-54,  1859,  1865;  Emory 


606  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

W.  Abbott,  1852  and  1860  to  1864,  inclusive;  Daniel  Peck,  1866  to  1875,  inclusive; 
Abner  H.  Johnson,  1876-77;  Geo.  W.  Kelly,  1878-82;  Simeon  H.  Austin,  1883; 
Henry  W.  Johnson,  1884-87;  Wra.  T.  Clark,  1888-90;  Simeon  H.  Austin,  1801;  Wm. 
T.  Clark,  1892-94  . 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  this  town  as  early  as  January, 
1822,  under  Elder  Jonathan  Paine,  with  thirteen  members.  Through 
various  vicissitudes  and  periods  of  depression  this  society  was  kept  alive 
until  1876,  when  the  last  services  were  held  under  Rev.  C.  H.  Dike.  A 
Baptist  society  of  Antwerp  and  Fowler  was  organized  in  1825  and 
built  a  church  at  Steele's  Corners,  in  Antwerp.  This  subsequently 
went  out  of  existence. 

Methodist  services  were  held  in  this  town  in  common  with  the  Con- 
gregationalists,  at  an  early  day  ;  but  the  first  records  of  an  organization 
take  us  back  only  to  1837,  when  a  Methodist  society  was  in  flourishing 
existence  in  Fullerville,  with  the  Rev.  N.  R.  Peck  as  pastor.  About 
the  year  1845  they  purchased  the  unfinished  building  of  the  Presby- 
terians and  completed  and  used  it.  Regular  services  were  kept  up 
until  about  1865,  but  in  recent  years,  and  at  present,  they  have  no 
pastor,  services  being  occasionally  held  by  a  pastor  from  Edwards.  A 
Methodist  society  was  organized  in  Fowler  recently  and  the  present 
church  edifice  was  built  in  1892.  The  pastor  is  Rev.  L.  T.  Conrad, 
who  also  preaches  at  Natural  Dam,  in  Gouverner ;  both  of  these  small 
societies  are  in  the  Gouverneur  charge. 

A  Presbyterian  organization  was  effected  at  Fullerville  soon  after 
1830  with  about  fifteen  members.  A  Rev.  Mr.  Batchelor  was  the  pas- 
tor for  some  time,  and  the  church  edifice  was  begun,  which  was  sold  to 
the  Methodists,  as  before  stated,  when  the  organization  went  down. 

The  First  Universalist  church  of  Gouverneur  and  Fowler  was  organ- 
ized January  26,  1832,  and  for  many  years  was  the  strongest  religious 
organization  in  the  town  Simeon  Hazleton  and  twenty-five  others 
were  the  original  members.  By  June  of  the  following  year  the  mem- 
bership was  seventy-two.  This  society  was  succeeded  by  the  Little 
York  Universalist  Society,  organized  in  1841.  A  church  was  built 
there  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  most  of  which  was  given  by   Simeon  Hazle- 


THE  TOWN  OF  PIERREPONT.  607 

ton.  The  society  subsequently  diminished,  and  the  church  was  sold  to 
the  Baptists. 

The  "  First  Universalist  Society  of  Gouverneur  and  Hailesborough  " 
was  formed  January  27,  1849,  with  eighteen  members.  Rev.  C.  Dodge 
was  the  pastor.  In  i860  a  Union  church  was  built  on  land  donated  by 
H.  H.  Haile.  In  January  1861,  the  "Universalist  Union  Society  of 
Hailesborough  "  was  formed  with  Francis  Farmer,  William  T.  Burt, 
and  Daniel  G.  Sartwell  as  trustees.  This  pulpit  is  now  supplied  by 
Rev.   J.  S.  Lee,  of  Canton. 

In  1826  Elders  Dodge  and  Waite  organized  the  West  Fovv'ler  Free 
Will  Baptist  church,  with  Rev.  Amasa  Chandler  as  pastor.  In  1852  a 
church  edifice  costing  $1,300  was  built.  The  last  pastor  in  that  church 
was  Rev.  B.  F.  Jefferson,  and  the  members  have  for  many  years  attended 
the  church  at  Fowler  (Little  York)  and  at  Fullerville.  At  the  former 
place  they  purchased  the  building  of  the  Universalists,  and  at  the  latter 
place  worshiped  in  the  church  of  the  regular  Baptists.  Rev.  C.  Ker- 
nahan  is  the  pastor. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  PIERREPONT— ORGANIZED  IN  ISIS. 

r^HIS  was  the  sixteenth  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  April  15,  18 18.  The  territory  was  originally  a  large  one 
in  area,  and  was  taken  from  Russell  and  Potsdam  April  15,  181 8,  and 
formerly  under  their  jurisdiction,  and  embraced  the  townships  of  Emily- 
ville,  Chaumont,  Clifton,  Clare,  and  so  much  of  De  Witt  as  would  lie 
east  of  a  continuation  of  the  west  line  of  said  township  to  the  rear  line 
of  Canton.  Emilyville  was  taken  off  and  annexed  to  Fine  in  the  form- 
ing of  that  town,  March  27,  1844.  Chaumont  and  Clifton  were  taken 
off  to  constitute  the  new  town  of  Clifton  April  21,  1868,  and  Clare  was 
taken  off  and  made  a  town  by  that  name  in  1882.  (See  history  of 
these  several  towns.) 


608  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Cyrus  Grannis, 
March  i,  1819,  and  the  following  officers  elected:  Cyrus  Grannis, 
supervisor;  Andrew  A.  Crampton,  clerk;  William  Yale.  Elisha  Wood- 
ruff, Gardner  Cox,  assessors ;  Peter  R.  Leonard,  Joseph  Dorothy, 
poormasters ;  Flavius  J.  Curtis,  Ezra  Crary,  Samuel  Belding,  commis- 
sioners of  roads  ;  Richard  Weller,  constable  and  collector  ;  Seth  Hale, 
overseer  of  highways  ;  F.  J.  Curtis,  Ebenezer  Tupper,  Gardner  Cox 
commissioners  of  schools  ;  Cyrus  Grannis,  William  Yale,  A.  A.  Cramp- 
ton,  inspectors  of  schools;  Joseph  Dorothy,  Seth  Hale,  F.  J.  Curtis, 
Henry  Axtell,  fence-viewers ;  E.  Tupper,  P.  R.  Leonard,  pound- 
keepers. 

Pierrepont  received  its  name  from  Hezekiah  B.  Pierrepont,  who 
owned  a  large  share  of  its  territory,  and  under  whose  administration, 
through  agents,  most  of  it  has  been  settled.  Portions  of  it  are  still 
owned  by  his  descendants.  The  surface  of  the  town  is  diversified  with 
hills  and  valleys,  and  the  soil  is  especially  adapted  to  grazing,  the  prin- 
cipal occupation  of  the  inhabitants  at  present  being  the  making  of 
cheese  and  butter,  for  which  there  are  five  or  six  factories  now  in  opera- 
tion. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  in  the  history  of  this  locality  that  the  cele- 
brated Frenchwoman,  Madam  De  Stael,  once  owned  a  portion  of  the 
township  of  Clare  which  was  in  the  township  of  Pierrepont  until  recent 
years.  She  invested  money  here  upon  the  advice  of  Gouverneur 
Morris,  with  whom  she  was  acquainted.  From  Mr.  Hough  we  learn 
that  on  the  7th  of  October,  1806,  he  wrote  her  as  follows  : 

It  has  occurred  to  me  that  you  would  do  well  to  purchase  the  remainder  of  the  town- 
ship of  Clare.  It  lies  next  to  that  of  Ballybeen  (Russell),  which  is  rapidly  increasing  in 
population.  Thus  in  time  a  revenue  will  be  drawn  from  it,  inconsiderable  indeed  at 
first,  but  subsequently  of  great  importance.  Now  such  a  provision  for  a  son  is  of  more 
value  than  thrice  the  amount  of  money.  The  one  directs  to  industry  and  economy,  the 
other  excites  to  dissipation,  unless  indolence  is  allowed  to  exercise  its  enervating 
power.  It  would  perhaps  be  possible  to  purchase  the  remainder  of  Clare  at  the  rate 
of  one  dollar  an  acre.  It  certainly  would  not  be  necessary  to  go  higher  than  two 
dollars. 

Quoting  further  from  Mr.  Hough,  he  says  relative  to  the  title  to  parts 
of  this  town  as  follows  : 

On  the  partition  of  lands  between  McCormick  and  others,  15,200  acres  were  conveyed 
to  Herman  Le  Roy  and  Wm.  Bayard,  in  trust  for  this  lady.     They  were  subsequently 


THE  TOWN  OF  PIERREPONT.  609 

conveyed  to  Theodosius  0.  Fowler,  and  in  1846  purchased  by  S.  Pratt  and  John  L. 
Russell,  upon  directions  to  sell  b}'  the  Due  de  Broglie  and  Ada  Holstein  de  Stael,  his 
wife,  the  only  surviving  child  of  Madame  de  Stael.  In  1847  a  question  of  alienage  of 
the  Duchess  de  Broglie,  and  of  the  operation  of  the  New  York  statute  of  trusts,  having 
arisen,  the  legislature,  by  separate  acts,  confirmed  the  title  of  Eussell  and  Pratt  to  the 
Clare  lands,  and  of  Livingston  to  the  Clifton  lands,  similarly  circumstanced. 

Between  the  years  1864  and  1868,  Wm.  H.  Sawyer  and  Leslie  W. 
Russell,  of  Canton,  purchased  for  themselves  and  Samuel  C.  Wead.  of 
Malone,  the  west  half  of  this  township,  since  which  it  has  been  rapidly 
settled.  The  east  half  of  the  township  is  owned  by  Marcus  Ball,  of 
Troy,  and  is  practically  unsettled.  The  Pierrepont,  Fine  and  Watson 
turnpike  runs  from  north  to  south  through  the  west  half  of  the  town, 
and  all  the  farms  are  upon  this  road.  About  2,000  acres  of  land  are 
cleared  and  improved,  and  2,000  acres  more  in  process  of  clearing. 
The  land  lying  back  from  the  road  is  considered  the  best  for  farming. 
The  timber  is  mostly  hard  wood,  with  hemlock,  pine  and  spruce. 

In  the  summer  of  1799  Judge  Raymond  and  others,  engaged  in  sur- 
veying into  townships  the  great  northern  purchase,  had  a  provision 
camp  near  the  village  of  East  Pierrepont.  Some  of  his  men,  near  the 
close  of  the  season,  becoming  weary  and  mutinous,  resolved  to  leave 
without  consent  before  the  job  of  surveying  was  completed.  They  were 
intending  to  take  the  compass,  at  all  hazards  to  those  remaining  behind, 
to  guide  them  through  the  southern  forest.  Mr.  Raymond  having 
failed  to  persuade  them  to  relinquish  their  purpose,  privately  stole  out 
of  the  camp  on  the  evening  previous  to  their  intended  departure  and 
hid  his  compass.  The  mutineers,  failing  to  get  possession  of  the  com- 
pass, dared  not  undertake  a  journey  through  the  woods  without  it,  and 
became  sullen  over  the  matter.  Mr.  Raymond  at  length  succeeded  in 
convincing  them  that  it  was  for  their  interest  to  continue  the  survey 
until  it  was  completed,  and  then  return  home  honorably.  After  con- 
sulting with  each  other  they  promised  obedience,  when  the  instrument 
was  produced,  and  the  labors  continued  till  completed. 

There  was  a  tradition  among  the  Indians  which  was  told  the  survey- 
ors when  running  out  the  town  of  Pierrepont,  that  there  was  a  silver 
mine  near  the  falls  on  Grass  River,  in  the  township  No.  3,  which  was 
worked  a  little  about  1776,  but  was  stopped  by  order  of  the  government 


610  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

soon  after  it  was  begun.  The  Indian  trail  from  St.  Regis  to  Black 
River  runs  through  Pierrepont  by  way  of  Fall  River. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  town  was  made  by  Flavins  J.  Curtis,  who 
located  in  the  northeast  corner  about  1806-7.  Further  settlement  was 
mostly  postponed  until  after  the  opening  of  the  turnpike  from  Platts- 
burg  to  Carthage  in  1812— 13,  which  passed  through  the  town  and 
called  settlers  to  its  vicinity.  Henry  Axtell  came  from  Vermont  in 
18 1 3  and  settled  on  lot  44,  and  in  the  next  year  his  son,  Henry  Edwin 
Axtell,  was  born,  the  first  birth  in  the  town.  About  the  same  time 
Cyrus  Grannis,  then  agent  for  Mr.  Pierrepont,  built  a  large  frame  house 
near  Pierrepont  Center  and  opened  a  tavern,  which  was  probably  the 
first  in  the  town.  Ebenezer  Tupper  came  in  1813  and  settled  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Raquette  River,  where  the  turnpike  crosses  it.  He  also 
opened  a  public  house.  Peter  Ripley  Leonard  came  from  Shoreham, 
Vt,  and  settled  in  Canton  in  1803,  with  his  brother  Moses.  Both  re- 
moved to  Pierrepont  in  18 13,  the  former  settling  half  a  mile  southwest 
of  the  Center,  where  his  son  Charles  afterwards  lived.  Moses  settled 
on  the  site  of  the  Center  village;  they  and  their  descendants  were 
prominent  in  the  town.  Zuriel  Waterman  settled  in  18 13  on  what  was 
known  as  the  "  Waterman  Hill,"  and  has  descendants  in  the  town. 
Others  who  came  that  year  were  Davis  Dunton,  Foster  Shaw,  Alanson 
Woodruff,  Joseph  Mather  and  Clark  Hutchins.  Andrew  A.  Crampton 
came  from  Pittsford,  Vt.,  in  181 5,  and  settled  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south- 
west of  the  Center,  where  he  lived  fifty-one  years;  he  was  a  leading 
citizen,  was  elected  town  clerk  at  the  first  town  meeting,  held  several 
other  offices,  and  was  postmaster  twenty- four  years.  His  son  now 
lives  at  the  Center. 

Appleton  Crary  was  the  first  one  of  that  name  to  locate  in  town, 
which  he  did  in  18 16,  settling  on  the  Canton  Road.  Nathan  Crary,  jr., 
then  living  in  Potsdam,  taught  the  first  school  in  18 15-16,  and  after- 
wards moved  into  the  town.  Edward  Crary  settled  at  what  became 
known  as  Crary's  Mills,  which  mills  he  built.  Nathan  Crary,  sr  ,  came 
to  Potsdam  in  1805  and  lived  there  to  1824,  when  he  moved  into 
Pierrepont  and  settled  on  lot  4,  which  became  part  of  his  son  Stephen's 
farm;  his  descendants  are  still  living  in  town.  Ephraim  Butterfield 
came  from  Vermont  in  1804,  served  in  the  War  of  18 12,  and  in  18 15 


THE  TOWN  OF  PIERREPONT.  611 

settled  in  Pierrepont  on  the  farm  occupied  in  recent  years  by  his  son 
Horace.  Christopher  Leonard,  father  of  Christopher  Leonard,  jr., 
settled  on  lot  45,  and  Shubael  Crandall  came  from  Vermont  in  1817 
with  ox  teams,  fourteen  days  being  required  for  the  journey.  Mitchell 
Hamilton  settled  in  Hopkinton  in  1806,  removed  to  Canton  in  181 1, 
and  to  Pierrepont  in  1825,  where  he  died  in  1854;  his  descendants  are 
still  living  in  town.  In  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  the  first  settle- 
ment was  made  on  the  Raquette  River  by  Gardner  Cox,  who  bought 
the  water  privilege  in  18 17.  John  P.  Dimick  purchased  a  piece  of  land 
adjoining;  they  were  both  from  Vermont.  In  March,  1818,  Benjamin 
Cox,  who  had  joined  his  brother  in  the  purchase,  moved  in  his  family. 
Within  four  years  of  the  advent  of  the  Cox  family  several  others  came 
in  at  his  solicitation  and  settled  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Samuel 
Bancroft  came  in  18 16,  Reuben  Dorothy  in  18 18,  Asa  Briggs  in  1820, 
and  Samuel  Belding  in  1818  ;  most  of  these  have  descendants  now  in 
the  town.  Others  who  came  about  that  time  were  Seth  Hale  and 
David  Bradley. 

Pierrepont  Center. — This  small  village  is  situated  at  the  intersection 
of  the  Canton  and  Colton  road  with  the  St.  Lawrence  turnpike,  nine 
miles  from  Canton  and  ten  from  Potsdam.  The  first  grist  and  saw 
mills  in  the  town  were  erected  on  Grannis  Brook  by  Cyrus  Grannis, 
near  this  village.  The  grist  mill  long  ago  disappeared  and  a  saw  mill 
has  occupied  the  site  ;  but  there  has  been  little  done  with  it  at  present. 
Eldoras  Cochrane  is  in  charge  of  it.  There  are  two  other  saw  mills  in 
the  town.  A  cheese  factory  is  located  here,  operated  now  b}'  John 
Coon,  which  is  one  of  the  five  cheese  factories  in  the  town.  There  is 
also  one  creamery.  Chauncey  Thomas  was  an  early  blacksmith  at  this 
place,  and  built  the  first  frame  house.  Benjamin  Squire  was  the  first 
merchant  and  Andrew  Crampton  the  first  postmaster.  The  present 
postmaster  is  B.  P.  Hubbard,  who  has  filled  the  position  a  great  many 
years  and  carries  on  a  store.  Charles  Beekman  is  the  other  merchant 
of  the  place. 

Hannawa  Falls. — This  place  has  had  other  names  such  as  "  Cox's 
Mills,"  "East  Pierrepont"  and  "  Ellsworth."  It  is  a  small  village  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  town  on  the  Raquette  River.  In  18 18  Gard- 
ner and  Benjamin  Cox  (who  have  been  mentioned  among  the  settlers), 


612  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  John  P.  Dimick,  got  out  the  frame  for  a  saw  mill,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1 8 19  the  dam  was  built  and  the  mill  erected.  In  1822  Gardner 
Cox  built  a  grist  mill  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  with  a  single  run 
of  rock  stones  Two  years  later  a  run  of  burr  stones  was  added  and 
the  place  took  the  name  of  "  Cox's  Mills  "  A  bridge  was  built  across 
the  river  in  1828,  and  in  1836  the  first  mill  was  replaced  by  a  stone 
mill  which  was  burned  in  1869  It  was  rebuilt  in  1877  and  is  now 
operated  as  a  feed  mill  under  the  ownership  of  Thomas  Bicknell,  who  also 
owns  a  small  saw  mill.  In  1845  Gardner  Cox  built  a  starch  factory 
which  produced  about  thirty  tons  annually.  In  1858  it  was  changed 
to  a  corn  starch  factory,  which  continued  three  years.  The  building 
was  burned  in  1872.  In  1852  a  large  gang  saw  mill  was  erected  here, 
which  was  operated  for  a  time  and  was  burned.  A  woolen  factory, 
wagon  factory  and  machine  shop  have  been  operated  here  in  the  past  ; 
but  they  have  all  been  abandoned.  The  dam  first  built,  or  a  portion  of 
it,  is  still  standing,  as  is  also  the  stone  house  built  by  Gardner  Cox  in 
1838.  Cybele  Kelsey  and  Martin  Welch  were  the  first  merchants  in 
the  place  and  had  an  ashery  and  a  starch  factory.  The  first  tavern  was 
erected  about  1835  and  was  kept  by  Sidney  Lanphear.  The  first  post- 
master was  John  P,  Dimick,  in  1832  ;  the  present  official  is  Mrs.  H.  G. 
Carpenter,  who  also  keeps  a  store. 

There  is  a  post-office  and  small  settlement  at  West  Pierrepont 
In  1822  a  bounty  of  $i.OO  for  foxes  and  $5  00  for  wolves  was  offered. 
The  poor  fund  had  accumulated  in  1829  to  $575.62  over  and  above  the 
expenditures  for  such  charities,  and  this  sum  was  invested,  by  consent 
of  the  Legislature,  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  the  support  of  schools. 
In  1846  the  town  voted  the  sum  of  $800,  legalized  by  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and  erected  a  town  hall  near  where  the  Canton  and  Colton  road 
crosses  the  turnpike.  The  hall  served  the  purpose  of  a  church,  there 
being  no  meeting-house  in  town  at  the  time. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town,  with  the  years  of 
their  service : 

C.  Grannis,  1819;  John  Axtell,  1820-21;  Ezra  Crary,  1822-23;  Benjamin  Squire. 
1824-29  ;  August  22,  1829,  Gardner  Cox,  to  fill  vacancy  ;  G.  Cox,  1830-32,  '40  ;  Sam- 
uel Northrup,  1833-38;  Paine  Converse  1839;  A.  A.  Crampton,  1841-42;  Joshua 
Manley,  1843,  '44,  '46,  '47;  Orrin  A.  Howard.  1845, '57,  '58,  '66,  '67, '68;  Truman 
Smith,  1848-49;  Asa  W.  Briggs,  1850-51  ;  Peter  F.  Ryerson,  1852-53;  Edwin  A.  Mer- 


THE  TOVTN  OF  PIERREPONT.  613 

ritt,  1854. '55,  '56';  Benjamin  F.  Hamilton,  1859-60;  Martin  Welch,  1861,  '62,  '63; 
Ansel  B.  Hamilton,  1864-65;  L.  Crampton,  1866-70;  A.  C.  Leonard,  1871-72;  William 
A.  Sherman,  1873,  '74,  '75,  '76;  1877-86,  Darwin  H.  Merritt;  1887-88,  J.  Ingraham 
Leonard;  1889-94,  John  B.  Squires. 

Religions  Societies. — Services  were  held  in  this  town  in  very  early- 
years  by  Rev.  Ezra  Healy,  a  Methodist,  and  in  i8i6,  by  Rev.  A.  Bald- 
win, an  Episcopal  clergyman.  Down  to  1844  no  religious  society  ex- 
isted at  the  Falls,  the  settlers  in  that  section  going  to  Potsdam  to  church. 
On  January  3,  1844,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  East  Pierrepont 
(Hannawa  Falls)  was  incorporated,  wich  Gardner  Cox,  Nathan  Christy, 
Levi  Fuller,  John  Hicks  and  Harry  Train,  trustees.  Rev.  Mathew Ben- 
nett was  the  first  pastor.  This  society  is  now  in  existence,  but  with 
small  membership  and  irregular  services.  A  Presbyterian  society  was 
organized  here  and  the  congregation  joined  with  the  Methodists  in  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship,  but  that  organization  has  gone  out  of 
existence. 

A  Free  Will  Baptist  church  was  organized  at  the  Center,  September 
14,  1850,  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Lewis  Rev.  William  Whitfield  was  chosen 
pastor,  and  continued  there  many  years;  but  in  recent  times  the  church 
has  languished  and  at  the  present  time  there  is  no  pastor  and  no  regular 
service. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Pierrepont,  located  at  "Cur- 
tis Corners,"  was  organized  January  5,  1853,  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
Martin.  The  first  trustees'were  Charles  Smead,  Chester  Mott,  John 
Martin,  Daniel  Church  and  Darius  N.  Curtis.  A  neat  church  was  soon 
erected,  for  which  a  bell  was  presented  by  H.  E.  Pierrepont  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.  There  is  no  settled  pastor,  and  only  irregular  services  are 
held. 

What  was  called  the  Free  Church  Association  of  this  town  was  or- 
ganized at  the  Center  in  September,  1884,  ^n<J  ^  building  was  erected 
the  same  year.  A  similar  organization  was  effected  under  the  name  of 
the  Beech  Plains  Free  church  in  1875.  A  church  was  erected  in  1880, 
but  it  has  no  pastor  at  present. 

A  Union  church  is  in  existence  at  the  Center,  where  Rev.  Mr.  Irish 
from  Colton  holds  service ;   no  settled  pastor. 

The  Seventh  Day  Adventists  of  Pierrepont  organized  a  church  June 
28,  1874,  with  Milo  Western,  Orange  Chollar  and  Arden  Eels  as  trus- 


614  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

tees.      Elder  Edward  Holcomb  is  the  present  pastor,  and  there  are  about 
twenty-five  members. 

There  is  a  Union  church  at  Hannawa  Falls    (Methodist   and   Presby- 
terian), over  which  Rev.  Alfred  Page  is  pastor. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  MORRISTOWN— ORGANIZED  IN  1821. 

THIS  was  the  seventeenth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  March  27,  1821.  It  was  No.  9  ot  the  original  township 
called  "  Hague,"  and  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Oswegatchie. 
There  are  two  versions  as  to  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  town.  One 
is  that  it  was  named  after  the  Morris  family,  they  being  among  the 
original  proprietors  or  owners  of  a  portion  of  the  lands  of  the  count5^ 
Another  is,  which  seems  to  be  the  correct  one,  that  the  town  was  so 
named  on  the  suggestion  of  David  Ford.  Morristown  in  New  Jersey  is 
a  place  where  most  of  the  Ford  family  of  that  day  were  born,  hence  the 
name. 

At  the  first  town  meeting  held  in  that  year  the  following  officers  were 
chosen:  Supervisor,  David  Ford;  clerk,  David  Hill;  assessors,  John 
Canfield,  Paschal  Miller,  and  Horace  Aldrich  ;  collector,  Henry  Hooker; 
overseers  of  the  poor,  John  Hooker,  Daniel  W.  Church,  and  John  K. 
Thurber;  commissioners  of  highways,  William  Swain,  Alexander  B. 
Miller,  and  William  R.  Ward  ;  commissioners  of  schools,  Powell  Davis 
and  James  Burnham  ;  inspectors  of  schools,  Erastus  Northam,  John 
Grannis,  and  Alexander  R.  Miller. 

The  area  of  this  town  was  reduced  in  1827,  by  the  erection  of  the 
town  of  Hammond;  and  again  by  the  erection  of  Macomb  in  1841. 
The  town  lies  upon  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  between  that  river  and 
Black  Lake,  and  now  contains  27,573  acres.  The  surface  is  rolling  and 
rises  almost  abruptly  from  the  waters  mentioned,  and  on  a  gradually 
elevation  towards  the  center.  It  is  watered,  apart  from  the  river  and 
lake,  by  Chippewa  Creek,  which  flows  through  the  central  part  from  east 


THE  TOWN  OF  MORRTSTOWN.  615 

to  west  (see  page  1 12).  The  soil  is  sandy,  loam  overlying  the  Potsdam 
sandstone,  which,  in  lighter  color,  crops  out  in  many  places.  While 
grains  and  vegetables  were  grown  to  a  considerable  extent  in  former 
years,  the  larger  portion  of  the  farming  community  now  devote  their 
attention  to  dairying  There  is  little  manufacturing  in  the  town,  and 
the  mercantile  business  is  also  limited  in  extent. 

A  survey  of  this  town  was  made  prior  to  its  permanent  settlement  in 
1799  by  Jacob  Brown,  and  a  village  plat  was  laid  out  called  "  Morris- 
ville  "  on  the  site  of  Morristown  village,  and  another  called  **  Marys- 
burgh  "  on  the  site  of  Edwardsville. 

The  territory  embraced  in  this  town  was  first  settled  through  the 
agency  of  Col.  David  Ford,  who  in  the  summer  of  1804  visited  the  lo- 
cality for  the  purpose  of  exploration.  He  did  not,  however,  make  his 
permanent  settlement  until  1808.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  a 
brother  of  Nathan  Ford,  the  famous  pioneer.  Mr.  Ford  settled  on  the 
site  of  the  present  village  of  Morristown,  and  evinced  his  true  apprecia- 
tion of  the  natural  surroundings  by  his  selection  of  the  rising  hill- 
side overlooking  the  river  for  the  nucleus  of  the  hamlet.  He  was  the 
first  supervisor  of  the  town  and  a  man  of  prominence.  He  built 
the  first  house  here,  which  is  still  standing  and  owned  by  James  Holli- 
day. 

Soon  after  the  opening  of  Mr.  Ford's  settlement  Arnold  Smith  came 
in  and  opened  the  first  public  house.  John  Canfield,  John  Hooker  and 
his  son  Henry  settled  near  the  village  site.  Mr.  Canfield  built  the  first 
store  house  here,  and  in  181 7  erected  the  first  wharf.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  Board  of  Assessors  in  the  town,  and  lived  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Frontier  House.  John  Hooker  was  one  of  the  first  overseers  of 
the  poor,  and  his  son  was  the  first  collector. 

The  Black  Lake  region  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  was  settled  a 
little  previous  to  18 10  by  John  K.  Thurber,  as  mentioned  in  the  Oswe- 
gatchie  settlement  ;  he  was  one  of  the  first  overseers  of  the  poor.  Dur- 
ing the  year  18 10  Henry  Ellenwood,  Henry  Harrison,  Ephraim  Story, 
Benjamin  Tubbs,  and  Benjamin  Goodwin  settled  in  that  section. 

The  central  and  eastern  parts  of  the  town  were  further  settled  in 
18 17-18,  when  a  large  number  (for  the  time)  of  immigrants  came  in, 
giving  the  local  appellation  of  the  "  English  Settlement  "  to  a  certain 


6)6  HISTORY  OF  ST,  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

section,  which  name  still  survives,  as  also  do  many  descendants  of  those 
settlers.  They  were  Robert  Long,  George  Bell,  James  McDougall, 
Robert  Johnson,  Edward  Lovett,  William  Arnold,  William  Holliday  (an 
Irishman)  Thomas  Carter,  William  Wilson,  George  Couper,  William  Os- 
burne,  Thomas  Baldwin,  all  of  whom  came  in  1817,  and  John  Pringle, 
Thomas  Young,  John  Taylor,  Joseph  Taylor,  John  Wilson,  Joseph 
Couper,  and  probably  a  few  others  who  came  in  the  following  year. 
Other  settlements  are  noted  further  on. 

The  few  dwellers  were  considerably  excited  in  July,  1812,  when  the 
Julia  of  the  United  States  navy,  and  the  British  vessel,  the  Earl  of 
Moira,  met  in  conflict  in  the  river  opposite  the  settlement  (see  war  of 
1 81 2,  page  139  )  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Ford  and  his  family  secreted  them- 
selves in  the  cellar  of  the  public  house  and  remained  there  until  the 
firing  ceased. 

After  recovering  from  the  effects  of  the  cold  seasons  of  18 16-17, 
which  caused  much  destitution  and  suffering  in  most  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, settlement  in  this  town  became  active  and  was  given  something  of 
an  impetus  by  an  offer  to  mechanics  of  a  village  lot  and  a  park  lot  of 
five  acres,  on  condition  that  recipients  of  the  gift  should  carry  on  their 
trade  five  years  in  the  town,  and  within  a  stated  time  should  build  on 
his  lot  a  house  of  specified  size.  Quite  a  number  accepted  the  propro- 
sition  and  began  towards  its  fulfillment,  but  only  two  or  three  persisted 
so  as  to  secure  their  deeds.  But  aside  from  this  effort  the  town  rapidly 
filled  up  during  the  period  from  18 17  to  1820,  when  many  located  in 
the  interior  part.  Among  them  were  Henry  Bogardus,  Norman  Tyler, 
Capt.  William  Lee,  Dr.  Powell,  Willard  Parker,  Thomas  Coats,  and  Abel 
Parker,  all  of  whom  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake. 

Sales  of  lands  continued  until  1820,  when  they  were  suspended  dur- 
ing the  settlement  of  the  Gouverneur  Morris  estate.  In  1823  the  sales 
were  again  opened  in  the  land  office  then  established  and  continued  to 
recent  years.  By  a  deed  bearing  date  June  23,  1823,  Moses  Kent  con- 
veyed the  township  of  Morristown  (except  a  few  lots)  to  Abram 
Cooper,  and  soon  afterwards  Cooper  sold  interests  in  his  purchase  to 
Samuel  Stocking,  of  Utica  ;  James  Averill,  of  Ogdensburg,  and  Au- 
gustus Chapman  ;  the  latter  had  become  a  resident  of  Morristown,  and 
his  enterprising  influence,  with  that  of  later  members  of  his  family,  be- 


THE  TOWN  OF  MORRISTOWN.  617 

came  a  powerful  factor  in  the  growth  of  the  community.  He  was  sev- 
eral times  chosen  supervisor,  and  was  in  all  respects  a  leading  citizen. 
The  three  men,  Stocking,  Averill  and  Chapman,  finally  purchased  the 
whole  of  Mr.  Cooper's  interest,  and  in  1845  Averill  and  Chapman  pur- 
chased Stocking's  interest.  Since  that  date  the  territory  has  been 
gradually  subdivided  into  farms  and  all  sold  out  to  individuals. 

An  incident  of  18 19  was  the  drowning  of  Thomas  Carter  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  He  and  one  of  his  neighbors  started  for  Ogdensburg  in  a 
canoe,  and  when  a  short  distance  from  the  shore  one  of  the  rowlocks 
became  detached  and  fell  into  the  water.  In  a  sudden  effort  to  secure 
it  Mr.  Carter  capsized  the  boat.  Being  unable  to  swim  he  was  drowned 
and  his  body  was  not  recovered.      His  companion  reached  the  shore. 

At  the  organization  of  the  town  and  during  the  few  following  years 
the  customary  ordinances  were  adopted  by  vote  of  the  freeholders. 
Among  these  may  be  noted  that  Canada  thistles  should  be  cut  twice  in 
each  year,  penalty  five  dollars;  providing  for  the  proper  care  of  stock  ; 
protesting  against  setting  off  a  part  of  the  town  to  Hammond  ;  regu- 
lating the  ferr}',  etc. 

The  early  settlement  of  this  town  was  of  course  retarded  by  the  lack 
of  water-power,  although  a  saw,  grist  and  carding  mill  was  built  and 
operated  a  few  years  during  the  wet  portion  of  the  year  on  Chippewa 
Creek,  known  as  Church's  mills.  In  those  days  a  rapid  flowing  stream 
was  of  much  greater  importance  than  in  these  later  years  of  steam  and 
electricity.  Almost  the  first  necessity  of  the  pioneers,  aside  from  roads, 
was  a  mill  for  sawing  lumber  and  grinding  grain,  and  prospective  set- 
tlers m  any  locality  always  took  into  consideration  the  proximity  of 
water-power  in  selecting  their  homesteads.  It  was  this  lack  of  water- 
power  that  prompted  Hugh  McConnell  in  1825  to  erect  a  .windmill  on 
the  elevation  above  Morristown  village.  McConnell  was  one  of  the 
Scotch  settlers  and  had  been  a  miller  in  his  own  country,  where  wind- 
mills were  numerous.  The  mill  was  finished  and  operated  a  short 
time,  but  was  abandoned  soon  after  the  owner's  death  in  1826  ;  he  was 
drowned  in  the  summer  of  that  year  while  crossing  the  river  in  a  small 
boat  The  circular  stone  tower  in  which  the  mill  was  placed  is  still 
standing,  a  quaint  and  interesting  landmark.      It  is  the  only  mill  of  the 


618  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

kind  ever  built  in  this  part  of  the    county,  though  they  have  frequently 
been  erected  in  Canada. 

The  first  physician  in  the  town  was  Dr.  Joseph  Boynton,  who  came 
in  early  from  Massachusetts.  He  practiced  to  about  1834.  Dr.  Sol- 
omon Sherwood  was  also  an  early  practitioner  and  continued  to  about 
1850.  Dr.  J.  P.  Morgan  came  here  in  1826  and  practiced  until  his 
death,  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years.  Dr.  J.  A.  Phillips  has  prac- 
ticed in  the  town  the  greater  park  of  a  long  life. 

A  band  of  outlaws  operated  along  the  frontier  during  the  War  of 
18 12;  some  of  the  incidents  possessed  much  fascination  for  the  in- 
habitants of  Rossie,  this  town,  and  Hammond.  The  more  exciting 
part  will  be  given  in  the  history  of  Hammond,  where  the  larger  part  of 
it  transpired.  The  raiders  only  passed  through  Morristown  to  places 
more  secure  in  secreting  their  plunder,  as  no  such  hiding  places  existed 
in  Morristown.  There  were,  however,  horses  and  cattle  stolen  from 
some  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  and  taken  to  Jefferson  and  Herki- 
mer counties.  A  Mr.  Abner  Swain,  then  keeping  tavern  where  Brier 
Hill  village  now  stands,  had  a  fine  mare,  valued  at  the  time  at  $150, 
stolen,  supposed  to  be  by  Jack  Livingston,  known  to  be  one  of  the 
gang.  Mr.  Swain  lost  also  during  one  season  eleven  head  of  fine 
cattle,  supposed  to  be  taken  by  the  same  gang. 

In  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  Morristown  acted  a  patriotic  part  in 
sending  her  sons  to  the  front,  and  in  the  payment  of  bounties,  upon 
the  same  generous  plans  adopted  by  other  towns  in  the  county.  Suc- 
ceeding that  memorable  struggle  settlements  on  the  farms  and  the  con- 
sequent clearing  of  lands  and  advancement  of  agricultural  interests 
progressed  more  rapidly  than  before.  Moreover,  in  1876,  Morristown 
village  and  Brier  Hill  received  railroad  communication  with  Water- 
town  on  the  west  and  Ogdensburg  on  the  east,  creating  for  a  time  the 
belief  that  an  era  of  unwonted  prosperity  had  set  in.  It  is  doubtful  if 
these  expectations  have  been  realized  ;  it  is  the  rule  that  a  new  railroad 
kills  off  some  of  the  smaller  villages,  while  it  builds  up  the  larger  ones, 
and  while  the  road  is  a  wonderful  convenience  for  travel  and  shipping, 
it  cannot  be  said  to  have  greatly  benefited  this  town  in  a  material 
sense. 


THE  TOWN  OF  MORRISTOWN.  619 

The  dairying  interest  in  the  town  has  been  greatly  developed  in  re- 
cent years,  the  larger  part  of  the  product  being  cheese.  There  are  now 
five  cheese  factories  and  one  butter  factory  in  the  town. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation 
to  the  present  year,  with  dates  of  their  service  : 

1821,  David  Ford;  1822,  Timothy  Pope;  1823-24,  Augustus  Chapman;  1825-26, 
Paschal  Miller ;  1827,  Augustus  Chapman  ;  1827-29,  Jacob  J.  Ford  ;  1830-32,  Richard 
W.  Colfax;  1833-34,  John  Parker;  1835-37,  Jacob  J.  Ford;  1838-39,  Isaac  Elwood  ; 
1840-54,  Moses  Birdsall;  1855,  George  A.  Chapman  ;  1856.  Joseph  Couper;  1857-59, 
Charles  Richardson;  1860-66,  Henry  Hooker;  1867-72,  Warren  R.  Fitch;  1873-80, 
Charles  Richardson;   1881,  George  F.  Rowland;   1882-94,  Enoch  Young. 

Morristoivti  Village  is  situated  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  nearly 
opposite  the  thriving  village  of  Brockville,  Canada,  and  near  the  north- 
erly line  of  the  town.  Its  site  is  picturesque  and  commands  a  beautiful 
view.  A  ferry  plies  between  the  two  places  and  a  custom  house  has 
existed  here  from  an  early  day.  It  is  now  in  charge  of  Arthur  Gregory. 
Stephen  Canfield  built  a  steam  grist  mill  here  at  an  early  day.  This 
was  changed  to  a  saw  mill,  planing  mill,  stave  mill,  etc., in  recent  years, 
and  is  now  leased  to  Gillis  Brothers,  who  are  doing  quite  an  extensive 
business.  The  property  is  owned  by  the  Chapman  estate.  Chapman 
&  Son  built  a  large  elevator  a  few  years  ago,  but  the  leasing  of  the  rail- 
road to  the  New  York  Central  Company  rendered  its  use  at  a  profit 
impossible.  It  is  now  used  by  the  Brockville  Wringer  Works  for  a 
branch  of  their  business  which  is  carried  on  here.  A  large  industry 
here  is  the  manufacture  of  several  proprietary  remedies  by  W.  H,  Com- 
stock  of  Brockville,  which  was  begun  in  1867.  Robert  Nicholson  is 
superintendent  of  the  business  and  has  been  in  the  establishment  since 
1868.  The  leading  merchant  is  James  V.  Crawford.  Others  are  Harry 
Hawkins,  A.  L  Palmer,  Thomas  Pierce  and  Albert  Rowland.  On  the 
2d  of  December,  1892,  Allen  C.  Strough  began  the  publication  of  the 
Weekly  Gleaner,  an  eight- page  paper,  independent  in  politics.  There 
is  now  only  one  hotel,  the  Frontier  House,  which  is  kept  by  J.  F. 
Culligan. 

The  first  school  in  the  town  was  taught  by  George  Couper,  one  of 
the  English  settlers  before  mentioned.  Until  1876  the  common  dis- 
trict schools  were  well  supported  in  the  town,  but  in  that  year  the  Mor- 
ristown    Union  Free  School  was  inaugurated,  with  three  departments, 


620  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  the  following  Board  of  Education:  Harry  Hooker,  president;  J. 
Garvin,  M.  D  ,  clerk;  C.  F.  Yennie,  T.  D.  Losee,  A.  F.  Carpenter,  A. 
Proctor,  Henry  Russell,  E.  Kingsland  and  Frank  Chapman.  The  school 
building  is  commodious  and  pleasantl)'^  situated.  The  present  Board  of 
Education  is  as  follows  :  A.  F.  Carpenter,  A.  L.  Palmer,  Dr.  John  Gar- 
vin, Henry  Colton,  Henry  Russell,  James  V.  Crawford,  Thomas  Pierce, 
Clinton  Church  and  Dr.  Whitford. 

Edwardsville. — This  is  a  hamlet  situated  on  Black  Lake,  directly 
south  of  Morristown  village.  The  names  of  the  settlers  in  this  locality 
have  been  given.  The  place  is  more  generally  known  as  "The  Nar- 
rows," and  a  ferry  was  early  established  at  that  point  across  the  lake. 
In  1 85  I  it  was  regularly  licensed  and  the  profits  are  divided  between 
the  schools  of  Morristown  and  Macomb.  The  post-office  was  estab- 
lisheg  here  in  March,  1837,  with  Jonathan  S.  Edwards  as  postmaster, 
and  from  him  the  name  "  Edwardsville  "  is  derived.  Jessie  Capron  is 
the  present  official.  A  hotel  and  stores  have  been  kept  here  for  many 
years.  There  are  at  the  present  time  two  general  stores  kept  by  George 
A.  Crawford  and  the  Chambers  Brothers.  The  Lake  View  House  is 
kept  by  R.  E.  Capron,  and  the  Black  Lake  House  by  H.  J.  Perry.  A 
steam  saw  mill  in  that  vicinity  is  operated  by  H.  S.  Austin.  G.  M. 
Chrysler  has  a  steam  saw  mill  and  cheese  factory  a  short  distance  down 
the  lake,  or  near  Galilee. 

A  number  of  wealthy  men  of  New  York,  Washington  and  other 
cities  have  recently  purchased  Elizabeth  Island  in  Black  Lake  (the 
island  being  a  part  of  Morristown),  and  built  thereon  a  fine  club  house, 
chiefly  for  their  own  benefit,  at  an  expense  of  several  thousand  dollars. 
They  receive  mail  at  the  post-office  of  "Black  Lake  "  on  the  southern 
shore  of  the  town  of  Macomb,  where  H.  A.  Morse  is  postmaster. 

Another  post-office  called  "Cedars"  was  established  December  22, 
1892,  on  the  Black  Lake  road,  four  and  a  half  miles  from  Morristown, 
where  the  Lutheran  church  is  situated,  with  O.  D.  Moore  as  postmaster. 

Brier  Hill  is  a  hamlet  situated  on  an  elevation  in  the  central  part  of 
the  town.  This  immediate  locality  was  not  settled  so  early  as  the 
northern  part  of  the  town,  and  the  post-office  was  not  established  until 
1853,  the  first  postmaster  being  David  Giffin.  There  has  been  no  man- 
ufacturing of  account  here,  but  quite  an  active  mercantile  business  has 


THE  TOWN  OF  MORRTSTOWN.  621 

existed  for  many  years,  with  the  usual  complement  of  small  shops. 
There  are  now  two  stores,  one  conducted  by  George  S  Yerden,  who  is 
also  postmaster,  and  the  other  by  M.  S.  Stephenson.  A  hotel  is  kept 
by  John  McClear,  and  a  second  one  by  E.  Taylor.  One  of  the  cheese 
factories  is  also  located  here. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

The  Presbyterian  was  the  first  religious  organization  formed  in  Mor- 
ristown,  which  was  formed  by  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Mr.  Smart,  of 
Brockville,  in  June,  1821,  with  eight  members.  Meetings  were  held  in 
various  places  until  1837,  when  a  frame  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$1,950.  To  this  an  addition  and  other  improvements  have  recently 
been  made,  and  the  society  is  now  prosperous.  Rev.  C.  O.  Thatcher 
is  the  present  pastor. 

Congregational  Society.  —  The  Chippewa  Street  Congregational 
Church  was  organized  in  1827,  with  nine  members,  assisted  by  Rev. 
Hiram  Johnson,  of  Canton.  The  services  were  held  in  private  houses 
and  school  houses  until  1850,  when  $1,000  were  expended  in  erecting 
a  church.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  Young.  The  church 
property  is  now  valued  at  $2,500.  The  present  membership  is  about 
one  hundred.      Rev.  C.  E    Green  is  pastor. 

A  Baptist  Church  was  organized  at  "  The  Narrows  "  January  23, 
1828,  with  ten  members.  As  the  number  of  Methodists  increased  in 
this  neighborhood  a  union  was  effected  and  a  church  building  was  soon 
after  erected.  It  is  now  and  has  been  for  many  years  the  property  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  of  Edwardsville.  It  was  repaired  in  1880  at  a  cost 
of  $1,000.  The  pulpit  is  now  occupied  by  Rev.  G.  H.  Williams,  who 
also  preaches  in  the  Methodist  church  at  Galilee. 

Episcopal,  Christ  Church. — This  society  was  formed  at  Morristown 
village  about  1830,  and  was  incorporated  July  6,  1846,  with  George 
Couper  and  Cuthbert  Ramsey,  wardens  ;  Augustus  Chapman,  Chilion 
Ford,  Robert  Ashton,  Moses  Birdsall,  James  W.  Munsell,  Thomas 
Boldram,  John  Brewer  and  Henry  Hooker,  vestrymen.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1833  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $3,000.  Rev.  \V.  R. 
Woodbridge  is  pastor,  and  the  membership  is  about  forty. 


622  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

A  union  church  at  Brier  Hill  was  erected  in  1859  by  the  Baptists, 
Lutherans,  Wesleyan  Methodists  and  Nonitarians.  The  three  denomi- 
nations named  had  each  a  one- fourth  interest,  and  the  residents  outside 
who  contributed,  the  other  fourth.  Nine  trustees  were  chosen  to  man- 
age its  affairs.  The  building  is  wood,  and  cost  about  $1,500.  Services 
are  now  held  by  C.  E.  Green,  Congregationalist ;  O.  F.  Nichols,  Meth- 
odist; and  Rev.  O.  D.  Moore,  Lutheran,  on  successive  Sundays. 

The  Evangelical  Lutherans  organized  a  church  March  18,  1847,  with 
Joseph  Weaver,  John  Mitchell  and  John  Dillenbeck,  trustees.  Services 
were  held  in  the  school  house  until  1853,  when  the  present  church  was 
erected  at  a  place  now  called  "  Cedars,"  about  three  miles  from  Brier 
Hill  on  Black  Lake.  Its  cost,  with  the  parsonage,  was  about  $2,500. 
There  are  now  about  fifty  five  members,  and  Rev.  O.  D.  Moore  is  the 
pastor. 

The  MetJiodist  Episcopal  Church  was  formed  in  Morristown  village 
in  1843.  About  five  years  later  the  first  church  building  was  erected 
and  dedicated  February  20,  1849.  The  first  trustees  were  Samuel 
Lewis,  Percy  W.  Hindmarsh,  James  Young,  Rev.  John  Stoddard,  Nel- 
son Wright,  Cornelius  Walworth  and  Richard  P.  Waldron.  The  first 
church  was  burned  November  18,  1850,  and  in  the  following  year  the 
present  building  was  erected.  It  was  refitted  and  furnished  in  1874. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  O.  F.  Nichols. 

The  First  Universalist  ChiLrch. — This  society  was  organized  at  Brier 
Hill  in  1855,  and  reorganized  in  February,  1859,  "^  which  year  their 
house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,250.  Services  were  regu- 
larly held  until  1890,  the  last  pastor  being  Rev.  Mr.  Munson.  The 
church  is  not  now  in  use. 

St.  Johns  Catholic  Church — organized  July  15,  1873.  The  first 
trustees  were  Rt.  Rev.  Edgar  P.  Wadhams,  James  Garvin  and  Michael 
Rowland.  The  bishop  administered  baptism  the  first  time  in  the  town 
in  July,  1874.  The  church  was  erected  in  1878,  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Varrily 
is  at  present  in  charge  of  the  society. 

St.  Lawrence  International  Canip-groimd  Association. — This  associ- 
ation was  organized  in  June  1874,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an 
extensive  camp-meeting  place.  A  beautiful  tract  of  twenty- three  acres 
was  secured  on  the  high  bank  overlooking  the  St.  Lawrence  one  mile 


THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK.  623 

east  of  Morristown  village,  and  fitted  up  with  fine  cottages,  tents,  water 
supply,  etc.  For  a  number  of  years  the  association  prospered  fairly, 
when  the  society  erected  a  large  hotel,  which  put  them  in  debt  and 
soon  ruined  the  organization.  It  has  recently  passed  into  possession  of 
a  syndicate  made  up  principally  of  Ogdensburg  men.  The  fine  hotel 
built,  the  name  "Terrace  Park  "  given  it,  has  become  a  popular  summer 
resort. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK— ORGANIZED  IN  182.3. 

THIS  is  the  eighteenth  town  erected  by  an   act   of  the    Legislature, 
passed  April  9,  1823. 

Prior  to  1823  Norfolk  was  a  part  of  the  town  of  Louisville.  An 
attempt  had  been  made  and  failed  in  1817  to  divide  the  latter  town, 
making  the  new  one  six  miles  square,  with  the  present  village 
site  of  Norfolk  in  about  its  geographical  center.  The  division  was 
finally  effected,  as  above  stated,  leaving  Louisville  as  it  now  stands,  ex- 
cept that  in  April,  1844,  two  lots  and  parts  of  three  more  were  added 
to  it  from  Norfolk.  On  April  15,  1834,  mile  squares  6,  7,  8,  9,  and  10 
and  the  north  halves  of  14  and  19  of  Stockholm  were  added  to  Norfolk. 
The  surface  is  rolling,  the  soil  fairly  good,  particularly  for  grazing,  and 
the  town  is  drained  by  the  Raquette  River,  which  flows  northeast- 
erly across  from  one  corner  to  the  opposite  one.  One  of  the  chief 
reasons  which  led  to  the  division  from  Louisville,  was  the  exist- 
ence of  a   large  swamp  between   the   Raquette  and  the  Grass   Rivers. 

Soon  after  the  erection  of  the  town  of  Norfolk,  and  on  the  5th  of 
May,  1823,  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Elisha 
Adams,  where  the  following  named  officers  were  elected  :  Christopher 
G.  Stowe,  supervisor;  Erastus  Hall,  town  clerk;  Elisha  W.  Barber, 
Ephraim  S.  Raymond,  Roswell  Hutchins,  assessors  ;  Ebenezer  S.  San- 
burn,  Bishop  Booze,  John  Blanchard,  commissioners  of  highways; 
Christopher  G.    Stowe,    Ephraim  S.  Raymond,  overseers   of  the  poor  ; 


^24  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Russell  C.  Atwater,  Roswell  Hutchins,  Erastus  Hall,  inspectors  of  com- 
mon schools  ;  Benjamin  Raymond,  Phineas  Atwater,  Roswell  Hutch- 
ins, trustees  of  gospel  and  school  lots. 

It  is  no  discredit  to  the  permanent  settlers  of  this  town  that  the  first 
operations  towards  cutting  its  forests  were  made  by  timber  thieves  pre- 
vious to  1809.  This  is  a  fact  that  was  common  to  many  of  the  towns 
on  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  large  tributaries.  The  cutting  of  the  very 
finest  timber  for  vessel  masts  was  in  particular  carried  on  by  these 
depredators,  and  many  beautiful  sticks  were  taken  out  of  Norfolk  and 
shipped  to  Montreal. 

In  1809  the  first  permanent  settler  arrived  in  the  person  of  Erastus 
Hall,  from  Tyrringham,  Mass.  His  first  visit  was  one  of  exploration 
only.  He  reached  Potsdam  May  9,  1809,  met  there  Judge  Raymond, 
who  had  the  land  agency  of  that  section,  and  who  induced  Hall  to 
explore  the  territory  then  embraced  in  the  town  of  Louisville.  A  bush 
road  had  been  cut  from  Potsdam  to  the  site  of  Raymondsville  for  the 
conveyance  of  potash  to  market,  and  over  that  Mr.  Hall  traveled, 
accompanied  by  Ira  Brewer,  who  was  also  from  Tyrringham.  Reach- 
ing that  point  and  wishing  to  cross  the  river,  they  constructed  a  rude 
raft,  loaded  on  it  their  baggage  and  started  to  pole  it  across  the  rapid 
stream.  As  a  result  they  nearly  lost  their  lives;  but  they  did  finally 
succeed  in  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  Returning  on  the  following 
day  to  Potsdam,  pleased  with  the  outlook,  they  had  farms  surveyed  by 
Sewall  Raymond  of  Potsdam,  and  the  first  contract  in  the  town  was 
given  to  Mr.  Hall  in  June  of  that  year.  The  first  frame  house  was  built 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  Raymondsville.  Mr.  Hall  employed 
persons  at  Potsdam  to  build  him  a  house,  and  in  the  fall  returned  to  his 
former  home.  After  his  settlement  he  resided  in  the  town  until  his 
death  at  the  age  of  eighty- three,  on  March  29.  1869.  He  was  a  con- 
spicuous and  useful  citizen  and  left  an  estate  valued  at  nearly  $100,000. 
In  the  same  year  (1809)  Eben  Judson,  ftom  Williston,  Vt.,  and  Martin 
Barney  came  in  and  made  the  beginning  of  a  settlement.  In  March, 
1810,  Mr.  Judson  brought  in  his  family,  his  wife  being  the  first  white 
woman  settler. ^      The  company  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson.  three 

1  Mr.  Hough  makes  the  startling  statement  that  they  started  on  March  lo,  in  the  first  snow  storm 
that  had  fallen  in  that  winter. 


THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK.  -  625 

children,  a  brother  and  a  brother-in-law,  and  Ashbel  and  John  Hall, 
two  young  men  who  did  not  remain  long.  They  had  two  horse  teams, 
an  ox  team  and  a  cow. 

Major  Bohan  Shepard  of  St.  Albans,  Vt  ,  acquired  an  early  interest 
in  this  town,  and  in  September,  i8iO,  he  sent  on  a  company  of  about 
ten  men,  who  built  for  him  a  saw  mill  on  Trout  Brook  ;  this  was  the  first 
mill  in  the  town.  The  second  mills  were  built  by  Jonathan  Culver,  in 
i8i2,  at  a  pla.ce  called  Hutchins's  Falls,  about  three  miles  below  Ray- 
mondville,  and  at  the  lowest  point  on  the  Raquette  where  mills  were 
ever  erected.  These  mills  were  burned  Judge  Russell  Atwater  built 
the  third  mills  in  the  lower  part  of  what  is  now  Norfolk  village  in  the 
summer  of  1816,  which  are  alluded  to  a  little  further  on.  The  first 
Durham  boat  on  the  Raquette  River  came  up  in  18 16  from  Schenec- 
tady, by  the  route  which  has  been  several  times  described  ;  it  was  laden 
with  mill  irons,  goods  and  provisions,  sent  in  by  Judge  Atwater.  It 
was  hauled  around  Culver's  dam,  before  mentioned,  and  for  a  time 
afterward  made  regular  trips  from  Culver's  to  Norfolk,  in  connection 
with  boats  which  ran  below  the  dam  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  first 
bridge  was  built  at  the  village  site  of  Raymondville  (which  was  called 
"  Racketon  "  in  early  years)  about  18 14. 

Christopher  G.  Stowe,  Martin  Barney,  Milo  Brewer  and  several  others 
came  in  and  began  improvements  in  18 10,  but  the  families  of  Hall  and 
Judson  were  the  only  ones  who  remained  through  the  winter.  In  181 1 
several  other  families  came  in,  and  among  those  and  others  of  later 
years  who  have  been  prominent  in  the  community,  may  be  mentioned 
Moses  B  and  Col.  Ira  Hale,  Joel  Farnsworth,  Divan  R.  Rich,  father  of 
Silas  F.  and  Hiram  Rich,  Denis  Kingsbury,  Sylvester  C.  Kingsley, 
Henry,  John,  William  and  Aaron  Blanchard,  Ephraim  P.  Raymond, 
Nathaniel  F.  Winslow,  Joseph  Cummings,  Perry  C.  Bixby,  Amos 
Kimball,  C.  C.  Elms,  Chauncey  L.  Shepard,  son  of  Maj.  Bohan  Shep- 
ard, Osmund  Farwell,  John  Patterson,  Samuel  Adams,  David  C.  Clin- 
ton, Wetmore  Adoniram  Lockwood.  Ichabod  VVhitcomb,  Lewis  and 
Daniel  Small,  Fisher  F.  Ames,  Amos  W.  Palmer,  William  W.  Grandy, 
Lot  and  Jones  Bradish,  William  L  Gadding,  Ebenezer  S.  Sanburn, 
Elisha  W.  Barber,  Roswell  Hutchins,  Julius  and  James  Grant,  the 
pioneers  of  what  has  since  1838  been  known  as  the  "Grant  Settlement," 


626  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

on  and  around  lots  72  and  73.  Of  these  Messrs.  Bixby,  Shepard  (on 
the  place  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  George  B.),  Farwell,  Adams, 
Whitcomb  (still  living  at  the  age  of  ninety),  Grandy  (who  kept  a  hotel), 
Hutchins  and  others  located  on  or  near  the  village  site. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  town  was  Roscius  W.,  son  of  Eben 
Judson,  now  a  lawyer  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Ogdensburg,  who 
was  born  August  7,  1 8 10  The  first  death  was  that  of  Eben  Judson, 
father  of  Roscius,  who  passed  away  June  29,  1813.  Dr.  Lemuel  Win- 
slow  settled  as  the  first  physician  in  the  town  in  181 1,  coming  from 
Williston,  Vt.  The  first  road  opened  was  the  one  leading  toward  Mas- 
sena  in  1810. 

As  far  as  this  territory  was  concerned,  the  War  of  1812  produced 
little  effect,  aside  from  the  general  forebodings  prevalent  throughout  all 
this  section  and  rumors  of  Indian  raids.  The  town  was  still  a  part  of 
Louisville,  and  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  that  town  for  the 
part  taken  by  the  inhabitants  in  our  last  struggle  with   a  foreign  nation. 

No  event  of  great  importance  has  occurred  in  the  town  since  its  or- 
ganization, aside  from  the  part  it  was  called  upon  to  take  in  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  In  that  memorable  struggle  the  inhabitants  showed 
a  patriotic  willingness  to  aid  the  government  and  sent  to  the  front  about 
forty  men,  whose  deeds  are  their  best  monument.  While  in  manufac- 
turing industries  it  perhaps  cannot  be  said  that  the  town  has  fulfilled 
the  ardent  expectations  of  its  earlier  inhabitants,  in  other  directions  it 
ranks  among  the  more  prosperous  communities  in  the  county.  Its  am- 
ple water  power  on  the  Raquette  River,  which  led  to  the  construction 
of  seven  or  eight  dams  and  various  mills  and  factories,  gave  the  inhab- 
itants the  right  to  hope  for  a  great  degree  of  prosperity  from  that 
source;  that  this  has  not  been  realized  is  due  to  several  causes,  chief 
among  them  being  the  absence  of  early  railroad  facilities.  As  a  dairy 
town,  however,  it  is  excelled  by  few,  the  product  being  almost  wholly 
butter  of  high  quality.  There  are  four  successful  factories  in  the  town 
and  none  for  the  manufacture  of  cheese.  The  further  account  of  the  in- 
dustries is  given  in  the  pages  of  village  history  following. 

A  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  follows,  with  dates  of  their 
terms  of  service : 

1823,  Christopher  G.  Stowe ;   1824-29,  Phineas  Atwater :   1830-31,    William  Blake; 
1832-33,  P.  Atwater ;  1834:-36,  William  Blake  ;  1837.  Norman  Sackrider ;  1838,   Will- 


THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK.  627 

iam  Blake;  1839.  N.  Sackrider;  1840-41,  Hiram  Atwater;  1842-45,  Ira  Hale;  1846- 
47,  Giles  I.  Hall;  1848-49,  Calvin  Elms;  1850-51,  Nathaniel  F.  Beals;  1851-54,  Chris- 
tian Sackrider;  1855,  Giles  J.  Hall;  1856,  John  Yale;  1857-59,  Lewis  Small;  1860, 
Horatio  S.  Munson  ;  1861,  William  Glosson  ;  1862-65,  John  R.  Brinkerhoff;  1866-68, 
Edwin  H.  Atwater;  1869-75,  Joseph  C.  Mould;  1876-77,  Edwin  H.  Atwater;  1878-80, 
S.  J.  Farnsworth;  1881-83,  Edwin  H.  Atwater;  1884,  Henry  D.  Carpenter;  1885,  E. 
H.  Atwater:   1886,  S.  J.  Farnsworth;   1887-94,  OscBr  H.  Hale. 

Norfolk  Village. — As  has  already  been  stated,  the  first  settlement  on 
the  site  of  the  village  was  made  by  Judge  Russell  Atwater,  who  came 
from  Russell,  in  i8i6.  In  June  of  the  previous  year  he  had  purchased 
one  half  of  the  Morris  tract  and  the  west  half  of  88  in  Louisville.  This 
tract  had  been  assigned  to  James  D.  Le  Ray  in  a  partition  of  lands  and 
sold  by  him  to  Gouverneur  Morris.  A  clearing  of  ten  acres  had  been 
made  for  Le  Ray  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village  site  in  i8i  i,  and  there 
a  crop  of  wheat  was  raised  the  following  year.  Mr.  Atwater  built  a 
large  stone  mill  in  the  year  of  his  arrival  ;  it  was  burned  and  rebuilt 
and  is  now  owned  by  Warren  Dyke,  having  passed  through  various 
hands  in  the  meantime,  but  recently  passed  to  the  possession  of  Mein 
&  Baxter. 

The  mill  drew  around  it  other  settlers  and  the  hamlet  slowly  took  on 
the  character  of  a  small  but  enterprising  village.  Among  those  who 
have  in  the  past  years  contributed  in  a  conspicuous  manner  to  the  pros- 
perity and  the  moral  progress  of  the  village  may  be  mentioned  Norman 
and  Christian  Sackrider,  Julius  Judson,  Thomas  and  Joseph  C.  Mould, 
William  Atwater,  M.  D.,  Hiram  Atwater,  Timothy  W.  Osborne,  Ros- 
well  Hutchins,  Solomon  Sartwell,  Martin  Beach,  John  P.  and  Henry  A. 
Wetmore  and  the  Robinson  brothers,  with  others. 

The  Phoenix  Iron  Company,  imder  the  firm  of  E.  Keyes  &  Co.,  was 
formed  October  7,  1825,  and  the  following  year  built  a  furnace  on  the 
north  bank  in  the  village,  for  making  pig  iron  from  bog  ores  which  ex- 
isted abundantly  in  swamps  of  this  and  neighboring  towns.  It  passed 
through  several  hands  and  was  rtin  about  four  months  in  a  year  till  1844, 
when  it  was  burned  by  an  incendiary.  It  produced  about  twelve  tons 
daily,  and  was  lined  with  sandstone.  In  1846  a  forge  was  built  by  Will- 
iam Plake,  a  little  above  the  furnace,  and  run  two  or  three  years,  until 
it  was  burned. 


628  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Other  manufactures  that  have  been  operated  in  the  village  were  a 
tannery,  operated  by  a  Mr.  Griffith,  which  was  abandoned  about  1870; 
also  several  shingle  mills,  two  being  in  operation  now,  one  in  connec- 
tion with  the  saw  mill  by  E.  \\".  Bemis  and  the  other  by  Matthais  Van 
Zandt.  A  tannery  at  East  Norfolk,  or  Slab  City,  was  in  existence  for 
many  years,  but  was  finally  burned  and  was  not  rebuilt.  A  starch 
factory  was  started  in  1874,  but  was  not  in  operation  long.  In  1868 
H.  S.  Martin  purchased  the  sash  factory  of  E.  H.  &  L.  L  Atwater  and 
remodeled  it  into  a  hub  factory,  it  being  the  first  one  started  in  the 
county.  It  was  burned  in  1870,  was  rebuilt  and  operated  about  a  year, 
then  transferred  to  Norwood.  Besides,  there  have  been  the  usual  com- 
plement of  small  shops. 

Of  the  village  in  1853  Mr.  Hough  wrote  as  follows,  which  will  indi- 
cate the  former  ardent  hopes  of  the  people : 

The  village  of  Norfolk  possesses  manufacturing  facilities  which  are  destined  to  render 
it  a  place  of  much  importance.  The  Raquette  River  here  has  a  descent  of  about  70 
feet  within  a  mile,  passing  over  three  dams  already  erected,  and  affording  opportunity 
for  at  least  four  more,  at  each  of  which  the  whole  volume  of  the  river  could  be  used. 
Below  the  upper  dam  the  channel  is  divided  by  an  island  of  about  two  acres  in  extent, 
which  affords  facilities  for  the  erection  of  dams  at  its  head  and  its  foot,  and  the  water 
could  be  diverted  to  either  side  or  used  upon  both  sides  of  the  island  and  the  main 
shore.  At  the  foot  of  the  island  the  water  turns  to  the  left,  and  the  bank  on  the  inside 
of  the  bend  is  so  low  and  fiat,  and  but  little  elevated  above  high  water  mark,  while  that 
on  the  outside  of  the  bend  is  an  elevated  plain  of  easy  ascent,  and  abruptly  terminating 
upon  the  river.  *  *  *  Throughout  the  whole  extent  the  bed  of  the  river  is  formed 
of  limestone,  affording  at  the  same  time  a  secure  foundation  for  building,  and  the  mate- 
rials for  erecting  walls.     Lime  made  of  this  stone  is  of  good  quality. 

There  are  two  general  stores  in  the  village,  one  formerly  kept  by  G. 
A.  Mowitt  having  gone  out  of  business.  The  larger  one  is  that  of 
Ambrose  E.  Sayles  and  E.  H.  Atwater,  and  the  other  is  kept  by  E.  B. 
Fairchild  and  A.  Branchaud. 

In  1852  the  town  voted  $650  for  a  town  house,  which  was  built  in 
the  village,  of  brick,  40  x  60  feet,  with  a  wide  piazza  in  front.  This 
building  was  subsequently  burned  and  the  present  one  was  erected  in 
1871.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county  in  the  smaller  towns  and 
cost  $3,000.  Two  handsome  iron  bridges  span  the  river,  one  in  the 
village    and   the  other  one-half  mile  below.      The    large    brick    hotel 


THE  TOWN  OF  NORFOLK.  629 

was  built  by   E     H.   and   L.   L.    Atwater,   and  is  now  kept  by  James 
Cullimore.     The  postmaster  and  justice  of  the  peace  is  C.  A.  King. 

Rayniondville. — Spajford's  Gazeteer,  published  in  1813,  has  this  par- 
agraph : 

The  village  of  Racketon  is  a  new  and  flourishing  settlement,  forming  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  town,  at  the  head  of  bateau  navigation  on  the  Raquette  River,  twenty 
miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  St.  Lawrence.  At  this  place,  immediately  above  the 
landing,  is  a  fall  of  the  waters  of  the  Raquette  River  of  about  fifteen  feet,  and  excellent 
accommodations  for  hydraulic  works.  Racketon  is  about  twenty-five  miles  east  of 
Ofrdensburs; ;  and  unitin":  its  advantages  for  good  navigation  to  the  St.  Lawrence  with 
those  of  its  central  position  in  a  rich  and  fertile  country,  must  become  a  rich  and  pojju- 
lous  place. 

Alas  !  for  the  errors  of  the  prophets.  A  bridge  was  built  across  the 
the  river  at  this  point  in  1 8 14,  and  Judge  Raymond,  entertaining  high 
anticipations  for  the  future  of  his  village,  moved  his  family  here  in  18 16 
and  they  lived  here  several  years.  From  him  the  inhabitants  named 
the  village  Raymondville,  J'  seph  Clark  and  William  Coats  were  early 
residents  of  the  village,  the  former  being  a  wagon  maker  and  the  latter 
an  extensive  brick  maker,  an  industry  which  is  still  in  operation  by 
members  of  his  family.  The  first  brick  yard  was  established  in  18 17 
by  Erastus  Hall ;  it  was  about  half  a  mile  below  the  village.  A  woolen 
factory  was  conducted  for  many  years,  passed  through  various  hands  to 
W.  S  Bennett.  It  was  badly  damaged  by  the  great  freshet  in  1891  and 
the  proprietor  took  it  into  another  building  and  it  is  now  in  operation. 
The  grist  mill  has  been  in  operation  many  years  and  is  now  abandoned  ; 
it  was  owned  by  John  and  James  Donnelly.  William  Coats  has  a  saw 
mill  and  shingle  mill.  A  starch  factory  which  was  carried  on  for  a  few 
years  by  N.  C.  Bowen  of  Moira,  N.  Y.,  is  now  abandoned.  A  beau- 
tiful one-span  iron  bridge,  taking  the  place  of  two  other  iron  bridges 
having  a  center  pier  which  were  swept  away  by  floods,  crosses  the  river 
here  and  has  withstood  the  floods  about  ten  years.  It  cost  $10,000. 
The  postmaster  is  Simon  N.  Babcock. 

A  part  of  the  hamlet  of  Yaleville  is  in  this  town  in  the  southwest 
corner.  There  have  recently  been  established  there  by  O.  E.  Martin, 
an  extensive  pulp  making  industry  which  turns  out  twelve  tons  of  wet 
pulp  per  day,  and  is  noticed  in  the  history  of  the  town  of  Potsdam.      A 


630  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

foundry  and  a  saw  mill  once  in  operation  there  are  not  now  in  use.      A 
grist  mill  is  now  in  use  there. 

Religious  Societies. — The  first  settlers  living  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
town,  were  not  church  members,  but  men  of  moral  worth.  By  com- 
mon consent  they  assembled  on  the  Sabbath  at  some  one  of  their  homes 
for  religious  worship.  They  sang  hymns,  read  the  Scriptures  and  a 
select  sermon,  then  returned  to  their  homes  without  stopping  to  visit. 
In  the  year  i8ii  a  Congregational  missionary,  named  Seth  Burt,  came 
from  Massachusetts  and  left  some  religious  books.  Rev.  James  John- 
son, from  Potsdam,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Winchester,  from  Madrid,  who  also 
were  Congregationalists,  occasionally  visited  the  community  and  held 
meetings  at  Raymondville.  After  Mr.  Atwater's  grist  mill  was  far 
enough  advanced,  he  fitted  up  the  upper  story  for  divine  worship.  A 
Congregational  church  was  organized  July  i,  1 8 17,  by  Rev.  Royal 
Phelps,  acting  as  missionary,  assisted  by  Rev.  John  Ransom  of  Hopkin- 
ton,  with  seventeen  members.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  grist  mill, 
school  house  and  elsewhere  previous  to  the  building  of  the  church.  The 
society  was  incorporated  February  20,  1828,  with  G.  C.  Stowe,  Martin 
Beach,  E.  S.  Tambling,  William  Blake,  Philemon  Kellogg  and  John  C. 
Putnam,  trustees.  The  Rev.  Loring  Brewster  was  installed  as  the  first 
pastor,  in  April  of  that  year.  A  re-organization  was  effected  Decem- 
ber 12,  1840,  and  in  that  year  the  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$3,000.  The  membership  is  less  than  lOO,  and  the  pulpit  is  supplied 
from  the  church  at  Norwood. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  at  Raymondville  March  12, 
1828,  as  a  branch  of  the  parent  church  at  Norfolk.  The  society  showed 
little  vitality  until  1844,  when  they  joined  with  the  Methodists  and 
erected  a  union  brick  church  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Since  that  time  ser- 
vices in  both  denominations  have  been  kept  up  with  commendable  reg- 
ularity, but  the  membership  is  small. 

The  parish  of  Grace  (Episcopal)  church  was  at  first  organized  in  Nor- 
folk, in  1825,  by  Rev.  Seth  M.  Beardsley,  a  missionary.  Services  were 
kept  up  until  July,  1836,  when  they  were  discontinued  until  March.  1842, 
at  which  time  the  church  was  reorganized  under  Rev.  John  A.  Childs. 
On  the  30th  of  July,  1845,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  was 
laid  on  a  lot  purchased  by  the  vestry.     Its  massive  walls  of  stone  and 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER.  631 

its  peculiar  architecture  make  it  a  quaint  landmark.  The  membership 
is  small,  but  services  have  been  kept  up  with  commendable  regularity. 
Rev.  Mr.  Earl  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  Methodist  church  was  organized  April  19,  1831,  with  Royal 
Sheldon,  Lucius  Chandler,  Justus  Webber,  Hiram  Johnson,  and  Eben- 
ezer  Houghton,  as  trustees.  After  nine  years  of  faithful  work  the  so- 
ciety reorganized  February  10,  1840,  and  built  their  fir.st  house  of 
worship,  which  they  sold  to  the  Catholic  society  in  1868,  and  built  their 
present  edifice.  The  church  is  now  prosperous,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  ministered  to  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Short. 

The  Catholic  church  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1868,  when 
they  purchased  the  old  Methodist  church  building  and  refitted  it  for 
their  use.  The  first  pastor  was  Father  Swift.  The  society  has  pros- 
pered and  has  a  membership  of  between  400  and  500.  The  present 
priest  in  charge  is  Father  Fitzgerald. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER-ORGANIZED  IN  1825. 

THIS  was  the  nineteenth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  April  21,  1825,  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massena- 
The  town  embraces  most  of  the  townships  of  Grange  and  Crumack. 
By  an  act  of  April  I,  1827,  all  that  part  of  Chesterfield  (No.  16)  north 
of  the  south  line  of  Stockholm  extended  to  the  county  line  was  added 
to  Brasher,  without  the  knowledge  and  consent  of  its  inhabitants.  This 
was  taken  from  the  town  in  the  formation  of  Lawrence  in  1828.  The 
town  lies  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  bordering  on  Franklin 
county,  and  corners  on  the  Indian  reservation,  St.  Regis,  and  lies  in  the 
reir  of  Massena.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Ben- 
jamin Nevin  on  the  6th  of  June,  1825,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Benjamin  Nevin,  supervisor  ;  Daniel  McMurphy,  town  clerk; 
William  Stowell,  Jehiel  Stevens,  and  Benjamin  Watts,  assessors  ;  John 
Burrows,  David  Richardson,  and  Peter  Corbin,  commissioners  of  high- 


632  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ways  ;  Benjamin  Watts,  constable  and  collector  ;  Francis  Nevin,  and 
David  Richardson,  overseers  of  the  poor  ;  Luman  Kibbe.  Jehiel  Ste- 
vens, and  Francis  Nevin,  commissioners  of  common  schools  ;  David 
McMurphy,  Benjamin  Nevin,  and  William  Stowell,  inspector  of  schools. 

The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  Philip  Brasher,  of  Brooklyn,  who 
at  various  dates  purchased  portions  of  the  territory  from  the  heirs  of 
Thomas  Marston,  who  had  acquired  his  title  from  G.  V.  Ludlow,  mas- 
ter in  chancery,  on  the  1 8th  of  March,  1809.  The  town  was  sub -divided 
into  three  strips  running  north  and  south,  and,  according  to  Dr.  Hough, 
McCormick,  one  of  the  proprietors,  conveyed  to  Joseph  Pitcairn  by 
deed  dated  July  6.  18 18,  the  middle  part,  and  under  this  proprietor  the 
first  settlement  began.  The  eastern  part,  which  is  known  as  the  Chand- 
ler tract,  of  12,235  acres,  was  conveyed  by  McCormick  to  Samuel  Ward 
December  15,  1794,  and  formed  a  part  of  192.000  acres,  to  which  the 
latter  became  entitled  on  a  division  of  the  great  purchase.  It  passed 
thence  to  Samuel  Havens,  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  December  6,  1806,  and  in 
1834  the  tract  was  surveyed  into  thirty-three  lots  and  sold  August  10, 
1842,  to  T.  P.  Chandler.  The  west  third  was  confirmed  by  McCormick, 
Constable,  and  Macomb,  to  Harrison  and  others,  in  a  partition  executed 
January  19,  180 1.  It  ultimately  became  owned  by  Thomas  Marston, 
and  (as  before  stated),  passed  to  Brasher. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  generally  level,  swampy  in  places,  and  was 
originally  well  timbered,  the  cutting  of  the  soft  woods  forming  for  many 
years  a  principal  source  of  revenue.  The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  varying 
greatly  in  productiveness  and  generally  better  adapted  to  grazing  than 
to  tillage.  Both  the  Deer  and  the  St.  Regis  Rivers  flow  northerly 
across  the  town  until  they  unite,  when  the  latter  flows  northeasterly. 
Several  smaller  streams,  among  them  Squeak  Brook,  contribute  to  the 
drainage  of  the  town. 

The  town  was  not  settled  until  a  comparatively  recent  date,  the  first 
improvement  being  the  building  of  a  saw  mill  on  the  Deer  River,  a  short 
way  above  the  site  of  the  iron  works,  by  G.  B.  R.  Gove  in  18 15.  On 
the  17th  of  March,  1817,  the  first  settlement  was  made  near  the  site  of 
Helena  village  by  a  company  of  men  brought  in  by  Mr.  McCormick, 
through  his  agent,  Russell  Atwater,  of  Norfolk.  In  May,  18 19,  when 
Benjamin  Nevin  came  to  the  town,  the  following  comprised  the  perma- 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER.  633 

nent  settlers:  William  Johnson,  Amos  Eldridge,  Jeremiah  Shuff(or 
Schoff),  Enoch  Hall,  Francis  Brown,  and  Francis  Nevin,  most  of 
whom  were  located  near  the  site  of  Helena.  There  the  first  birth  oc- 
curred, a  son  of  the  Schofif's.  Robert  Means  was  an  early  settler,  and 
the  first  blacksmith  ;  James  Nicholson  was  the  first  miller,  and  James 
Piatt  the  first  carpenter.  Other  settlers  are  mentioned  a  little  farther 
on. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  town  the  inhabitants  were  compelled  to  give 
much  time  to  the  improvement  of  the  roads,  which  were  difficult  to  con- 
struct and  often  almost  impassable  over  the  level  tracts  Seven  road 
districts  were  formed  at  the  first  town  meeting,  and  Enoch  Hall,  Henry 
Hammill,  Francis  Nevin,  Minor  Hilyard,  John  Keenan,  Josepn  Macum- 
ber,  Justin  Bell,  and  William  Arnold  were  appointed  overseers.  Ener- 
getic work  and  frequent  sub-divisions  of  these  districts  have  resulted  in 
a  commendable  system  of  highw^ays.  The  streams  have  also  been  well 
bridged,  those  over  the  St.  Regis  at  Helena,  erected  in  1871  at  a  cost 
of  over  $10,000,  and  at  the  iron  works,  being  excellent  examples  of 
modern  iron  bridge  construction. 

We  quote  the  following  from  Dr.  Hough  relative  to  early  navigation 
of  the  St.  Regis  : 

Some  importance  was  at  an  early  day  attached  to  the  navigation  of  the  St.  Regis 
River  in  thi.s  town,  and  a  boat  capable  of  carrying  ten  barrels  of  potash  was  run  be- 
tween Hogansburg  and  the  landing,  seven  miles  below  Brasher  Falls.  The  inhabitants 
of  Stockholm  and  Hopkinton  availed  themselves  of  this  communication  in  reaching 
market.  To  promote  this,  an  act  of  March  25,  1828,  made  it  the  duty  of  the  assessors 
of  the  town  of  Brasher  to  designate  in  their  next  as.-^essment  all  lands  lying  west  of  and 
within  two  miles  of  the  St.  Regis  River,  and  above  the  place  usually  called  the  landing. 
The  Board  of  Supervisors  were  authorized  from  this  to  levy  a  tax  not  exceeding  twenty 
cents  on  an  acre,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  tax  to  be  expended  by  the  road  commis- 
sioners of  the  town  in  improving  the  roads  through  these  lands. 

The  schools  received  a  proper  degree  of  attention  from  the  early 
inhabitants,  and  the  cause  of  education  has  always  been  liberally  sup- 
ported. The  town  is  now  divided  into  twenty-two  districts,  and  the 
district  embracing  Brasher  Falls  and  the  one  in  the  town  of  Stockholm 
adjoining,  including  the  village  of  Winthrop,  united  about  ten  years 
ago  in  establishing  a  graded  school  and  erected  a  handsome  brick 
structure  midway  between  the  tw^o  places.      Here  an  excellent  graded 

80 


634  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

school  with  five  departments,  under  the  principalship  of  William  H. 
Adams,  is  now  conducted,  with  about  165  scholars  in  attendance.  A 
successful   Catholic  school  is  also  in  operation  in  Brasher  Falls. 

What  is  known  as  the  Quaker  settlement  was  begun  in  1824  by  Peter 
Corbin,  John  Phelps  and  David  Blowers,  who  v/ere  from  Vermont.  A 
company  of  Quakers  had  made  purchases  here  prior  to  the  above  date, 
with  the  purpose  of  founding  a  colony,  but  the  project  did  not  succeed. 
To  those  above  named  were  soon  added  Aaron  Chamberlain,  E.  and 
U.  Pease,  Thomas  Kinney,  Samuel  Chambers  and  his  sons  Charles, 
James,  George  and  Thomas,  Richard  Tyner,  Samuel,  Thomas,  George 
and  William  Kingston,  Elijah  and  Abiah  Wood,  Asa  Tyler,  Abel  Kel- 
sey,  and  others.  Joseph  Merrill  came  here  in  1830  and  opened  a  store 
and  operated  an  ashery.  A  large  school  was  taught  here  from  1830, 
and  a  large  plank  building  erected  for  it,  which  was  also  used  for 
religious  meetings.  A  Methodist  class  was  formed  and  a  parsonage 
erected,  but  the  work  was  long  ago  abandoned.  In  common  with  all 
this  section  the  farming  community  have  for  some  years  given  a  large 
share  of  their  attention  to  dairying,  and  the  production  of  butter  in  the 
town  is  now  very  important,  and  the  quality  enjoys  a  high  reputation. 
There  are  nine  butter  factories  in  operation,  and  the  industry  is  on  the 
increase. 

With  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  the  inhabitants  of  this  town 
adopted  prompt  and  efficient  measures  to  aid  the  government  in  putting 
down  the  rebellion.  A  special  meeting  was  held  at  Brasher  Falls  Au- 
gust 30,  1862,  to  take  action  for  raising  the  quota  of  volunteers.  David 
Nevin,  O.  D.  Edgerton,  Joseph  A.  Jacobs,  Elijah  Wood,  C.  T.  Hul- 
burd,  Harrison  Lowell  and  William  Curtis  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  act  in  the  matter,  and  they  advised  that  a  tax  of  $3,500  be  levied 
to  be  used  in  obtaining  recruits.  At  a  meeting  held  December  21, 
1863,  a  committee  of  twelve  reported  in  favor  of  the  issue  by  the  town  of 
certificates,  sufficient  to  pay  $400  to  each  volunteer,  the  gross  amount 
of  the  certificates  not  to  exceed  $16,000.  This  liberal  action  was  con- 
tinued until  the  last  quota  was  filled,  on  a  similar  basis  to  that  followed 
in  the  older  and  more  important  towns.  Following  is  a  list  of  the 
supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation  to  the  present,  with  their 
years  of  service : 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER.  635 

1825,  Benjamin  Nevin  ;  1826-28,  Jehiel  Stevens  ;  1829,  B.  Nevin  ;  1830,  J.  Stevens; 
1831-33,  Benjamin  Nevin  ;  1834,  Jehiel  Stevens;  1835-36,  David  Richardson  ;  1837 
-38,  Nicholas  Watts;  1839-41,  Jehiel  Stevens;  1842-43,  John  Phelps;  1844-47,  Jo- 
seph A.  Jacobs ;  1848-49,  John  Phelps;  1850-51,  James  H.  Morse  ;  1852-53,  Hannibal 
Andrews;  1854-55,  Owen  Partridge;  1856-58,  Horace  Houghton;  1859-60,  C.  T. 
Hulburd;  1861,  Joseph  A.  Jacobs  ;  1862-64,  David  Nevin ;  1865-66,  Jehiel  Stevens  ; 
1867-68,  Barnaby  Lantry;  1869,  C.  T.  Hulburd;  1870-73,  Barnaby  Lantry  ;  1874-79, 
George  Kingston ;  1880-81,  William  A.  Hamlin;  1882,  Allen  M.  Mears  ;  1883-85,  Cal- 
vin T.  Fletcher;  1868-88,  John  F.  Skinner  ;  1889-90,  Rolla  M.Hill;  1891,  Lewis  C. 
Long;    1892-3,  Bertram  Hazen ;   1893-4,  Charles  C.  Lantry. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  principal  town  officers  elected  for 
1893  :  Supervisor,  Charles  C.  Lantry;  clerk,  John  H,  McCarthy;  jus- 
tices. George  H.  Butler,  A.  A.  Baldwin,  H.  Chamberlain,  Bernard 
Scullin  ;  commissioner  of  highways,  Patrick  E.  Murray  ;  assessor, 
James  J.  Keenan ;  collector,  Daniel  J.  O'Brien ;  overseer  of  poor, 
William  Roper. 

Helena. — In  May,  1819,  Benjamin  Nevin  succeeded  to  the  agency  of 
lands  in  the  town.  As  the  little  settlement  in  his  locality  grew  it  was 
given  the  name  Helena,  from  Helen,  only  daughter  of  Joseph  Pitcairn, 
who  proposed  passing  his  summers  here.  He  built  a  large  stone  man- 
sion on  the  left  hand  of  the  St.  Regis,  opposite  the  settlement.  Domes- 
tic affliction  prevented  him  from  carrying  out  his  plan.  Some  of  the 
first  settlers  have  been  mentioned,  and  others  were  Morris  Gehan,  Neil 
Mclntyre,  John  Bonar,  Robert  Means,  James  Nicholson,  and  others, 
who  came  in  the  spring  of  1 817.  Francis  Nevin  came  soon  after  Ward 
and  his  brother  Benjamin  in  18 19,  succeeding  Atwater  as  agent.  John 
Nevin,  father  of  Francis  and  Benjamin,  with  his  other  sons,  Holmes  and 
David,  came  in  1820.  His  family  was  for  many  years  prominent  in 
the  town.  Other  settlers  of  a  later  date  were  James  Piatt,  Benjamin 
Watts,  David  McMurphy,  and  the  Lantry,  Houghton,  Brown,  Wait 
and  Hall  families.  The  saw  mill  on  the  river  before  mentioned  is  long 
since  gone.  A  run  of  stones  was  added  to  it  and  it  sufficed  for  grind- 
ing until  Benjamin  Nevin  built  his  mill.  This  was  burned  in  1828,  and 
he  immediately  rebuilt  it,  and  it  is  running  at  the  present  time,  after 
various  improvements,  by  Samuel  Baxter.  The  saw  mill  site  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  third  mill,  but  it  is  not  now  in  operation.  A  tannery  was 
carried  on  for  about  thirty  years  near  the  village  by  A.  and  L.  Bur- 
gett,  but  it  has  gone  out  of  use.      A  store  was  opened  here  in  1823  by 


63G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Stowell  &  Burrows  Other  former  merchants  were  L  Gory,  Joseph 
Hall  and  S.  C.  P.  Thorndyke.  In  earlier  years  the  settlers  went  to 
Cornwall,  Canada,  for  their  merchandise,  and  a  custom  house  was 
opened  at  Helena.  The  present  merchants  are  C.  C.  Lantry,  John  R. 
Crowley,  and  C.  T.  Fletcher.  The  first  hotel  was  opened  about  1840 
by  Ezra  Ballard  and  continued  many  years.  The  present  landlord  is 
Hugh  Geehan.  The  post-office  here  was  the  first  one  opened  in  the 
town,  February  13,  1827,  with  David  McMurphy  as  postmaster.  The 
present  official  is  William  A.   Hamlin. 

Brasher  Falls. — This  pleasant  village  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
St.  Regis  River,  about  a  mile  below  the  union  of  its  branches,  from 
which  point  on  the  stream  is  a  succession  of  rapids  culminating  at  the 
village  in  the  falls,  which  give  the  place  its  name.  This  excellent  water 
power,  with  a  dam,  and  its  proximity  to  Winthrop  and  the  railroad, 
give  the  place  considerable  importance.  John  Crapser  made  the  first 
improvements  here  in  the  fall  of  1826,  by  building  a  dam  and  saw 
mill.  He  also  induced  a  number  of  Hollanders  to  locate  here,  aided 
them  in  building,  and  supplied  them  with  tools;  but  the  environment 
discouraged  them  and  nearly  all  left  within  a  year.  Mr.  Crapser,  how- 
ever, persevered,  ran  the  mill,  introduced  other  industries,  and  the 
settlement  finally  began  to  grow.  Among  those  who  settled  in  the 
vicinity  early  were  William  and  Joseph  Stevens,  Orin  Patridge,  Joseph 
Estes,  David  Blowers,  Asa  Winters,  Ethan  Johnson,  Jehiel  Stevens, 
Justin  Bell,  Samuel  Blodgett,  Amariah  Harrington.  David  Richardson, 
and  others.  In  1839  Calvin  T.  Hulburd  purchased  600  acres,  embrac- 
ing the  village  site  and  the  water-power,  and  began  improvements.  He 
came  from  Stockholm  with  his  brother,  E.  S.  Hulburd,  and  soon  took 
a  prominent  position  as  energetic  and  progressive  citizens.  They  built 
a  stone  grist  mill  on  the  site  of  the  Crapser  mill,  which  is  now  operated 
by  B.  A  Babcock.  On  the  site  of  the  old  saw  mill  Elmore  Church 
built  a  saw  and  shingle  mill,  which  are  now  operated  by  him.  A  woolen 
factory  was  established  below  the  mill  in  1845  by  Joseph  Merrill,  which 
is  now  operated  by  J.  P.  Stafford.  Davis  &  Company,  a  firm  from 
Maine,  started  a  manufactory  of  agricultural  implements  farther  down 
the  stream  in  1852.  which  became  very  prosperous.  A  part  of  the 
buildings  were    burned    in  1873.      P.  P2.  Kinney  operates  the  establish- 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER.  637 

ment  at  present.  The  starch  factory  established  in  1857  by  H.  M. 
Hulburd  &  Company  is  now  operated  by  S.  W.  Hulburd.  In  1867  L. 
C.  Hall  erected  a  pump  factory  and  did  a  large  business,  and  near  by 
J.  G.  Taylor  built,  in  1877,  a  large  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  vari- 
ous novelties.  The  latter  now  manufactures  pumps,  churns,  etc.  The 
tannery  started  many  years  ago  is  now  operated  by  William  Thomp- 
son. A  fork  and  hoe  factory  was  established  in  1846  by  F.  and  T. 
R.  Taylor,  and  a  very  large  industry  was  developed  and  carried  on  to 
1857,  when  it  was  discontinued.     The  buildings  were  burned  in  1862, 

The  first  merchant  here  was  John  Cooper,  who  had  a  small  store  in 
1828.  Joseph  Merrill  began  trade  in  1834,  and  C.  T.  Hulburd  sold 
goods  on  the  west  side.  J.  H.  Morse  opened  a  store  and  continued 
many  years,  and  Nathaniel  Buck  also.  H  M.  Hulburd,  who  is  still  in 
trade,  began  in  1852.  Other  merchants  are  J.  H.  McCarthy  (who  is 
town  clerk),  G.  &  J.  Kingston,  W.  S.  Blanchard,  Donovan  &  Stevens, 
and  W.  H.  Cox,  on  the  west  side,  and  D.  J.  Murray,  W.  E.  Garvey  and 
L.  C.  Hall  on  the  east  side.  G.  W.  Ryan  has  a  harness  shop  and  W. 
J.  Waugh  a  tin  shop. 

John  L.  Stevens  erected  a  hotel  in  1840,  where  he  continued  for 
thirty-five  years.  At  present  the  Central  House  is  kept  by  John  Dris- 
coll  ;  the  American  by  Edward  Wheeler,  and  on  the  east  side  the 
Riverside  by  John  Desmond.  The  post-cffice  was  opened  July  22, 
1840,  with  C.  J.  Hulburd  postmaster.  W.  H.  Wells  is  now  postmas- 
ter, and  the  position  has  been  filled  by  his  father  and  himself  since 
1865. 

Brasher  Center. — This  little  hamlet  is  situated  three  miles  below  the 
falls  on  the  St  Regis.  The  first  improvement  here  of  consequence  was 
the  building  of  a  saw  mill  in  1832,  by  John  Cooper.  Others  who  lo- 
cated here  were  Jonas  Crapser  and  his  son,  E.  S  ,  Stephen  Curtis  and 
his  sons,  William,  Otis  and  Lafayette,  the  Johnson  families  and  others. 
E.  S.  Crapser  later  operated  a  saw  mill  and  starch  factory  here,  and 
John  Crapser  built  a  forge  in  1850,  which  he  operated  about  five  years. 
All  these  industries  are  abandoned.  A  feed  mill  is  in  operation  by 
William  Vallance,  and  there  is  a  butter  tub  factory.  Joseph  Hall  sold 
goods  here  as  early  as  1837,  and  other  former  merchants  were  Jonas 
and  Michael  Crapser  (1858)  and  William   Curtis.     John   F.    Skinner  is 


638  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

now  the  only  merchant.      A  post  office  was  opened  here  in  July,   1893, 
with  Nancy  Clark  in  charge. 

Brasher  Iron  Works. — The  beginning  of  this  settlement,  two  and  a 
half  miles  above  Helena,  was  made  in  1835  by  Stillman  Fuller,  formerly 
from  the  Fullerville  Iron  Works.  He  was  indued  to  come  here  by  Mr. 
Pitcairn,  to  develop  and  work  the  bog  ore  in  the  town.  A  contract 
was  entered  into  by  which  Mr.  Fuller  was  given  the  exclusive  right  to 
the  ore  by  paying  25  cents  a  ton  for  all  used,  the  contract  to  run  ten 
years.  A  furnace  was  erected  on  the  left  bank  of  Deer  River,  to  he 
operated  by  the  cold  blast,  and  was  started  in  October,  1836.  At  the 
end  of  the  second  blast,  in  the  latter  part  of  1837,  the  property  was 
sold  to  Isaac  W.  Skinner  of  Buffalo,  and  R.  W.  Bush  of  Ogdensburg 
(Skinner  &  Bush),  who  continued  the  work  about  three  years,  when 
William  H.  Alexander  of  Syracuse  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Bush  in  the 
in  the  firm.  The  business  was  continued  to  1855,  when  Mr.  Skinner 
assumed  entire  control  and  continued  until  his  death  in  1874.  The  iron 
was  at  first  sold  in  the  pig,  but  later  a  foundry  was  established,  where 
stoves  and  other  castings  were  made.  In  1843  a  machine  shop  was 
added  to  the  plant.  The  furnace  was  four  times  wholly  or  partly 
burned.  The  shops  were  idle  from  1874  to  1877,  when  John  F.  Skin- 
ner started  the  shops  only.  He  is  now  the  merchant  at  the  center.  The 
post-office  was  established  in  July,  1849.  The  present  postmaster  is 
John  Keenan,  who  is  also  the  merchant.  Samuel  Fletcher  opened  a 
hotel  in  1846.      A  later  house  was  built  in  1857. 

Religions  Societies. — The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Brasher 
Falls  was  organized  by  Rev.  Elijah  Wheeler,  at  the  house  of  William 
Stevens,  in  January,  1827,  with  David  Richardson,  class  leader.  A 
society  was  formed  April  10,  1848,  with  David  Richardson,  Heman 
Holmes,  Joseph  Estes,  Ethan  Johnson  and  John  S.  Hall,  trustees.  The 
building  of  a  church  was  soon  afterward  commenced  and  it  was  dedicated 
in  185  I  ;  it  was  extensively  repaired  and  improved  in  1875  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Reuben  Sherman. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Maple  Ridge  was  in(?br- 
porated  February  29,  1848,  with  D.  Wait,  William  E.  Wait.  Luther  S. 
Carter,  Benjamin  Bell  and  V.  G.  Carter,  trustees.  A  chapel  was  built 
soon  afterward. 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRASHER.  639 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  at  Helena,  electing  Benjamin 
Nevin,  Linus  Kibble  and  Grant  Johnson,  trustees,  on  June  i,  1837, 
with  several  other  members,  by  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Rufus  R.  Dem- 
ming  of  Massena.  The  society  built  that  year  and  the  following,  a 
small  frame  church  at  a  cost  of  $1,500  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  and  Rev. 
Charles  Jones  supplied  the  church  for  a  few  years.  It  was  known  as 
the  Congregational  Presbyterian  church,  but  the  organization  was  not 
sustained  very  long. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Brasher  Falls  was  organized  on  the 
8th  of  July,  1844.  There  had  been  preaching  in  the  school  house  a 
year  before  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Birge  of  Stockholm  ;  the  number  of  mem- 
bers at- first  was  twenty-four.  Deacon  Alvin  T.  Hulburd  was  elected 
ruling  elder.  The  church  was  received  into  the  St.  Lawrence  Presby- 
tesy  August  20,  1844.  A  society  was  formed  February  24,  1845,  con- 
sisting of  fourteen  persons,  and  Hiram  Holcomb,  Justin  Bell,  E.  S. 
Hulburd,  Sidney  Kelsey,  Jehiel  Stevens,  Martin  Wood  and  Elijah  Wood 
were  chosen  trustees.  A  subscription  paper  was  at  once  circulated  to 
provide  funds  for  building  a  church,  and  $1,995  was  subscribed.  Re- 
ceipts from  the  sale  of  seats  were  afterwards  added  to  this  fund.  E.  S. 
Hulburd  presented  the  site  and  the  building  was  finished  and  dedicated 
June  9,  1848.  In  1871  about  $5,000  were  expended  for  repairs.  Rev. 
Samuel  Storrs  Howe  was  the  first  pastor,^  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
H.  Hadley  Hall. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  North  Brasher  was  organized  in 
1848,  with  Downer  Wait,  G.  Carter,  Benjamin  Bell,  Luther  Carter  and 
Thomas  Andre,  trustees.  Rev.  E.  Arnold  was  the  first  pastor.  A  small 
church  was  erected  west  of  the  Center,  but  services  have  been  aban- 
doned. A  class  is  maintained  at  the  Center,  where  Rev.  Reuben  Sher- 
man from  Brasher  Falls  preaches. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Brasher  Iron  Works  was 
incorporated  May  7,  1859,  with  I.  W.  Skinner,  J.  F.  Skinner,  R.  W. 
Thickens,  W.  H.  Hamilton  and  M.  B.  Dreene,  trustees.  Through  I.  W. 
Skinner's  generosity  a  neat  frame  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,600, 
in  the  year  of  the  incorporation,  and  Rev.  E.  Briggs  was  secured  as 
pastor.  For  some  years  past  the  services  have  been  irregular  and  the 
membership  is  small. 


640  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Besides  these  there  was  a  Free- Will  Baptist  churcl^  organized  in 
July,  1848,  which  continued  a  number  of  years  and  was  discontinued. 
A  Baptist  society  was  also  in  existence  some  years  at  the   Iron  Works. 

St   Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Brasher  Falls  was   organized, 
in  1850  by  Father  James  Keveny,  with   about  sixty  members.      In   the 
same  year  the  church  was  erected  at   a   cost  of  $3,000      Father  John 
McDermott  first  had   spiritual   guidance   of  the  church.     The  present 
pastor  is  Father  W.  B.  Nyhan,  and  the  society  is  very  prosperous. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER-ORGANIZED  IN   1825. 

r^HIS  was  the  twentieth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  Legislature  which 
passed  on  the  24th  of  March,  1825,  and  was  organized  on  the  3d 
of  May  following.  About  three-fourths  of  the  territory  was  taken  from 
Oswegatchie  and  the  balance  from  the  town  of  De  Kalb.  The  north- 
western part  of  the  town  bordering  upon  Black  Lake  is  an  extensive 
marsh  of  about  2,000  acres  ;  on  the  southeast,  bordering  upon  Beaver 
Creek,  it  is  also  marshy ;  and  on  the  southerly  line  is  broken  by  parallel 
ridges  of  primitive  rock.  Its  peculiar  location,  being  separated  from  the 
greater  part  of  the  settlements  of  Oswegatchie  by  Black  Lake  and  the 
Oswegatchie  River,  and  from  the  settlements  of  De  Kalb  by  a  broken 
and  intervening  wilderness,  was  considered  a  sufficient  reason  for  a  sep- 
arate town  organization. 

The  surface  of  the  soil  is  comparatively  level,  though  sufficiently  roll- 
ing to  insure  good  drainage.  The  borders  of  the  town  along  Black 
Lake,  Macomb  and  De  Kalb  are  more  or  less  broken  with  rocky  ledges. 
The  soil  of  the  greater  part  of  the  central  portion  is  a  clayish  loam, 
though  a  narrow  drift  from  Mud  Lake  to  the  Oswegatchie  is  somewhat 
sandy.  There  were  several  large  swamps  in  the  town  which  were  con- 
sidered of  little  value,  but  recently  have  been  reclaimed  by  draining 
and  now  produce  large  crops  of  grass.  On  the  whole  the  soil  produces 
excellent  crops  and  compares  favorably  with  any  lands  in   the  county. 


THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER.  641 

The  table  lands  or  clayish  marshy  slopes  were  formerly  covered  with  a 
good  quality  of  large  white  oaks,  the  ridges  with  rock  maples,  beech 
and  birch,  the  ledges  with  beautiful  rock  elms,  and  the  swamps  with  pine 
and  cedar.  The  ledges  along  the  line  of  De  Kalb  and  part  of  Macomb 
are  principally  of  white  lime  rock,  from  which  a  good  quality  of  lime  is 
manufactured  for  building  purposes,  this  being  the  only  valuable  min- 
eral as  yet  discovered  in  the  town.  The  principal  streams  are  on  the 
borders  of  the  town,  the  Oswegatchie  River  on  the  north,  Black  Lake 
on  the  west,  and  Beaver  Creek  on  the  east.  Fish  Creek  and  a  few 
brooks  are  the  only  streams  that  traverse  the  town,  but  do  not  have  suf- 
ficient water  or  fall  to  afford  power  for  manufacturing  purposes.  The 
town  as  a  whole  is  not  well  watered  for  stock  purposes.  A  few  springs 
flow  from  the  foot  of  ledges  on  the  borders  of  the  town,  but  for  the  cen- 
tral portion  surface  water  and  wells  only  are  to  be  depended  upon. 

In  selecting  a  name  for  this  town  the  citizens  were  desirous  to  call  it 
"  Stilwell,"  as  a  man  by  that  name  was  one  of  the  prominent  residents  ; 
but  he  declined  on  the  ground  that  some  one  of  the  land  proprietors 
might  be  willing  to  make  the  town  a  liberal  present  for  the  privilege  of 
giving  it  their  name.  A  correspondence  was  opened  with  Frederic 
Depeyster,  of  New  York,  who  owned  a  part  of  the  tract  taken  from 
De  Kalb,  which  resulted  in  the  selection  of  his  name  for  the  town.  The 
expected  present  did  not  come  until  about  fifteen  years  later,  when  his 
son  presented  the  town  with  a  fine  bell  of  about  800  pounds  weight. 
The  bell  had  the  donor's  name,  with  a  suitable  inscription  cast  on  its 
surface.  The  bell  was  hung  on  the  tower  of  the  Bethel  Union  church, 
where  it  remained  about  thirty  years.  After  the  old  church  fell  into 
decay  and  was  abandoned,  the  bell,  by  consent  of  the  town,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  M.  E.  church,  where  it  now  remains. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  pursuance  of  statute  at  the  house 
of  Timothy  Morris,  May  3,  1825,  Jonathan  Curtis  acting  as  chairman. 
Smith  Stilwell  was  elected  supervisor  ;  Timothy  Morris,  town  clerk ; 
John  Willson,  Moses  King,  Horace  Plympton,  assessors  ;  Jonathan  Mor- 
ris, and  Bela  Bell,  overseers  of  the  poor. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  town  commenced  as  follows  :  The  State 
road,  leading  through  the  central  portion  of  this  tract  of  land,  by  which 
settlers  coming  in  by  the  way  of  Albany  had  to  pass,  Mr,  Ford,  in  order 

81 


642  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

to  assist  them  to  reach  this  part  of  the  county,  established  stopping 
places  at  various  points  on  the  route.  Samuel  Bristol,  who  with  a  large 
family  had  recently  moved  from  Sandgate,  Vt.,  and  settled  on  the  St. 
Lawrence  about  four  miles  above  Ogdensburg,  was  engaged  by  Mr. 
Ford  to  move  out  on  this  road  and  keep  a  public  house.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1802,  he  located  on  lot  No.  12  on  the  southern  border  of  the  town- 
ship Oswegatchie,  which  was  about  half  a  mile  north  of  Depeyster  Four 
Corners.  The  following  spring  he  erected  a  commodious  log  tavern, 
and  during  the  summer  cleared  about  thirty  acres  and  got  three  of  them 
sowed  with  fall  wheat.  During  the  winter  of  1 803-4  Thomas  Willson, 
from  Hebron,  N.  Y.,  Joseph  Rounds,  Mr.  Barnard,  Mr.  Green,  Icha- 
bod  Arnold  and  Robert  Hill,  from  Rhode  Island,  Frederick  Plimpton, 
from  Massachusetts,  Capt.  Rufus  Washburn,  and  David  Day,  all.  except 
the  latter,  having  families,  moved  into  what  was  then  called  the  Bristol 
settlement,  putting  up  at  Bristol's  tavern  until  they  could  build  shanties 
to  live  in. 

Silas  Kellogg,  in  1806,  came  to  the  settlement  and  built  a  log  tavern 
on  the  hill  about  a  mile  south  of  the  Four  Corners.  Some  of  the  sol- 
diers and  citizens  of  Ogdensburg,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  British  in 
February,  18 13,  fled  to  this  place  and  made  Kellogg's  tavern  their  head- 
quarters for  a  few  days.  In  the  summer  of  1809  James  Averell,  2d,  a 
young  man  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  came  in  with  his  wife  and  goods 
on  pack  horses  from  Cooperstown  by  the  way  of  Plattsburg,  and  settled 
near  Kellogg's  tavern  on  a  tract  of  3,000  acres  of  timber  land  that  was 
purchased  from  Mr.  Cooper,  the  father  of  the  novelist. 

Mr.  Averill  opened  a  store  in  a  log  building,  where  he  conducted  a 
small  business  for  about  two  years,  when  he  moved  to  Ogdensburg. 
In  1809  Smith  Stilwell  came  in  from  Albany  and  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  State  road,  the  northerly  line 
resting  on  the  east  road,  and  the  one  leading  to  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  which  was  opened  about  that  time.  He  made  a  small  clearing, 
built  a  log  house,  and  moved  his  family  to  the  place  the  year  following, 
and  with  them  he  brought  "  Black  Bet,"  the  first  negro  slave,  and  the 
only  one  that  was  ever  owned  in  the  town. 

From  1 8 10  to  18 15  the  following  persons  came  to  the  settlement: 
Joseph  Shaw,  Mansfield  and  Levi  Bristol,  Lemuel   Day,  Josiah  Thorn- 


THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER.  643 

ton,  John  Parker,  and  C.  Hurlbut.  Previous  to  i8li  the  people  at 
the  Bristol  settlement  were  supplied  with  a  monthly  mail  from  Ogdens- 
burg.  At  that  time,  however,  an  arrangement  was  made  with  Joseph 
Shaw,  by  which,  during  the  two  years  following,  the  mail  was  carried 
every  week,  most  of  the  time  on  foot.  For  several  years  after  the 
close  of  the  War  of  1812-15  immigration  was  light.  During  the  cold 
season  of  18 16,  it  is  said,  there  was  not  a  month  during  which  this 
section  was  not  visited  by  severe  frosts,  and  little  was  raised  in  con- 
sequence, and  a  portion  of  that  little  was  destroyed  by  the  birds  and 
squirrels,  which  were  unusually  numerous  that  year.  During  the  fol- 
lowing year  the  scarcity  of  provisions  was  such  that  many  families 
were  reduced  to  the  verge  of  starvation,  and  only  for  the  abundance 
of  wild  game  the  suffering  would  have  been  much  greater.  In  some 
cases  the  potatoes  recently  planted  were  dug  up  to  satisfy  their  hunger. 
The  early  grain  was  anxiously  watched,  and  before  the  kernel  was 
fairly  ripe  it  was  cut,  dried,  and  sent  to  the  mill.  The  nearest  mill 
was  located  at  Cooper's  Falls  at  De  Kalb,  and  as  there  was  no  road  to 
the  place  the  people  were  obliged  to  carry  the  grain  through  the  woods 
upon  their  backs.  The  price  of  wheat  went  up  to  two  and  three 
dollars  per  bushel,  oats  one  dollar,  and  potatoes  a  dollar  and  a  half. 
For  a  few  years  after  these  cold  seasons  several  families  moved  into 
the  place,  and  most  of  them  settled  in  the  western  part  of  this  territory, 
as  new  roads  had  been  bushed  out  through  some  choice  lands  in  that 
section.  Among  those  who  came  were  Jonathan  Curtis,  Reuben  Hast- 
ings, William  B.  Wheelock,  Bela  Bell,  Moses,  Amasa  and  Zenas  King, 
Lewis  Dimick,  Eli  White,  Nathan,  James  and  Luke  Dean.  Moses  King 
settled  on  the  corner  lot  where  the  road  from  Heuvelton  to  Fish  Creek 
crossed  the  Lake  road,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  State  road, 
which  place  has  since  been  known  as  King's  Corners.  White  settled  on 
a  lot  near  King's  Corners,  and  built  the  first  frame  house  in  that  sec- 
tion, which  is  still  standing  He  kept  tavern  for  several  years,  where 
his  boy  Drue,  a  bright,  smart  and  well-behaved  lad,  under  the  influence 
of  the  bar-room,  became  dissipated,  and  for  years  was  known  to  the 
people  of  the  town,  Heuvelton  and  vicinity,  as  the  leader  of  one  ot  the 
vilest  gangs  of  vagabonds  in  the  country. 


044  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  the  summer  of  1825,  John  Finch,  Benjamin  F.  Partridge,  Adam 
Fishbeck  and  others  commenced  a  settlement  in  what  has  since  been 
known  as  the  "  Fish  Creek  "  settlement.  Messrs.  Finch  and  Partridge 
built  the  first  bridge  across  the  creek,  for  which  l\Ir.  Ogden  allowed 
them  $100  on  their  land  contract. 

In  1826  the  wheat  crop  was  so  abundant,  that  during  the  winter  and 
spring  following  it  was  almost  impossible  to  dispose  of  it.  Seventy- 
five  bushels  an  acre  was  an  average  crop,  which  was  sold  or  exchanged 
at  home  for  three  York  shillings  per  bushel.  Mr.  Stillwell  drew  two 
hundred  bushels  of  beautiful  wheat  to  Ogdensburg,  and  with  some  diffi- 
culty prevailed  upon  Mr.  Parish  to  take  it  in  payment  of  land  at  five 
shillings  per  bushel.  Within  a  few  weeks  after  this  occurrence,  the  en- 
tire wheat  crop  of  the  State  was  struck  with  rust,  destroying  both  grain 
and  straw,  when  the  price  of  wheat  arose  to  two  dollars  per  bushel. 
These  few  years  of  low  prices  and  crop  failure  so  discouraged  the  set- 
tlers in  raising  money,  that  many  of  them  thought  seriously  of  aban- 
doning their  lands,  when  Mr.  Ogden  consented  to  receive  cattle  as 
payment  on  their  contracts. 

After  this  several  families  came  to  town  and  settled  in  the  eastern 
and  western  parts:  Samuel  Perry,  David  Lawyer,  Harvey  Hardy,  Adam 
Fishbeck,  Jacob  and  Nelson  Coffin,  Christopher  Nelson  and  brother,  N. 
F.  Swain,  Mr.  Forbs,  Mr.  Hydorn,  John  Shepard  and  brother,  Richard 
Purmot,  E.  R.  Turner,  Alexander  Chilton,  Abner  Armstrong,  David 
Scarlet,  Abner  Murphy,  Jesse  McCurdy,  John  Smithers,  Hiram  English, 
Ezra  Smith.  Reuben  Smith,  John  Hedge,  Alanson  Tuttle,  Jackson  and 
Samuel  Laughlin,  John  and  William  Fleethan,  the  Newcomb  family, 
Benjamin  Eastman,  Loren  and  John  Willson,  the  Thornton  family,  the 
Walker  family  and  man}'  others,  most  of  whom  had  families.  Within  a 
few  years  all  the  arable  lands  were  taken  up  and  improved.  Many  of 
the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  are  now  living  in  the  town  or  vicin- 
ity, and  not  a  few  have  risen  to  fill  important  places  of  trust  in  the  State 
and  nation. 

Wild  animals  at  an  early  day,  especially  deer,  were  very  plentiful,  and 
continued  so  for  a  number  of  years  later,  owing  to  large  tracts  of  marshy 
timber  lands  on  the  borders  of  the  settlements  connecting  with  woods 
leading  to  large  bodies  in   the  back  towns.      Also  the  patches  of  woods 


THE  TOWN  OF  DEPETSTER.  645 

left  by  the  settlers  joining  each  other  were  such  that  animals  could 
traverse  the  town  without  crossing  clearings.  The  deer  did  no  damage 
further  than  to  browse  or  tread  up  the  fall  wheat,  but  the  wolf  would  kill 
or  worry  the  sheep,  and  the  panther  or  bear  would  occasionally  kill  a  calf 
or  a  yearling.  About  i8i8  Mr.  Stilwell  having  purchased  a  flock  of 
forty  sheep  yarded  them  near  his  house.  He  had  a  large  dog,  and 
thought  that  the  wolves  would  not  dare  venture  near  the  premises  while 
they  were  guarded  by  so  fierce  an  animal.  During  the  following  night 
the  family  were  awakened  by  the  barking  of  the  dog  and  his  jumping 
against  the  door  of  the  house  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  inmates. 
Mr.  Stilwell  remarked  during  the  uproar  that  there  was  no  danger  of 
wolves  while  the  dog  was  outside  barking.  Upon  visiting  his  sheep- 
yard  the  next  morning  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  fifteen  of  his  flock 
had  been  killed,  showing  plainly  that  a  large  number  of  wolves  had  been 
present. 

In  the  early  fall  of  1820  several  calves  had  been  killed  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mud  Lake.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Parker,  father  of  ex-Senator  Parker, 
of  Potsdam,  with  others,  were  hunting  deer  in  that  vicinity,  when  they 
discovered  two  young  panthers  about  the  size  of  a  cat  in  a  cavity  formed 
by  an  overturned  tree.  The  mother  not  being  in  the  immediate  vicin- 
ity, they  carried  the  cubs  to  Depeyster  Corners.  A  general  hunt  was 
at  once  organized,  and  after  they  had  scoured  the  woods  where  the  cubs 
were  taken  they  discovered  the  panther  a  short  distance  from  the  place 
in  the  top  of  a  large  tree.  Mansfield  Bristol,  one  of  the  party,  an  ex- 
pert marksmen,  was  selected  to  shoot  the  animal.  It  required  a  second 
shot  to  bring  the  panther  down,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  the  largest 
of  the  species,  measuring  nine  feet  and  six  inches  from  nose  to  tip  of 
tail. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  that  year  William  Washburn, -the  son  of  Rufus 
Washburn,  one  of  the  pioneers  that  had  settled  in  the  Bristol  neighbor- 
hood, then  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  started  out  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mud  Lake  with  his  dog  and  gun  to  hunt  deer.  He  soon  discovered 
strange  tracks  in  the  light  snow,  which  then  covered  the  ground,  and 
his  curiosity  led  him  to  follow  them.  He  traced  them  a  long  distance, 
into  what  is  now  the  town  of  Macomb,  to  a  place  where  they  entered  a 
cave  in  a  ledge  of  rocks  west  of  the  State  road.     The  day  was  nearly 


646  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

spent,  yet  he  determined  not  to  be  hindered  from  the  attainment  of  his 
object,  and  finding  the  opening  of  convenient  size  he  endeavored  at  first 
to  send  his  dog  into  the  cave.  His  dog  refused  to  go,  so  he  crept  in 
some  distance  with  his  gun  in  a  fixed  position  to  fire,  and  his  dog  fol- 
lowed close  behind  him.  Having  reached  a  part  of  the  cave  where  it 
was  quite  dark  he  discovered  at  a  short  distance  from  him  two  large 
eyes  of  fire-like  brilliancy,  which  seemed  to  watch  his  movements,  their 
owner  appearantly  ready  to  spring  upon  him.  Here  he  paused  and 
bringing  his  gun  to  bear  upon  the  object  deliberately  fired.  His  dog 
rushed  passed  him  to  attack  the  animal  ;  the  young  man  now  retired 
and  was  soon  followed  by  his  dog.  Hearing  no  noise  or  sign  of  life 
within  he  after  a  short  delay  again  ventured  into  the  den  and  listened 
for  some  time,  but  all  was  quiet,  and  he  at  length  ventured  nearer,  and 
groping  in  the  dark  laid  his  hand  upon  the  paw  of  an  animal,  evidently 
dead,  which  he  with  much  difficulty  dragged  out.  It  proved  to  be  a 
male  panther  of  large  size.  The  ball  had  entered  a  vital  part  of  the 
brain  and  killed  him  instantly.  This  panther  was  supposed  to  be  the 
mate  of  the  one  killed  during  the  early  part  of  the  fall. 

The  deer  is  considered  harmless,  yet  a  wounded  buck  if  hard  pressed 
will  turn  upon  his  pursuers.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Dake,  while  hunt- 
ing in  the  western  part  of  the  town  near  the  "  deer  lick,"  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Warren  farm,  in  the  fall  of  1828,  shot  and  wounded  a  very  large 
buck,  having  a  pair  of  long  antlers  with  several  spikes  on  each.  Before 
he  had  time  to  reload  his  rifle  (the  guns  of  that  day  were  muzzle  load- 
ers and  flint  locks),  the  buck  turned  upon  him  with  great  fury.  Mr, 
Dake  clubbed  him  with  his  gun  and  broke  the  stock  in  pieces,  then  used 
the  barrel,  striking  him  over  the  head  until  it  was  bent  nearly  double. 
His  gun  being  used  up,  and  he  not  being  able  or  strong  enough  to  grap- 
ple the  buck  by  the  horns,  he  ran  around  a  tree  and  the  deer  after  him. 
This  circus  was  kept  up  until  both  the  man  and  the  deer  were  nearly 
exhausted,  when  a  neighbor,  hearing  Mr.  Dake's  cry  for  help,  came  to 
his  assistance  and  dispatched  the  deer.  Mr.  Dake's  clothes  were  torn 
in  shreds,  and  his  body  badly  lacerated  by  the  deer's  horns.  The  writer 
can  vouch  for  this,  as  he  afterwards  saw  the  man's  wounds  and  the  bent 
gun  barrel. 


THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER.  647 

As  late  as  1835  the  wild  animals  in  Depeyster  seemed  to  be  as  plenty 
as  ever.  George  Perry  was  hunting  deer  that  fall,  and  while  groping 
along  the  foot  of  the  ledge  next  to  the  Black  Lake  marsh  above  the 
Pearson's  lot  just  before  sun-down,  discovered  several  deer,  some  stand- 
ing and  others  lying  down,  in  a  clump  of  small  hemlocks.  The  moist 
condition  of  the  leaves,  preventing  the  crackling  noise  C)f  his  foot-steps, 
allowed  him  to  approach  within  a  short  distance  without  attracting  at- 
tention.  He  rested  his  rifle  on  a  knot  of  a  small  tree  and  took  delib- 
erate aim  at  a  deer  and  shot  it  dead.  The  reverbrating  sound  of  the 
gun  so  bewildered  the  animals  that  they  only  made  a  few  bounds  and 
came  within  range  again,  when  Mr.  Perry  reloaded  and  dropped  another 
deer.  This  process  was  repeated  until  he  killed  the  whole  drove  of  five 
without  moving  out  of  his  place.  The  writer  can  vouch  for  the  truth- 
fulness of  the  above  statement. 

The  farmers  had  been  so  much  annoyed  by  the  depredations  of 
wolves,  that  in  the  fall  of  1836  a  general  hunt  took  place,  which  was 
participated  in  by  every  able-bodied  man  and  boy  in  town  and  vicinity 
which  drove  every  ravenous  beast  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town. 

In  the  summer  and  fall  of  1837  several  sheep  and  calves  were  killed, 
one  at  a  time,  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  which  indicated  that  it 
was  either  the  work  of  a  bear  or  panther.  A  close  watch  was  kept, 
when  a  bear  was  started  near  the  flat  rock,  making  his  way  along 
the  several  patches  of  woods  on  the  rear  end  of  farms,  endeav- 
oring to  enter  the  big  swamp  just  south  of  the  Black  Lake  road. 
Several  men,  boys  and  dogs  were  in  pursuit  of  the  bear  and  just  as  he 
entered  the  Fleetham  woods,  he  was  shot,  causing  a  slight  wound 
in  the  hip,  yet  he  out-ran  his  pursuers  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to  es- 
cape. The  writer,  then  a  boy  in  his  fifteenth  year,  hearing  the  com- 
motion started  from  his  home,  which  was  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
from  the  woods,  having  a  smooth-bore  rifle  loaded  with  shot.  He 
dropped  a  ball  into  the  gun  and  with  a  paper  wad  rammed  it  down 
while  on  the  run  to  the  woods.  On  arriving  at  about  where  the 
house  of  Philo  Hydorn  now  stands,  he  saw  the  bear  about  ten  rods 
away,  coming  down  a  slope  directly  towards  him  on  a  gallop.  Being 
out  of  breath  and  alone,  yet  nothing  daunted,  he  endeavored  to  draw 
a  fine  bead  on  the  bear  while  he  was  passing  between  the  trees,  when 


648  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

he  suddenly  turned  to  the  right,  leaped  over  a  fence  a  few  rods  away, 
and  endeavored  to  reach  the  swamp  by  a  flank  movement.  When 
Bruin  found  that  he  was  again  confronted,  he  raised  upon  his  hind 
feet  and  wheeled  to  take  his  back  track.  As  he  turned,  the  gun 
was  discharged  and  the  contents  took  effect  just  back  of  his  shoulder, 
which  set  him  reeling.  With  much  difficulty  the  bear  scaled  the  fence, 
knocking  off  a  rail  as  he  went  over,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground  and 
expired  before  the  party  in  pursuit  arrived.  His  color  was  black,  and 
he  weighed  420  pounds.  The  highly-prized  gun  used  on  this  occasion 
was  given  away  the  following  winter  by  the  writer's  father  to  a  party 
of  men  whom  he  carried  in  a  sleigh  to  "  French  Creek  "  (now  Clay- 
ton), where  the  patriots  assembled  with  the  intention  of  making  a  raid 
on  Kingston. 

During  the  agitation,  in  1828,  to  remove  the  public  buildings  from 
Ogdensburg,  Depeyster  voted  in  favor  of  High  Falls  on  Grass  River 
as  a  county  seat. 

Previous  to  the  erection  of  Macomb  the  settlers  had  either  to  go  to 
Morristown  or  Gouverneur  to  transact  town  business.  In  1841  Depey- 
ster voted  to  have  this  territory  annexed  to  this  town. 

Depeyster  Corners,  where  a  post-office  was  established  in  an  early 
day,  has  been  considered  the  central  point  for  the  inhabitants  to  assem- 
ble on  business  occasions.  The  former  merchants  were  T.  Morris, 
Harry  Smith,  Hartwell  &  Judd,  Jesse  Legg,  Dr.  G.  W.  Barber,  Union 
Store,  Ira  and  Frank  Wheelock,  Chandler  &  Loveland,  George  Fleet- 
ham.  The  present  merchants  are  M.  C.  Mason,  J.  D.  Willson,  Orr  & 
Day,  a  furniture  store  by  Mrs.  R.  C.  Ward,  one  carriage  repair  shop, 
one  blacksmith  shop,  one  hotel  kept  by  H.  O.  Mason.  There  is  one 
physician,  D.  M.  Foss,  and  two  clergymen. 

There  are  nine  full  school  districts  and  a  joint  one  partly  in  Macomb  ; 
a  post-office  in  Depeyster  village,  one  at  King's  Corners  (Kokomo),  and 
one  in  the  Fish  Creek  settlement  (Edenton) ;  a  steam  saw  mill  at  Mud 
Lake,  and  a  shingle  and  feed  mill  at  King's  Corners.  There  was  for- 
merly a  steam  saw  mill  run  by  J.  Curtis,  T.  D.  Witherell  and  Benjamin 
Eastman. 

The  military  record  of  Depeyster  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of 
any  other  town  in  the  county.     The  town  was  well  represented  in  the 


THE  TOWN  OF  DEPEYSTER.  649 

War  of  the  Rebellion,  having  held  the  first  regular  war  meeting  and 
sent  out  a  large  number  of  men  considering  the  small  town  and  popula- 
tion, as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  page  196,  the  chapter  on  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  The  efforts  to  raise  volunteers,  means  and  the  neces- 
saries to  be  sent  to  the  front  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers,  was  cheerfully- 
complied  with  by  the  people  in  general 

Religious  Societies. — In  the  winter  of  1805  6,  Bela  Willes,  a  Metho- 
dist, opened  a  school  in  the  house  of  Samuel  Bristol,  and  held  religious 
meetings  on  the  Sabbath.  Traveling  preachers  or  missionaries  had 
occasionally  held  services  in  the  neighborhood.  At  the  first  town 
meeting  held  to  organize  the  town,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Smith 
Stillwell,  Nathan  Dean  and  Philo  Hurlburt,  was  chosen  to  raise  a  sub- 
scription for  a  town  house  and  a  union  church.  A  special  town  meet- 
ing was  called  on  the  last  Monday  in  June,  when  a  resolution  was  passed 
to  erect  a  house  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $1,500,  which  resulted,  with 
the  subscription,  in  the  erection  of  the  Bethel  Union  church. 

The  Bethel  Union  society  was  incorporated  October  23,  1827,  with 
Bela  Bell,  Luke  Dean,  Joseph  Sweet,  Zenas  King,  Jonathan  Curtis, 
Horace  Plympton  and  Smith  Stilwell  as  trusttees.  The  house  (owned 
in  common)  served  the  purpose  of  both  town  hall  and  church,  it  being 
open  to  all  denominations  to  hold  religious  services  in.  The  Metho- 
dists, Presbyterians,  Universalists  and  Congregationalists  were  repre- 
sented by  some  one  of  the  trustees,  but  they  were  so  divided  in  their 
denominational  views  that  no  one  body  had  a  controlling  influence. 
Each  of  the  bodies  had  paid  taxes  and  had  subscribed  to  the  building 
fund,  hence  were  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  house.  No  regulation  as  to 
the  time  that  each  body  could  claim  the  use  of  the  house  having  been 
made  at  the  formation  of  the  society,  it  happened  quite  often  that  two 
of  them  desired  to  use  the  house  at  the  same  time,  which  caused  no 
little  contention.  This  state  of  affairs  continued  until  some  of  the 
societies  became  sufficiently  numerous  and  able  to  build  a  house  of 
worship  for  themselves.  The  records  of  the  societies  in  those  early 
days  were  so  loosely  kept,  that  it  is  impossible  to  give  exact  dates  of 
their  organizations.  It  is  generally  conceded,  however,  that  the  Meth- 
dists  organized  a  church  shortly  after  the  Bethel  Union  church  was  com- 
pleted, or  about  1830.     Three  trustees  of  the   former   Bethel  or  Union 

82 


650  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

society,  Bell,  Dean  and  Sweet,  later  became  identified  with  the  Metho- 
dist organization. 

In  the  winter  of  1856-7  the  Methodist  and  Congregational  societies 
held  several  meetings  with  a  view  of  building  a  union  church  to  be 
occupied  in  common,  but  failed  to  agree,  when  the  Methodist  society 
built  the  present  frame  church,  late  in  the  fall  of  1857,  and  finished  it 
the  following  spring.  In  1870  the  church  was  raised  up,  a  basement 
finished  off,  and  rebuilt  in  the  present  style,  and  the  "  town  bell  "  before 
mentioned  hung  in  the  tower.  In  1891  the  church  was  thoroughly 
repaired  and  refurnished  at  an  expense  of  $1,500,  making  it  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  places  of  worship  in  the  county.  During  the  past  few 
years  the  church  has  been  greatly  revived  under  the  present  pastor, 
Rev.  George  Sharp,  having  a  mission  board,  ladies'  aid  society,  Sunday 
school,  etc.  The  present  membership  is  about  ninety  ;  value  of  church 
property,  $3,500. 

The  Congregational  Society,  according  to  the  recollection  of  the  older 
members,  was  organized  in  Depeyster  about  the  year  1832.  The  Rev. 
J.  B.  Taylor  assisted  in  the  organization,  and  Mansfield  Bristol  was  one 
of  the  trustees.  The  Methodists  and  Congregationalists  were  the  only 
regularly  organized  Christian  bodies  in  the  town  that  held  regular  ser- 
vices in  the  old  stone  church  and  kept  the  house  in  repair.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1858  the  present  church  edifice  was  commenced,  and  completed 
the  following  year  at  a  cost  of  about  $3,000,  exclusive  of  the  bell  and 
furniture,  which  cost  about  $800  more.  The  Rev.  B.  B.  Parson,  who 
served  the  church  at  Heuvelton  in  1842,  reorganized  the  church  in 
Depeyster,  and  supplied  it  for  a  time,  when  Ira  Day  and  F.  G.  Will- 
son  were  chosen  deacons.  It  was  again  reorganized  in  1848,  and  the 
society  built  the  new  church  as  before  stated  Chester  Dyke,  John 
Fleetham,  and  Jesse  B.  Willson  were  the  trustees  ;  having  a  member- 
ship of  about  eighty.  Recently  the  church  has  been  put  in  good  re- 
pair, the  parsonage  thoroughly  overhauled  and  enlarged,  to  keep  pace 
with  the  increased  prosperity  of  the  society,  which  apparently  has  taken 
a  new  lease  of  life.  The  preaching  services,  the  Young  People's  So- 
ciety, and  the  Sabbath-school  are  well  attended.  W.  H.  Way  is  their 
present  pastor. 

The  supervisors  of  the  town  with  dates  of  service  are  as  follows : 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND.  651 

1825-29,  Smith  Stilwell;  November  7,  1829-34,  Luke  Dean  ;  1834-39,  Horace  Plymp- 
ton;  1839-40,  Jonathan  Curtis;  1840-43,  Abner  McMnrphy  ;  1843-44.  Sylvester  John- 
son ;  1844-46,  Jonathan  Curtis;  1846  47,  John  Blaisdel;  1847-48,  David  Fuller;  1848 
-51,  Thos.  D.  Witherell;  1851 -52,  Levi  Fay  ;  1852-54,  Thos.  D.  Witherell;  1854-5G, 
Alanson  Tuttle;  1856-59,  Jessie  McCurdy  ;  1859-61,  Benjamin  F.  Partridge;  1861-63, 
Alanson  Tuttle;  1863-64.  John  B.  Chandler;  1864-70,  Robert  Dorman  ;   1870-72,  John 

B.  Chandler;  1872-74,  Thos.  D.  Witherell;  Lewis  W.  Willson,  to  fill  vacancy  from 
April  4  balance  of  term  ;  1874-77,  Wm.  Newcomb,  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  Willson's 
resignation;   1877- 82,  Harry  N.  Hardy  ;   1882-88,  Geo.  H.  Fleetham  ;   1888-91,  Millard 

C.  Mason ;   1891-92,  Thaddeus  L.  Willson  ;   1892-94,  Robert  D.  Orr. 


CHAPTER   XLI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND— ORGANIZED  IN  1827. 

r^HIS  is  the  twenty-first  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  March  30,  1827.  It  was  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Rossie  and  Morristovvn.  The  town  lies  in  the  extreme  western  point  of 
the  county,  with  the  St.  Lawrence  River  bordering  its  northwestern 
side,  Jefferson  county  on  the  west,  Rossie  and  Black  Lake  on  the  south, 
and  Morristown  on  the  east.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  on  the 
first  Tuesday  of  May  following,  when  Sylvester  Butrick  was  elected 
supervisor,  and  the  balance  of  the  town  ofificers,  whose  names  are  not 
given.  On  the  2d  of  May,  1 837,  its  line  on  the  Morristown  side  was 
changed  slightly,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  April,  1842,  a  corner  south  of  Black 
Lake  was  attached  to  Macomb;  while  on  the  7th  of  February,  1844, 
the  line  bordering  Rossie,  which  originally  ran  parallel  with  the  origi- 
nal line  of  Somerville,  was  changed  to  its  present  course  from  the  cor- 
ner of  the  old  township  to  the  head  of  Mile  Bay.  The  town  contains 
35,815  acres,  and  the  surface  is  generally  level,  but  broken  on  the  north- 
ern and  southern  borders  by  ledges  of  gneiss  and  white  limestone,  which 
are  now  being  extensively  quarried.  A  level  terrace  of  sandstone  ex- 
tends from  the  north  shore  of  Black  Lake  through  the  center  of  the 
town.  The  soil  is  principally  clay  and  is  productive.  It  was  formerly  a 
great  wheat  growing  country  and  for  other  grains  and  grass  crops,  but 
is  now  devoted  principally  to  dairying. 


652  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Hammond  derives  its  name  from  Abijah  Hammond,  of  New  York, 
who  owned  the  township  previous  to  1814.  He  was  a  New  York  mer- 
chant and  a  brother-in-law  of  David  A.  Ogden,  but  he  never  visited  his 
northern  property.  On  the  I2th  of  September,  18 14,  David  Patish 
purchased  of  Hammond  28,871  acres  On  some  of  this  tract  beginnings 
of  settlement  had  been  made,  but  no  titles  actually  passed  to  settlers 
until  in  July,  1818,  when  William  Wiley  took  the  first  contract.  On  the 
31st  of  July,  1818,  Loren  Bailey  came  in  as  agent  and  from  that  time, 
in  July,  18 18,  the  town  was  rapidly  settled.  Mr.  Bailey  was  afterwards 
succeeded  by  David  W.  Baldwin.  The  first  actual  resident  was  prob- 
ably William  McNeil  from  Vermont,  who  was  in  the  town  previous  to 
18 12,  and  lived  on  Chippewa  Bay.  The  first  clearing  was  made  in  that 
year  by  William  Wiley,  also  from  Vermont,  on  the  site  of  the  village. 
A  Mr.  Barker  came  in  the  following  year  and  settled  a  mile  south  of 
Hammond,  where  he  built  and  opened  a  tavern. 

The  War  of  1812  affected  the  town  only  slightly,  there  being  so  very 
few  dwellers  at  that  time.  The  gang  of  pirates  or  horse  thieves  men- 
tioned in  the  history  of  Rossie  and  Morristown  during  the  War  of  181 2, 
was  ver}^  conspicuous  in  this  town  also.  We  are  under  obligation  to 
A.  S.  Partridge  of  Depeyster,  who  obtained  the  following  incidents  last 
summer  from  N.  F.  Swain,  his  neighbor.  Mr.  Swain  is  now  upwards 
of  ninety  years  old,  and  his  memory  of  what  transpired  in  his  younger 
days  is  especially  good,  and  the  incidents,  together  with  the  dates, 
places  and  names  were  so  impressed  on  his  mind  that  they  may  be  relied 
upon  as  authentic.  Mr.  Swain's  father,  Abner,  kept  a  tavern  at  the 
time  on  the  windfall  that  grew  up  to  briers,  and  for  this  reason  when 
the  village  started  it  was  named  "  Brier  Hill,"  now  in  Morristown.  This 
was  on  the  route  of  an  Indian  trail  and  was  frequented  by  people  from 
Ogdensburg,  Morristown,  Hammond  and  Rossie,  many  of  whom  were 
members  of  the  gang  alluded  to.  Young  Swain,  then  a  bright  boy  of 
some  ten  or  more  years,  had  a  good  opportunity  to  become  familiar 
with  the  names  and  operations  of  the  band  of  theives.  The  names  of 
the  principal  ones  of  the  gang  that  operated  in  the  vicinity  of  Chippewa 
Bay  were  James  Patterson,  the  leader;  his  brother,  Ned  ;  John  Hage- 
man,  Darius  Carpenter  and  his  son,  John  ;  and  Zach  Livingston.  They 
had  a  spy,  one  "  Binette,"  a  Frenchmen,  who   was  some   way  related 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND.  653 

to  the  Pattersons,  and  worked  on  the  outside.  The  gang  was  well- 
rigged  out  with  scows,  bateaux  and  small  boats.  They  had  several 
places  on  the  islands  in  front  of  Chippewa  Bay  to  secrete  their  plunder. 
One  island  near  the  Canadian  shore  could  not  be  reached  only  by  a 
circuitous  route  and  an  obscure  inlet,  and  there  they  kept  most  of  their 
horses,  as  they  could  not  be  seen  or  heard  when  passing  by  on  the 
water  or  from  the  shore.  They  had  also  several  places  up  Chippewa 
Creek  to  secrete  their  plunder.  Their  plan  of  operation  was  to  send 
Binette  out  through  the  Canadian  settlements  on  a  peddling  tour.  He 
being  familiar  with  the  English  as  well  as  the  French  language  could 
easily  learn  where  the  finest  horses,  cattle  or  merchandise  were  kept, 
and  that  knowledge  was  cautiously  communicated  to  headquarters  and 
at  the  proper  time  a  raid  was  made  on  the  settlement  thus  spied  out. 
Their  plan  was  to  start  out  well-armed,  with  several  boats  and  a  scow, 
and  leave  them  in  the  bushes  at  different  points  near  the  place  of  oper- 
ation, so  in  case  they  were  hard  pressed  and  their  retreat  cut  off  at  one 
point,  they  could  go  to  another  and  find  a  boat.  Their  plundering  ex- 
peditions became  successful  and  the  band  was  a  terror  to  the  Canadians. 
The  British  had  a  garrison  of  reserves  stationed  in  Kingston,  com- 
manded by  one  Major  Carley,  and  the  soldiers  were  paid  every  month 
in  specie,  which  was  sent  up  in  two  or  three  divisions,  by  land  and 
water,  so  in  case  of  an  accident  to  one  the  other  might  be  safe.  Bin- 
ette, through  some  of  his  French  allies,  learned  that  a  bateau  manned 
by  three  or  Frenchman  and  an  English  officer  would  leave  Montreal 
for  Kingston  with  the  specie,  and  would  pass  the  Islands  on  such  an 
evening  following.  This  news  was  communicated  to  the  Patterson 
gang,  who  went  prepared  and  laid  in  wait  until  the  supply  boat  came 
along,  when  they  made  a  bold  dash,  overpowered  the  crew  and  took 
possession  of  the  bateau  and  landed  their  prisoners  on  an  island.  With 
the  bateau  and  contents  they  made  directly,  under  cover  of  darkness, 
for  the  American  shore,  and  thence  up  Chippewa  Creek  where  the  boat 
and  specie  were  secreted  for  the  time  being.  When  this  act  became 
known  at  Kingston,  Maj  )r  Carley  selected  a  squad  of  men  and  rowed 
down  to  these  islands  with  the  fierce  intent  of  exterminating  the  gang. 
They  soon  discovered  their  rendezvous  and  every  man  was  prepared  to 
fire  at  a  moment's  notice.     Suddenly   they   came  upon  the  pirates  who 


654  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

were  in  their  boats,  as  they  were  passing  around  an  island,  and  each 
soldier,  taking  deliberate  aim,  fired.  Four  of  the  six  pirates  were 
killed  outright,  and  James  Patterson  was  mortally  wounded.  Zach. 
Livingston,  who  was  in  the  same  boat  with  Patterson,  was  unharmed, 
and  rowed  around  the  island  and  escaped.  Patterson  died  soon  after 
reaching  the  American  shore.  Mr.  Swain  states  that  on  that  night, 
which  was  late  in  the  summer  of  1814,  his  father  had  a  beautiful  mare, 
valued  at  $150,  stolen  and  he  believed  that  Livingston  stole  her.  His 
father  also  had  eleven  head  of  fine  cattle  stolen  that  summer. 

The  success  of  the  British  in  breaking  up  this  gang  of  pirates,  en- 
couraged them  to  follow  up  other  depredators,  and  a  party  of  fifty  or 
more  Canadians  shortly  after  made  a  search  for  one  or  two  refugees 
who  had  located  in  the  town  and  had  made  themselves  obnoxious  to 
their  Canadian  neighbors  by  repeated  depredations.  The  party  landed 
in  Chippewa  Bay  early  in  the  morning,  but  in  pursuit  of  their  object 
they  lost  their  wa}'^  and  did  not  arrive  at  Mr.  Barker's  inn  until  after 
sunrise.  One  of  the  men  for  whom  they  were  searching  was  there 
asleep,  but  he  was  alarmed  by  the  family  and  fled,  half  dressed,  to  the 
woods,  narrowly  escaping  the  shots  fired  after  him.  The  Canadians  re- 
turned home  discomfited. 

Most  of  the  town  lying  west  of  the  village  was  settled  in  from  18 18  to 
1 82 1  by  Scotch  emigrants.  They  had  come  over  and  met  the  agents 
of  Mr.  Parish  who  induced  them  to  locate  on  this  tract,  where  they  be- 
came substantial  citizens.  Many  of  them  erected  stone  dwellings  which 
are  still  standing.  In  18 18  there  came  John  and  David  Gregor  (the 
latter  now  living  at  the  age  of  eighty  years),  John  Baird,  Peter  Allen, 
John  and  James  Hill.  Peter  Allen's  son,  Robert,  was  two  years  old 
when  he  came  to  town.  He  now  owns  the  Allen's  Park.  He  served 
three  years  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion — is  now  drawing  a  pension.  He 
is  seventy-eight  years  old,  hale  and  hearty.  In  18 19  Thomas  Caswell, 
William  Nickol,  James  Rogers,  Robert  Morris,  Robert  and  Andrew 
Shields,  John  Mercer,  Thomas  Dodds,  and  William  Burke,  an  English- 
man, came  into  the  settlement;  and  in  1821,  John  Brown  and  Lewis 
Franklin,  now  living.  Several  of  the  latter  were  single  men,  and  all 
became  good  and  useful  citizens.  A  few  years  later  some  others  came, 
through  the  influence  of  those  already  located.     To  those  of  the  first 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND.  655 

and  second  years  who  required  it,  Mr.  Parish  extended  similar  credit  to 
that  given  to  his  settlers  in  Rossie,  which  had  the  effect  of  stimulating 
settlement  and  advancing  the  prosperity  of  those  who  took  up  homes. 

The  southern  part  of  the  town,  on  the  military  road,  was  first  settled 
by  Samuel  Webster  and  William  Tappan  from  Vermont,  in  1819.  Jon- 
athan King,  from  Herkimer  county,  came  the  next  year  and  opened  a 
tavern.  The  military  road  from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  Hammond  had 
been  cut  through  previous  to  the  war,  but  had  berome  impassable  from 
disuse.  It  was  reopened  in  1823,  and  soon  afterward  was  laid  out  as  a 
highway  and  continued  to  be  one  of  the  principal  thoroughfares  from 
Watertown  to  Ogdensburg. 

Settlement  was  begun  at  Oak  Point  by  George  Eliot,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  Mr.  Cowan,  who  opened  a  small  grocery  in  1824  Earl 
Atwood,  Abram  Schermerhorn,  a  Mr.  Mathews  and  others  followed  to 
that  neighborhood  soon  afterward. 

There  are  twenty  five  men  living  in  Hammond  at  the  present  time 
whose  ages  range  from  seventy  one  to  ninety- five  years  old. 

Mr.  Bailey,  the  agent  before  mentioned,  settled  at  Chippewa  Bay,  and 
Abram  Cooper  soon  afterward  began  improvements  there.  A  substan- 
tial dock  was  erected  at  an  early  day,  and  for  a  number  of  years  the 
shipments  of  iron  from  the  Rossie  mines,  and  of  lumber  and  other 
products,  were  very  heavy.  A  steam  saw  mill  was  erected  there  in 
1844  by  James  E.  Lyon,      It  was  burned  and  not  rebuilt. 

In  1825  a  wharf  was  built  at  Oak  Point  on  a  small  island  in  the  chan- 
nel, communicating  with  the  mainland  by  a  bridge;  this  was  rebuilt  in 
1838  and  was  enlarged  in  the  winter  of  1892-3.  A  post-office  was 
established  in  1840,  and  a  custom  house,  which  latter  was  removed  to 
Chippewa  Bay,  but  has  since  been  taken  back  to  the  Point.  W.  C. 
Brooks  is  the  present  postmaster  and  merchant  there.  A  light- house 
was  built  on  Cross  over  Island  in  1847,  ^"<^  refitted  in  1855.  It  was 
rebuilt  about  ten  years  ago  and  James  Hammond  is  the  present  keeper. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1834,  Loren  Bailey,  Azariah  Walton  and  El- 
bridge  G.  Merrick  were  appointed  commissioners  to  open  a  road  from 
the  line  of  Clayton  and  Lyme  to  a  road  leading  from  Chippewa  Bay  to 
Ogdensburg.  This  road  ran  through  the  villages  of  French  Creek  and 
Alexandria  Bay  to  Hammond. 


656  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  minerals  of  this  town  have  in  the  past  attracted  attention,  and 
in  1840  a  vein  of  ore  containing  lead,  copper  and  gold  was  discovered 
on  the  farm  occupied  in  recent  years  by  H.  S.  White,  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  town,  and  it  was  worked  to  some  extent ;  but  the 
shaft,  which  was  sunk  about  thirty  feet,  showed  that  the  vein  became 
narrow,  and  it  was  discontinued.  Again,  in  1877,  valuable  ore  was  dis- 
covered in  that  vicinity,  a  quantity  of  which  was  sent  to  New  York  for 
assay,  and  was  found  to  contain  $350  of  gold  and  silver  to  the  ton. 
Some  effort  was  expended  to  organize  a  company  for  working  it,  but 
it  was  abandoned  and  at  the  present  time  there  is  no  mining  in  the 
town. 

The  lower  portion  of  the  far  famed  and  matchless  group  known  as  the 
Thousand  Islands  lies  opposite  the  town  of  Hammond  and  lend  their 
beauty  and  grandeur  to  that  part  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Many  of  these 
islands  are  owned  by  individuals  aud  occupied  with  attractive  summer 
cottages.  An  incident  connected  with  one  of  these  islands  in  Chippewa 
Bay  is  entitled  to  brief  reference.  In  1838  Ezra  Brockway,  supposed 
to  have  been  insane,  settled  on  this  island,  where  he  lived  for  many 
years  a  sort  of  hermit  life,  believing  himself  a  son  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 
He  imagined  that  he  owned  all  of  the  land  in  the  vicinity  ;  that  his 
mother  had  been  murdered  in  Ogdensburg  and  he,  while  an  infant,  set 
adrift  in  a  canoe  on  the  river.  The  knowledge  of  his  kingly  connection 
he  said  was  communicated  to  him  in  a  dream  and  afterwards  confirmed 
by  spirits.  He  refused  to,  and  never  did,  pay  tax  on  his  island.  Early 
in  February,  1886,  he  was  found  ill  and  half  frozen  in  his  little  dwelling 
place  by  a  party  crossing  the  river  on  the  ice.  He  was  carried  to  the 
shore  and  a  physician  called,  but  he  refused  to  take  medicine,  and  after 
a  few  days  of  suffering  passed  away. 

In  October,  i860,  the  Buckeye,  a  steamer  owned  by  the  Northern 
Transportation  Company  struck  on  a  rock  in  the  channel  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Chippewa  Bay.  A  large  number  of  passengers  was  drowned  ; 
the  boat  was  afterwards  raised. 

During  the  summers  of  1857—8  the  people  of  the  town  and  vicinity 
were  greatly  excited  over  the  old  tradition  that  a  large  amount  of  gold 
had  been  sunk  with  a  boat  by  the  Patterson  gang  during  the  War  of 
181 2  in  Chippewa  Creek.     James  Sterlin,  a  man  of  commanding  ap- 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND.  657 

pearance,  weighing  nearly  four  hundred  pounds,  pleasing  address,  and 
a   good   talker,  secured    the  right  from   the   land   proprietors   to  search 
for  this  treasure.      The  place   selected  was  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
above  the    mouth  of  the  stream  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  where  a  spring 
flows  into  a  deep  and  pond  shape  part  of  the  creek.      Here  Mr.  Sterlin 
built   a   coffer   dam    around  the   deep    water,  leaving  a  sluice   on   one 
side  for  the  current  to  flow  by.      He  then  placed  several  suction  pumps 
around  the  dam  to  be  worked  by  hand,  and  a  rotary  one  to  be  driven 
by  a   small  portable  engine,  then   started   them    up  to   pump  out  the 
water  in   the   basin.      During   all  this   time   the   people  would    gather 
around  and   eagerly   watch    the    maneuvering.     The    greatest    crowds 
gathered  on  Sunday  afternoon,  when  Mr.  Sterlin  would  preach  to  them 
and  relate  the  old  story  how   the   money  was  taken   and  the  incidents 
leading   up  to  the  secreting   of  the   money.      He  had  connected  with 
him   Mr.  Thomas  Hazelton,  a  clairvoyant,  whom  he  would  mesmerize, 
then   question   him    concerning  the  treasures,  also   allow   others  to  do 
so,  and  the  answers  elicited   were  usually  a  confirmation  of  the  story. 
He  also  stated  that  he  saw  buried    in   the   mud   what  had   the  appear- 
ance of  a  boat,  and  many  other  things,  which  was  eagerly  listened  to 
by  the  excited  crowd.      Mr.  Sterlin  was  bothered  by  the  dam  leaking, 
and  spent  a  large  portion  of  the  time  in   repairing  it,  but  after  a  time, 
having  the  pumps  all  worked  by  boys,  changing  every  half  hour  (they 
receiving  ten  cents  per  hour),  the  water  was  sufficiently  lowered  one 
Sunday,  so  that  a  handspike  and   a  rusty  chain  was  recovered,  but  a 
heavy  leak  occurring  at  this  point  prevented  further  search  until  repaired. 
Mr.  Sterlin  claimed  that  he  had  spent  all   the  means  at  his  command, 
therefore  consented  on  the  solicitation  of  his  friends  to  start  a  stock 
company.     The  books  were  no  sooner  opened  than  the  farmers  will- 
ingly came  forward  and  took  from  one  to  five  shares  each  at  a  $ioo  per 
share,  which  amounted  to  several  thousand  dollars.      During  the  time 
that  the  organization  was  being  perfected  and  the  repairs  on  the  dam 
made,  heavy  rains  raised  the  water  in  the  creek,  which  prevented  further 
operations  that  season. 

During  the  winter  and  spring  following  the  ice  had  injured  the  dam 
materially,  when  more  money  was  called  for,  which  was  readily  sub- 
scribed.     The  company  commenced,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Sterlin, 
83 


658  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

to  repair  the  dam  soon  after  low  water  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer, 
when  pumping  was  resumed,  which  proceeded  at  first  slowly,  owing  to 
leaks  in  the  dam.  This  soon  being  repaired,  the  water  was  lowered  suf- 
ficiently one  Sunday  that  a  search  produced  a  small  rusty  anchor  and  a 
tiller,  but  before  any  other  articles  were  reached  a  break  occurred  and 
filled  the  basin  with  water.  This  find  renewed  the  faith  of  the  stock- 
holders, when  Sterlin  called  for  more  money  to  make  up  for  the  losses 
incurred,  which  was  paid  in  and  the  leak  repaired  The  stockholders 
now  being  desperately  in  earnest  to  push  the  work  to  completion,  in- 
formed Mr.  Sterlin  that  the  dam  was  not  to  be  tampered  with,  when  the 
pumps  were  put  to  work,  and  shortly  after  the  bottom  of  the  creek  ap- 
peared in  sight  of  the  watchful  eyes  of  the  members  present.  With 
fierce  earnestness  several  jumped  into  the  mud  nearly  up  to  their  waist 
with  crobars  and  shovels,  thoroughly  probing  the  bottom  of  the  hole, 
but  found  only  mud.  The  boys  got  a  few  dimes  for  pumping,,  the  stock- 
holders had  a  few  pumps  on  hand,  but  Mr.  Sterlin  had  several  thousand 
dollars,  when  he  suddenly  left  for  other  parts. 

From  the  time  which  we  have  considered  down  to  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion the  settlers  of  Hammond  pursued  their  various  avocations  in 
peace  and  with  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of 
that  historic  struggle  the  citizens  of  the  town  took  prompt  and  efficient 
steps  to  not  only  to  send  out  in  support  of  the  Union  her  full  quota  of 
volunteers,  but,  in  common  with  other  towns  of  the  county,  raised  the 
necessary  funds  to  pay  the  liberal  bounties  very  generally  provided  for 
at  intervals  during  the  war.  The  town  furnished  to  the  armies  of  the 
Union  162  men,  of  whom  nine  were  wounded  and  seventeen  died  of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

The  first  school  in  the  town,  it  is  believed,  was  taught  in  the  Scotch 
settlement  in  the  winter  of  1819-20.  The  town  is  now  divided  into 
thirteen  school  districts,  and  a  comfortable  school-house  is  found  in 
each. 

In  recent  years  a  very  large  and  prosperous  quarrying  business  has 
been  developed  in  this  town.  It  was  begun  in  1874  by  H.  A.  Foster. 
There  are  now  five  quarries  being  operated  which  employ  250  men  and 
turn  out  twenty  car  loads  of  stone  per  day.  The  firms  engaged  in  this 
business  are  H.  A.  Foster,  John  Finegan,  at  Hammond  ;  Fowler  &  Lug- 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMMOND.  659 

don,  at  South  Hammond  ;  the  Smithers  Quarry,  operated  by  Mr.  Fos- 
ter ;  and  the  Finnegan  Quarry  at  Buck  Ledge.  The  stone  thus  ob- 
tained is  a  building  sandstone  of  excellent  quality,  also  for  paving  streets, 
flagging  walks,  etc.,  for  which  there  is  an  increasing  demand. 

The  agricultural  interests  in  this  town,  like  those  of  most  other  towns 
in  the  county,  have  changed  in  recent  years  from  grain  growing  to  dairy- 
ing. There  are  several  successful  cheese  factories,  the  product  of  which 
is  shipped  from  Chippewa  Bay  and  by  rail. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation 
to  the  present  time,  with  their  dates  of  service  : 

1827-2S,  Sylvester  Butrick;  1S29-31,  Roswell  Ryan;  1832,  Allen  Cook;  1833,  Orrin 
Brown;  1834-35,  Loren  Bailey;  1836-37,  George  C.  Daniels;  1838,  Orrin  Brown; 
1839-40,  Enoch  Taylor;  1841,  EbenezerN.  Demick;  1842,  Orville  E.  Wightman  ;  1843, 
E.  N.  Demick;  1844-47,  William  H.  Wright;  1848-49.  Henry  Zoller  ;  1850,  Sidney  S. 
Wait  ;  1851,  Josiah  Zoller;  1852-53,  Abel  P.  Morse;  1854,  Sidney  S.  Wait;  1855-62, 
Jonas  Moyer;  1863-64,  Henry  Fowler;  1865-66,  Jonas  Moyer;  1867-69,  Anthony  W. 
Sigourney  ;  1870-71,  Jonas  Moyer;  1872-78,  James  S.  More;  1879-88,  Wilham  Rod- 
ger. 2d;  1889-92,  Samuel  W.  Tilton;   1893-94,  G.  L.  Phillips. 

Hammond  Village. — The  settlement  at  this  point  has  been  described 
and  was  known  in  former  years  to  some  extent  as  "  Hammond  Corners." 
It  is  a  station  on  what  was  formerly  the  Black  River  and  Morristown 
Railroad,  now  leased  to  the  New  York  Central.  There  is  no  manufact- 
uring in  the  place,  but  it  is  and  always  has  been  a  trading  center  for 
most  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  The  following  persons  are  in  trade 
there  now  :  D.  E.  Wilson,  drugs  ;  A.  McGruer  and  W.  E.  Forrester  & 
Son,  dry  goods  ;  John  T.  Roger,  clothing  ;  E.  J.  Murphy  and  R.  S. 
Woodside,  boots  and  shoes  ;  W.  R.  Wilson  and  I.  Franklin,  groceries  ; 
J.  Frank  Wilson,  jewelry  ;  W.  T.  Stiles  and  Evens  Brothers,  hardware 
and  farm  implements.  William  Soper  came  from  the  town  of  Theresa, 
and  in  1889  built  a  steam  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  which  he  is  now  suc- 
cessfully operating. 

There  have  been  public  houses  in  Hammond  for  many  years.  One 
of  the  older  hotels  was  the  Taylor  House,  built  about  1839  by  M.  G. 
Phyle,  and  was  discontinued  in  the  fall  of  1892.  The  Franklin  House 
was  finished  in  October,  1884,  and  is  now  conducted  by  F.  Franklin. 
The  postmaster  at  Hammond  is  Benjamin  Franklin. 


660  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

North  Hammond  is  a  small  hamlet  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
town.     S.  W.  Tilton  carries  on  a  general  store  and  is  postmaster. 

Chippewa  is  a  small  hamlet  on  the  bay  and  near  the  mouth  of  the 
creek  of  the  same  name.  Allen  &  Denner  have  a  general  store  there, 
and  Alexander  Allen  is  postmaster. 

A  post-ofifice  is  also  located  at  Oak  Point,  with  W.  C.  Brooks  in  the 
office. 

A  post-office  was  established  at  South  Hammond  in  1833  with  Jona- 
than King  as  postmaster.  A  hotel  was  erected  in  1848  and  discontinued 
in  i860.     The  postmaster  at  present  is  D.  D.  Moyer. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1827  the  Rev.  Hiram  Johnson  organized  a 
Congregational  church  with  twelve  members.  The  society  was  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Joseph  Taylor,  who  served  them  a  few  years, 
when  the  church  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Pres- 
bytery through  the  sickness  of  the  pastor.  Soon  after  they  united  with 
the  Union  Society  (Presbyterian),  which  was  formed  a  few  months  later, 
claiming  to  be  second  cousins,  hence  were  called  for  a  number  of  years 
after  the  Congregational-Presbyterian  Society.  Services  were  held  in 
school- houses  for  several  years. 

A  Union  Presbyterian  Society  was  formed  and  incorporated  Decem- 
ber 14,  1827,  with  Luther  Lanphear,  James  Hill,  and  Walter  Willson, 
trustees.  They  united  a  few  years  later  with  the  Congregational  body, 
retaining  the  Presbyterian  form,  which  was  lost  by  a  reorganization  that 
took  place  August  i,  1831,  under  Rev.  James  Sanford,  with  eighteen 
members,  and  united  with  the  Ogdensburg  Presbytery.  They  built  a 
house  of  worship  in  1838  of  stone.  In  1871  the  old  building  was  torn 
down  and  replaced  with  the  present  wood  structure,  costing  $8,000. 
They  have  been  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Revs.  James  Roger,  John 
McGregor,  James  Gardiner,  H.  B.  Swift,  and  Andrew  Milne,  and  is 
now  under  Rev.  D.  A.  Ferguson,  who  has  served  faithfully  eighteen 
years  past.  The  society  erected  a  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $3,000  some 
years  since,  and  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Hammond  was  organized 
September  29,  1832.      There  had   been  Methodist  services  held   in  the 


THE  TOWN  OF  EDWARDS.  661 

town  long  before  that.  A  small  building  for  worship  was  erected  on  the 
military  road  about  half  a  mile  from  Hammond  village  in  1835.  This 
was  taken  down  in  1873  and  the  present  edifice  built  at  a  cost  of  $7,000. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Phelps. 

A  Free  Will  Baptist  church  was  formed  in  this  town  in  April,  1843, 
but  no  regular  permanent  organization  was  effected  and  no  church  was 
ever  built. 

Trinity  church  of  Rossie  and  Hammond  was  incorporated  Decem- 
ber 16,  1846,  with  Henry  W.  Chapman,  William  Laidlaw,  S.  Ophir, 
William  Welch,  Robert  Morris,  John  Burrows,  and  James  Hill,  vestry- 
men. The  society  was  in  existence  for  some  years,  but  never  built  a 
church. 

The  Universalist  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Lee  in  October, 
1870,  and  the  present  building  at  Hammond  Corners  was  erected  in  the 
same  year  ;  it  cost  $3,200.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  D.  R.  Libbey, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Johns.  At  the  present  time  there  is 
a  service  held  once  in  two  weeks  by  Mrs.  D.  L.  R.  Libbey.  The  mem- 
bership is  a  little  over  fifty, 


CHAPTER  XLH. 

THE    TOWN   OF   EDWARDS— ORGANIZED   IN    1827. 

This  was  the  twenty-second  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture passed  April  27,  1827.  It  was  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Fowler,  and  at  first  comprised  townships  No.  8  and  4,  or  Edwards  and 
Fitz  Williams,  now  Hermon.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  William  Martis.  in  the  spring  of  1827,  and  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected  :  Orra  Shead,  supervisor  ;  John  C.  Ilale,  clerk  ;  J.  C. 
Hale,  Asa  Brayton,  jr.,  William  Teall,  assessors;  Roswell  Lillie,  Araba 
Collisier,  Peleg  Haile,  commissioners  of  highways  ;  J.  C.  Haile,  Asa 
Phelps,  Wilkes  Richardson,  commissioners  of  schools  ;  Warren  Streeter, 
Guy  Earl,  overseers  of  poor;  J.  C.  Haile.  George  Allen,  William  Teall, 
inspectors  of  schools. 


662  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  township  of  Fitz  Williams  was  taken  off  in  erecting  Depeau  (now 
Hermon),  and  by  an  act  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  passed  Novem- 
ber 17,  1852,  all  that  part  of  the  town  of  Hermon  situated  at  the  north- 
east corner,  known  as  the  end  of  the  east  third  of  township  4,  of  great 
tract  No.  3  of  Macomb's  purchase,  being  subdivision  lots  No.  32  to  37, 
according  to  Ashman's  old  survey,  was  annexed  to  the  town  of  Ed- 
wards ;  the  board  of  supervisors  now  having  the  right  (since  1849)  to 
set  off  or  change  the  town  boundaries. 

The  main  branch  of  the  Oswegatchie  flows  in  a  general  northwest 
direction  across  the  town  and  through  the  villages  of  South  Edwards 
and  Edwards.  In  the  southern  part  are  Bonner,  Beaver,  Mud  and  Clear 
Lakes,  whose  waters  flow  into  the  Oswegatchie,  and  Cedar  Lake  which 
extends  across  the  line  into  Hermon.  Along  the  river  and  the  branches 
of  Elm  Creek  the  surface  is  rolling  or  hilly,  but  elsewhere  it  is  rugged 
and  broken,  especially  in  the  northwestern  part.  The  township  was 
patented  to  McCormick  in  March,  1795,  and  surveyed  by  Reuben  Ash- 
man of  Russsll.  McCormick  transferred  it  to  Joseph  Pitcairn  about 
1 8 16,  and  he  upon  his  death,  about  1844,  bequeathed  his  interest  to 
Alexander  Brodie.  The  town  received  its  name  from  Edward  McCor- 
mick, a  brother  of  Daniel  McCormick,  the  proprietor  to  whom  the 
original  township  was  assigned  in  the  division. 

Before  the  settlement  of  this  town  the  turnpike  from  Russell  had  been 
laid  out  through  it,  a  fact  which  hastened  settlement.  The  original 
course  of  the  turnpike  was  across  the  west  branch  of  the  Oswegatchie 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below  the  site  of  Fullerville,  thence  tak- 
ing a  northeasterly  course,  across  the  island  and  the  two  channels  of 
the  river  at  the  site  of  Edwards  village. 

The  section  of  the  road  in  Edwards  was  built  by  Enos  Chapman,  who 
begun  it  in  18 10  and  finished  it  in  18 12.  In  January  of  the  last  named 
year  Asa  Brayton  brought  his  family  into  the  town  and  made  the  first 
settlement  on  the  south  side  of  the  turnpike  near  where  it  crosses  the 
creek,  about  midway  between  the  branches  of  the  Oswegatchie.  Dur- 
ing that  season  Guy  Earl,  Samuel  Jones,  John  Britton,  Joseph  M.  Bon- 
ner, Elijah  Jones,  three  men  named  Johnson  and  probably  a  few  others 
came  into  the  town  and  built  log  houses.  One  of  them  was  a  Mr.  Par- 
tridge, who  was  killed  in    1 8 13   by  a   falling   timber,    causing   the  first 


THE  TOWN  OF  EDWARDS.  663 

death  in  the  town  among  the  settlers.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  John 
B.  Brayton,  son  of  Asa  Brayton  ;  John  B.  lived  in  the  town  many  years. 

In  1 813  Ora  Shead  came  in  from  Russell  and  in  that  and  the  next 
year  completed  the  first  grist  mill  ;  it  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
river  where  the  turnpike  crossed.  Five  years  later  he  built  a  saw  mill 
just  below  on  the  site  of  the  Rushton  mills. 

About  1 8 16  Phineas  Attwater  became  Mr.  Pitcairn's  agent  for  the 
sale  of  lands  in  this  section,  and  was  succeeded  in  18 19  by  George 
Allen,  who  came  in  at  that  time  and  located  at  Shead's  mills.  In  1818 
and  1819  the  town  received  as  settlers  a  number  of  Scotch  immigrants, 
who  located  chiefly  in  the  northern  and  northeastern  parts.  Among 
them  were  James  Grieve,  Robert  Watson,  John  Whitehead,  Alexander 
Noble,  William  Andrew,  Alexander  Kerr,  James  Wilson.  Alexander 
Laidlaw,  William  Cleland  and  Robert  Brown.  Several  of  these  and 
their  descendants  were  long  residents  of  the  town. 

Aside  from  those  above  noted,  the  settlements  for  several  years  were 
made  mostly  along  the  river  and  the  line  of  the  turnpike. 

The  mill  building  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  that  was  operated  at 
one  period  as  a  planing  mill,  sash  and  door  factory,  was  built  for  a  grist 
mill  by  Mr.  Rushton,  but  was  superseded  by  the  present  one  of  greater 
capacity. 

A  tannery  was  formerly  carried  on  by  Gilbert  &  Co.  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river  opposite  the  island,  but  it  is  now  out  of  use.  It  was 
built  in  1864  by  Gilbert  &  Carr;  was  operated  by  them  until  1871, 
when  Rice  &  Emery  of  Boston  leased  it  and  carried  on  the  business 
until  1874,  since  which  date  it  has  been  closed. 

Succeeding  the  merchants  mentioned  are  the  following  who  have 
stores  of  various  kinds  in  the  village  :  S.  B.  Raymond,  W.  Grant  & 
Son,  Charles  Davis,  Charles  Brown,  James  D.  Tait,  W.  N.  J.  Stevens, 
Eugene  Cook,  C.  B.  Watson,  Charles  Stevenson,  Henry  Webb,  George 
Pagett  and  Mrs.  William  J.  McFarren.      Cyrus   Watson   is  postmaster. 

South  Edwards. — This  is  a  small  village  near  the  southeastern  cor- 
ner of  the  town,  upon  the  Oswegatchie  River.  The  first  settler  at  this 
point  was  Job  Winslow,  who  explored  the  locality  in  1823,  and  settled 
there  in  1824.  He  was  impressed  with  the  value  of  the  immense  water 
power,  and  soon  after  bringing  in  his  family,  he  built  a  saw  mill,  and  in 


664  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  following  year  a  grist  mill,  thus  creating  the  nucleus  of  a  village. 
These  mills  were  afterwards  owned  by  several  persons,  among  them  be- 
ing John  Austin,  Pasco  Whitford,  a  Mr.  Woodbury,  Almeron  Thomas, 
and  Spaulding  &  Pratt,  and  were  burned  about  1850.  The  mill  was 
rebuilt  in  a  better  manner  by  Chester  Van  Ornum,  and  again  burned 
about  1875.  A  new  grist  mill  was  subsequently  built  and  carried  on 
by  G.  &  E.  Lumley  and  others,  and  a  saw  mill,  which  was  run  by  Jon- 
athan Hendricks  ;  but  both  have  been  closed  for  some  years,  and  there 
is  now  no  mill  at  the  place. 

The  first  merchant  at  South  Edwards  was  Elijah  Shaw,  who  settled 
there  in  1825  with  his  brother  Noah.  The  former  became  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens,  and  the  hamlet  was  locally  known  for  years  as 
"  Shawville."  Mr.  Shaw  engaged  with  a  Mr.  Sears  in  the  manufacture 
of  potash  and  had  other  various  interests.  Mr.  Sears  purchased  his 
partner's  interest  in  the  potash  business,  and  Mr.  Shaw  retired  to  a  farm 
north  of  the  village.  Sears  afterwards  removed  to  Canton.  The  mer- 
chants of  the  place  now  are  Ira  Hammond  and  John  Lumley,  and  the 
latter  is  postmaster,  the  office  having  been  established  in  September, 
1828,  with  James  C.  Haile  as  postmaster. 

A  carding  mill  was  built  here  in  early  years  by  Ingraham  Winslow; 
but  the  business  ultimately  died  out  and  the  building  burned  after  the 
machinery  had  been  removed.  A  hotel  was  built  by  Mr.  Woodbury 
and  continued  some  years  ;  at  the  present  time  there  is  no  public  house 
in  the  place. 

In  1 87 1  Dickinson  &  Lawrence,  from  Franklin  county,  built  and  be- 
gan operating  a  starch  factory,  using  potatoes.  The  business  was  con- 
tinued about  ten  years. 

Besides  these  villages  there  are  several  hamlets  or  settlements  that 
have  had  distinctive  names  and  small  business  interests. 

"  Freemansburg,"  on  the  main  river  four  miles  below  Edwards,  re- 
ceived its  name  from  Capt.  Alfred  Freeman,  who  built  a  furnace  there 
in  1830,  Ore  was  brought  to  it  from  the  Little  York  bed,  and  bog  ores 
from  this  town.  In  1843  ^  forge  was  added  to  the  plant ;  but  the  busi- 
ness was  continued  only  a  few  years,  when  it  went  the  way  of  all  the 
iron  industries  of  the  county.  Mr.  Freeman  also  kept  a  store  there. 
The  furnace  was  burned  in  1847. 


THE  TOWN  OF  EDWARDS.  665 

The  so-called  "Scotch  Settlement,"  or  "Scotland,"  has  already  been 
mentioned,  and  was  the  scene  of  a  thrifty  people's  labors.  Many 
descendants  of  the  hard}-  Scotch  settlers  still  live  in  the  town  and  vicin- 
ity. 

There  have  been  also  the  "  Creek  Settlement,"  about  two  and  a  half 

miles  southeast  of  Edwards  village,  and  the  "  Pond  Settlement  "  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  town  ;  but  they  are  only  farming  neighborhoods 
at  the  present  time. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  to  the  present  time  : 

1827-28,  1830,  '31,  '32,  '33,  Orra  Shead ;  1829  Wm.  Teall;  1834-35,  Hubbard  Good- 
rich; 1836  to  1840,  inclusive.  John  C.  Haile ;  1841-42  and  18.50,  J.  B.  Pickit;  1843, 
'44,  '45,  and  1848,  Tngraham  Winslow  ;  1846-47,  James  Noble ;  1849  and  1851,  Elijah 
Shaw  ;  1852,  Horace  Barnes  ;  1853-54,  Mark  W.  Spaulding;  1855,  '56.  '57.  '60  and  '68, 
Joseph  Brodie;  1858-59,  1869,  and  1870,  George  Smith ;  1861-62,  Thomas  Todd; 
1863,  "64, '65,  Henry  Eushton ;  1866-67,  L.  M.  Gardiner;  1871  to  1880,  inclusive, 
Cornelius  Carter;  1881-84,  Henry  Webb;  188.5-87,  William  Grant;  1887-94,  Ira  C. 
Miles. 

The  town  of  Edwards  was  not  even  inhabited  by  a  single  settler  at  the 
commencement  of  the  War  of  1812.  Yet  it  has  a  landmark  that  started 
in  that  period  (an  evergreen  grove),  which  is  now  highly  prized  by  the 
descendants  of  the  pioneers.  During  that  war  the  frontier  along  the 
St.  Lawrence  River  and  Lake  Ontario  was  blockaded  by  the  British. 
Therefore  munitions  of  war  were  sent  overland  by  the  way  of  Platts- 
burg  and  the  old  route  of  Oswego  River  to  Ogdensburg  and  Sackett's 
Harbor. 

The  writer's  father,  who  related  many  incidents  of  the  war,  was  a  sol- 
dier at  the  time,  stationed  near  Plattsburg,  where  he  became  familiar 
with  what  transpired  on  these  routes.  The  route  passed  through  the 
town  of  Edwards,  thence  by  way  of  Carthage  on  to  the  harbor.  Each 
soldier,  apart  from  his  accoutrements,  had  a  certain  weight  to  carry,  and 
when  heavy  articles  were  to  be  hauled  or  carried,  a  squad  of  soldiers 
were  assigned  to  the  duty.  Their  march  was  slow,  yet  resting  places 
and  camps  were  located  at  short  intervals.  This  route  was  so  frequently 
used  that  roads  were  cut  through  the  woods  by  the  soldiers  before  the 
close  of  the  war. 

It  has  been  said  that  ropes  or  cables  designed  for  the  war  vessel 
Superior,  then  in  process  of  building  at  the  harbor,  were  carried  overland 

84 


666  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

by  the  soldiers  from  Plattsburg.  While  this  may  be  true  to  a  certain 
extent,  the  big  cable,  measuring  twenty-two  inches  in  circumference, 
weighing  9,600  pounds,  was  carried  from  Oswego  River  sixteen  miles 
overland  to  the  harbor  on  the  shoulders  of  about  200  soldiers,  arriving 
on  the  loth  of  June,  18 14. 

These  camping  places,  especially  the  one  in  Edwards,  which  is  three 
and  a  half  miles  southwest  from  the  village,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Freeman  Sprague,  was  located  in  a  belt  of  hard  wood  growth,  and  no 
evergreen  growing  in  that  vicinity.  During  the  camping  period  from 
one  to  two  acres  had  been  cut  and  most  of  the  timber  burned.  This 
place  being  unmolested,  grew  up  with  pine  brushes,  and  became  the 
thick  grove  alluded  to.  The  man  that  cleared  this  farm,  finding  such  a 
beautiful  grove  of  pine  standing  in  the  midst  of  hard  wood,  cleared 
away  the  timber  on  the  outside  and  left  them  growing.  The  plot  con- 
tains about  one  and  a  half  acres,  and  the  pine  trees  are  straight  and 
stand  so  close  together  that  it  is  with  difficulty  a  person  can  pass  be- 
tween them.  Many  of  them  are  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in 
diameter  and  from  fifty  to  seventy- five  feet  high.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  as  to  this  grove  standing  on  the  camping  ground  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Asa  Brayton,  the  first  one  who  came  there  in 
January  of  181 2,  settled  near  this  place.  Mr.  Edgar  Brayton,  a  grand- 
son of  Asa,  now  living  in  Edwards,  relates  the  following  which  was  ob- 
tained from  his  grandfather.  Said,  that  this  was  where  the  soldiers 
camped  in  passing  back  and  forth.  Also,  when  they  were  returning  to 
Plattsburg  after  completing  the  road  stopped  here.  The  officers,  how- 
ever, were  entertained  by  him,  and  that  his  grandmother  baked  bread 
all  that  night  for  the  soldiers.  Their  horses  during  the  night  eat  up  a 
stack  of  wheat,  for  which  he  got  pay.  He  also  related  the  following 
story.  Mr.  Brayton  had  a  boy  working  for  him  some  fourteen  years 
old,  who  stole  a  belt,  sword  and  pistol  which  an  officer  had  hung  on  a 
peg  before  retiring,  and  hid  them  in  a  hollow  stump.  In  the  morning 
the  whole  posse  turned  out  and  had  a  long  search  before  finding  them. 
This  grove  will  become  more  and  more  valuable  as  time  passes,  espe- 
cially to  every  patriot  who  gazes  on   this  historic  spot. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  XV. 


THE  TOWN  OF  EDWARDS.  667 

Edwards  Village. — The  building  of  Shead's  grist  mill  in  1^14  de- 
termined the  location  of  a  village  in  this  town ;  and  tne  site  was  a 
promising  one,  both  on  account  of  the  turnpike  and  the  excellent  water 
power  at  that  point.  As  usual  in  such  cases,  a  store  soon  followed  the 
erection  of  the  mill,  and  a  little  later  the  building  of  the  saw  mill  and 
the  establishment  of  Allen's  land  office  there  hastened  the  little  settle- 
ment. The  first  store  was  kept  by  Mr.  Shead,  who  was  also  the  first 
postmaster,  the  office  being  established  January  4,  1828. 

William  Martin,  an  enterprising  pioneer,  opened  the  second  store, 
the  first  hotel,  and  built  a  distillery.  J.  B.  Pickit  was  the  next  mer- 
chant, and  the  second  public  house  was  opened  and  kept  in  an  excellent 
manner  by  Nathan  Hunt  on  the  island.  The  house  was  afterward  kept 
by  J.  B.  Pickit,  Horace  Barnes,  W.  A.  Livingston,  S.  M.  Farmer,  Earl 
&  Allen  and  others,  but  was  finally  closed.  The  island  was  the  scene 
of  much  of  the  business  of  the  place  for  many  years,  but  the  space 
was  too  limited,  and  the  industries  gradually  removed  to  the  mainland. 

The  present  grist  mill  on  the  island  is  operated  by  Butler  &  Miles. 
The  hotel,  built  about  twenty  years  ago,  is  the  Rushton  House,  and  is 
kept  by  David  Noble.  The  entire  mill  property  on  the  old  site,  includ- 
ing the  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  shingle  mill,  etc.,  was  built  by  Henry 
Rushton,  and  is  now  a  part  of  his  estate.  The  Woodcock  Brothers 
carry  on  a  steam  grist  and  saw  mill. 

Within  a  few  recent  years  the  talc  industry  in  St.  Lawrence  county 
has  become  a  very  important  factor  in  its  production  of  wealth.  The 
development  of  this  industry  has  had  its  principal  headquarters  at  Gov- 
erneur  and  is  quite  extensively  described  in  the  preceding  history  of 
that  town  ;  but  the  territory  whence  the  crude  product  is  derived  is  of 
considerable  extent  and  reaches  into  the  town  of  Edwards  and  vicinity. 
The  settlement  which  has  been  mentioned  as  "  Freemansburg  "  is  now 
called  Talcville,  and  in  that  vicinity  the  wonderful  product  is  found  in 
large  quantities.  The  Freeman  Brothers  have  carried  on  a  mercantile 
business  here.  In  1893  a  railroad  was  opened  from  Gouverneur  to 
Edwards,  its  chief  object  being  the  transportation  of  the  talc  to  the  line 
of  the  main  road.  For  further  details  of  this  great  industry  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  Gouverneur  and  Fowler  histories  herein. 


668  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

Tlie  Methodists  were  perhaps  the  first  to  hold  services  in  this  town, 
which  were  by  Rev.  Elijah  Morgan  in  1819.  Their  first  class,  consist- 
ting  of  five  persons,  was  formed  by  Rev.  Ezra  Healey  of  the  "  Creek 
Settlement"  in  1823.  Their  first  preacher  was  Rev.  E.  Morgan,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Hiram  May  in  1825.  Their  early  meetings 
were  held  in  school-houses,  barns  and  dwellings.  The  records  of  the 
church  were  destroyed  by  the  burning  of  the  parsonage  in  1852.  Since 
the  erection  of  a  union  church  in  1850,  the  services  have  been  held 
there,  until  about  1880,  when  the  society  built  a  small  church,  which 
at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  Rev.  Mr.  Burns.  Meetings  were 
held  occasionally  in   South   Edwards  in  No.  4  school  house. 

The  Baptist  society  organized  a  church  in  1822  by  the  assistance 
of  Elder  Stephens.  Among  tiie  members  were  Aaron.  Silas  and 
William  Pratt  and  their  wives.  Their  services  at  first  were  held  in 
school-houses  and  dwellings  until  the  erection  of  the  union  house  in 
1850.  when  they  occupied  the  house  their  allotted  time,  every  fourth 
Sabbath.      Services  were  also  held   at  South   Edwards. 

A  union  church  was  built  in  Edwards  village  by  the  Baptists  and 
Congregationalists,  and  the  building  Avas  erected  in  1850.  Other  de- 
nominations contributed  to  it  to  some  extent,  and  it  was  open  to  all 
denominations.  The  church  is  now  used  wholly  by  the  Baptists. 
Their  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mark  Styan. 

The  many  Scotch  settlers  in  the  town  brought  with  them  a  strong 
Presbyterian  element,  and  a  society  was  organized  called  "  The  First 
Congregational  Church  and  Society  in  Edwards,"  composed  of  Pres- 
byterians and  Congregationalists.  From  1830  to  1837  the  society  was 
prosperous,  but  in  the  course  of  the  next  twenty  years  the  organization 
disappeared. 

A  Universalist  society  was  kept  up  for  a  number  of  years  and  its 
members  aided  largely  in  building  the  union  church,  and  Rev.  G.  Swan, 
G.  S.  Abbott.  J.  T.  Goodrich,  Rev.  Prof.  J.  S.  Lee,  D.D.,  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  many  years.      The  society  is  now  out  of  existence. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE.  669 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 
THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE— ORGANIZED  IN  1828. 

THIS  was  the  twenty- third  town  organized  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, passed  April  21,  1828.  This  town  is  situated  in  the  north- 
eastern part,  with  Brasher  on  the  north,  Franklin  county  on  the  east, 
Hopkinton  on  the  south  and  Stockholm  on  the  west.  The  territory 
was  formerl}'  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Hopkinton  and  Brasher.  It 
comprises  an  area  of  28,479  acres.  The  title  to  the  town  passed  from 
the  original  proprietors  to  Harrison,  January  i,  1801,  and  from  him  to 
William  Lawrence,  from  whom  the  town  is  named,  on  February  17, 
1820.  Mr.  Lawrence  was  a  merchant  from  New  York,  and  passed  a 
part  of  his  time,  two  or  three  years  previous  to  his  death,  on  his  pur- 
chase. He  died  in  New  York  in  1824,  his  son,  D.  Lynch  Lawrence, 
inheriting  the  lands,  and  from  him  the  settlers  secured  their  titles 
through  agents. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  March,  1829, 
at  the  house  of  Carlton  McEuen,  when  the  following  officers  were 
chosen:  Carlton  McEuen,  supervisor;  Myers  G.  Peck,  town  clerk; 
James  Trussel,  Nathaniel  Smith,  N.  H.  Lampson,  assessors;  Enos  Burt, 
collector  ;  James  Trussel,  Myron  G.  Peck,  overseers  of  the  poor ;  Giles 
Hart,  David  S.  Murray,  John  Ferris,  commissioners  of  highways  ;  Enos 
Burt,  Warren  Day,  constables ;  George  P.  Farrar,  Samuel  Bent,  James 
Ferris,  commissioners  of  schools  ;  Dwight  N.  Higgins,  David  S.  Mur- 
ray, Levi  H,  Powers,  inspector  of  schools. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  level  in  the  northern  part,  but  more  roll- 
ing in  the  east  and  south.  The  ridges  were  first  to  be  settled,  as  they 
were  more  lightly  timbered  and  easier  cleared.  The  soil  is  sandy  loam 
mixed  with  clay,  and  in  the  lower  localities  is  rich  alluvium.  It  is  gen- 
erally well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  dairying  and  stock  raising  are  the 
chief  industries.     The   town   is   well   watered   by   many  small  streams, 


670  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

while  the  Deer  River  flows  through  the  eastern  part  and  the  east  branch 
of  the  St.  Regis  bounds  it  on  the  south  for  several  miles,  affording  good 
water  power. 

The  town  of  Lawrence  was  first  settled  by  a  man  named  Brewer,  who 
came  in  for  the  proprietor  and  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Carl- 
ton McEuen,  where  he  built  a  shanty  in  the  summer  of  i8oi.  In  the 
next  summer  he  sold  his  interest  and  agency  to  Samuel  Tyler.  In  the 
fall  of  1806  Joseph  and  Samuel  Tyler,  from  New  Hampshire,  Joseph 
St.  Clair  and  Avery  Sanders,  from  Middlesex,  Vt.,  Ephraim  Martin,  of 
Bradford.  Vt.,  and  Abijah  Chandler,  from  Lebanon,  N.  H,,  came  in  and 
selected  farms,  and  in  the  following  spring  brought  in  their  families. 
They  purchased  their  lands  through  Judge  Bailey  of  Chateaugay,  then 
agent,  and  began  the  work  of  making  homes  for  their  families.  Mrs. 
Chandler  was  the  first  white  woman  who  came  to  the  town.  Most  of 
the  families  named  settled  in  the  central  and  northern  parts  of  the  town, 
and  came  first  to  Hopkinton  in  sleighs  and  thence  to  their  destination 
after  the  snow  was  gone.  Mr.  Chandler  settled  a  short  distance  from 
the  site  of  Nicholville.  In  May,  1807,  the  families  of  Ira  Allen,  James 
and  Jonathan  Pierce  and  Sidney  Dunton  were  added  to  the  inhabitants, 
and  in  June  came  Jonathan  Stevens,  Ambrose  Lewis  and  their  families, 
and  Jonathan  Hartwell,  without  his  family,  who  came  in  the  following 
spring.  James,  Jonathan  and  Green  Saunders  and  D.  C.  Bastin  came 
in  July,  1807,  and  during  the  same  year  John  Howard,  Asa  Griffin  and 
John  Prouty  came.  In  1808  9  the  settlement  was  largely  increased 
and  its  progress  continued  without  much  interruption  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  War  of  181 2,  when,  according  to  Dr.  Hough,  every  fam- 
ily but  five  left  the  town,  and  most  of  them  never  returned. 

This  was  a  hard  blow  to  the  growth  of  the  town,  and  recovery  was 
slow.  The  level  character  of  much  of  the  land,  portions  of  it  being  low 
and  wet  previous  to  the  clearing  away  of  the  forest,  was  very  discourag- 
ing to  the  pioneers,  though  such  lands  are  now  the  most  valuable  part 
of  the  town  in  an  agricultural  sense.  The  first  frame  house  was  built  in 
1808  by  Samuel  Harris,  who  came  the  previous  year  from  Middlesex, 
Vt.  It  was  covered  with  basswood  "shakes"  and  was  on  the  farm  re- 
cently occupied  by  David  Harris.  The  first  school  was  taught  in  18 10 
by  Miss  S.  Tyler. 


THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE.  671 

Succeeding  the  cold  season  of  1816,  which  caused  so  much  suffering 
throughout  the  county,  settlements  in  various  parts  of  the  town  were 
encouraging  and  the  work  of  public  improvement  has  steadily  continued 
ever  since  The  cause  of  education  has  received  its  merited  attention 
in  the  town,  which  is  now  divided  into  thirteen  school  districts,  with 
excellent  schools  in  all,  and  a  graded  school  in  North  Lawrence.  Dairy- 
ing has  to  a  large  extent  taken  the  place  of  grain  raising  in  this  town, 
as  it  has  throughout  this  section,  butter-making  being  the  principal 
occupation  of  the  farmers.  There  are  now  five  successful  butter  fac- 
tories in  operation.  The  manufacturing  operations  are  noticed  in  the 
succeeding  village  history. 

A  few  early  roads  had  been  opened  previous  to  the  formation  of  the 
town,  and  a  State  road  from  Port  Kent,  on  Lake  Champlain,  through 
the  southern  part  of  the  town,  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  1827,  and 
was  kept  up  by  the  State  until  the  various  towns  were  ready  to  care  for 
it,  when  the  toll  gates  previously  maintained  were  removed.  Over  this 
highway  a  line  of  stages  ran  in  1833  and  later.  The  sum  of  $250  was 
appropriated  at  the  first  town  meeting  for  the  improvement  of  roads, 
and  the  town  was  divided  into  seven  road  districts  ;  these  have,  of 
course,  been  greatly  increased  in  number  since.  A  substantial  iron 
bridge  was  erected  over  the  Deer  River  at  Lawrenceville,  and  another 
at  North  Lawrence  in  1876.  The  O.  &  L.  C.  Railroad  was  built  through 
the  town  in  1850,  and  has  been  a  source  of  great  benefit  to  the  inhabi- 
tants. 

In  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  this  town  followed  the  same  line  of  ac- 
tion that  governed  other  towns  in  the  county.  Liberal  bounties  were 
authorized,  and  a  committee  consisting  of  O.  F.  Shepard,  Sumner  L. 
Hazen  and  T.  H.  Ferris  superintended  the  issue  of  certificates  for  that 
purpose.  Under  the  energetic  and  generous  action  of  the  electors  in 
special  town  meetings  the  number  of  volunteers  demanded  from  the 
town  was  secured 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation  to 
1894,  with  years  of  their  service  : 

1829-32,  Carlton  McEuen  ;  1833-34,  George  P.  Fanar  ;  1835,  Carlton  McEuen  ;  1836, 
Myron  G.  Peck  ;  1837,  Luther  Whitney  ;  1838-33,  Walter  Smead  ;  1840,  no  choice  ;  J. 
F.  Saunders  and  C.  McEuen  each  havin"-  received  140  votes,  the  justice  appointed  the 
latter,  who  declined  to  serve ;  and  a  special   meeting  was  held  March  30,  when  J.  F. 


672  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Saunders  was  chosen;  1841,  J.  F.  Saunders;  1842-43,  Lucius  Hulburd;  1844,  J.  F. 
Saunders;  1845,  Jude  Clark;  1846-48,  Carlton  McEuen;  1849-50,  Milo  L.  Burnham  ; 
1851,  Peabody  Newland  ;  1852,  Noah  D.  Lawrence  ;  1853-54,  Lyman  Day  ;  1855-56, 
Carlton  McEuen;  1857-58,  John  Ferris;  1859-60,  William  Romaine  ;  1861-62,  Will- 
iam Fortune  ;  1863-64,  Henry  Stickney;  1865-66,  George  A.  Burt;  1867-70,  Tiras  H. 
Ferris;  1871-74,  RuEus  S.  Palmer ;  1875-76.  A.  E.  McEuen ;  1877,  Sumner  Sweet; 
1878-85,  George  A.  Burt;  1886-88,  Jerome  Trussell;  1889,  C.  H.  Babcock ;  1890-91, 
Silas  W.  Merrill ;  1892-94,  Augustus  E.  McEuen. 

North  Lawrence. — The  first  actual  settlement  at  the  site  of  this  vil- 
lage was  made  by  John  VV.  Bean,  from  Orange  county,  Vt.,  in  1827. 
The  locality  was  then  a  thick  forest  standing  in  swampy  land.  Rebuilt 
the  first  frame  house.  Chauncey  Bristol  built  a  small  shanty  in  1826 
and  began  the  erection  of  a  saw  mill,  which  was  carried  away  before  it 
was  finished.  He  rebuilt  and  finished  the  mill  in  1831,  and  operated  it 
for  a  number  of  years ;  it  is  not  now  in  existence.  Mr.  Bristol  died  in 
the  town  in  1870,  aged  ninety-three  years.  Zebulon  Moore,  A.  H. 
Barnes,  John  C.  Williams  and  Simon  Austin  settled  here  about  1832. 
Mr.  Barnes  owned  the  land  on  which  the  village  stands,  and  it  was  only 
a  small  mill  settlement  until  the  building  of  the  railroad  in  1850,  after 
which  it  grew  rapidly.  Situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Deer  River,  manu- 
facturing became  of  some  importance  and  there  were  five  dams  built 
across  the  stream  within  a  mile.  A  gang  saw  mill  with  thirty  saws  was 
built  in  1849  by  T.  P.  Chandler  ;  it  was  afterwards  changed  to  a  circu- 
lar mill,  passed  through  several  hands  and  is  now  operated  by  M.  D. 
Quenell.  A  pail  and  tub  factory  was  established  in  1862  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  20,000  tubs  and  10,000  pails  a  year.  It  was  operated  in  1876 
by  Garfield  &  McHollister,  and  is  now  conducted  by  Townsend  &  Burn- 
ham.  The  first  grist  mill  was  built  by  Amasa  Townsend  &  Co.  with 
three  run  of  stones;  it  was  burned  in  1875  and  rebuilt  in  the  same  year. 
It  was  afterwards  operated  by  E.  S.  Crapser,  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
I.  A.  Sergeant,  who  also  carries  on  a  starch  factory  which  was  estab- 
lished in  1892.  A  starch  factory  was  built  in  1877  by  E.  S.  Crapser 
and  operated  a  number  of  years;  it  was  demolished  about  1888.  A 
stave  factory  and  a  tub  factory  were  in  operation  from  about  i860,  but 
were  discontinued  about  1875.  A  store  was  kept  below  the  village 
about  1847,  ^iicl  in  the  following  year  R.  Barnard  opened  the  first  store 
in  the  village.     Andrew  Mont  rait  opened  a  store  soon  afterward  and 


THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE.  673 

continued  to  i860.  General  stores  are  now  conducted  by  Trussell  & 
Connolly  and  H.  E.  Merrell.  Drug  stores  are  kept  by  John  L.  Brown 
and  J  D.  Hakins  ;  groceries  by  H.  J.  Dewe}-,  J.  Kallaher,  M.  Malakia, 
and  E.  T.  Dustin.  A.  E.  Chaftee  has  a  clothing  store  and  barber  shop  ; 
W.  C.  Williams  a  tin  shop,  and  I.  A.  Galusha  a  shoe  shop.  Edson 
Crawford  opened  the  first  hotel  here  in  1850,  when  he  built  a  part  of 
the  Union  House  ;  there  James  Brownell  acted  as  host  for  twenty-five 
years.  The  house  is  now  kept  by  A.  O.  Nichols,  and  the  Commercial 
House  by  Stephen  Dunn.  The  post-office  was  established  in  December, 
1850.  with  John  H.  Conant  postmaster;  it  was  made  a  money  order 
office  in  1871.  The  present  postmaster  is  C.  H.  Barnes.  Miss  S.  Mix 
taught  the  first  school  here  in  1834  In  1S69  a  commodious  two  story 
brick  school  house  was  erected. 

Lawrenceville. — This  pleasant  village  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
Deer  River  near  the  center  of  the  town,  where  early  improvements 
were  made,  the  first  being  a  saw  mill  built  by  Ephraim  Martin  in  1809, 
A  freshet  carried  away  the  dam  and  nothing  further  was  done  in  that 
line  until  1821  ;  but  Asa  and  Joseph  Tyler  had  settled  here  in  1 807,  be- 
tween which  year  and  1830  the  following  persons  located  here:  George 
Everett,  Morda  Lavery,  James  Ferris.  David  C.  Bastin,  Luther  Ferris, 
Jacob  and  Josiah  F.  Saunders  came  soon  after;  Beriah  M.  Newland, 
Amasa  Harrington.  Heman  Shepard,  Nathan  Mallory,  Ezra  Terrell, 
William  Hulburd,  Luther  Whitney.  J.  C.  Rockwell,  George  Wilber, 
James  Johnston,  A.  Reid,  Carlton  McEuen,  George  McEuen,  Asa  Bal- 
lard. Eben  Mix,  James  Bentley,  Enos  Burt,  P.  Newland,  John  Shepard, 
David  Blish,  and  many  others. 

The  early  settlers  in  this  locality  were  forced  to  go  six  miles  to  the 
mill,  but  after  1820  the  trying  conditions  of  the  pioneers  were  rapidly 
ameliorated.  In  1821  Charles  Kellogg  built  a  sawmill  on  the  site  of 
the  present  mill,  the  latter  being  the  third  one  erected  there.  A  tan- 
nery was  built  by  William  Taylor,  which  was  operated  by  various  per- 
sons, but  is  now  discontinued.  A  starch  factory  was  built  in  1847  by 
L.  Hulburd  who  was  the  pioneer  in  this  kind  of  business  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county.  Three  times  he  was  burned  out,  and  built  the  pres- 
ent factor)-  in  1873  and  still  operates  it  and  a  planing  mill  ;  he  also  con- 
ducts another  factory  in  the  town.  The  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  are  oper- 
8p 


674  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ated  by  W.  D.  Wilder.  A  store  was  opened  in  1822  by  Josiah  F.  Saun- 
ders, who  continued  many  years.  In  1848  a  union  store  was  opened 
by  thirty  members,  and  O.  F.  Shepard,  James  Harris  and  Peabody 
Newland,  directors.  R.  McEuen  closed  up  the  business  in  1863,  pay- 
ing a  dividend.  In  1871  a  stock  company  was  formed  to  carry  on  a 
union  store  with  twenty-one  members.  O.  F.  Shepard  and  Lucius 
Hulburd  were  made  directors  There  are  now  three  general  stores  kept 
here  by  Dana  &  Ross,  Roberts  &  Ross,  and  Reynolds  Brothers.  E.  F. 
Hall  has  a  furniture  store.  John  Shepard  kept  a  tavern  in  a  log  build- 
ing about  1820  and  later  in  a  frame  building.  A  hotel  was  opened  in 
1842  in  a  building  which  was  used  for  the  purpose  for  forty  years,  and 
was  kept  by  M.  &  M.  V.  B.  Barney  from  1855  until  later,  when  it  passed 
to  the  latter,  who  still  conducts  it. 

The  post-office  was  established  in  April,  1829,  with  Josiah  F.  Saun- 
ders postmaster.  The  present  official  is  S.  H.  Roberts.  The  Lawrence- 
ville  Academy  was  established  in  March,  i860,  as  a  stock  concern,  the 
capital  to  be  not  less  than  $3,000,  in  $25  shares.  Among  the  promi- 
nent promoters  of  the  project  were  P.  Newland,  William  T.  Hall,  O.  F. 
Shepard,  W.  C.  Blisli,  L.  Hulburd  and  S.  B.  Goff.  The  first  trustees 
were  Miller  Heath,  P.  Newland,  W.  C.  Blish,  O.  F.  Shepard.  L.  HuU 
burd,  G.  B.  Wilbur,  J  W.  Newland,  Joel  Hitchcock,  Enos  Burt,  Will- 
iam Romaine,  N  R.  Miller  and  H.  J.  Thomas.  A  three-story  brick 
building  was  erected  in  i86o  at  a  cost  of  $4,500.  An  academic  charter 
was  granted  the  institution  in  1861,  in  the  spring  of  which  year  the 
school  was  opened  with  John  B.  Young  principal  and  Mrs.  Young  pre- 
ceptress. For  a  few  years  the  academy  was  fairly  prosperous,  but  com- 
petition with  more  pretentious  institutions  elsewhere  rendered  it  advisa- 
ble to  close  the  institution.  The  building  is  now  used  for  district  school 
purposes 

Nicholville — This  enterprising  village  is  situated  on  the  east  branch 
of  the  St.  Regis  river  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  where  the 
stream  is  crossed  by  the  old  turnpike,  and  part  of  the  village  is  on  the 
Hopkinton  side,  where  the  first  settlement  was  made.  Samuel  Wilson 
built  a  saw  mill  here  in  18 17,  and  for  many  years  that  and  a  small  col- 
lection of  houses  were  known  only  as  "  Sodom."  As  the  settlement 
grew  it  extended  across  the  river  and  was  named  Nicholville,  in  honor 


THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE.  675 

of  E.  S.  Nichols,  the  executor  of  the  estate  of  William  Lawrence.  Eli 
Bush,  Chester  Armstrong,  Calvin  Converse  and  Horace  Higgins  set- 
tled here  about  1820.  Others  who  came  early  to  this  vicinity  were: 
Thomas  Day  and  his  sons,  Lyman,  Joel,  Warren,  Russell  aud  Hosea  ; 
Joseph  Stearns,  Jude  Clark,  Beriah  Sweet,  Elihu  Ayers,  Dennis  Stacy, 
Lyman  Page  Abijah  Chandler  with  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  Otis 
Farrar,  John  Thomas,  James  Trussel,  Myron  G.  Peck,  Royal  Smith, 
Andrew  Squier,  Elisha  Spencer,  Asa  Miller,  Hiram  Blanchard,  James 
Sherer  and  John  W.  Witters. 

The  St.  Regis  affords  good  water  power  at  this  point,  which  led  to 
the  establishment  of  several  manufacturing  plants.  A  grist  mill  was 
built  in  1822  by  Samuel  Wilson  and  was  carried  away  by  a  flood  in 
1830.  William  Lawrence  caused  the  erection  of  a  stone  grist  mill  in 
1826,  which  was  used  until  1863,  when  the  upper  part  was  removed 
and  the  building  reconstructed  into  its  present  condition  by  A.  N.  and 
H.  N.  Woodard.  The  mill  was  afterwards  in  the  hands  of  B.  D.  Bab- 
cock  is  now  operated  by  S.  E.  Babcock.  Below  this  mill  were  a  saw 
mill,  shingle  mill  and  sash  factor}^,  which  are  not  now  in  operation.  A 
carding  and  fulling  mill  was  built  early,  but  was  abandoned  long  ago. 
Saw  mills  and  shingle  mills  here  are  now  operated  by  J.  H.  Knowlton, 
A.  L.  Blake  and  Morris  Day.  There  are  the  usual  number  of  shops 
and  stores. 

The  first  store  was  kept  by  Zephaniah  Piatt  in  1828,  and  Lyman  Day 
began  trade  soon  afterward.  James  Sherer  opened  his  store  in  1846 
and  continued  to  1874.  Sumner,  Sweet  &  Co.  began  in  1857  and  con- 
tinued many  years.  The  New  England  Protective  Union  store  was 
opened  in  1846  and  closed  out  in  1867.  In  1868  seventy  persons 
formed  another  Union  Store  Company,  with  Jonah  Sanford,  president, 
and  G.  A.  Burt,  secretary.  The  business  was  successful  for  a  number 
of  years,  but  was  closed  out  about  1880.  The  present  merchants  in 
the  place  are  C.  S.  Olmstead,  Henry  Sweet,  J.  A.  Martindale  and  J. 
H.  Knowlton.  The  first  hotel  was  built  in  1830  by  James  Trussell ; 
this  was  burned  in  1866  and  the  present  house  erected  on  the  site. 
The  Commercial  house  is  now  kept  by  Henry  Chandler.  J.  A.  Mar- 
tindale is  postmaster. 


676  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

The  Nicholville  Baptist  ChtircJi  was  formed  September  ii,  1808,  by- 
Elder  Samuel  Rowley,  with  six  members.  Among  the  pioneer  mem- 
bers were  Abijah  Chandler,  Asa  Moon,  Seth  Abbott,  Samuel  Eastman, 
Seth  Putnam  and  Thomas  Remington.  A  society  was  formed  a  little 
later  with  A.  Chandler,  Jonah  Sanford.  S.  C.  Kelsey  and  Samuel  East- 
man, trustees.  This  society  united  with  the  Congregationalists  in  181 5 
in  building  the  union  house  of  worship  in  Hopkinton.  In  1831  a  small 
church  was  built  at  Nicholville,  which  was  used  until  1852,  when  the 
present  church  was  built.  On  the  5th  of  August,  1843,  ^he  Hopkin- 
ton interest  was  abandoned  and  the  church  permanently  located  in 
Nicholville.  About  $400  have  been  spent  on  the  church  in  recent 
years,  and  the  property  is  valued  at  $3,000.  The  membership  is  eighty- 
two.      The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  F.  L.    Foster. 

The  Baptist  ChiwcJi  of  Lawrenceville  was  formed  in  1827,  with  seven 
members.  Services  were  held  in  school  houses  until  1841,  when  a  plain 
church  was  built,  the  organization  taking  the  name  of  "  The  First  Bap- 
tist Evangelical  Society,"  in  1840,  and  reorganizing  May  14,  1842.  The 
first  trustees  were  Peabody  Newland,  Walter  Smead  and  Stephen 
Hammond.  The  present  church  was  built  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  between 
$3,000  and  $4,000.      The  present  pastor  is  Elder  Harmon. 

The  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  July,  1838,  by  Elder 
Benjamin  Bundy  and  David  Colby,  with  five  members.  Meetings  were 
held  in  school  houses  until  1867,  when  an  interest  was  secured  in  a 
church  with  the  Congregationalists.  The  society  was  reorganized  in 
1867,  with  H.  J.  Perry,  Ira  Butler  and  Leman  Bristol,  trustees.  The 
membership  has  been  small  for  many  years.  At  present  Rev.  Mr. 
Ramdell  is  pastor. 

The  Methodist  Episcopxl  Church  of  Nicholville  was  organized  about 
1840  with  forty-two  members,  and  Rev.  Justin  Allen  as  pastor.  For 
many  years  services  were  held  in  the  union  church,  but  in  1876  the 
present  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  This  church  and  the 
one  at  Fort  Jackson  are  in  one  charge.  The  membership  is  128,  and 
Rev.  Henry  H.  Esselgrave  is  pastor. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Lawrenceville  was  incorporated 
April  6,  1842,  with  David  Blish,  John  Shepard,  Charles  Kellogg,  Sam- 


THE  TOWN  OF  LAWRENCE.  677 

uel  Meacham,  Charles  S.  Wise,  John  F.  Carpenter  and  Thomas  Hale, 
trustees.  A  frame  church  was  built  soon  after,  which  was  considerably 
improved  later.  The  present  church  was  erected  in  1887-8.  The  mem- 
bership is  at  present  about  fifty  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  H.  L.  Campbell. 

The  Congregational  Church  of  Lawrenceville  was  incorporated  Aug- 
ust 3,  1840,  with  Heman  Shepard,  Avery  Collins  and  John  W.  Bean, 
trustees.  The  church  was  built  not  long  after  the  organization  and  was 
thoroughly  repaired  and  refitted  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  There 
is  no  paster  at  present,  and  the  society  is  small. 

TJie  First  Congregational  Church  of  North  Lawrence  was  organized 
August  17,  1852,  with  about  twenty  members.  Rev.  George  B.  Row- 
ley was  the  first  pastor.  The  church  society  was  formed  in  September, 
1852,  with  Jacob  Williams,  S  H.  Barnes  and  Nelson  Williams,  trustees. 
A  frame  church  was  built  in  1853,  and  about  five  years  ago  it  was 
largely  rebuilt  and  refurnished  by  the  Baptises,  who  had  an  interest  in 
it,  as  above  stated  The  Congregationalists  do  not  have  legular  ser- 
vices 

The  Universalist  Society  of  Nicholville  was  organized  about  1840, 
and  reorganized  in  1872.  The  society  has  never  been  a  strong  one, 
and  from  1872  to  1876  was  under  the  spiritual  guidance  of  Prof  J.  S. 
Lee  of  St.  Lawrence  University.  An  interest  was  held  in  the  old 
union  church,  and  services  were  held  as  occasion  offered. 

St.  Thotnas  Episcopal  Church  was  formed  as  a  mission  in  1870  and 
the  church  erected  in  that  year  at  a  cost  of  $4,200  ;  the  building  com- 
mittee being  Rev.  Mr.  Randall,  William  Kingston  and  James  Whiteside. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  A.  L.  Fortin. 

The  St.  Lawrence  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  formed  in  1875  by 
Father  John  O'Haire.  A  handsome  brick  church  was  erected  in  1876, 
at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  The  society  has  always  been  a  strong  and  pros- 
perous one.     Rev.  Father  Butler  is  at  present  in  charge. 


678  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  HERMON— ORGANIZED  IN    1S30. 

THIS  was  the  twenty- fourth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  April  17,  1830.  Hermon  was  originally  organized 
under  the  name  of  Depeau,  after  Francis  Depeau,  once  proprietor  of  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Jefferson  county.  He  was  also  interested  in  the 
middle  third  of  this  territory,  which  had  passed  from  McCormick  to 
George  Lewis,  July  12,  1804,  who  sold  to  John  and  Curtis  Bolton, 
August  I,  1823,  and  they  sold  to  Depeau,  June  6,  1828.  He  sold  to 
Sarah,  wife  of  John  Bolton,  May  3,  1830. 

The  town  was  formed  from  De  Kalb  and  Edwards  April  17,  1830. 
The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  school-house  near  Nathaniel 
Kent's  May  4,  1830,  and  the  following  officers  elected  :  William  Teall, 
supervisor;  Benjamin  Healey,  town  clerk;  Wilkes  Richardson,  Isaac  C. 
Pool,  Silas  Williams,  assessors;  Martin  L.  Cook,  John  Matoon,  over- 
seers of  the  poor;  Simeon  Peterson,  Jesse  W^orden,  Shubael  Parker, 
commissioners  of  highways  ;  Wilkes  Richardson,  Robert  Gotham,  Harry 
Tanner,  commissioners  of  schools;  Benjamin  Healey,  Aaron  Teall,  C. 
D.  Morehouse,  inspectors  of  public  schools  ;  Charles  O.  Redfield,  col- 
lector ;   Ariel  Wrisley,  Charles  C.  Redfield,  constables. 

The  town  originally  embraced  the  township  of  Fitzwilliam  and  a 
strip  one  mile  by  six  from  the  southwest  side  of  De  Kalb,  On  the  17th 
of  November,  1852,  the  supervisors  annexed  a  tract  from  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  town  of  Edwards,  leaving  in  Hermon  36,686  acres. 

The  name  of  the  town  was  changed  to  Hermon,  February  28,  1834, 
as  there  was  a  Depeauville  in  Jefferson  county.  A  post-office  named 
Hermon  had  been  established  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town  De- 
cember 28,  1828. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  generally  rolling,  some  parts  being  hilly, 
particularly  the  northern  part,  where  it  is  broken  and  sterile.  The  soil 
is  well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  dairying  is  quite  extensively  carried  on. 


THE  TOWN  OF    HERMON.  679 

Some  attempts  at  mining  of  iron  have  been  made,  but  none  of  contin- 
ued prosperity.  Elm,  Tanner,  and  Carter  Creeks  are  the  only  streams 
of  account.  Trout  Lake  is  in  the  southern  part,  and  Cedar  Lake  ex- 
tends into  that  part  of  the  town. 

Many  of  the  pioneers  of  this  town  came  from  Vermont  and  were  in- 
dustrious and  hardy  people.  The  first  white  settler  was  James  Taylor, 
who  made  a  small  clearing  in  the  western  part  about  1805.  Philemon 
Stewart,  Ariel  Inman  and  Rufus  Hopkins  came  in  soon  afterwards,  but 
left  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  1812  and  did  not  return.  Thomas 
Tanner  came  in  March,  1809,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  long  and 
useful  life  there. 

The  first  road  leading  through  this  town  was  that  from  Russell  to  De 
Kalb,  which  was  opened  just  prior  to  the  War  of  181 2.  In  18 18  the 
road  from  De  Kalb  to  what  is  now  Hermon  village  was  opened. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  town  was  kept  in  the  house  of  David 
McCoUum  in  the  winter  of  18 17-18  by  William  D.  Moore. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  town  was  that  of  Ashbel  Tryon  and  Harriet 
McCoUum,  July  4,  1821  ;  and  the  first  death  was  that  of  Peter,  infant 
son  of  Germain  Sutherland,  in  18  18. 

A  post-ofiice  was  established  at  what  is  now  Hermon  village  Decem- 
ber 20,  1828,  with  Benjamin  Healey  as  postmaster.  The  mails  then 
came  in  from  De  Kalb,  carried  on  horseback  by  Henry  Tanner. 

David  McCollum  settled  in  18 12  and  had  four  sons:  Martin,  John, 
Jefferson  D.  and  Samuel.  The  latter  took  the  homestead.  Roger 
Story  came  in  1813.  Germain  Sutherland  in  1816;  he  was  father  of 
Moses  H.,  and  one  of  his  daughters  married  H.  B.  Hamlin,  and  another 
Rosalve  Healey. 

Other  early  settlers  were  Joseph  H.  Baird,  Orle  Gibbons,  William 
Teall  (the  first  supervisor),  Benjamin  Healey  (the  first  town  clerk,  and 
who  left  numerous  descendants),  Clark  Main,  Ralph  Fisher,  Lorenzo 
H  Sheldon,  Chester  W^inslow,  Shubael  Parker,  Wilkes  Richardson  (one 
of  the  first  assessors  and  father  of  Ferdinand  and  King  R.),  William  D. 
Gilmore,  William  H.  Underwood.  Henry  Reed,  Orlando  Babbitt,  Dr. 
H.  Alexander,  Reuben  L  Willson,  John  Gardner,  and  Asa,  his  son, 
Frank  Matteson,  Ransom  and  John  Day,  Noah  Hamilton,  Ezra  Leon- 
ard,   Alexander  Brown,   Almon  and  Amos  V.  Farnsworth,    Silas  Will- 


680  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

iams,  A.  F.  Gates,  a  prominent  dairyman  and  farmer,  William  Ras- 
back,  Thomas  Thornhill,  Alvin  A.  Corey,  William  A.  Scripter,  E.  J. 
Stewart,  son  of  Philemon  Stewart,  an  early  settler.  Many  of  these  men 
became  prominent  in  the  community  and  some  of  them  left  descendants 
in  this  section. 

The  early  industries  of  this  town  were  connected  with  lumbering,  the 
clearing  of  land  and  raising  such  crops  as  were  needed  by  the  people. 
But  early  in  the  history  of  this  locality  its  excellent  adaptability  to 
grazing  became  apparent  and  more  attention  was  given  to  stock-raising 
and  dairying,  and  in  recent  years  the  latter  industry  has  given  it  a  rank 
among  the  best  towns  in  the  county.      Cheese  is  the  principal  product. 

There  are  large  deposits  of  hematite  iron  ore  in  the  town  and  early 
attracted  attention,  and  it  was  long  believed  they  would  prove  to  be  a 
source  of  wealth.  Mining  operations  were  begun  on  an  extensive  scale 
in  1 064,  and  J.  W.  Lowden,  an  eastern  capitalist,  also  erected  a  furnace 
at  Cooper's  Falls  in  De  Kalb.  Mr.  Lowden  invested  a  large  sum  of 
money,  mostly  in  preliminary  work  In  1872  he  sold  out  his  whole  in- 
terest to  the  Union  Iron  Co*mpany  of  Buffalo,  John  Webb  of  Gouver- 
neur  acting  as  local  agent  of  the  company.  The  "  hard  times  "  of  1873-4 
came  on,  and  that  fact  was  given  as  a  reason  for  cessation  of  the  enter- 
prise, which  has  never  been  resumed.  Like  most  of  the  other  attempts 
to  successfully  mine  and  produce  iron  in  this  county,  there  seem  to  have 
been  conditions  and  circumstances  which,  coupled  with  the  cheap  pro- 
duction elsewhere,  rendered  it  impossible  to  profitably  pursue  the  in- 
dustry here. 

The  dairying  interest,  which  has  been  mentioned,  has  been  rapidly 
developed  in  tiie  past  twenty  years.  In  1877  the  product  of  cheese  had 
reached  about  700,000,  and  in  tliat  year  the  following  factories  were  in 
operation  : 


Factory. 

Owner. 

No.  of  Cows. 

Pounds  of  Cheese. 

Hermon  Village 

Charles  Risley 

750 

200,000 

Hermon  Center 

A.  F.  Gates 

500 

140,000 

West  Hermon 

Baker  &  Pickard 

450 

120,000 

South  Hermon 

George  La  Lone 

400 

110,000 

Porter  Hill 

John  Foster 

375 

]  00,000 

Parker  Factory 

Asa  Parker 

100 

30,000 

2,575  700,000 


THE  TOWN  OF  HERMON.  681 

The  present  condition  of  the  industry  is  no  less  encouraging.  In 
Hermon  Village  there  is  a  butter  factory  owned  by  Lewis  Knox  ;  and 
at  Hermon  Center  is  a  cheese  factory,  by  Baker  &  Pickard  ;  at  West 
Hermon  another  by  Morrow  Brother's  ;  and  at  Porter  Hill,  one  by  John 
Foster.  A  factory  was  in  operation  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town, 
but  was  burned.  The  Parker  factory  was  discontinued  about  ten  years 
ago. 

Hermon  Village. — This  village  is  pleasantly  situated  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  town,  near  the  Canton  and  De  Kalb  lines,  and  is  a  thrifty 
place.  The  first  settlement  was  made  at  this  point  by  Roger  Story  in 
i8i6,  who  at  once  built  a  log  house.  In  the  same  year  Germain  Suth- 
erland came.  Other  settlers  on  the  site  of  the  village  were  Alexander 
Brown,  Nehemiah  Barker,  Thomas  Gilmore,  Elisha  Burnham,  David 
Wesley,  Samuel  McCollum,  William  D.  Moore  and  William  Martin,  the 
latter  opening  the  first  store  in  the  place  in  1823.  From  that  year  until 
the  present  time,  the  village  has  continued  to  grow  in  population.  Its 
prosperity  was  temporarily  checked  by  a  disastrous  fire  April  27,  1875, 
the  loss  by  which  was  about  $100,000;  but  the  energy  of  the  citizens 
enabled  them  to  promptly  recover  from  the  disaster,  and  new  and  hand- 
some blocks  of  buildings  arose  on  the  sites  of  the  former  ones.  Some  of 
these  are  noteworthy  examples  of  business  architecture,  among  them  be- 
ing the  old  and  the  new  Lynde  blocks,  the  block  of  Dr.  G.  G.  Seymour, 
the  J.  B.  Ryel  block,  the  building  erected  by  George  Johnson  and  J.  B. 
McLean,  the  W.  G.  Popple  block,  the  new  Baptist  church,  etc. 

The  village  was  incorporated  in  1887  and  the  first  election  of  officers 
was  held  November  17,  following,  at  which  were  chosen  :  W.  W.  Mat- 
teson,  president;  Elisha  Burnham,  Martin  R,  Folsom,  William  M. 
Green,  trustees;  James  K.  Hale,  treasurer ;  John  J.  Haile,  collector. 
Waterworks  were  established  in  1891,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  and  give  the 
village  a  good  supply  of  pure  water. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  first  store  in  the  village  there  have  been  v?^ 
rious  persons  engaged  in  mercantile  business  here,  for  longer  or  shorter 
periods.  Those  now  engaged  in  business  are  E.  B.  Hatch  and  Conant 
&  Beswick,  general  stores  ;  Johns  &  Newell,  groceries  ;  James  K.  Hale, 
groceries  and  boots  and  shoes  ;  W.  G.  Popple  and  J.  B.  McLean,  hard- 
ware ;  James  Robinson,  drugs ;  Isaac  Gibbons,  liquor  store ;  G.  W. 
86 


682  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Johnson  has  a  meat  market ;  Daniel  Booth  and  Robert  Davidson  are 
blacksmiths  ;  L.  M.  Fuller  and  Green  &  Babcock,  furniture,  the  latter 
firm  also  undertakers.  The  hotel  is  kept  by  S.  H.  Ladd.  J.  E.  Rob- 
inson is  postmaster. 

The  various  industries  of  the  village  have  kept  pace  with  the  other 
interests.  A  tannery  was  established  here  early  and  operated  until  re- 
cent years,  but  the  business  was  finally  abandoned  and  the  old  building 
is  empty.  James  Kelly  has  been  engaged  in  carriage  making  since 
1856,  doing  a  large  business  in  that  line.  The  first  grist  mill  was 
erected  by  Milton  Johnson  in  18 19,  and  stood  about  opposite  the  site 
of  the  present  mill  on  the  east  side  of  Elm  Creek  ;  he  also  built  a  dis- 
tillery at  the  same  time,  both  of  which  were  long  ago  abandoned.  The 
present  mill  was  built  by  John  Stokes,  who  sold  it  to  T,  W.  Sheldon  in 
1865.  The  mill  is  now  operated  by  James  Brown.  There  is  no  saw 
mill  in  operation  here  now,  though  there  was,  of  course,  one  for  many 
years. 

A  beautiful  cemetery  has  been  laid  out  near  the  village,  the  officers 
of  the  association  being  Z.  W.  Babcock,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  W.  W. 
Matteson,  president ;  and  W.  M.  Green,  James  Keiley,  H.  C.  Maine, 
Joseph  Firth,  trustees. 

The  Observer  is  a  weekly  newspaper  started  by  G.  T.  Chaney  in 
1888.  It  is  Republican  in  politics  and  is  successfully  published  by 
Hamilton  &  Demmons. 

The  first  school  taught  in  this  town  has  already  been  mentioned ;  it 
was  followed  by  another  in  the  second  winter  (1819-20)  in  the  same 
place  by  Wesley  McCoUum.  In  1826  a  school  was  taught  at  the  site  of 
the  village  by  Miss  Huldah  Wickerson.  The  first  district  established 
after  the  formation  of  the  town  was  No.  i,  June  10,  1830,  and  embraced 
a  wide  extent  of  territory.  This  has  been  succeeded  by  various  divi- 
sions and  there  are  now  thirteen  districts  in  the  town.  In  1868  a  de- 
partment school  was  organized  in  the  village,  the  first  board  being  as 
follows  :  A.  M.  Spalding,  Otis  Earle,  Harris  Bartholomew,  W.  VV.  Mat- 
teson, and  Z.  W.  Babcock  ;  the  present  board  is  composed  of  E.  B. 
White,  H.  C.  Main,  Benjamin  Cleghorn,  John  C.  Gibbons,  and  W.  W. 
Matteson. 


THE  TOWN  OF  HERMON.  683 

The  present  commodious  school  building  was  erected  in  1885.  The 
school  has  now  four  departments  with  four  teachers,  and  the  languages 
are  embraced  in  its  course.  The  Board  of  Education  for  1893  is  Dr.  C. 
E.  Northrup,  clerk;  Z.  W.  Babcock,  president;  E.  A.  Conant,  H.  C. 
Maine,  E.  O.  Reynolds. 

Marshville. — This  is  a  hamlet  situated  on  Elm  Creek  about  one  mile 
south  of  Hermon  village.  The  early  settlers  at  this  point  were  Clark 
Main,  William  H.  Dodge,  L.  VV.  Campbell,  J.  M.  McCollum,  and  Amos 
Marsh,  father  of  Horatio  Marsh ;  from  the  former  the  place  received  its 
name.  About  the  year  1825  Abram  Fisk  built  the  second  saw  mill  in 
the  town  here.  Amos  Marsh  bought  this  property  and  erected  a  grist 
mill.     These  mills  were  subsequently  burned. 

The  Marshville  Cemetery  Association  was  incorporated  in  March, 
1850,  and  the  cemetery  established;  but  the  association  was  allowed  to 
die  out  in  a  few  years. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  formation 
to  the  present  time  : 

1830-32,  William  Teall;  1833,  Reuben  L.  Wilson;  1834-36,  Harry  Tanner;  1837, 
Silas  Williams  ;  1838-39,  Henry  P.  Cook ;  1840,  Nathaniel  Kent ;  1841-42,  H.  P.  Cook  ; 
1843-47,  Silas  Williams;  1848-51,  Seymour  Thatcher;  1852-53,  David  W.  Weeks; 
1854-55,  William  E.  Tanner;  1856-57,  Orlando  Babbitt;  1858,  Horace  Barnes;  1859- 
60,  Clark  Maine ;  1861-64,  William  E.  Turner;  1864-67,  Alanson  A.  Matteson  ;  1868- 
70,  Dolphus  G.  Lynde;  1871,  Otis  Earle;  1872-73,  A.  A.  Matteson  ;  1874,  Z.  W.  Bab- 
cock; 1875-79,  A.  A.  Matteson;  1880-84,  Z.  W.  Babcock;  1885-87,  D.  S.  Lynde; 
1888,  H.C.Maine;  1889,  W.  A.  Leonard;  1890,  George  Babbitt;  1891-94,  W.  W. 
Matteson. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion,  see  Chapter  XV. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

The  first  religious  meetings  held  in  town  were  by  Rev.  Wm.  Wright, 
a  Congregational  missionary,  in  18 14-15,  wlio  paved  the  way  for  other 
religious  bodies  to  follow,  but  did  not  organize  a  church.  Th?  first 
Methodist  church  was  formed  about  the  year  1820,  but  preaching  had 
been  enjoyed  in  the  house  of  Roger  Story  as  early  as  18 16.  The  so- 
ciety was  incorporated  November  i,  1847,  with  Samuel  I.  Bingham, 
Seymour  Thatcher,  Joseph  H.  Baird,  Lorenzo  H.  Sheldon,  Orin  Nich- 
ols,  Timothy  H.  Hatch,   and  Daniel  Mclntire,  trustees.     In  the  next 


684  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWREXCE  COUNTY. 

year  they  built  a  handsome  church,  which  is  still  in  use,  but  has  been 
at  various  times  greatly  improved  and  modernized.  The  society  is  now 
prosperous  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Kanoff. 

The  first  Baptist  church  at  Hermon  village  was  organized  in  Januar}-, 
1818,  and  the  society  was  incorporated  December  3,  1845,  with  the 
following  as  trustees  :  Horatio  Marsh,  Daniel  K.  Babcock,  Edward  Mad- 
dock,  William  E.  Tanner,  Theodorus  Frisb}^,  and  Orle  Gibbons  The 
liouse  of  worship  was  built  in  1849.  This  church  was  burned  March  i, 
1 891,  and  a  new  and  very  handsome  modern  edifice  erected.  The  pres- 
ent pastor  is  Rev.  S.  Mills. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  at  Marshville  in  1835  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Eastman.  Among  the  early  members  were  Wilkes  Richardson  and 
wife,  Ezra  Leonard  and  wife,  John  r^Iatoon  and  wife,  and  others.  The 
first  named  men  were  trustees.  In  1840  they  built  a  church  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500.  The  membership  has  never  been  large,  between  forty  and 
fifty.  They  are  now  supplied  by  Rev.  W.  G.  Roberts,  pastor  of  the  De 
Kalb  church. 

A  Universalist  church  was  organized  March  8,  1858,  at  Hermon  vil- 
lage, and  continued  in  existence  something  more  than  twenty  years,  but 
finally  died  out. 

The  Christian  church  was  formed  by  Elder  Spooner  in  1826.  The 
society  flourished  for  a  time,  and'in  1859  erected  a  wood  meeting-house 
in  Marshville,  having  at  one  time  upwards  of  200  members,  but  by 
death  and  removals  a  few  years  later  dropped  to  about  thirty.  Their 
services  have  been  irregular  since. 


THE  TOWN  OF  PITCAIRN.  G85 


CHAPTER  XLV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  PITCAIRN  -ORGANIZED  IN   183G. 

THIS  was  the  twenty-fifth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  March  24,  1836.  It  was  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  Fowler  and  Edwards,  containing  the  township  No.  i  i,  or  Portaferry, 
excepting  a  triangular  tract  on  the  west  corner,  which  was  retained  by 
Fowler.  The  town  borders  on  Lewis  county,  and  lies  in  the  rear  of 
Fowler  and  Edwards,  and  joins  the  town  of  Fine  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  county.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  David 
Brown  and  the  following  officers  elected:  John  Sloper,  supervisor; 
Stephen  Seabury,  town  clerk  ;  Levi  W.  Gleason,  Sylvester  Bacon,  and 
Aaron  Geer,  justices  of  the  peace;  Samuel  Gustin,  Almond  Howard, 
and  Robert  Leach,  assessors;  Matthew  M.  Geer,  collector;  John  Will- 
iams, George  P.  Burdick,  and  Levi  Gleason,  commissioners  of  high- 
ways ;  George  P.  Burdick  and  Almond  Howard,  overseers  of  the  poor; 
Matthew  M.  Geer  and  Constant  Wells,  constable. 

The  township  was  assigned  to  Daniel  McCormick  and  transferred  by 
him  to  Joseph  Pitcairn,  from  whom  it  received  its  name.  The  town  is 
well  watered  by  the  south  branch  of  the  Oswegatchie  and  numerous 
smaller  streams  of  pure  water.  The  surface  is  chiefly  rough  and  rocky, 
but  in  some  of  the  narrow  valleys  tiie  land  is  very  productive.  The 
first  clearing  in  the  wilderness  of  Portaferry  was  made  in  1824  by  James 
Streeter,  who  brought  in  his  family  the  following  year.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  other  settlers  came  in  1824-5  and  made  small  clearings,  among 
them  being  Nathaniel,  Elisha  and  Joseph  Lanphear,  Joshua  Sloper, 
Aaron  Geer,  Dayton  Merrell,  George  Peabody,  Levi  W.  Gleason,  Na- 
thaniel C.  Scovil,  Nathan  Dickenson  and  his  five  sons;  and  a  little  later 
these  were  followed  by  Samuel  Gustin,  George  P.  Burdick,  Samuel  Wal- 
ling, Freeman  Anderson,  Stephen  Seabury,  and  others.  In  succeeding 
years  settlers  slowly  spread   themselves  over   the  territory,  the  forbid- 


686  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


ding  character  of  which  seemed  to  offer  them  little  inducement  in  the 
way  of  sites  for  homes. 

The  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  town  was  Calvin,  son  of  N.  C. 
Scovil,  June,  1825  ;  the  first  female  was  Harriet,  daughter  of  Levi  Glea- 
son,  born  September  24,  1825.  The  first  marriage  was  Aaron  Bing- 
ham to  Miss  C.  Dickenson  in  1826  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
Miss  Caroline  Dickinson  in  1826.  The  first  saw  mill  was  erected  in 
1828  by  Major  P.  Jenne  (or  Jenny)  upon  the  creek  that  bears  his  name, 
and  another  was  built  a  little  later  in  the  eastern  part;  both  of  these 
sites  were  long  occupied  by  mills.  At  the  present  time  N.  H.  Carter 
operates  the  mill  at  Pitcairn  village  on  Jenny  Creek  and  also  a  feed  mill. 
At  East  Pitcairn  is  a  steam,  lumber  and  shingle  mill  operated  by  Wright 
Mason.  There  are  two  steam  mills  in  the  western  part,  one  operated 
by  Stephen  Davis,  built  about  five  years  ago  ;  and  one  by  Eli  Pettis, 
built  about  two  years  ago.  At  Jayville,  a  hamlet  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  town  and  a  station  on  the  Carthage  and  St.  Lawrence  Rail- 
road, there  are  two  steam  mills  owned  by  Post  &  Henderson  and  J.  S. 
Demott,  respectively,  of  Oswego.  Other  business  enterprises  of  the 
town  are  the  store  and  hotel  of  John  L.  Guiles,  and  the  store  of  V.  J. 
Van  Ornum  at  Pitcairn  ;  the  cheese  factory  and  store  of  L,  W.  Hub- 
bard at  East  Pitcairn  ;  the  cheese  factory  of  Wilson  Wing  at  Pitcairn  ; 
and  store  of  A.  H.  Andrews  at  Jayville.  The  agriculture  of  the  town 
consists  mainly  of  the  production  of  excellent  butter  and  cheese,  and  the 
raising  of  grain  and  particularly  of  potatoes.  In  the  latter  industry  H. 
C.  Pearson  has  accomplished  results  that  have  given  him  a  very  ex- 
tended reputation.  He  supplied  no  less  than  thirty  two  varieties  to  the 
State  exhibit  for  the  World's  Fair.  Quite  extensive  iron  mining  oper- 
ations have  been  carried  on  for  several  years  at  Jayville  in  the  valuable 
magnetic  ore  of  that  locality;  but  at  the  present  time  the  works  are 
idle.  Traces  of  lead  has  been  discovered,  but  not  in  sufficient  quanti- 
ties to  warrant  mining.  There  are  three  post-offices  in  the  town  :  Pit- 
cairn, with  E.  B  Shipman,  postmaster ;  East  Pitcairn,  with  Simeon 
Wells,  postmaster ;   and  Jayville,  with  A.  H.  Andrews,  postmaster. 

The  following  incident  happened  near  where  Green's  mill  now  stands 
about  1820,  while  the  territory  belonged  to  Fowler.  Mr.  James  Streeter 
was  out  hunting  deer  in  February,  when  there  was  about  three  feet  of 


THE  TOWN  OF  PITCAIRN.  687 

snow  on  the  ground.  He  came  on  to  panther  tracks  and  traced  them 
across  the  ice,  and  found  a  place  where  they  had  pawed  away  the  snow 
to  the  leaves  and  where  five  had  nested  the  night  previous.  Following 
on  the  tracks  he  soon  overtook  a  male  panther,  which  his  dog  treed, 
and  which  lie  killed  by  a  single  shot.  A  few  rods  beyond  a  young 
panther  was  treed,  when  it  required  a  second  shot  to  dispatch  him,  and 
shortly  after  another  young  one  was  treed  and  killed  by  a  single  shot. 
The  three  were  beheaded  and  taken  to  the  camp.  The  next  morning 
Mr.  Streeter  returned  with  a  companion,  when  the  female  panther  was 
killed.  A  large  male  panther  was  treed  soon  after  and  killed  after  be- 
ing shot  several  times.  This  one,  however,  evinced  much  venom,  keep- 
ing his  eyes  fixed  on  the  hunters,  disregarding  the  dog,  gnashing  his 
teeth,  growling,  spitting  after  the  fashion  of  a  cat,  and  would  run  up  and 
down  the  branches  as  if  about  to  attack  them,  then  seating  himself 
would  purr  also  like  a  cat.  The  bounties  were  twenty-five  dollars  each, 
a  good  day's  work. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town,  with  their  years  of 
service. 

John  Sloper,  from  the  first  election  to  the  year  1840,  inclusive;  Sylvester  Bacon,  1841- 
42;  Horatio  N.  Dickenson,  1843-44;  Asaph  Green,  to  fill  vacancy  in  1844, '45,  '46, 
'47,  '51,  '52.  '53  and  '54;  Eli  R.  Paul,  1848,  '49,  '50.  and  1855;  Lorenzo  D.  Geer,  1856, 
'57,  and  1869;  Volney  M.  Carter,  1858,  '59,  and  1870  to  1877,  inclusive;  G.  M.  Glea- 
son,  1860.  '64,  '65,  '67,  '68;  Joel  Manchester,  1861.  '62,  '63;  Thomas  P.  Geer,  1866: 
L.  D.  Geer.  1878.  1881  ;  E.  W.  Gleason,  1879-80;  Safford  Royce,  1882-3;  S.  B.  Yan 
Patten,  1884-89;  Frank  Manchester,  1890;  John  Geer,  1891-3. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

The  Baptist  church  was  the  first  society  organized  in  the  town,  which 
was  formed  in  1826,  with  nine  members  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Paine,  pas- 
tor. The  organization  continued  about  seven  years.  Another  Baptist 
society  was  organized  in  Pitcairn  in  1842,  with  six  members  and  Elder 
E.  J.  Davis  as  the  first  preacher.  For  some  twenty  years  after  1855 
Rev.  C.  H.  Dyke  ministered  to  the  congregation  with  churches  at  Ed- 
wards and  Fine. 

A  Congregational  church  was  organized  by  Rev.  James  Murdock,  of 
Gouverneur,   at  Pitcairn  about  1829,  with   Constant  Wells  and  fifteen 


G88  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

others,  but  in  course  of  time  the  death  and  removal  of  most  of  the  mem- 
bers caused  its  discontinuance. 

A  Methodist  class  was  formed  about  1830,  and  has  been  kept  alive, 
service  being  held  in  the  Union  church  mentioned  below. 

There  was  no  house  of  worship  in  the  town  until  1875,  when  Con- 
stant Wells,  one  of  the  pioneers,  erected  and  donated  a  building  which 
he  named  "  The  Union  Church  of  East  Pitcairn."  It  cost  $1,000.  The 
lot  was  donated  by  Charles  H.  Bowles.  Six  dollars  were  donated  by  a 
man  in  Brookhn.  The  buildin^has  since  been  used  bvthe  various  de- 
nominations  as  occasion  offered.  Previous  to  this  all  denominations 
held  services  in  barns,  dwelling  and  school  houses. 

A  society  known  as  Disciples  was  formed  in  the  west  part  of  the  town, 
under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper,  about  1872,  with  several 
members.  They  increased  to  about  sixty  at  one  time  but  decreased 
later. 

The  Free  Will  Baptists  formed  a  small  society  and  held  meetings  oc- 
casionally in  town. 


CHAPTER  XLVL 
THE  TOWN  OF  MACOMB— ORGANIZED  IN  1841. 


[""HIS  was  the  twenty-sixth  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture passed  April  30,  1841.  The  territory  was  formerly  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Morristown  and  Gouverneur,  from  which  it  was  taken, 
and  embraces  that  part  of  Morristown  laying  south  of  Black  Lake  and 
that  part  of  Gouverneur  north  of  Beaver  Creek,  from  the  De  Kalb  line 
to  the  Ogden  tract,  which  it  follows  to  the  Oswegatchie,  and  then  up 
that  river  to  the  boundary  of  Rossie.  A  small  tract  south  of  the  lake 
was  left  in  the  town  of  Hammond,  but  it  also  was  attached  to  Macomb 
on  the  nth  ol  April,  1842.  The  formation  of  the  town  was  the  result 
of  a  long  existing  feeling  of  seclusion  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  territory  finally  set  off.  With  the  long  and  almost  impassable  lake 
on  the  north,  and  Beaver  Creek  on  the  south,  also  the  poor  roads  that 


THE  TOWN  OF  MACOMB.  GS9 

existed  until  comparatively  recent  times,  rendering  it  difficult  to  reach 
Morristown  and  Gouverneur  for  the  transaction  of  public  business,  it  is, 
perhaps,  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  citizens  did  not  protest  against 
their  situation  earlier  than  they  did.  In  1837  the  people  of  Morristown 
expressed  their  willingness  for  a  division  whenever  the  settlers  south  of 
the  lake  should  desire  it ;  and  shortly  afterward  a  similar  sentiment  was 
expressed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Gouverneur.  A  special  town  meetmg 
was  held  in  Morristown,  at  which  the  vote  for  the  division  was  taken 
and  carried  with  only  one  dissenting  voice. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  the  new  town  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
David  Day,  2d,  on  the  1st  of  July,  1841,  and  the  following  officers 
elected  :  Supervisor,  David  Day,  2d  ;  town  clerk,  Eliphalet  S.  Pope ; 
assessors,  David  B.  Woodworth,  William  Whalin  and  William  Hough- 
ton ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Timothy  Pope,  Daniel  Tully,  Denni- 
son  Coates  ;  collector,  Charlemagne  Pope ;  overseers  of  the  poor, 
George  Kennan,  Josiah  Sweet ;  school  commissioners,  David  Day,  2d, 
John  S.  Kinda,  Morgan  Starks,  jr.  ;  justices,  William  Mills,  C.  Pope  and 
David  Tully. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  much  broken  by  ridges  of  gneiss,  sand- 
stone and  white  limestone,  lying  parallel  with  the  lake  and  covering  a 
large  part  of  the  town.  Between  these  ridges  are  narrow  intervales 
with  rich  soil.  As  a  whole  the  town  is  much  better  adapted  to  grazing 
than  to  tillage.  Fish  and  Birch  Creeks  flow  into  Black  Lake  and  are 
the  principal  streams.  Located  on  Birch  Creek  is  a  large  tract  through 
which  the  stream  has  little  fall  and  over  several  thousand  acres  of  which 
the  waters  formerly  spread.  Pursuant  to  a  law,  the  enactment  of  which 
was  procured,  the  channel  of  the  creek  through  that  section  was  opened 
and  improved,  and  nearly  3,000  acres  of  valuable  land  were  reclaimed. 
The  cost  of  this  improvement  was  about  $6,000,  for  which  the  bene- 
fited lands  were  taxed.  Pleasant  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  a 
mile  long,  is  in  the  western  part.  It  has  no  visible  inlet  and  is  not  af- 
fected by  freshets,  and  the  water  is  clear,  pure  and  cold.  Hickory  Lake 
is  situated  near  the  eastern  bounds  of  the  town  and  is  the  source  of 
Fish  Creek.  There  are  valuable  minerals  in  the  town,  such  as  galena, 
mica,  copper,  pyrites,  etc.,  and  considerable  effort  has  been  expended 
in  the  past  in  mining  operations,  as  explained  further  on. 

87 


690  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  first  settlements  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Macomb  were  not 
made  as  early  as  in  many  other  sections  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and 
the  fact  that  the  town  had  no  civil  existence  until  1841,  makes  its  his- 
tory brief,  while  the  names  of  many  of  the  pioneers  of  the  present  town 
have  found  mention  in  the  histories  of  Gouverneur  and  Morristown. 
There  was  not  much  settlement  in  what  is  now  Macomb  before  18 10. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  town  by  Samuel  Bristol,  who  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Depeyster  and  removed  to  Macomb.  Capt. 
Rufus  Washburn,  originally  from  Connecticut  and  later  from  Otsego 
county,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  located  where  William  Beard- 
slee  now  lives.  He  was  drowned  in  the  Oswegatchie  April  28,  181 7, 
while  returning  from  town  meeting  in  Gouverneur.  It  was  his  son  who 
killed  the  panther  in  his  den,  noted  in  the  history  of  Depeyster.  Samuel 
Wilson,  E.  Wilson  and  Samuel  Peck  were  early  settlers.  For  many 
years  the  settlements  were  limited  to  small  neighborhoods  on  the  State 
road  ;  and  no  schools  were  opened  until  18 18. 

Timothy  Pope  moved  into  the  town  from  Oswegatchie  in  181 8,  and 
built  mills  at  the  point  which  became  and  sti-U  is  called  Pope's  Mills. 
He  was  originally  from  Otsego  county  and  settled  in  Oswegatchie  in 
1804.  He  was  an  enterprising  citizen  and  with  others  of  his  family 
accomplished  much  for  the  good  of  the  community.  He  built  a  dam 
across  the  creek,  forming  a  large  pond,  and  mills  have  continued  in 
operation  there  to  the  present  time.  The  present  saw  mill  is  on  the 
original  site  of  the  first  one  and  is  operated  by  L.  E.  Pope,  a  grandson 
of  Timothy.  In  1828  Timoth)^  Pope  built  a  distillery,  which  was  oper- 
ated for  a  time,  and  changed  to  a  tannery  and  finally  abandoned.  Mr. 
Pope  was  killed,  November  7,  1835,  with  Solomon  Shaw,  by  the  burst- 
ing of  a  defective  mill  stone.  A  steamboat  was  built  in  1837  at  Pope's 
Mills,  by  Henry  Hooker  and  Erastus  W.  White,  and  was  in  use  for  five 
years  in  carrying  pig  iron  and  lead  from  the  furnace  in  Rossie  to  the 
Narrows  and  at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  from  where  it  was  carted  to  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  be  shipped  to  the  market  at  Oswego.  The  post  office 
was  opened  in  1859  with  Russell  Covel  as  postmaster. 

The  dam  at  this  point  (Pope's  Mills)  was  carried  away  in  1862,  since 
which  time  a  large  part  of  the  tract  formerly  overflowed  was  sold  to 
farmers  and  has  produced  valuable  hay  crops.     The  water  power,  by 


THE  TOWN  OF  MACOMB.  691 

reason  of  doing  away  with. this  large  pond,   is    limited  to   a   portion  of 
the  year. 

There  has  for  many  years  been  a  small  mercantile  business  carried 
on  at  Pope's  Mills  by  various  persons.  At  the  present  time  gen- 
eral stores  are  kept  by  Woodworth  Bros.  (V.  E.  Woodworth  being 
postmaster)  and  Frank  Hastings.  Hotels  are  kept  by  E.  H.  Perry  (the 
Fish  Creek  House),  and  Frank  Hastings  (the  Hastings  House).  The  old 
school  house  at  this  place  was  removed  and  used  as  a  blacksmith  shop, 
and  on  the  site  was  built  the  one  now  in  use.  There  are  now  sixteen 
school  districts  in  the  town  and  the  education  of  the  young  receives 
that  liberal  support  that  is  given  it  in  all  progressive  communities.  In 
1889  a  fire  visited  Pope's  Mills  and  burned  the  store  and  dwelling  ofF. 
S.  Coats  and  the  dwelling  of  Timothy  Pope.  Pope's  Mills  is  now  the 
site  for  the  transaction  of  the  town's  public  business. 

•Macomb  Post-office  is  a  small  hamlet  on  the  State  road  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town.  A  small  store  is  now  kept  here  by  Fred.  Sterling, 
who  is  also  postmaster.  A  steam  saw  mill  with  a  capacity  of  5,000  feet 
per  day  was  operated  here  a  number  of  years.      It  was  burned  in  1889. 

Brasie  Corners  is  a  hamlet  and  post  office  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  which  takes  its  name  from  the  Brasie  family,  who  settled  there. 
The  present  postmaster  is  N.  H.  Parker,  and  stores  are  kept  by  Brasie 
Brothers  and  Jacob  Thomas.  John  Charter  is  proprietor  of  a  public 
house. 

A  post-office  was  opened  in  this  town  in  1888,  and  was  named 
"  Hickory,"     Vilas  Ingraham  is  postmaster  and  keeps  a  store. 

As  before  stated,  considerable  effort  and  large  sums  of  money  have 
been  expended  in  Macomb  in  attempts  to  develop  a  successful  mining 
industry.  About  the  year  1836,  a  vein  of  lead,  zinc,  blende  and  cal- 
careous spar  was  discovered  near  the  shore  of  Black  Lake,  at  a  place 
since  named  Mineral  Point,  and  somewhat  extensive  mining  operations 
were  commenced. 

The  "  Mineral  Point  Lead  Manufacturing  Company  "  was  organized 
February  25,  1839,  with  a  capital  of  $96,000,  in  384  shares,  of  $250 
each.  The  affairs  of  the  company  were  to  be  managed  by  five  trustees. 
The  first  trustees  elected  were  Silvester  Gilbert,  James  Averill,  David 
C.  Judson,  Lewis  Moss  and  John  W.  Grant.  The  business  of  the  com- 
pany was  to  be  carried  on  in  Morristown  and  Brownville. 


C92  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

A  company  styled  the  "  Morris  Mining  Company  "  was  incorporated 
May  I,  1839,  with  James  Averill,  David  C.  Judson,  Silvester  Gilbert, 
John  W.  Grant,  Lewis  Moss,  Thomas  L.  Knapp  and  Edwin  Dodge, 
trustees,  for  the  purpose  of  mining  in  Morristown  and  Oswegatchie,  to 
continue  twenty-five  years  ;  capital,  $50,000.  500  shares  of  $100  each, 
and  to  be  managed  by  seven  directors. 

About  the  year  1836  a  vein  containing  galena  was  discovered  on  the 
land  of  Robert  Wilson,  near  the  old  State  road  ;  a  company  was  formed 
and  a  shaft  was  sunk  to  the  depth  of  about  sixty  feet.  A  few  years 
after  lead  ore  was  discovered  on  the  same  range,  near  the  road  leading 
from  Washburn  Settlement  to  Gouverneur;  and  in  1850  small  mining 
operations  had  been  commenced.  In  185  i  a  right  was  purchased  by 
parties  in  New  York,  and  a  company  formed,  styled  the  "  St.  Lawrence 
Mining  Company,"  which  became  incorporated  under  the  general  min- 
ing law  of  February  17,  1848.  The  articles  of  association  were  filed 
September  16,  185  i,  in  the  clerk's  office,  and  Thomas  Addis  Ement, 
Stephen  Crocker  and  John  L.  Gratacal  were  elected  trustees;  capital 
$72,000,  in  shares  of  $200  each  ;  duration  limited  to  fifty  years.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  in  New  York,  May  17,  1852,  the  capital  of 
the  company  was  increased  to  $360,000. 

In  1852  a  vein  of  lead  ore  was  discovered  between  the  Clute  and  the 
Macomb  mines,  which  was  opened  and  worked  quite  extensively  by 
private  parties.  John  Canfield  of  Morristown,  who  was  present  at  the 
time  of  the  discovery,  removed  with  a  pick  nearly  fourteen  hundred 
pounds  of  pure  galena. 

Shortly  after  this  the  mines  were  purchased  by  R.  P.  Remington,  who 
organized  a  company  for  the  purpose  of  working  them.  Work  was 
carried  on  for  about  five  years  under  the  supervision  of  an  experienced 
miner.  Nothing  has  been  done  at  the  mines  since  they  were  abandoned 
by  the  Remington  company.  It  may  be  safely  stated  that  $I00,000 
has  been  expended  for  machinery  and  improvements  at  each  of  the  mines 
which  have  been  worked  in  the  town. 

It  has  been  the  history  of  these  mines  that  when  first  discovered  upon 
the  surface  they  presented  an  inviting  appearance,  the  veins  being  in 
some  instances  several  feet  in  width.  Upon  leaving  the  surface,  how- 
ever, they  were  found  to  become  narrower,  until,  at  the  depth  of  a  few 


THE  TOWN  OF  AIACOMB.  G93 

feet,  they  were  nearly  lost.  A  smelting  furnace  was  built  at  an  early 
day,  and  considerable  ore  was  smelted  and  the  product  marketed  while 
the  mines  were  operated,  but  without  remunerative  profit. 

Slight  shocks  of  earthquake  in  this  locality  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 
One  occurred  in  the  fall  of  i860,  more  severe  than  usual.  A  well, 
twenty  feet  deep,  on  Timothy  Pope's  farm  at  the  mills,  affording  abun- 
dance of  water  was  dry  the  next  morning  after  the  shock.  He  dug  a 
new  well  a  short  distance  from  the  former  one  and  obtained  water  only 
after  passing  several  feet  below  the  bottom  of  the  first  well.  A  similar 
incident  occurred  on  the  farm  of  Edwin  Dodge  about  two  miles  and  a 
half  north  of  Pope's  Mills.  Water  from  a  flowing  spring  was  carried 
several  rods  in  pump  logs  to  the  dwelling  house  and  barns.  On  the 
morning  of  the  earthquake  of  November  4,  1 887,  the  water- works 
failed.  On  investigation  it  was  found  that  the  spring  was  dry  and  a 
new  one  was  flowing  about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  original  one. 

Since  the  period  of  the  civil  war,  during  which  the  people  of  this 
town  showed  a  commendable  patriotism  in  furnishing  men  and  money 
in  support  of  the  Union,  the  population  of  the  community  has  increased, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  people  from  an  agricultural  point  of  view  has 
improved.  Dairying,  and  especially  the  manufacture  of  cheese,  has 
largely  superseded  grain  raising,  and  there  are  now  four  factories  in 
operation  in  the  town. 

Following  are  names  of  supervisors  of  the  town  with  years  of  service  : 

1841-2,  David  Day,  2d;  1843,  John  Parker ;  1844-6,  Enoch  Taylor;  1847-50,  Will- 
ian  Houghton;  1851-3,  David  Day,  2d;  1854,  Timothy  Pope;  1855,  Joshua  F.  Hough- 
ton; 1856-7,  John  S.  Snider;  1858,  David  Day,  2d;  1859,  John  S.  Snider;  18G0-1, 
John  Whitney;  1862-4,  David  B.  Woodworth ;  1865-8,  David  Day,  2d;  1869-71, 
Horace  L.  Woodworth;  1872-6,  E.  R.  Turner;  1877-81,  Harren  Hastings ;  1882-5, 
John  H.  Graves;  1886-88.  Fred  S.  Co.i's  ;  1889-90,  Elisha  R.  Turner;  1891,  John  W. 
Manson  ;   1892-4,  John  V.  Clark. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  town, 
meetings  were  held  at  various  places,  both  in  school  houses  and  dwell- 
ings, by  Congregationalists,  Lutherans,  Universalists,  Mormons  and 
Methodists.  A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  at  Macomb 
with   five  members,  in  1 841,  by  Rev.    D.    Ferguson,   who  was   its  first 


694  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

pastor.  The  church,  which  is  still  in  use,  was  built  in  1870,  and  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  300  and  cost  $3,000.  Rev.  C.  A.  Miller  is  ihe  pres- 
ent pastor,  and  also  serves  a  small  church  at  Brasie  Corners. 

The  First  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  of  Macomb,  located  at  Pope's 
Mills,  was  organized  with  nine  members  June  9,  1857,  by  Rev.  R.  E. 
Johnson,  its  first  pastor,  Previous  to  1872  the  meetings  were  held  in 
the  school  house;  but  in  that  year  a  neat  church,  costing  $1,200,  was 
built,  having  a  seating  capacity  of  300.  It  was  extensi\'ely  repaired 
and  improved  in  1891,  at  an  expense  of  $600.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  C.  E.  Hill. 


CHAPTER  XLVn. 
THE  TOWN  OF  CO LTON— ORGANIZED  IN  1843. 

THIS  was  the  twenty  seventh  town  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  April  12,  1843,  formerly  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Parishville,  and  embraces  Matildaville,  Granshue,  Harewood  and  Sher- 
wood townships,  the  territory  extending  from  the  southern  line  of  the 
county  with  unvar)'ing  width  to  the  Parishville  line.  In  November, 
185  I,  that  part  of  Parishville  known  as  Mile  Squares  i,  6,  and  12,  was 
taken  from  that  town  and  annexed  to  Colton  ;  and  in  February,  1876, 
townships  of  Hollywood,  Jamestown  and  Oakham  were  taken  from  the 
town  of  Hopkinton  and  annexed  to  Colton,  making  it  the  largest  town 
in  the  county  and  embracing  220,084  acres.  The  first  town  meeting 
was  directed  to  be  held  at  the  tavern  nearest  the  post-oftice  in  Matilda- 
vill,  which  act  was  to  take  effect  F'ebruary  i,  1844,  and  Paine  Converse 
was  appointed  to  preside  at  the  said  meeting  where  the  following  officers 
were  elected:  Supervisor,  Paine  Converse;  town  clerk,  James  H- 
Bridge;  justices,  Zina  Hepburn,  Silas  Hawley,  Hiram  Pierce;  inspec- 
tors of  election,  S.  Hawley,  J  C.  Higley;  assessors,  J.  C.  Higle}-,  J.  S. 
Ellis,  C.  D,  Norris ;  superintendent  of  schools,  J.  C.  Higle}- ;  commis- 
sioners of  highways,  Israel  C.  Diaper,  Pliney  Hepburn,  H.  Gibbins  ; 
overseers  of  poor,  Zina  Hepburn,  Hiram  Pierce;  constable  and  col- 
lector, Hiram  Leonard;  sealer  of  weights  and  measures.  Wait  Perry. 


THE  TOWN  OF  COLTON.  695 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  town  lies  Cranberry  Lake,  into  and  out 
of  which  flows  the  Oswegatchie  River.  Around  and  near  this  body  of 
water  considerable  improvements  have  been  made  with  a  view  of 
rendering  it  a  popular  summer  resort,  as  before  explained.  The  Ra- 
quette  River  flows  across  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  While  the 
northern  part  of  the  town  is  quite  well  adapted  to  grazing,  by  far  the 
largest  portion  is  sandy,  hilly  and  rocky,  much  of  it  covered  with  forest, 
and  very  sparsely  settled.  Abel  Brown  and  his  son  James  were  the 
first  settlers  in  the  town,  coming  in  from  Parishville  in  March,  1824; 
they  located  in  the  township  of  Matildaville  about  a  mile  above  what  is 
now  the  village  of  Colton,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Raquette  River. 
Asahel  Lyman,  from  Vermont,  came  soon  afteiward  and  settled  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river.  A  little  later  William  Bullard  came  in  from 
Potsdam.  Pliny  Hepburn  settled  in  the  town  in  April,  1825,  and  his 
brother,  Zina,  came  about  the  same  time  and  located  near  by.  He  was 
the  father  of  Hon.  A.  B  Hepburn  and  Hawley  S.  Hepburn,  prominent 
citizens  of  the  town.  Jesse  Colton  Higley  was  another  pioneer  of  1824 
and  another  was  Abial  Smith.  Hiram  Pierce  came  in  1826  and  became 
prominent  in  the  town.  Paine  Converse  v^as  another  early  settler  who 
was  prominent.  Silas  Hawley  settled  here  in  1832,  as  a  blacksmith. 
He  was  a  magistrate  for  a  number  of  years,  supervisor  and  a  charter 
member  of  the  lodge  and  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  when  he  died, 
being  in  his  ninetieth  year.  Ezekiel  French  was  a  pioneer  at  South 
Colton.  locating  on  Cold  Brook  in  1836,  Silas  Wait,  R.  C.  Miles,  Simon 
D.  Butler  and  Hiram  Leonard  were  all  comparatively  early  settlers  and 
leaders  in  the  affairs  of  the  town. 

The  principal  industries  of  the  town  at  the  present  time  are  lumber- 
ing and  dairying.  There  is  one  cheese  and  one  butter  factory  now  in 
operation.      Other  industries  of  the  past  are  noticed  further  on. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  of  the  town  from  the  first  with 

the  years  of  their  service  : 

Paine  Converse,  1844;  James  S.  Ellis,  1845,  '40.  '47;  James  H.  Bridge,  1848-49; 
Silas  Hawley,  1850-51  ;  L.  Chamberlain,  1852-5.3;  H.  Averell,  1854-55;  M.  F.Collins, 
1850;  J.  F.  Bugbee,  1857,  '58,  "59;  E.  H.  Butler,  1860-01  ;  George  T.  Stuart,  1862, 
'03,  '64,  '65;  William  N.  Jaquis,  1800-07  ;  E.  H.  Butler,  1808,  '69,  '70;  Silas  Hawley, 
1871-72;  C.B.Fisher,  1873-70.  1877-82,  Morell  D.  Beckwith  ;  1883-84,  Joseph  A. 
Ayres;  1885-80,  James  Spears ;  1887-88,.  Frank  F.  Flint ;  1889-93,  Morris  B.  Hawley  ; 
1893-94,  C.  T.  Ferris. 


696  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Colton  Village. — This  thriving  little  place  is  situated  on  the  Raquette 
River  ten  miles  south  of  Potsdam,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town, 
in  which  vicinity  many  of  the  early  settlers  mentioned  located.  The 
river  has  a  fall  of  about  sixty  feet  at  this  point  in  forty  rods  and  is  said 
to  have  200  feet  within  a  mile,  supplying  excellent  water  power.  James 
Brown  built  the  first  frame  house  here  at  the  west  end  of  the  bridge  ; 
Hiram  Pierce  built  the  second  one  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  In 
1825  Horace  Garfield,  from  Potsdam,  purchased  the  land  at  the  Falls 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  laid  it  out  into  lots  and  built  a  saw  mill. 
In  1828  Jonathan  Culver  erected  the  first  grist  mill,  which  long  ago 
disappeared.  Samuel  Partridge,  also  from  Potsdam,  built  a  forge  at  the 
head  of  the  falls  in  1828,  with  two  fires.  Hiram  Pierce  purchased  it  in 
1829,  and  it  was  operated  until  1840,  chiefly  in  the  production  of  bar 
iron  from  magnetic  ore.  In  1844  M^"  P'erce  started  the  first  potato 
starch  factory  in  the  State,  which  he  operated  a  few  years,  producing 
about  thirty  tons  annually.  Another  factory  was  started  about  1875  by 
non-residents.  The  business  has  been  abandoned.  With  the  opening 
of  the  Northern  Railroad  active  development  of  the  lumber  interest  be- 
gan. In  1850  a  gang  mill  with  seventy  saws  was  built  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  river,  and  two  years  later  a  similar  one  was  started  on  the  west 
side  ;  the  latter  was  burned  and  the  former  long  ago  stopped.  In  1852 
a  gang  mill  was  built  two  miles  above  the  village;  this  is  also 
abandoned.  The  lumbering  business  finally  decreased  largely  on  ac- 
count of  the  long  distance  which   the   manufactured   lumber  had  to  be 

hauled.      A  large  tanning  interest  was  established  by  Col.  Hall, 

who  built  one  of  the  largest  tanneries  then  in  the  State,  with  a  capacity 
of  40,000  hides  of  sole  leather  per  )  ear.  It  was  successfully  carried  on 
for  some  years,  but  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  for  the 
benefit  of  creditors.  The  second  grist  mill  erected  has  been  operated 
by  D.  J.  Richards,  and  burned  in  the  winter  of  1892-93.  It  is  to  be 
rebuilt.  A  veneer  mill  has  been  in  operation  some  ten  years  and  is  now 
in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  S.  D.  Goodwin.  In  the  spring  of  the  present  year 
(1893)  the  Raquette  River  Pulp  Company  started  a  pulp  mill  with  a 
capacity  of  thirty  tons  daily,  which  promises  to  add  materially  to  the 
productions  of  the  town.  M.  B.  Hawley  carries  on  the  manufacture  of 
furniture,  which  he  has  done  for  the  past  thirty  years.     He  was  a  super- 


THE  TOWN  OF  COLTON.  G97 

visor  of  the  town  and  a  son  of  one  of  the  early  settlers.  George  Bick- 
nell  operates  a  saw  mill  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

There  has  always  been  considerable  mercantile  business  done  at 
Colton  and  many  different  persons  have  been  engaged  in  the  business. 
At  the  present  time  E.  H  Harvey,  S.  J.  Hosley,  Spears  Bros.,  Freder- 
ick Wilson,  L.  S.  Currier,  Frank  Potter,  William  Eacutt,  Olmstead  & 
Co.,  and  M.  B.  Hawley  sell  the  various  kinds  of  goods  and  provisions 
needed.      Pliny  V.  Hepburn  is  postmaster. 

South  Colton. — This  is  a  hamlet  situated  about  five  miles  above  Col- 
ton village  on  the  Raquette  River.  The  village  site  was  first  purchased 
by  Christopher  Ripley.  In  1837  Edward  Crary,  from  Pierrepont,  built 
the  first  saw  mill.  Nelson  Gurley  was  the  first  school  teacher  about 
1 84 1,  and  J.  C.  &  J.  Irish  built  and  kept  the  first  store,  in  which  was 
located  the  post-office,  with  Thomas  Magary  as  postmaster.  Scott  S. 
Irish  is  the  present  postmaster,  and  also  keeps  one  of  the  stores.  Other 
stores  are  conducted  by  Henry  Close,  L.  L.  Robinson,  W.  J.  Horton, 
L.  L.  Mattie.  and  George  Snell.  There  are  now  two  saw  mills  at  South 
Colton,  one  on  each  side  of  the  river,  Irish  Delosh  operating  the  one  on 
the  west  side,  and  Lindsay  &  Young  on  the  east  side.  Another  mill 
about  three  miles  above  is  operated  by  J.  W,  Bruce. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

The  first  religious  meetings  held  in  town  is  said  to  be  by  the  "  Chris- 
tian "  sect  at  the  house  of  Ashel  Lyman.  At  an  early  day  a  Mormon 
missionary  held  meetings  in  the  town  and  baptized  several  converts. 

The  first  church  organized  at  Colton  was  a  Universalist,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1 85  I,  with  Alonzo  Squires,  E.  H.  Butler,  and  J.  S.  Ellis,  trustees. 
In  1852  the  society  built  a  church,  but  its  numbers  decreased  and  ser- 
vices were  discontinued  and  the  building  sold. 

About  the  year  1852  a  Methodist  society  was  formed,  and  in  that 
year  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  costing  about  $2,000,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Parishville  circuit.  In  July,  1856,  the  two  separated, 
when  the  membership  was  about  seventy.  Rev.  Alfred  E.  Page  is  the 
present  pastor.  The  membership  is  1 16,  A  Methodist  society  was  or- 
ganized some  years  ago  at  South  Colton,  and  a  building  was  erected  as 
a  Union  church.      Services  are  now  held  there  by  Mr.  Page. 

88 


G98  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  Baptist  church  at  Colton  was  organized  in  February,  i860,  with 
J.  H.  Dorothy.  Abel  Turney,  and  J.  Reynolds,  jr.,  trustees,  and  fifteen 
members.  A  church  edifice  was  built  in  1870  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The 
society  is  practically  out  of  existence. 

St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  church  was  organized  with  144  mem- 
bers in  October,  1864.  The  society  purchased  the  church  of  the  Uni- 
versalists,  and  since  that  time  has  grown  in  prosperity.  The  present 
priest  in  charge  is  Father  Plunkett, 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  FINE— ORGANIZED  IN  1849. 

THIS  was  the  twenty-eighth  town  erected  by  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  March  27,  1849.  This  territory  was  formerly  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Russell  and  Pierrepont,  and  embraced  No.  14,  or 
Bloomfield  ;  No.  12,  or  Scriba, ;  and  the  south  half  of  No.  9,  or  Sarahs- 
burgh,  in  the  former  town;  and  No.  15,  of  Emilyville,  of  the  latter. 
The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Fine,  of  Ogdensburg,  who  was 
interested  in  an  extensive  tract  in  the  town,  and  under  whom  the  first 
settlement  was  begun.  The  first  town  meeting  held  at  school- house 
No.  20  on  June  18  of  the  same  year,  and  the  following  officers  elected  : 
Supervisor,  Joseph  A.  I.  Brown ;  town  clerk,  J.  M.  Beckwith  ;  asses- 
sors, J.  M,  Beckwith,  James  Marsh,  Elijah  C.  Hill ;  collector,  John  K. 
Ward  ;  commissioners  of  highways,  John  Marsh,  George  Young,  and 
William  H.  Perkins  ;  justices,  A.  I.  Brown,  J.  M.  Beckwith,  and  Elijah 
C.  Hill. 

The  first  settlement  was  begun  by  Elias  Teall,  who  made  a  contract 
on  the  24th  of  October,  1823,  with  the  proprietors  of  the  east  half  of 
Scriba,  and  undertook  to  secure  settlers  on  the  tract.  He  built  a  mill 
on  a  branch  of  the  Oswegatchie  and  made  some  small  improvements  ; 
but  his  undertaking  failed.  September  6,  1828,  James  C.  Haile  made 
a  contract  with  the  proprietors,  and  built  a  saw  mill  and  a  small  grist 


THE  TOWN  OF  FINE.  .  699 

mill  on  the  Oswegatchie ;  he  induced  other  settlers  to  come  in.  Tn 
May,  1833,  he  also  left  the  town,  his  settlers  having  abandoned  him. 
In  February,  1834,  Amasa  I.  Brown  contracted  with  the  owners  for  the 
Haile  improvements  and  an  additional  tract  of  land,  and  in  March  of 
that  year  moved  his  family  in  ;  his  nearest  neighbors  were  ten  miles 
away.  A  few  others  soon  joined  him,  and  in  1843  there  were  forty- 
three  or  forty- four  voters.  Among  those  who  lived  in  the  town  in  1858, 
chiefly  along  the  Oswegatchie  River,  were  the  following :  S.  Maltby, 
M.  Rose,  A.  Guiles,  R.  Finley,  E.  Guiles,  N.  H.  Jones,  W.  E.  and  E. 
Jones.  Farther  eastward  were  :  G.  Titus,  W.  P.  Smith,  M.  O.  Carr,  A. 
Hazleton,  W.  F.  Haskell,  B.  Marble,  O.  Hutchins,  F.  Austin,  R.  Scott, 

C.  Scott,  W.  Cochrane,  H.  B.  Fairman,  J.  Fairman,  W.  Kerr,  A.  H. 
Knapp,  N.  I.  Morse,  S.  Stowell,  E.  C.  Hill,  J.  and  C.  Marsh,  A.  Cleve- 
land, C.  A.  Scott,  J.  I.  Lansing,  R.  Durham,  E.  Churchman.  Farther 
south  were  :  B.  Brown,  W.  Miller,    G.  W.  Evans,    D.  Briggs,   E.  Vilas, 

D.  Kilburn,  B.  Bebee.      Others  have  come  in  later. 

The  little  village  of  Fine  is  on  the  Oswegatchie  River  about  five  miles 
southeasterly  from  South  Edwards.  It  has  been  locally  known  as 
"Smithville"  from  William  P.  Smith,  who  was  an  early  resident  there. 
The  first  improvement  here  was  the  building  of  a  saw  mill  by  William 
Horsford.  In  1853  it  was  purchased  by  William  P.  Smith,  who  also 
opened  a  store,  and  here  the  post-ofifice  was  established  in  1853,  with 
Mr.  Smith  as  postmaster.  The  present  postmaster  is  Charles  Ayres. 
Marcus  O.  Carr  built  the  first  dwelling  in  the  village  in  1855,  who  came 
from  Russell  as  agent  for  Spalding  &  Butterfield,  proprietors  of  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  the  town.  A  saw  mill  and  oar  factory  was  started  in 
1858  by  Spencer,  Anderson  &  Co.,  who  built  four  dwellings  in  connec- 
tion. A  gristmill  was  built  about  1858  by  Henry  Rushton,  which  was 
afterwards  sold  to  Zacheus  Ladd,  and  burned  in  1875.  In  1871  Rice, 
Emery  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  purchased  from  Joseph  Anderson  twenty-six 
acres  of  land  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  village  tract,  with  a  saw  mill, 
butter  tub  and  last  factory.  In  1872  they  demolished  all  but  the  saw 
mill  and  built  an  extensive  tannery,  where  50,000  sides  of  sole  leather 
were  turned  out  annually.  This  tannery  is  still  in  operation.  A  pub- 
lic house  was  opened  and  kept  by  Charles  Scott,  and  after  him  by 
various  others.      George  Hatch  is  the  present  landlord.      A  shingle  mill 


700  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

is  operated  by  Joseph  Anderson,  and  a  saw  and  feed  mill  by  George 
Cardiff  &  Son.  Dovvling  Brothers,  Charles  Ayres,  T.  F.  Conboy,  J. 
N.  McLeod,  are  merchants  in  Fine  ;  and  Thomas  Miller  deals  in  furni- 
ture. 

A  considerable  village  has  sprung  up  since  the  opening  of  the  Carthage 
and  Adirondack  Railroad  at  its  terminus,  and  is  called  Osvvegatchie.  A 
post-office  was  established  here  and  it  has  become  important  as  a  gate- 
way into  the  wilderness  from  that  direction.  G.  H.  Newcomb  is  post- 
master and  has  a  store  ;  and  Colton  &  Son,  A.  D.  Fie,  and  A.  L. 
Greenfield  are  other  merchants.  Joseph  Hulbert  keeps  a  public  house, 
and  at  Starr  Lake,  a  short  distance  beyond,  Lyman  &  Foley  keep  a 
summer  hotel.  A  pulp  mill  was  established  by  the  Standard  Pulp  Com- 
pany in  1893  ;  John  Irving  runs  a  saw  mill  ;  W.  S.  Coffin  &  Son  a  saw 
mill  and  tub  factory,  and  the  Northside  Lumber  Company  has  a  steam 
saw  mill  of  large  capacity. 

The  town  has  settled  slowly,  yet  public  improvements  are  being 
made,  and  with  the  many  good  roads  and  the  opening  of  the  Carthage 
and  Adirondack  Railroad  through  the  town  a  good  degree  of  prosperity 
is  enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants. 

Jayville  is  a  hamlet  and  post-  office  on  the  railroad,  a  few  miles  west 
of  Oswegatchie,  where  there  has  been  a  large  lumber  business  carried 
on.  Thomas  Richardson  is  postmaster  and  has  a  store,  and  there  are 
now  two  saw  mills  in  operation. 

The  supervisors  of  the  town  with  the  years  of  their  service  have  been 
as  follows  : 

Amasa  I.  Brown,  1844-45;  Daniel  Truax,  1846-48;  Arnasa  I.  Brown,  1849-50; 
Daniel  Truax,  1851-53  ;  Michael  Griffin,  1854;  Wm.  P.  Smith,  1855-60;  Joseph  An- 
derson. 1861-67;  H.  E.  Anderson,  1868-69;  F.  L.  Whittier,  1870-72;  Archibald  Muir, 
1872-77;  Joseph  Anderson,  1878-79;  Archibald  Muir,  1880-81;  E.  H.  Dowling,  1882- 
1893  ;  George  Hatch,  1894. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

« 

A  Methodist  class  was  organized  at  Fine  about  1845,  ^"^  ^o^  many 
years  services  were  held  in  school  houses.  A  neat  church  was  erected 
a  few  years  ago. 

A  Baptist  society  was  organized  at  Fine  in  October,  1874,  under 
Rev.  C.  H.  Dike.     Services  are  now   held   by  Rev.   Clemmons  Shaw, 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  701 

who  also   preaches   to  the  Union   organization   in  Oswegatchie,  which 
built  a  church  three  years  ago  costing  about  $2,000. 
The  Catholics  have  a  church  also  at  Fine. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 
THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON— ORGANIZED  IN  1S59. 

THIS  town  was  taken  from  Madrid  by  consent  of  the  people  (see 
page  398,  Madrid),  and  authorized  by  an  act  of  tlie  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  the  county,  November  22,  1859,  being  the  twenty- ninth 
town  erected.  This  new  town  embraces  about  half  of  the  territory  of 
the  northwestern  portion  ot  the  original  township  No.  4,  Madrid,  lying 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  includes  Ogden's  Island.  There  are  many 
things,  such  as  soil,  timber,  etc.,  of  the  early  history  of  Madrid  (see 
Chapter  XXIII),  which  will  apply  to  this  part  of  the  territory,  and 
which  is  unnecesary  lo  repeat,  onh'  so  far  as  certain  incidents  call  for. 
The  new  town  was  fully  organized  in  March,  i860,  and  the  following 
officers  elected  :  Supervisor,  Walter  Wilson  ;  town  clerk,  Thomas  Pea- 
cock, jr.  ;  assessors  Charles  D.  Bartholomew  and  Joseph  Dalzell ;  jus- 
tices, Robert  Martin,  C.  C.  Montgomery,  and  Isaac  Bartholomew  ;  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  Robert  Dezell ;  collector,  Charles  McRostie  ;  con- 
stables, Gideon  Rutherford,  Charles  McRostie,  Richard  Dalton,  and 
Wm.  H.  N.  Lewis  ;  inspectors  of  election,  George  Oliver,  Andrew  Dal- 
zell, and  Henry  W.  Pratt. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  the  territory  of  this  part  of  the 
town  was  made  by  Samuel  Allen  in  March,  1797,  (see  page  392),  though 
he  is  said  to  have  found  a  Dutch  family  occupying  a  hut  on  the  site  of 
the  village,  all  dressed  in  skins.  On  the  14th  of  November  of  that  year  a 
son  was  born  to  Mr,  Allen  and  named  William  L.  Allen,  who  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  that  section.  While  it  is  probable  a  few 
others  came  into  the  town  in  1797,  no  lands  were  sold  until  the  next 
year. 


702  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  title  of  VVaddington,  excepting  the  islands  (which  were  purchased 
bv  D  A.  and  G.  Ogden  in  1823),  with  the  remainder  of  the  survey 
township  of  Madrid  (see  land  titles  in  an  early  chapter),  became  vested 
about  1798  in  David  A.  and  Thomas  S.  Ogden,  of  New  York  city.  The 
principal  island,  "  Isle  au  rapide  plat  "  (now  Ogden's  Island),  lying  for 
three  miles  along  the  river,  was  fronting  Waddington.  The  narrow  part 
of  the  river  flovv'ing  between  Ogden's  Island  and  the  southern  shore,  op- 
posite Waddington  village,  drops  some  eight  feet  in  a  distance  of  about 
fifty  rods,  which  was  called  by  the  French  "  Le  petit  saut,"  meaning  the 
little  jump. 

This  point  where  the  village  of  Waddington,  formerly  called  "  Hamil- 
ton," now  stands  was  early  an  attractive  one  to  settlers,  chiefly  perhaps 
on  account  of  its  water  power,  that  was  expected  to  be  utilized,  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  about  a  dozen  families  had  settled  here  in  1798, 
as  shown  by  records  of  a  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July  in  that  year, 
held  at  the  extreme  end  of  Point  Iroquois.  Jacob  Redington  read  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  made  an  address,  and  the  day  was  made 
jubilant  by  the  firing  of  muskets  and  closing  with  a  ball. 

Joseph  Edsall  was  given  the  agency  of  the  survey- township  of  Madrid 
in  1798,  and  the  only  persons  taking  land  contracts  that  year  were 
Barton  Edsall  and  John  Sharp;  there  were,  however,  other  residents 
as  has  been  shown.  Sharp  lived  on  the  river  above  the  village  site. 
The  lands  were  surveyed  by  Benjamin  Wright  and  in  the  following  year 
were  opened  for  sale.  Lots  were  laid  out  along  the  river  one  sixth  of 
a  mile  wide  and  running  back  from  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  three-quarters ; 
the  first  price  of  these  was  $2  50  per  acre.  The  lots  back  of  these  were 
surveyed  a  mile  square  each  and  sold  at  $2  per  acre.  In  June,  1800, 
the  following  persons  contracted  for  land  :  John  Tuttle,  Benjamin  Bart- 
lett,  Godfrey  Myers,  Benjamin  Campbell,  Elias  Dimick,  Reuben  Fields, 
Asa  Freeman,  Samuel  Allen,  Edward  Lawrence,  Asa  and  Jason  Fen- 
ton,  Alexander  Brush,  James  Kilborn,  Jacob  Carnes,  Allen  Patterson, 
Jacob  Redington,  Robert  Sample,  Caleb  and  Cornelius  Peck,  Henry 
Allen,  William  Osburne,  Ira  Paine,  Oliver  Lindsley,  Joseph  Orcutt, 
Henry  and  Joseph  Irwin,  John  Montgomery.  Of  these  five  or  six 
located  south  of  the  present  town  of  Waddington  in  Madrid.  In  the 
next  year  the  only  recorded  purchases  were  those  of  Isaac  Bartholomew 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  703 

and  Simon  Lindsle}'.  Among  other  settlers  of  that  year,  whose  pur- 
chases were  doubtless  not  made  till  later,  were  four  brothers  from  Scot- 
land, Andrew,  Walter,  Thomas,  and  Richard  Rutherford,  who  settled  a 
little  to  the  southwest  of  the  village,  a  locality  that  has  ever  since  borne 
the  name  of  "  Scotch  Settlement."  These  men  and  some  of  the  others 
mentioned  became  influential  citizens  of  the  town,  as  will  be  seen,  and 
descendants  of  many  of  them  are  now  resident  in  this  and  adjoining 
towns. 

As  the  settlers  began  clearing  their  farms  and  making  improvements 
at  the  village  site,  the  necessity  of  roads  became  paramount,  and  during 
1802  the  commissioners  laid  out  what  they  called  the  "  Great  Road," 
running  across  the  town  in  a  northeasterly  direction  ;  and  the  "  upper 
and  lower  perpendicular  roads  "  running  at  right  angles  to  the  former. 
In  this  year  also  came  in  a  number  of  settlers  from  Vermont  and  other 
New  England  States  From  year  to  year  immigration  steadily  in- 
creased, the  larger  number  coming  from  Vermont  and  from  Scotland. 
Numerous  friends  of  the  Rutherfords  came  from  their  former  home  and 
added  to  the  population  and  prosperity  of  the  Scotch  settlement. 

In  1803  the  Ogdens,  David  A.  and  Thomas  L.,  conveyed  to  Joshua 
Waddington  an  undivided  one-third  of  their  lands  here,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  these  three  men  were  owners  of  the  territory  of  Wadding- 
ton. In  the  early  part  of  this  year  a  difficulty  arose  with  the  St.  Regis 
Indians,  who  claimed  what  is  now  Ogden's  island  and  had  cut  many 
valuable  pines  which  abounded  on  the  island.  These  Mr.  Edsall  for- 
bade them  from  removing  The  Indians  were  angry  and  made  ominous 
threats,  but  Nathan  Ford,  that  energetic  and  diplomatic  pioneer,  whose 
operations  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  have  been  traced  in  an 
early  chapter,  called  the  Indians  to  account  and  ended  the  difficulty. 
An  amicable  arrangement  was  made  by  which  the  Indians  relinquished 
claim  to  the  land  and  standing  timber,  while  Edsall  agreed  to  pay  sixty 
cents  for  each  tree  that  had  been  cut  down,  if  it  should  ultimately  be 
decided  that  the  island  belonged  to  the  Madrid  proprietors.  In  the 
latter  part  of  1803  Alexander  Richards  became  agent  for  the  proprie- 
tors in  place  of  Judge  Edsall,  and  in  1 803-4  a  small  grist  mill  and  saw 
mill  were  built  on  the  village  site,  the  water  being  turned  into  a  race  by 
a  wing  dam. 


704  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  first  physician  in  Waddington  was  Dr.  Allen  Barber,  who  came 
in  1802,  and  was  drowned  on  the  6th  of  January,  1806,  while  crossing 
the  St.  Lawrence.  He  was  succeeded  in  1 812,  by  Dr.  James  A.  Mott, 
who  passed  his  long  life  here  in  active  practice.  The  first  attorney  in 
the  town  was  Gouverneur  Ogden,  if  we  except  Col.  Mathew  Myers,  who 
was  admitted  in  1809,  one  year  before  Mr.  Ogden.  It  was  in  Mr. 
Ogden's  office  that  William  Henry  Vining  studied  and  was  admitted  in 
1820;  he  began  practice  in  Waddington  and  his  eloquence  and  schol- 
arly attainments  made  him  at  once  conspicuous.  Elected  to  the  As- 
sembly the  ne.xt  year,  his  failing  health  prevented  him  from  taking  his 
seat  and  he  died  in  1822.  It  was  in  Mr.  Ogden's  ofifice,  also,  that 
George  Redington  studied  during  the  period  of  Mr.  Vining's  studies, 
the  two  becoming  intimate  friends.  Mr.  Redington  practiced  in  con- 
nection with  his  other  extensive  business  interests,  until  about  1832, 
then  he  gave  his  attention  more  to  real  estate  operations,  the  building 
of  mills,  etc.  He  was  in  every  sense  a  leading  citizen,  and  became 
prominent  in  politics  and  public  office.      He  died  March  14,  1849. 

In  the  early  years  of  the  town  of  Madrid,  the  business  of  the  northern 
part  centered  at  the  site  of  Waddington  village,  where  the  excellent 
water  power  was  made  use  of  in  various  industries,  as  related  a  little 
further  on.  The  place  was  named  "  Hamilton."  in  honor  of  Alexander 
Hamilton,  the  famous  statesman.  The  fact,  however,  of  there  being 
one  post-office  of  that  name  in  the  State  already,  the  name  was  changed 
in  December,  1807,  to  "Madrid"  with  Alexander  Richards  as  post- 
master. Mr.  Richards  was  appointed  in  the  following  year  an  associate 
judge  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  was  otherwise  a  prominent  citizen. 

Settlement  of  the  old  town  of  Madrid  progressed  so  rapidly  that  in 
1 8 10  there  was  1,420  inhabitants,  two-thirds  of  whom  probably  lived  in 
what  is  now  Waddington.  Among  the  latter  maybe  mentioned  besides 
those  already  given,  George  Rutherford,  Benjamin  Raymond,  Christian 
Carnes,  Jonathan  Carter,  Nicholas  C.  Raymond,  Amos  Wells,  Andrew 
Benton,  Joel  Woodworth.  Joseph  Woodworth,  Josiah  Wright,  Amasa 
Pratt,  Ebenezer  Lyman,  Philo  J.  Tuttle,  Moses  McConnel,  John  Selbs, 
Samuel  Browning,  James  Martindale,  Clement  Tuttle,  Luman  Barthol- 
omew, John  MofTett,  Charles  Richards,  John  Baird,  Abiram  Hulbert. 
These  men  and  their  descendants  have  been  prominent  in  promoting 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  705 

the  settlement  and  growth  of  the  town,  and   conspicuous  in   the  officia 
and  industrial  life  of  the  community. 

In  1808  a  law  was  passed  authorizing  the  proprietors  to  build  a  dam 
across  the  St.  Lawrence  here,  with  a  lock  in  it  of  fifty  by  ten  feet  dimen- 
sions which  would  permit  passage  of  vessels  with  two  feet  draft.  The 
builders  were  authorized  to  collect  toll  of  fifty  cents  a  ton  for  small 
boats  and  twenty-five  cents  on  vessels  of  over  two  tons.  Three  years 
were  given  for  the  completion  of  the  work.  A  stone  dam  with  a  wood 
lock  was  started,  but  the  undermining  of  the  lock  before  it  was  finished 
caused  the  work  to  be  abandoned.  In  181 1  the  time  for  construction 
was  extended,  but  the  war  of  181 2  caused  a  further  postponement  of 
the  project.  "  Hamilton  "  was  made  a  port  of  entry  in  18 10,  with  Col. 
Mathew  Myers  as  deputy  collector. 

In  181 1  a  partial  division  of  Madrid  was  made  among  the  three  pro- 
prietors (the  two  Ogdens  and  Mr.  Waddington),  David  A.  Ogden  re- 
ceiving, with  other  lands,  a  tract  of  1,130  acres  embracing  the  site  of 
Waddington  village  and  including  the  mills,  dam,  water  privilege  and 
the  large  island  now  bearing  his  name.  The  title  to  the  latter,  however, 
was  not  then  fully  settled  between  the  United  States  and  Canada.  It 
was  about  the  year  last  named  that  Mr.  Ogden  gave  up  his  law  practice 
in  New  York,  with  a  view  of  coming  to  Waddington  to  live  ;  but  the 
opening  of  the  war  postponed  his  plan.  He  was  appointed  associate 
judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  18;  i  and  held  the  office  four  years. 

According  to  Spajford's  Gazetteer,  in  1812  there  were  at  the  village 
135  houses,  two  saw  mills,  a  grist  mill,  a  fulling  mill,  a  trip  hammer 
and  several  shops.  The  history  of  the  war  of  that  period  is  given  in 
Chapter  XI.  As  far  as  it  relates  to  this  immediate  locality,  it  may  be 
said  that  while  the  excitement  was  naturally  intense,  the  residents  of 
Wadddington  and  Madrid  suffered  little  from  it  Settlement  ceased  for 
a  time  and  a  number  of  families  left  the  town,  some  of  whom  did  not 
return.  A  company  of  militia  was  stationed  at  the  village  several 
months,  and  at  one  time  a  skirmish  took  place  on  the  island.  It  was  in 
one  of  the  raids  made  in  this  vicinity  that  Jacob  Redington  (father  of 
George  and  James),  who  had  fought  in  the  Revolution,  was  wounded. 
With  the  close  of  the  war  in  18 15,  prosperity  again  reigned,  as  further 
detailed  in  the  account  of  the  village  industries.  The  treaty  of  peace 
89 


70G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

established  the  Canadian  boundary  line  on  the  northwest  side  of  Og- 
den's  Island,  and  Mr.  Ogden  thereupon  began  the  improvement  of  that 
beautiful  tract.  After  making  considerable  clearing  he  erected  the  large 
stone  dwelling,  with  its  three  foot  walls,  which  still  stands,  though 
much  improved,  and  now  occupied  by  Ebenezer  S.  Crapser.  The  lat- 
ter purchased  the  island,  less  i6o  acres  at  the  foot,  of  the  estate  of  Isaac 
Ogden.  The  island  contains  750  acres.  When  the  boundary  between 
Canada  and  the  States  was  established  by  a  commission  in  1819,  this 
island  and  several  smaller  ones  in  this  vicinity  were  formally  assigned 
to  the  United  States.  Mr.  Ogden  represented  his  district  in  Congress 
in   1817-21. 

In  1 8 16  in  order  to  secure  better  means  of  communication- with  sur- 
rounding localities,  commissioners  were  appointed  to  lay  out  a  road 
from  Ogdensburg  through  "  Hamilton  "  to  Massena,  and  another  from 
"  Hamilton  "  through  Columbia  Village  to  Russell.  The  name  "  Ham 
ilton  "  being  the  same  as  that  of  a  village  in  Madison  county,  caused 
much  confusion,  and  in  a  town  meeting  held  in  March,  1818,  it  was 
voted  to  change  it  to  Waddington  ;  and  a  few  years  later  the  name  of 
the  post-office  here  vvas  changed  to  Waddington  in  honor  of  one  of  the 
land  proprietors.  The  name  of  Madrid  was  given  to  what  had  been 
called  "  Columbia  Village." 

A  number  of  Irish  settlers  came  in  and  settled  about  this  time  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town,  where  the  descendants  of  many  still  live. 
Churches  had  been  organized,  the  first  one  being  St.  Paul's,  in  1818  ; 
schools  were  established  and  the  extensive  manufacturing  operations  in- 
augurated at  the  village  gave  the  town  an  era  of  prosperity  not  enjoyed 
by  many  localities  in  the  county. 

The  next  event  of  importance  in  which  the  whole  town  was  inter- 
ested was  the  erection  of  the  separate  town  of  Waddington.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  northern  part  of  the  old  town  finally  became  weary  of 
traveling  to  "  Columbia  Village,"  a  distance  of  nine  miles,  to  attend 
town  meetings  and  elections  every  alternate  year,  and  the  town  was 
erected  as  stated  in  the  commencement  of  its  history. 

Waddington  Village. — We  left  our  account  of  the  little  hamlet  called 
"  Hamilton"  in  18 12-15,  with  its  two  saw  mills,  gristmill,  trip  hammer 
and  fulling  mill,  with  the  several  small  shops  found  in  such  settlements. 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  707 

The  various  industries  established  in  the  succeeding  years,  and  which 
could  be  successfully  maintained  as  long  as  they  were  not  forced  to 
compete  with  those  of  localities  favored  with  railroad  connections,  will 
show  the  early  importance  of  the  water  power  and  the  causes  for  a 
hopeful  future  for  the  town. 

In  early  years  Sylvanus  Pratt,  son  of  Amasa  Pratt,  established  a  shop 
with  a  trip  hammer  and  other  necessary  machinery,  and  there  made 
the  first  scythe  and  axe  made  in  the  country  by  machinery.  The  works 
were  burned. 

The  saw  mills  and  grist  mills  built   in   the   early   years  continued  in 
operation  with  some  changes  until  the  village  entered  upon  its  period  of 
greatest  activity,  when  they  were  superseded  by  larger  establishments. 
In  1832  the  lock  in  the  dam  and  a  portion  of  the   dam    itself  were  de- 
stroyed ;  but  they  were  promptly   repaired,   and  soon  afterward  Isaac 
Ogden,  who  had  come  into  possession  of  the  island,  built  a  new  bridge 
on  stone  piers,  with  openings  for  the  passage  of  boats,  the  other  spaces 
being  filled  in  with  stone.      It  is  upon    this  same   foundation    that  the 
present  structure  stands.      In  1832,  also,  was   erected  a  stone   flouring 
mill  which  was  operated  as  such  until  about    1840.      Some   years  later 
H.  R.  James  came  here  and  purchased  the  property,  made  a   large  ad- 
dition to  the  building  and  fitted  it  up  with  improved  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  paper.      He  also  carried  on  a  flax  mill  from  the  time  of 
his  arrival  until  1876,  when  the  building  was  devoted  to   the  paper  in- 
dustry.     He  carried  on  the  business  until  his  death,  when  the  property 
passed    to   D.    S.    Lyndes   of  Canton.      The  mills    were    subsequently 
burned.      A  paper  mill  had  been  in  existence  previous  to  this  one,  and 
just  before  1830,  which  was  started  by  a  firm    from    Vermont,   Messrs. 
Whitcomb,  Thayer  &  Wales.     It  was  in  operation   about  twenty  years 
and   produced   wrapping   and  writing   paper.     It  long  since  went   to 
decay. 

Judge  Jason  Fenton  erected  a  stone  tannery  in  1827,  which  was  oper- 
ated by  him  and  his  heirs  for  nearly  thirty  years.  It  was  purchased  in 
1855  by  Peter  Dalton,  who  made  additions  to  it  and  operated  it  more 
than  twenty  years,  when  it  was  burned. 

Samuel  Doran,  father  of  Edward,  had  a  carding  mill,  built  about  1827. 
It  was  demolished  and  just  after  the  war  Edward  Doran  established  an- 
other, which  he  carried  on  a  number  of  years  and  it  burned. 


708  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  1834  the  Ogdeiis  established  a  furnace,  as  noted  in  Madrid  his- 
tory, in  which  bog  ore  from  near  the  Grass  River  was  smelted,  and  pig 
iron  and  castings  made.  The  hard  times  of  1837-8  rendered  it  unprof- 
itable, and  in  1840  it  was  closed  out. 

A.  T.  Montgomery  established  an  oat  meal  mill  here  in  1838,  which 
he  operated  nine  years,  when  it  was  burned.  Benjamin  Bentley  was  in 
charge  of  a  small  foundry  after  about  1840.  which  was  burned  in  1874. 
It  was  rebuilt  and  operated  by  different  persons  since,  turning  out 
plows,  stoves,  etc. 

In  1850  Capt  Nathaniel  Taggert  built  for  Howland  &  Aspinwall  of 
New  York,  the  large  stone  grist  mill  now  occupied  b}-  L.  J.  Proctor. 
They  leased  it  to  J.  V.  C.  &  H.  S.  Northrop  of  Waddington.  Mr.  Proc- 
tor purchased  the  mill  in  1866  and  has  greatly  improved  it  by  putting 
in  roller  machinery.  In  i860  Horace  Montgomery  built  a  saw  mill  of 
large  capacity.  It  is  now  idle.  About  1863-4  Richard  Harrison  built 
a  saw  mill  which  passed  to  the  possession  of  J.  T.  Rutherford,  who,  in 
1873,  built  a  flouring  mill.  These  were  on  the  island  side  and  were 
sold  to  Richard  Harrison,  and  are  now  owned  by  E.  S.  Crapser 

Dalzell  &  Hill  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors,  etc.,  and 
and  a  planing  mill,  in  a  mill  built  by  them  between  1840  and  1850, 
which  was  afterward  operated  by  Joseph  McDowell.  It  is  now  carried 
on  by  Amos  Price.  Stephen  Burdick  carried  on  the  manufacture  of 
butter  tubs  for  some  years,  and  is  now  engaged  in  shingle  sawing  in 
the  same  place.  Alexander  J.  Lord  of  Ogdensburg  carried  on  a  cabi- 
net shop  a  few  years,  but  for  the  past  five  years  it  has  been  closed. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  extensive  manufacturing 
operations  of  the  place  have  been  diminished  by  fire  and  the  business 
conditions  are  a  fraction  of  what  they  once  were,  leaving  the  spectacle 
of  a  safe  and  costly  dam,  with  water  power  second  to  none  and  suffi- 
cient to  carry  a  hundred  wheels,  comparatively  idle.  An  effort  is  now 
being  made  to  create  a  boom  in  Waddington.  The  scheme  is  to  form 
a  stock  company  with  a  large  capital,  secure  lands  on  which  to  build  a 
city,  improve  the  water  power,  erect  factories  and  generate  electricity 
to  be  used  throughout  the  country.  How  far  this  scheme  will  be  carried 
remains  to  be  seen. 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  709 

Among  the  merchants  of  early  times  were  Deacon  Thomas  Ruther- 
ford, S.  J.  Dewey,  Henry  Church,  Silver* &  Gilbert  and  William  Light- 
erness.  There  are  now  in  the  place  three  general  stores,  two  drug 
stores,  two  groceries  and  flour  and  feed  stores,  one  hardware  store,  one 
boot  and  shoe  store,  one  millinery  store  and  various  shops. 

One  of  the  early  hotels  was  kept  by  Martin  Brydges.  The  first  pub- 
lic house  on  the  site  of  the  present  Clark  House  was  built  by  William 
Clark  in  1835.  It  was  a  wooden  building  and  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
to  be  succeeded  by  the  present  building  of  brick.  The  Clark  House  is 
now  (1893)  kept  by  Robert  Thompson,  and  owned  by  Dr.  S.  J.  Bower. 
The  other  hotel  of  the  village  was  built  by  Ira  G.  Taylor  and  is  still 
conducted  by  him. 

The  incorporation  of  the  village  was  effected  in  1839,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers : 

Trustees,  Walter  Wilson  (president),  A.  T.  Montgomery,  Lewis  Stowers,  Seth  J.  Dew- 
ey, Thomas  Rutherford,  jr.;  assessors,  Robert  Tate,  Nathaniel  Taggert,  Samuel  H. 
Dearborn  ;  clerk,  Stillman  Foote  ;  treasurer,  John  S.  Chipman  ;  constable  and  collector, 
Robert  Hatch. 

The  succession  of  presidents  of  the  village  have  been  as  follows; 

Walter  Wilson,  1839;  Nathaniel  Taggert,  1840;  Richard  Edsall,  1841  ;  Alexander 
Mills,  1842;  Norman  Sturtevant  1843;  Horacd  Montgomery,  1844;  Seth  J.Dewey, 
1845;  Albert  Tyler,  184G;  Lewis  Stowers,  1847  ;  James  Redington,  1848;  Walter  Wil- 
son, 1849;  Francis  Fenton,  1850-51  ;  John  Peacock,  1852;  Francis  Fenton,  1853  ;  Lew- 
is Stowers,  1854  ;  John  Peacock,  1865;  John  V.  C.  Norihrup,  1856-8;  John  Peacock, 
1859;  James  Redington,  1860  ;  J.  V.  C.  Northrup,  1861-2;  Henry  W.  Pratt,  1863-5; 
Richard  Harrison,  1866;  Walter  Wilson,  1867  ;  John  T.  Rutherford,  1868;  William  Jar- 
din,  1869  ;  James  Graham,  1870  ;  Loomis  S.  Wright,  1871  ;  Samuel  Clark,  1872-3  ;  Rob- 
ert Dalzell,  1874;  James  Graham,  1875-6;  Robert  Thompson,  1877;  Samuel  Clark, 
1878  ;  P.  S.  Wilson,  1879  ;  William  Jardin,  1880-1 ;  Joseph  McDowell,  2d,  1882  ;  Charles 
E.  Clark,  1883  ;  J.  McDowell,  1884  ;  A.  L.  Chamberlain,  1885-7  ;  Duane  Hooper,  1888; 
Robert  Thompson,  1889 ;  Samuel  B.  Doran,  1890;  Archibald  Sampson,  1891;  Henry 
Martin,  1892. 

The  present  (1893)  officers  are  : 

President,  Robert  Thompson  ;  clerk,  F.  A.  Sweet ;  trustees,  William  C.  Jardin,  Alex- 
ander McBrien,  Walter  Caruthers;  assessors,  Irwin  Jardin,  L.  J.  Proctor,  G.  C.  Wilson  ; 
collector,  J.  W.  Robinson  ;  treasurer,  L.  J.  Proctor. 

Wallace  W.  Harper  is  postmaster  in  Waddington  (1893).  About  a 
year  previous  to  this  date  a  second  post-office  called  Sucker  Brook  was 
established, 


710  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  collectors  of  the  port  here  have  been  as  follows :  Mathew  My- 
ers, Harvey  Lyon,  Ira  Collin?,  Richard  Edsall,  Thomas  Short,  Lewis 
Stowers,  Alexander  Mills,  William  C  Pierce,  Samuel  Doran,  J.  T. 
Rutherford,  C.  C.  Montgomery,  Henry  W.  Pratt,  Robert  Martin,  Sam- 
uel B.  Doran. 

The  village  long  felt  the  need  of  a  town  hall,  and  finally  in  1884  the 
present  handsome  aand  commodious  stone  structure  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  nearly  $15,500. 

In  the  fall  of  1883  a  stone  arch  bridge  was  built  by  the  two  towns, 
Waddington  and  Madrid,  across  Grass  River,  known  as  the  Chamberlin 
crossing,  on  the  site  of  the  old  bridge.  It  is  similar  in  its  construction 
as  the  Madrid  stone  bridge  and  cost  about  the  same,  to  which  the  rea- 
der is  referred  on  page  399. 

Agricultural  Society,  see  page  216. 
.  The  common  district  schools  of  this  town  have  been  liberally  sup- 
ported, and  the  number  of  districts  is  now  14.  In  the  village  a  Union 
Free  school  was  organized  in  1866,  with  a  Board  of  Education  consist- 
ing of  three  members.  A  school  graded  in  four  departments  was  be- 
gun, and  has  since  been  efficiently  conducted. 

Following  is  a  list  of  supervisors  of  the  town  from  the  time  of  its  or- 
ganization : 

Walter  Wilson,  1860-64,  inclusive ;  Charles  C.  Montgomery,  1865-74,  inclusive  ; 
Robert  Dalzell,  1875-6;  John  T.  Rutherford,  1877  ;  Robert  Dalzell,  1S78-9  ;  Luther  B. 
Wetherbee,  1880-81  ;  John  Morrison,  1882-84;  George  R.  Wright,  1885-6;  John  A. 
Dalzell,  1887-89;  Ebenezer  S.  Crapser,  1890-95. 

RELIGIOUS     SOCIETIES. 

Religious  services  were  held  in  Hamilton  by  the  Congregational  mis- 
sionaries as  early  as  1807,  as  also  by  several  other  denominations  there- 
after. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  society  was  organized  in  1818.  The  church  edi- 
fice, of  stone,  was  begun  in  18 16  and  finished  in  18 18,  and  was  built  at 
the  expense  of  the  Trinity  church  of  New  York  and  of  David  A.  Ogden. 
Its  walls  are  three  feet  thick,  and  the  building  stands  to-day  substan- 
tially as  at  first  erected.  It  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Hobart,  August 
22,  18 1 8,  and  was  the  first  church  dedicated  in  the  county.     The  society 


THE  TOWN  OF  WADDINGTON.  711 

was  incorporated  October  19,  1818,  with  David  A.  Ogden  and  Gouver- 
neur  Ogden  as  wardens  ;  and  Jason  Fenton,  Robert  McDowell,  Thomas 
Short,  Thomas  Archibald,  John  Dewey,  John  S.  Chipman,  Thomas 
Rutherford,  and  Elisha  Meigs  as  vestrymen.  Hon.  John  Ogilvie,  then 
commissioner  for  Great  Britain,  in  establishing  the  boundary  between 
that  country  and  the  United  States,  presented  the  new  Waddington 
church  with  a  bell  in  June,  18 18.  The  most  remarkable  fact,  perhaps, 
in  the  history  of  this  church  is  that  it  has  withstood  the  ravages  of  time, 
the  promptings  of  pride  and  the  natural  desire  for  the  new  and  the  beau- 
tiful, and  stands  to-day  as  it  did  seventy-five  years  ago.  The  member- 
ship of  the  society  is  120,  and  Rev.  Angus  C.  McDonald  is  the  rector 
in  1893. 

The  society  commonly  known  as  the  Scotch  Presbj^terian  church  was 
organized  in  the  interest  of  the  large  Scotch  settlement  in  this  town,  as 
the  "First  Associate  Reformed  Church  of  Madrid,"  on  the  17th  of  Sep.- 
tember,  18 19,  with  Richard  Rutherford,  Mark  Douglas,  John  Moffat, 
John  Rutherford,  and  Robert  Rider  as  trustees.  In  that  year  a  frame 
house  of  worship  was  erected  two  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Wad- 
dington village,  with  Rev.  William  Taylor  as  pastor ;  he  was  succeeded 
in  three  years  by  Rev.  John  Morrison,  who  remained  with  the  church 
nearly  sixty  years.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  James  Robertson.  In 
1837  the  society  was  changed  from  Associate  Reformed  to  Presbyterian 
and  connected  with  the  Presbyter)^  of  Canada.  About  1847  ^  second 
church  was  erected  near  the  Madrid  line,  and  Mr.  Morrison  officiated  in 
both.  In  1864  a  substantial  brick  church  was  built,  which  has  recently 
been  demolished  and  rebuilt  in  wood  in  modern  style.  The  society  is 
largely  constituted  of  descendants  of  Scotch  settlers. 

The  Congregational  society  has  held  services  in  school  houses  at  Wad- 
dtngton  from  the  first  settlement,  but  did  not  organize  a  church  proper 
until  January  12,  1828,  when  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Joseph  Hul- 
burt  and  twelve  members  the  church  was  formed.  In  October,  1841, 
Rev.  L.  A  Weeks  held  revival  meetings  there,  and  thirty-nine  were 
added  to  the  church.  A  frame  church  was  commenced  in  1844,  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  in  1849.  In  1853,  having  employed  a  Presby- 
terian, Rev.  J.  N.  Whitfield,  they  became  spiritually  weak,  when  they 
were  led  to  believe  that  a  change  in  denomination  would  result  in  finan- 


712  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

cial  help,  at  least  from  that  quarter,  voted  in  1858  to  connect  itself  with 
the  Presbyterian  body,  which  action  was  confirmed  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature. 

The  first  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington  was  formed  from  a 
change  of  the  Congregational  body  in  1858.  The  church  building  was 
remodeled  in  1881,  and  burned  July  20,  1887,  and  within  the  succeed- 
ing year  the  present  beautiful  stone  edifice  was  erected,  which  has  a 
value  of  $25,000.  The  society  is  now  (1893)  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Randall  Pease,  who  came  in  April,  1879.  The  church  is  flourish- 
ing and  has  a  membership  of  250. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  — The  first  Methodist  class  organized  at 
Waddington  was,  about  1826,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer.  His  circuit  ex- 
tended from  Ogdensburg  to  Raquette  River  bridge  In  the  early  years 
of  the  church  in  this  section  meetings  were  held  at  various  points  in 
school  houses  and  private  dwellings.  In  1849  a  small  brick  church  was 
begun  in  Waddington,  and  finished  and  dedicated  in  1854.  Two  years 
later  another  class  was  formed  and  a  small  church  erected  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  town  near  the  Lisbon  line,  while  another  class  met  at 
Chase's  mills  in  Louisville,  the  three  constituting  the  Waddington  cir- 
cuit and  being  supplied  by  the  same  pastor.  In  1892  the  church  in 
Waddington  was  rebuilt,  in  brick,  in  modern  style.  Rev.  F.  L.  Knapp 
is  the  pastor  in  1893. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church. — As  early  as  the  year  1825  the  Catho- 
lics built  a  church  about  four  miles  from  Waddington  on  the  Norfolk 
road,  where  services  were  held  by  missionaries,  and  the  faithful  attended 
from  a  wide  area  of  country.  During  the  twelve  years  previous  to  1848 
P'ather  James  Mackey  was  in  charge  of  the  church  and  greatly  pro- 
moted its  interests.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  pastorate  the  stone 
church  was  erected.  The  society  also  owns  a  pleasant  brick  parsonage. 
Rev.  Edward  B.  Murphy  is  the  present  priest.  There  are  130  families 
in  the  church. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CLIFTON.  713 


CHAPTER  L. 

THE  TOWN  OF  CLIFTON— ORGANIZED  IN  1868. 

THIS  is  the  thirtieth  town  erected,  which  was  authorized  by  an  act 
of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  on  April  2i,  1868.  It  was  taken  from 
the  town  of  Pierrepont,  and  embraces  the  township  of  Clifton  and  Chau- 
mont,  containing  61,930  acres.  Its  surface  is  largely  forest  covered, 
and  is  a  popular  resort  for  the  sportsman  and  health- seeker.  It  is 
watered  by  the  Oswegatchie  and  Grass  Rivers,  which  with  their  tribu- 
taries, fed  by  numerous  springs,  are  famed  for  trout,  while  Star  Lake  in 
the  western  part  has  several  hotels  near  its  shores,  which  are  filled  with 
guests  in  summer. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  a  school  house  owned  by  the  Clif- 
ton Iron  Company,  in  accordance  with  the  provision  of  the  act,  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  June,  1868,  and  the  following  officers  elected  :  Justice, 
Eneas  Ingerson  ;  assessor  and  collector,  John  Negus;  constables,  John 
Baker  and  Alexander  EUwood  ;  poormaster,  Wm.  R.  Bishop ;  inspec- 
tors of  election,  Walter  Robb,  P.  H.  Kennedy,  and  Wm.  R.  Bishop. 

On  account  of  a  tie  vote  a  full  board  of  officers  was  not  elected,  and 
on  June  30,  1868,  a  meeting  was  held  for  the  appointment  of  the  re- 
maining officers.  The  following  justices  were  present  at  the  meeting  : 
Benjamin  Smith  and  Wm.  E.  Boyd,  of  Russell ;  and  Eneas  Ingerson, 
of  Clifton.  They  appointed  the  following  officers:  Charles  C.  Snell, 
supervisor  ;  Hugh  M.  Gordon,  town  clerk  ;  Charles  C.  Snell,  Wm.  D. 
Murray,  and  Chas.  R.  Brundage,  justices;  John  Lalancett  and  Chas.  R. 
Brundage,  commissioners  of  highways. 

The  first  white  settlers  in  the  town  were  brought  in  by  the  Clifton 
Iron  Company  in  1866,  to  work  their  iron  mines  The  first  to  take  up 
farms  were  Joseph  Carlyle  and  Charles  Gotham  in  1866,  and  the  first 
frame  house  was  built  in  that  year.  The  first  saw  mill  was  also  built  in 
that  year  on  Grass  River  near  the  furnace,  having  fifty  feet  head  and 
fall.     The  first  iron  furnace  was  built  by  the  Clifton  Iron  Company  in 

90 


714  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1866,  and  was  operated  until  1870,  when  it  was  shut  down  on  account 
of  business  depression.  The  operations  of  the  company  were  confined 
largely  to  the  production  of  iron  from  the  ore  which  is  found  in  large 
quantities  on  or  near  the  surface  of  the  ground  of  the  magnetic  charac- 
ter. 

In  the  mean  time  a  large  quantity  of  iron  was  made.  The  company 
built  a  wooden  railroad  from  East  De  Kalb  to  their  mines,  which  was 
completed  in  1865,  but  proved  a  failure.  There  is  a  small  village  at  the 
furnace  called  Clarksboro,  from  which  the  post-office  is  named.  The 
first  stores  were  kept  by  H.  M.  Gordon  (who  now  keeps  a  hotel),  Hub- 
bard &  Snell,  and  Charles  R.  Thompson  &  Co.  The  first  hotel  was 
kept  by  Guy  Dunham.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  built  by  the 
Myres  Steel  and  Wire  Company.  The  first  physician  was  Dr.  L.  B. 
Baker.  There  has  always  been  a  good  school  kept  most  of  the  years 
since  the  district  was  organized. 

The  plant  passed  to  the  Clifton  Mining  Company,  and  within  the  past 
five  years  extensive  operations  have  gone  forward  for  the  production  of 
iron  at  what  are  known  as  Benson's  mines,  from  the  name  of  the 
proprietors.  The  business  has  been  carried  on  by  the  Magnetic  Iron 
Ore  Company.  Just  at  the  present  time  operations  here  are  suspended, 
but  it  is  believed  they  will  be  resumed.  Around  the  mines  a  little  ham- 
let has  sprung  up,  which  is  situated  on  the  line  of  the  Carthage  and 
Adirondack  Railroad;  this  road  has  in  1893  passed  into  control  of  the 
New  York  Central.  A  post-office  named  "Benson's  Mines"  exists, 
with  H.  E.  Esler  as  postmaster.  Charles  Bellinger  and  the  Iron  Com- 
pany have  stores  here  and  a  hotel  is  kept.  There  are  also  two  saw 
mills,  operated  by  James  Rhodes  and  William  Humes.  The  only  other 
hamlet  in  the  town  is  Clarksborough,  which  is  a  post-office.  Alva  Al- 
len is  postmaster  and  a  merchant,  and  Charles  Burt  conducts  a  hotel. 
There  is  no  organized  church  of  any  kind,  but  religious  services  are  fre- 
quently held  in  the  school  house  by  the  Methodists,  and  occasionally 
by  others. 

The  supervisors  of  the  town  from  its  organization  to  the  present,  with 
years  of  service,  are  as  follows  : 

Frank  S.  Bond,  1869;  C.  R.  Thompson,  1870;  James  Sheridan,  1871-82;  Charles  R. 
Brandage,  1883-86  ;  James  Sheridan,  1888-91  ;  Charles  R.  Brundage,  1892-93  ;  James 
L.  Humes,  1894. 


THE  TOWN  OF  CLARE.  715 


CHAPTER  LI. 
THE  TOWN  OF  CLARE— ORGANIZED  IN  1880. 

THIS  was  the  thirty- first  town  erected,  which  was  authorized  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  December  2,  1880,  pursuant  to  Chapter  194, 
laws  of  1849,  ^'^  ^ct  amendatory  thereto,  section  i.  All  that  part  of 
Pierrepont,  in  the  county,  known  as  the  township  of  Clare,  situated  be- 
tween Pierrepont,  Clifton,  Russell  and  Colton,  containing  30,295  acres. 
The  first  town  meeting  was  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  school  house  in 
said  territory,  nearest  the  dwelling  of  George  Billings,  on  the  second 
Thursday  of  February,  1881,  and  William  Dean,  James  Colton,  and 
Franklin  Gill  were  appointed  to  preside  at  the  meeting,  when  a  full  set 
of  town  officers  were  elected.  The  new  town  was  to  assume  and  pay  a 
proportionate  share  of  the  indebtedness  then  existing  in  the  town  of 
Pierrepont,  and  all  the  funds  of  said  town  unappropriated  at  this  date  of 
organization  shall  be  proportionally  divided. 

Most  of  the  history  of  Clare  previous  to  the  date  of  its  erection  is 
comprised  in  the  town  from  which  it  was  taken.  A  large  part  of  Clare 
is  still  forest  covered,  and  in  the  southeastern  part  it  is  hilly  and  moun- 
tainous. A  road  extends  along  the  western  part  north  and  south,  and 
on  this  most  of  the  earlier  settlers  lived.  Two  branches  of  the  Grass 
River  flow  across  the  town,  and  a  tributary  drains  Horse  Shoe  Pond, 
which  is  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  town.  There  is  almost  no  business 
of  any  kind  carried  on  within  the  town  limits,  nor  is  there,  so  far  as 
known,  a  church  organization.  Among  those  who  have  lived  in  the 
town  are  C.  Fountain,  J.  Fountain,  W.  H.  Brown,  H.  Gallinger,  J.  Er- 
win,  J.  Bartleman,  E.  Martin,  C.  Dewey,  L.  and  C.  Simmons,  A.  H. 
Griswold,  N.  Isham,  H.  Sharpstine,  G.  Billings,  H.  Barber,  and  others 
of  later  times.  The  only  post  office  is  Clare,  where  there  is  a  little  ham- 
let ;  Mrs.  H.  C.  Miles  is  postmistress  and  has  a  small  mercantile  busi- 
ness, as   also  has  Matthew  Bird.      There  are  four  school  districts  in  the 


716  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

town.     There  were  but  nineteen  votes  polled  at  the  fall  election  of  i88i, 
and  In  1882  there  were  forty-five  votes  cast. 

The  supervisors  of  the  town  have  been  as  follows  : 

1881-86,  Franklin  Gill;  1887-88,  Charles  H.  Isham ;  1898-91,  James  Colton ;  1892- 
94,  John  Bird. 

Following  are  the  officers  of  the  town  for  1893  : 

Supervisor,  John  Bird;  clerk,  Luther  J.  Adamson  ;  assessors,  William  Bird,  Charles 
Isham,  and  Mathew  Farley  ;  justices,  Munson  VV.  Russell,  Alfred  H.  Dewey,  William 
M.  Dean,  and  John  Bird ;  commissioner  of  highways,  Charles  Isham  ;  collector,  Jere- 
miah Leyhan. 


ADDENDA. 


[Omitted  from  history  of  Lisbon.] — St.  Philip  and  James  Catholic 
Church  was  erected  of  brick  in  the  summer  of  1874  at  Lisbon  Centre, 
at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  The  first  trustees  were  Bishop  Wadhams,  Rev. 
James  Mackey,  V.  G.,  and  Rev.  E.  O.  Hare  (pastor)  of  Ogdensburg, 
also  John  McCarrier  and  Owen  Meehan,  laymen  of  Lisbon. 

The  membership  is  about  200,  who  are  supplied  by  Father  Varrelly, 
of  Madrid,  most  of  the  time. 


[Bench  and  Bar.] — J.  M.  Kellogg  was  born  in  Cortland  county,  N, 
Y.,  August  28,  185  I.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  in  Cin- 
cinnatus  and  at  Cazenovia  Seminary,  then  taking  a  course  in  Cornell 
University  and  a  law  course  in  the  Albany  Law  School,  where  he  grad- 
uated LL.B.  in  1873.  In  1874  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Ogdensburg  as  partner  with  Stillman  Foote,  which  partnership  con- 
tinued until  1883,  the  date  of  Mr.  Foote's  death.  In  1881  Mr.  Kellogg 
was  elected  city  recorder,  and  was  appointed  county  judge  by  Gover- 
nor Cornell  in  January,  1882.  He  still  holds  the  office  of  county  judge. 
In  1875  Judge  Kellogg  married  Henrietta  Guest  Matthews.  They  have 
one  son,  Walter  Guest  Kellogg.  Judge  Kellogg  is  vice-president  of  the 
Ogdensburg  National  Bank. 

E.  L.  Strong  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  December  17,  1859.  He 
was  educated  in  Ogdensburg,  and  studied  law  here  in  the  office  of  A. 


ADDENDA.  717 

E.  Smith.  In  1882  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  has  practiced  in  this 
city  since  that  time.  He  has  been  United  States  commissioner  since 
1885,  Mr.  Strong's  mother  was  EHzabeth  Fine,  daughter  of  Judge 
Fine.      His  father  was  Edward  K.  Strong. 

Nathaniel  Wells  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  August  26,  1837,  ^nd  was 
educated  in  the  Canton  Academy.  He  studied  law  with  W.  H.  Saw- 
yer, of  Canton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859.  In  1869  he  came 
to  Ogdensburg  and  has  conducted  a  law  practice  here  since  that  time. 
In  1862  he  married  Tirzah  C.  Flack.  They  have  two  sons:  Leslie 
Wells  and  J.  F.  Wells,  the  former  an  attorney  and  partner  with  his  father 
in  the  firm  of  Wells  &  Wells. 

Frank  L.  Bell,  born  in  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  October  8, 
1867.  Parents  wefe  Philo  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Bemis)  Bell.  Early  edu- 
cation at  Sherman  Academy,  Moriah.  N.  Y.,  afterwards  Middlebury  Col- 
lege, Vt.  Read  law  with  Waldo  &  McLaughlin,  Port  Henry,  one  year, 
and  in  1891  entered  the  office  of  Swift  &  Sanford,  Potsdam.  Admitted 
to  the  bar  in  December,  1894.  and  at  once  entered  into  partnership  with 
Theodore  H.  Swift,  which  partnership  still  continues  under  the  title  of 
Swift  &  Bell.      Married,  February  14,  1894. 

William  M.  Hawkins,  of  Potsdam,  born  in  Vienna,  Oneida  county, 
July  8,  1852.  Parents  were  Rev,  William  H.  and  Prudence  (Miles) 
Hawkins.  Early  education  at  Potsdam  State  Normal  School  and  Michi- 
gan University  at  Ann  Arbor.  Graduated  in  1875.  Read  law  with 
Hon.  John  A.  Vance  and  Judge  Henry  L.  Knowles,  ofPotsdam.  Ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1879.  Was  in  partnership  with  William  H.  Faulk- 
ner about  one  year,  until  Mr.  Faulkner's  death  in  1881.  Since  then  he 
has  practiced  his  profession  alone.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  of 
the  town  of  Potsdam  two  consecutive  terms  and  declined  a  third  nomi- 
nation. He  served  as  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  village  in  1881.  Mr. 
Hawkins  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  politics  of  the-county.,  and  is^an  off  ^ 
earnest  and  forcible  speaker  on  the  Republican  side.  ^ 

Edward  A.  Everett,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  September 
18,  i860,  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Abram)  Everet.  He  received  his 
education  at  Lawrenceville  Academy,  the  State  Normal  School  at  Pots- 
dam, and  pursued  his  legal  studies  at   Albany   Law   School.      He  read 


718  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

law  in  the  office  of  Dart  &  Erwin,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1889,  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  William  A.  Dart.  Since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Dart  in  1890,  Mr.  Everett  has  continued  the  practice  of  law  alone,  al- 
though associated  at  times  with  Hon.  George  Z.  Erwin.  Mr.  Everett 
is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  was  married,  December  28,  1890,  to 
Susan  T.  Weed,  daughter  of  W.  W.  Weed  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have 
one  child,   a  daughter. 

A.  Z.  Squires,  Canton,  was  born  in  Canton,  May  17,  1847,  ^""^  was 
educated  at  St.  Lawrence  University.  He  was  mathematical  professor 
in  his  alma  mater  for  eight  years.  He  studied  law  in  the  offices  of  Mr. 
Sawyer  and  Judge  Russell  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869.  He 
was  special  surrogate  for  ten  years.  In  1874  he  married  Emma  M. 
Moxley.     They  have  one  son,  Robert  Squires. 

James  F.  Aiken  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  February  5,  1869.  ^"d  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  the  cit}'.  He  studied  law  with  Mr.  O'Brien 
and  L.  Hasbrouck.  In  the  spring  of  1892  he  entered  the  law  school  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  10,  1893,  ^"^  graduated 
on  the  17th  following,  and  has  since  followed  his  profession  in  Ogdens- 
burg. In  the  fall  of  1893  he  was  nominated  for  district  attorney  by  the 
Democratic  convention.  He  was  five  years  in  the  35th  Separate  Com- 
pany, and  is  now  a  member  of  the  40th,  just  organized. 

James  H.  Martin  was  born  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  September 
1 1,  1863.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  during  vacations  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm.  He  completed  his  education  at  the  St.  Law- 
rence University  at  Canton,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1890.  He 
studied  law  with  C.  A.  Kellogg,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1892,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  Martin 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  State  convention  at  Saratoga  in  1891, 
was  elected  city  recorder  for  two  years  in  May,  1893,  and  the  following 
fall  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  member  of  assembly.  His 
father,  Patrick  Martin,  died  about  fourteen  years  ago,  leaving  him  alone 
to  work  his  way  up  to  his  present  position.  His  mother  now  resides 
with  him  in  Ogdensburg. 

Charles  G.  Idler  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  February  3,  1850,  and  was 
educated  in  the  schools   of  the   city.      He   studied   law   with   Brown  & 


ADDENDA.  719 

Hasbrouck,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871.  He  opened  an  office 
in  Ogdensburg,  where  he  has  followed  his  profession  most  of  the  time 
since.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  for  the  past 
nine  years,  is  now  supervisor  of  the  Second  ward,  an  office  which  he 
has  filled  for  several  terms,  and  was  special  deputy  collector  in  the  cus- 
tom house  here  for  two  years,  under  Cleveland's  first  term. 

Martin  O'Brien  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  December  6,  1852,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the  academy  in  this  city.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  D.  Magone,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1879,  and  has  since  followed  his  profession  in  Ogdensburg.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  for  the  past  twelve  years. 

A.  T.  Johnson  was  born  in  Colchester,  Vt..  March  12,  1859.  He 
was  educated  in  Gouverneur  and  studied  law  with  Conger  &  Gleason. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1886  and  in  the  same  year  the  law  firm 
of  Gleason  &  Johnson  was  formed.  In  1889  Mr.  Johnson  married  Car- 
oline Gleason,  daughter  of  G.  M.  Gleason. 

H.  G.  Aldrich  was  born  in  Luzerne,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  December 
3,  i860.  He  was  educated  in  Hamilton  College  and  at  the  Harvard 
Law  School  from  which  he  graduated  in  1888.  He  read  law  in  Canton 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1889,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
practicing  his  profession  in  Gouverneur.  In  1890  he  married  Jennie  A. 
Louks  of  Lowville. 

Vasco  P.  Abbott  was  born  in  Fowler,  May  20,  1847.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Gouverneur  Seminary,  St.  Lawrence  University  and  the 
Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1868.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1868  and  has  practiced  continuously  since.  He 
was  elected  special  county  judge  in  1875,  sitting  on  the  bench  five 
years.  In  1880  he  was  made  surrogate  and  served  until  1893.  Dec- 
ember 21,  1872,  he  married  Anna  E.  Farmer.  They  have  two  sons  and 
one  daughter. 

C.  Arthur  Parker  was  born  November  7,  185  I,  and  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Gouverneur,  his  native  place.  He  studied  law  with  his 
father,  Cornelius  A.  Parker,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  January, 
1875.  He  is  in  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  law  firm  of  Parker  & 
Parker. 


720  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

P.  R.  McMonagle  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  May  lO,  1856,  and 
studied  law  in  Ogdensburg  and  in  Judge  Russell's  office.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1881,  since  which  date  he  has  been  official  stenog- 
rapher of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Court.  For  the  past  two  years  he 
has  been  official  stenographer  of  the  Supreme  Court  also.  He  was  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  a  time.      He  resides  in  Canton. 

George  H.  Bowers  is  a  native  of  Vermont  and  studied  law  with  Led- 
yard  P.  Hale  in  Canton.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1862,  and  on  October  i  in  tliat  year  the  present  partnership  of  Hale 
&  Bowers  was  formed. 

A.  W.  Orvis  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  February  18,  1859.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Watertown  High  School  and  the  Albany  Law 
School,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1S86.  He  studied  law  with  Judge 
Conger  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  1886,  the  partnership  of 
Conger  &  Orvis  being  formed  in  June  of  that  year.  Mr.  Orvis  was 
deputy  county  clerk  from  1889  to  1892.  In  1889  he  married  Hattie 
Church. 

Cornelius  A.  Parker  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  May  11,  1821,  and  was 
educated  in  the  seminary  here.  He  studied  law  here  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  January,  1847,  since  which  time  he  has  been  practicing  his 
profession  in  Gouverneur.  They  have  two  children,  C.  Arthur  Parker 
and  Sarah  Helen  Adams  Parker. 

G.  M.  Gleason  was  born  in  Pitcairn,  September  16,  1829.  He  taught 
school  and  worked  at  farming  for  some  time,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  60th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  serving  fifteen  months.  He  returned  to 
farming  and  in  1865  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  serving  six  years. 
In  1869  he  came  to  Gouverneur.  In  1875  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  In  1881  he  organized  the 
National  Bank  and  has  been  its  president  ever  since.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  seven  times  and  a  magistrate  for 
twelve  years  ;  was  delegate  to  the  national  convention  that  nominated 
Harrison  and  was  collector  of  the  port  of  Oswegatchie  from  1890  to 
1892.  Few  men  in  the  county  have  been  honored  with  public  prefer- 
ment as  much  as  Mr.  Gleason. 


PART  II 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


Biographical. 


EDWIN  A.   MERRITT. 

Edwin  Atkins  Merritt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
Henry  Merritt,  who  was  born  in  Kent  county,  England.  Henry  had  a  son  John, 
who  was  born  in  New  England  about  the  year  1635  and  died  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  after 
1679,  succeeding  to  his  father's  estate.  John  had  a  son  of  the  same  name,  who  was 
born  in  Scituate  in  1669  and  died  there  June  5,  1749,  leaving  a  son  Jonathan,  born  in 
1702  and  died  at  Hebron,  Tolland  county,  Conn.,  October  27,  1758.  Noah  was  son 
of  Jonathan,  born  at  Scituate  in  1739  and  died  March  24,  1814,  at  Templeton,  Worces- 
ter county,  Mass.  He  settled  there  as  early  as  1753.  He  left  a  son  Noah,  born  in 
October,  1758,  at  Templeton,  who  died  August  21,  1843,  at  Sudbury,  Rutland  county, 
Vt.  He  married  Eunice  Metcalf,  removing  to  Brandon,  Vt.,  about  1785.  He  was 
father  of  Noadiah,  the  father  of  General  Edward  Atkins  Merritt.  Noadiah  was  born 
in  Templeton,  December  3,  1782,  and  died  at  Pierrepont,  N.  Y.,  January  1,  1854. 
His  wife,  mother  of  the  subject,  was  Relief  Parker,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Relief 
Parker,  who  came  to  Leicester  from  Roxbury,  Mass. ,  before  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Noah  Merritt,  the  great-grandfather,  was  one  of  the  minute  men  who  went  to 
Lexington  at  the  first  call  of  arms.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  Mr. 
Merritt,  according  to  tradition,  was  harrowing  in  the  field,  when  the  courier  arrived 
soon  afternoon,  with  the  news  of  the  incursion  of  the  British  troops,  and  before  night 
a  company  of  thirty-seven  men  started  for  Cambridge.  A  tablet  inscribed  with  the 
names  of  this  company  has  recently  been  presented  to  the  town  of  Templeton,  by 
Hon.  C.  C.  Merritt,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  His  grandfather,  Noah  Merritt,  jr.,  served 
as  a  soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Bunker 
Hill  and  Saratoga;  he  was  at  one  time  an  orderly  for  General  Washington  and  was 
present  at  the  execution  of  Major  Andre,  the  British  spy. 

Taking  up  the  life  record  of  Edwin  Atkins  Merritt,  who  was  born  in  Sudbury,  Vt. , 
February  26,  1828,  we  learn  that  he  left  Vermont  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age  and 
went  to  live  with  a  married  sister  who  resided  at  Westport,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.  In 
1841,  with  his  father's  family,  he  emigrated  to  St.  Lawrence  County,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  taught  school  several  years,  and  having  resolved  to  become  a  sur- 
veyor and  civil  engineer,  he  qualified  himself  for  that  business  and  pursued  that 
profession  for  several  years,  mainly  in  the  Adirondack  wilderness.  He  published 
the  first  map  to  guide  tourists  to  this  great  resort.  He  also  as  engineer  had  charge 
A 


2  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  location  and  construction  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Rome,  Watertown  and 
Ogdensburg  Railroad. 

In  1858  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Rich,  and  by  her  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  died 
young  except  Edwin  A.  Merritt,  jr.,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  of  the  class  of  1884, 
now  of  the  firm  of  Merritt  &  Tappan  Potsdam  Sandstone  Company.  In  1854  General 
Merritt  was  unanimoi:sly  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Pierrepont,  and  re-elected 
the  two  following  years.  In  1857,  '58,  '59  and  '60  he  was  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  in  1859  was  elected  member  of  assembly  from  the  Second  District  of  this 
countv  by  1,302  majority,  and  re-elected  in  1860  by  2,259  majority. 

In  that  body  his  directness  and  honesty  of  purpose,  his  sound  judgment  and  prac- 
ticability gave  him  a  commanding  place  and  large  iniiuence.  At  the  opening  of  the 
war  General  Merritt  became  actively  interested  in  raising  troops  and  went  to  the  field 
as  quartermaster  of  the  60th  N.  Y.  Vols.  He  was  for  some  time  with  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  went  west  and  participated  in  the  battles 
about  Chattanooga  and  in  Sherman's  "march  to  the  sea,"  as  far  as  the  Altoona  moun- 
tain, near  Marietta,  Ga.  While  in  the  field  at  this  point  he  received  from  President 
Lincoln  a  commission  as  commissary  of  subsistence  with  rank  of  captain,  and  was  order- 
ed to  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and  stationed  on  the  Potomac  River,  north  of  Washington,  to 
supply  reinforcements  proceeding  to  join  Sheridan  s  army.  At  the  close  of  the 
campaign  he  was  stationed  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  to  pay  commutation  of  rations  to  the 
soldiers  returning  from  rebel  j^risons.  While  on  this  service  he  was  appointed 
quartermaster-general  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Fenton,  and  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  the  office  January  1,  1865,  and  held  the  position  during  the  governor's  two  terms, 
until  January,  1869. 

In  1867  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  in  which  body 
he  held  the  important  position  of  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Organization  of  the 
Legislature.  He  was  also  a  leading  member  of  the  Republican  State  Committee,  for 
several  years. 

In  March,  1869,  he  was  appointed  Naval  officer  of  the  port  of  New  York,  by  Pres- 
ident Grant,  and  held  that  position  sixteen  months.  He  was  removed  to  make  room 
for  Moses  H.  Grinnell,  who  was  previously  a  prominent  merchant  and  was  collector 
at  the  time.  In  1875  the  Republican  State  Convention,  without  solicitation,  nomi- 
nated him  for  state  treasurer,  with  Frederick  W.  Seward  for  secretary  of  state,  Gen- 
eral Spinner  for  comptroller,  and  Judge  Danforth  for  attorney-general.  Though 
beaten  at  the  election,  it  was  indisputably  one  of  the  strongest  tickets  ever  made  in 
the  State 

In  1877,  there  being  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  surveyor  of  the  })ort  of  N^ew  York 
through  the  expiration  of  General  Sharp's  term,  General  Merritt  was  nominated  to 
that  oftice  by  President  Hayes  and  unanimously  continued  by  the  Senate,  Roscoe 
Conkling  reporting  favorably  on  the  nomination  and  voting  for  confirmation.  At  the 
same  time  the  nominations  of  Messrs.  Roosevelt  atul  Prince  for  collector  and  naval 
officer,  in  place  of  Arthur  and  Cornell,  were  rejected,  principally  for  the  reason  that 
there  was  not  a  vacancy  in  those  offices  as  there  was  in  the  surveyorship. 

General  Merritt's  administration  of  the  surveyor's  office  was  so  successful  that  the 
president  determined  to  promote  him  to  the  coUectorship,  which  was  done  July  11, 
1878,  and  he  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  February  3,  1879.     It  may  be  noted  that 


•^H  Ca-rnp  *  • 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  3 

General  Merritt  is  the  only  man  who  ever  held  the  three  offices  of  surveyor,  naval 
othcer,  and  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York.  Among  the  first  nominations  made 
by  President  Garfield  on  assuming  the  duties  of  his  oiifice  in  1«81  was  that  of  General 
Merritt  for  consul-general  at  London.  The  nomination  was  unanimously  confirmed 
l)y  the  Senate,  and  the  rec  jrd  made  by  him  was  the  same  there  as  it  had  been  in  all 
the  positions  he  had  previoush'  held.  He  was  superseded  after  the  election  of  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  in  1885  by  Thomas  ]\I.  Waller,  e.K-governor  of  Connecticut. 

By  his  untiring  industry,  accessibility,  impartiality,  sound  sense  and  firmness  of 
character,  he  earned  not  only  in  many  cases  the  gratitude  of  his  countrj'men  visiting 
the  British  metropolis,  but  also  the  approbation  of  the  United  States  government. 

General  Merritt  is  a  man  of  great  ability  and  possesses  alarge  store  of  practical  sense. 
He  rarely  makes  mistakes,  as  he  does  not  assume  a  position  until  he  thoroughlv  un- 
derstands it,  when  in  his  mind  there  is  but  one  course  to  pursue,  and  that  is  to  move 
onward. 

General  Merritt  was  for  many  j^ears  an  intimate  personal  friend  of  Horace  Greeley, 
and  earnestly  .supported  his  candidacy  for  the  United  States  vSenate  in  1861,  as  well 
as  that  for  the  presidency  in  187'2. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  Naval  Ofiice  in  1871,  he  was  offered  the  position  of 
United  States  Minister  to  Brazil;  this  was  done  through  Hon.  William  A.  Wheeler, 
then  a  member  of  Congress,  and  afterwards  vice-president  of  the  United  States.  The 
position  thus  tendered  he  felt  constrained  to  decline.  His  intimate  association  with 
Hon.  John  Sherman,  while  the  latter  was  secretary  of  the  treasurv,  made  him  a  warm 
friend  and  supporter  of  that  distinguished  statesman. 

General  Merritt  has  alwaj-s  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  and 
especially  was  influential  in  the  location  and  management  of  the  State  Normal  and 
Training  School  at  Potsdam.  He  is  at  present  (1894)  president  of  the  Local  Board, 
as  well  as  president  of  the  corporation  of  the  vSt.  Lawrence  University',  located  at 
Canton,  N.  Y. 

Since  his  retirement  from  public  life  he  has  led  a  quiet  one  at  Potsdam,  and  enjoys 
the  esteem  of  his  fellowmen.  His  public  career  has  been  an  exceptionally  active  one 
and  has  no  doubt  been  sharph'  antagonized  by  those  who  did  not  agree  with  him  as 
to  men  and  measures.  It  has  not,  however,  interfered  with  friendly  and  personal 
relations  with  those  with  whom  he  has  become  associated  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of 
life.  His  record  is  one  of  which  he  may  be  proud  and  his  friends  unqualifiedly 
approve. 


CARLTON   E.   SANFORD. 

C.\Ri/njN  E.  S.-vNFOKD  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  December  31, 
1847.  He  IS  a  son  of  Hon.  Jonah  Sanford,  who  by  his  own  energy,  business  sagacity, 
and  native  ability  became  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  this  county.  He  was  hon- 
ored with  various  public  offices;  was  supervisor  of  his  town  for  many  years,  and 
member  of  the  Legislature  in  1874  and  again  in  1875. 

His  father.  Col.  Jonah  Sanford  (grandfather  of  Carlton  E.)  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  a  man  of  fine  presence,  great  native  ability  and  indomitable  will. 


4  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Without  schooling,  bv  intense  application  and  study,  he  became  a  law  practitioner  of 
considerable  note,  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1829,  member  of  the  Twenty-first 
Congress  1829-31,  filling  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Silas  Wright,  brigadier-general 
of  the  State  militia,  colonel  of  the  92d  Regiment  N.  Y.  State  Volunteers,  which  he 
raised  and  organized  in  1861  and  took  to  the  seat  of  war  on  the  James  River. 

The  children  of  Jonah  2d  were  Carlton  E.,  Silas  H.,  now  living  on  the  homestead, 
Herbert  J.,  a  resident  of  Parishville,  and  Alice  C,  who  married  L.  C.  Shepard. 

Carlton  E.  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one,  aside  from 
the  time  spent  at  school  at  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  one  term  at  St.  Lawrence 
Academy  at  Potsdam.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  entered  Cornell  L^niversity,  class  of  '73. 
He  only  completed  his  sophomore  year,  getting  an  honorable  discharge.  In  August, 
1871 ,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Tappan  &  Erwin,  at  Potsdam,  as  a  student,  and 
graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1873.  He  again  entered  the  office  of  Tap- 
wan  &  Erwin  where  he  remained  as  clerk  till  December,  1874,  when  the  law  firm  of 
Swift  &  Sanford  was  formed.  In  the  summer  of  1876  the  firm  by  mutual  consent  was 
dissolved,  and  Mr.  Sanford  cf)ntinued  the  practice  of  law  alone  at  Potsdam  till  June, 
1888,  when  the  firm  of  Swift  &  Sanford  was  again  formed.  This  firm  continued  till  the 
summer  of  1892,  when,  owing  to  ilr.  Sanford's  outside  business  engagements,  it  was 
amicably  terminated.  Since  then  his  law  practice  is  principally  confined  to  that  of 
attorney  for  the  business  enterprises  with  which  he  is  connected. 

Mr.  Sanford  is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  political  matters.  He  has  never  been  a  candidate  for,  nor  sought  office. 
However,  in  1888,  his  Assembly  District  presented  him  as  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention,  but  he  was  beaten  in  the  Congressional  Convention  after  a 
two  days'  contest,  getting  the  compliment  of  alternate  delegate.  In  1892  he  was  again 
presented  and  this  time  elected  delegate. 

As  a  law\-er  ]\Ir.  vSanford  has  the  reputation  of  being  careful  and  painstaking  in  his 
work,  conservative  in  counsel  and  diligent  in  his  attention  to  his  duties.  His  work 
is  principally  as  counsel  and  ofiSce  work,  not  liking  the  trial  of  actions.  In  the  case 
of  Riggs  against  Palmer,  which  he  brought,  the  principle  of  law,  that  a  beneficiary 
under  a  will  who  takes  the  life  of  his  benefactor  for  the  purpose  of  coming  into  pos- 
session of  the  property,  cannot  take  as  devisee  or  as  heir,  was  first  brought  out  and 
established  in  our  jurisprudence.  Judge  Leslie  W.  Russell  was  counsel  in  the  case 
and  argued  it — Mr.  Sanford  only  claiming  credit  for  conceiving  the  prmciple  and 
bringing  the  action. 

Interwoven  with  his  practice  of  the  law  Mr.  Sanford  has  written  a  good  deal  for 
the  local  press  on  political,  municipal  and  other  matters.  As  a  writer  his  style  is  easy 
and  clear. 

He  was  treasurer  of  the  Raquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  Valley  Agricultural  and  Hor- 
ticultural Society  for  eight  consecutive  years,  from  1881  to  1888.  For  the  j-ear  1889 
he  held  the  presidency  of  the  society,  and  was  re-elected,  but  declined  the  position. 
He  contributed  by  his  zeal  and  energy  much  to  the  success  which  the  society  achieved 
during  those  years. 

Mr.  Sanford  takes  great  pride  in  his  village  and  in  all  that  tends  to  its  development 
and  the  prosperity  of  its  people.  In  all  public  matters  and  movements  he  takes  an 
active  part,  and  is  in  every  sense  a  public  spirited  citizen.  In  the  movement  to  put 
in  a  system  of  public  sewers  and  drains,  which  was  done  in  1886,  he  took  an  earnest 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  5 

interest  and  aided  materialh^  by  voice  and  pen  in  its  accomplishment.  He  never 
ceased  his  efforts  until  it  was  an  accomplished  fact. 

In  1889  he  was  the  chief  factor  in  the  organization  of  the  People's  Bank,  a  very 
successful  and  promising  institution,  an  account  of  which  is  given  herein.  He  be- 
came its  president  on  its  organization  and  still  holds  that  position. 

In  189<»  he  conducted  the  movement  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Pots- 
dam Savings,  Loan  and  Building  Association,  and  aided  in  its  establishment.  The 
association  has  met  with  great  success.  ISIr.  Sanford  has  been  its  attorney  from  the 
start. 

He  also  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Thatcher  Manufacturing  Companv,  be- 
ing one  of  its  promoters  and  directors.  He  was  one  of  the  principals  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Raquette  River  Paper  Company,  an  enterprise  of  some  magnitude,  hav- 
ing a  weekly  pay-roll  of  over  $700,  and  serves  as  its  vice-president  and  attorney.  He 
was  also  secretar}^  of  the  High  Falls  Sulphite  Pulp  and  Mining  Comjjany,  the  works  of 
which  are  at  High  Falls  in  the  town  of  Canton,  from  the  organization  of  the  companj'- 
in  June,  1892,  till  January  1,  1894.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Potsdam  Milk-Sugar 
Company,  and  acts  as  its  attorney.  In  addition,  he  is  sole  executor  of  his  father's 
will  and  has  had  entire  management  of  his  estate. 

In  all  of  these  various  positions  Mr.  Sanford  has  displayed  exceptional  business  ca- 
pacity, and  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  community.  He  has  ever  shown 
an  active  public  spirit,  and  few  men  have  contributed  more  for  the  advancement  and 
general  prosperity  of  Potsdam. 

Mr.  Sanford  married,  December  21,  1893,  Miss  Frances  G.  ]\Ierritt,  daughter  of 
George  Merritt,  of  Auburn,  X.  Y. 


GEORGE  W.   SISSON. 

George  Wing  Sisson  was  born  at  Glens  Fall,  Warren  county.  N.  Y.,  December  19, 
1828,  son  of  James  Sisson,  a  merhant  of  Glens  Falls,  one  of  the  earliest  in  mercantile 
business  in  that  town,  and  is  of  English  descent.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's  side 
settled  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket  and  near  New  Bedford,  Mass. ,  at  an  early  date. 
Upon  his  mother's  side,  whose  name  was  Gulia  Elma  S.  Wing,  he  is  descended  from 
John  Wing,  who  came  to  America  in  the  ship  William  Francis,  arriving  at  Boston, 
June  5,  1632,  and  resided  in  Sandwich  near  Cape  Cod,  Mass. 

George  W.  Sisson  lived  with  his  parents  in  Glens  Falls  until  his  nineteenth  year, 
receiving  his  education  at  the  Glens  Falls  Academy,  after  which  he  lived  with  a  lead- 
ing merchant  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  In  the  spring  of  1849 
he  started  in  the  general  drug  business  at  Coxsackie,  N.  Y. ,  an  active  town  on  the 
Hudson  River,  remaining  there  eleven  years  and  building  up  a  lucrative  business. 
In  1860  he  removed  to  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.,  and  there  established  a  large  and  success- 
ful dnig  and  mercantile  business,  which  he  .sold  January  1,  1867,  for  the  purpose  of 
locating  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  having  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  saw  mill  property  known  as  the  Pomeroy  &  Pierson  mill.  This  mill 
was  at  once  replaced  with  a  large  new  mill  and  a  large  planing  mill  was  built  and 
equipped,  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  projected  on  a  large  scale.     The  mill  prop- 


6  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

erty  with  its  hamlet  of  tenement  houses,  shops,  etc.,  became  widel}^  known  as  Sisson- 
ville.  In  the  business  reverses  of  1878  Mr.  Sisson  met  with  financial  disaster.  Mr. 
Augustus  Sherman,  a  wealthy  lumber  manufacturer  of  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  joined  Mr. 
Sisson  in  business  January  1,  1875,  their  firm  being  called  The  A.  Sherman  Lumber 
Co.,  of  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Sisson  being  the  resident  and  active  managing  partner. 
Mr.  Sherman  died  in  the  fall  of  1884,  and  January  1,  1886,  his  grandsons,  William  R. 
and  Frederic  A.  Weed,  succeeded  him  in  the  copartnership.  The  A.  Sherman  Lumber 
Co.  has  become  owner  of  large  tracts  of  timber  lands,  and  their  business  one  of  the 
most  extensive  in  Northern  New  York,  to  which  has  been  added  a  steam  saw  mill 
at  Tupper  Lake  village,  Franklin  county,  N.  Y.,  to  utilize  a  portion  of  their  timber. 
This  mill  is  connected  with  the  Mohawk  and  Malone  Railroad. 

Mr.  Sisson  was  one  of  the  projectors,  and  largely  instrumental  in  establishing  the 
Raquette  River  Paper  Company  of  Potsdam,  and  is  its  president.  The  plant  is  situ- 
ated on  the  Raquette  River,  three  miles  north  of  Potsdam  village  and  near  the  line 
of  the  R.  W.  and  O.  R.  R.,  and  is  of  the  most  modern  construction  for  the  production 
of  both  ground  wood  and  chemical  pulp  or  fiber,  by  the  sulphite  process,  and  the  man- 
ufacture of  news,  book,  and  wood  manilla  papers. 

Mr.  Sisson  has  been  an  active  Republican,  but  in  no  sense  a  politician.  He  has  de- 
voted his  life  and  energies  to  business  pursuits,  compelling  success.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  liberal  in  its  support,  as  he  is  to  all  home  enter- 
prises. He  married  in  1854  Sarah  A.  Hamilton,  who  was  born  in  Kingston,  L"^lster 
county,  N.  Y.  They  have  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  of  age  and 
several  of  them  are  heads  of  families,  and  prominent  citizens  of  Potsdam. 


LOUIS   HASBROUCK. 

Louis  Hasbrouck  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  June  5,  1840,  and  is  a  scion  of  one  of 
the  oldest  families  of  St.  Lawrence  county  or  of  the  State.  The  family  originally 
came  from  Hazebrouck,  France,  in  1675,  and  settled  in  Ulster  county.  Mr.  Has- 
brouck's  father  and  grandfather  were  both  eminent  members  of  the  New  York  bar, 
and  his  grandfather,  Louis  Hasbrouck,  was  the  first  county  clerk  in  St.  Lawrence 
county.  The  Hasbroucks  have  long  been  noted  for  their  superior  intelligence  and 
success  in  life,  and  they  have  done  not  a  little  towards  making  the  history  of  St.  Law- 
rence county.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  early  in  life  commenced  the  study  of  the  profession 
in  which  his  father  and  his  grandfather  had  distinguished  themselves,  and  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Brown  &  Spencer,  in  March,  1859,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  m  1861.  He  then  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Judge  Brown,  which  con- 
tinued from  1865  to  1870,  in  which  year  Judge  Brown  died.  Since  that  date  Mr.  Has- 
brouck has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  without  a  partner, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  county.  He  is  also  intimately 
connected  with  the  commercial  and  financial  affairs  of  Ogdensburg.  He  is  a  director 
in  the  St.  Lawrence  Wholesale  Grocery  Company,  director  and  secretary  of  the 
Ogdensburg  Transit  Company,  director  and  secretary  of  the  Ogdensburg  Terminal 
Company,  director  and  secretary  of  the  Saratoga  and  .St.  Lawrence  Railroad  Com- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  7 

panv,  and  a  director  of  the  Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad  Company,  for 
which  he  has  been  attorney  for  j-ears;  and  socially  is  a  warden  of  St.  John's  church, 
and  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club.  'Sir.  Ilasbrouck  has  served  as 
assistant  United  States  attorney  for  Northern  New  York,  and  is  admitted  to  all  the 
State  courts,  and  to  the  United  States  District  and  Circuit  courts.  He  has  held 
imijortant  citv  otBces,  such  as  alderman,  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  etc. 
Notwithstanding  his  many  important  interests  and  positions  of  public  trust,  Mr.  Has- 
brouck  is  unobtrusive  and  quiet  in  his  bearing  to  such  a  degree  as  to  enlist  the 
highest  esteem  and  warmest  appreciation  of  his  fellow  men. 

In  18(36  he  married  Miss  E.  E.  Knap,  and  they  have  six  children,  four  are  living. 
The  only  son,  ]\Ir.  Philip  Bevier  Hasbrouck,  is  now  attending  Cornell  University. 


WILLIAM    J.   AVERELL. 

W.  I.  A\'EKELL  was  born  November  23,  1821,  and  is  a  scion  of  the  best  and  most 
widely  known  names  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  inherited  all  the  ability  and  busi- 
ness acumen  of  his  father,  and  to  those  added  the  advantages  of  a  splendid  education, 
acquired  under  the  tutorship  of  Lewis  Taylor,  one  of  the  most  eminent  Greek  schol- 
ars as  well  as  one  of  the  ablest  writers  of  his  day  in  America  and  at  Union  College. 

He  entered  college  in  1839,  at  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  graduated  in  1841  at  the 
early  age  of  nineteen.  In  1842  he  went  into  business  in  Troy  as  a  wholesale  dealer 
m  groceries  and  liquors.  After  two  years  of  business  life  in  Troy,  Mr.  Avei ell  went 
to  New  York  and  engaged  in  the  importing  trade  for  eleven  years,  when  he  came  to 
Ogdensburg  in  the  year  1855.  He  has  resided  here  ever  since  that  date,  and  has  tak- 
en a  deep  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  affairs,  not  only  of  the  city,  but  of  the  coun- 
tv  and  State,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  public  life,  while  declining  all  proffered 
honors  in  the  wav  of  office,  even  to  the  nomination  for  lieutenant-governor.  The 
high  esteem  and  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellowmen  are,  however,  an  honor  that 
has  ever  been  accorded  him,  and  which  his  upright  and  successful  career  fully  justi- 
fies and  merits.  Ever}^  proposed  improvement,  every  worthy  enterprise  in  connec- 
tion with  this  city  has  always  met  with  his  hearty  support,  and  his  advice  and  coun- 
sel have  been  sought  both  in  the  lines  of  business  and  political  exigencies. 

He  has  been  both  supervisor  and  mayor,  and  was  the  only  Democratic  supervisor 
elected  in  the  county  after  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party.  In  1861  Mr.  Ave- 
rell  entered  the  banking  business  and  has  been  connected  with  it  ever  since.  As  a 
financier  he  has  long  been  regarded  as  an  authority. 

In  1848  Mr.  Averell  married  Mary  Lawrence  Williamson,  of  New  Jersey,  daughter 
of  Commodore  Williamson.  Tw^o  children,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Harriman,  of  New  York  city, 
and  William  H.  Averell,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  survive  by  that  marriage.  This  wife 
died,  and  in  1880  he  married  INIary  Perkins.  They  have  one  son,  Chester  Dewey 
Averell. 


8  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

THE  CORBIN  FAMILY. 

Amasa  Curbin  was  born  in  Champlain,  N.  Y.,  in  1802.  His  father  was  killed  by  a 
fall  from  a  horse  while  at  the  head  of  a  military  company  at  Plattsburg^,  of  which  he 
was  captain,  during  the  war  of  1812-14,  and  when  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was 
twelve  years  of  age.  Soon  after,  with  his  mother,  he  removed  to  Hancock,  Berk-, 
shire  county,  Mass.,  where  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  married  Phebe  Maria  Foster. 
In  1830  he  settled  upon  a  large  farm  four  miles  from  Goiiverneur  village,  on  the  De 
Kalb  road,  and  with  his  wife  lived  thereon  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventv-six 
years.     His  wife  survived  him  but  twcj  years. 

Amasa  Corbin  was  a  man  of  peculiar  temperament.  An  ardent  hater  of  shams, 
fearless  in  the  expression  of  his  opinions,  even  when,  in  1861,  tospeak  them  was  tan- 
tamount to  social  ostracism  and  personal  danger;  a  Democrat  of  Democrats;  a  be- 
liever that  the  sons  of  Ham  were  predestined  hewers  of  wood,  and  consequentlv  a 
cordial  opponent  of  the  theory  of  equality  which  for  forty  years  enthralled  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  vast  majorit}'  in  the  Northern  States;  honest  in  everything;  a  man  of 
marvelous  memory  and  able  to  marshal  and  express  his  opinions  forcibly ;  quick  at 
repartee  and  withal  genial  and  sociable  with  everybody  whether  of  high  or  lowly 
station. 

His  wife  was  indeed  a  helpmeet  to  him.  His  sometime  prodigality  was  offset  by 
her  calculating  economy;  his  tendency  to  let  the  burden  of  liferest  easily  upon  him 
was  balanced  by  her  untiring  industry.  She  was  lai-gely  the  builder  of  the  competence 
with  which  both  were  blessed  as  the  days  of  their  lives  came  to  a  close. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  of  whom  at  this  writing  (June, 
1893)  five  survive.  '    . 

The  road  leading  from  Ogdensburg  to  Antwerp  and  passing  the  farm  of  Mr.  Cor- 
bin was,  at  the  time  of  his  settlement,  bordered  by  dense  woods  for  the  greater  part 
of  its  length.  \Volves  were  plenty,  and  once  he  was  compelled  to  protect  his  flock  of 
sheep  from  their  ravages  by  throwing  firebrands  in  the  air  throughout  the  night. 
Eight  were  killed  however. 

Mr.  Corbin  made  the  first  cheese  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  at  one  time  had  the 
largest  dairy,  numbering  sixty  cows.  His  first  season's  make  of  cheese  was  marketed 
at  Montreal,  to  which  point  he  hauled  it  on  a  sleigh,  selling  it  at  three  cents  per  pound. 
Afterward  for  a  number  of  years  he  sent  his  product  in  barrels  to  Boston  and  New 
York  commission  houses.  He  and  the  late  Milton  G.  Norton,  a  brother-in-law,  in 
1851,  brought  the  first  reapers  into  the  country,  driving  eighty  miles  for  them. 

The  oldest  surviving  son,  Charles  M.,  born  November  25,  1838,  is  a  farmer  and 
dealer  in  cattle,  and  has  probably  imported  a  larger  number  from  Canada  than  any 
dealer  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Jay  S.,  born  December  31,  1840,  is  an  inventor  and  manufacturer  at  present  in 
Prescott,  Ontario,  where  he  owns  and  operates  an  extensive  factory.  His  inventions 
relating  to  disk  harrows  are  in  use  all  over  the  civilized  world.  An  estimated  output 
of  20,000  of  his  harrows  annually  is  at  this  time  being  made  at  five  factories. 

Amasa,  jr.,  born  December  31,  1843,  is  a  breeder  of  fine  horses  and  a  dealer  in  real 
estate,  in  both  of  which  callings  he  is  eminently  successful.  He  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  to  organize  capital  on  a  large  scale  for  the  development  of  the  great 


BJOGRAPHICAL.  9 

talc  industry  of  Gouverneur.  He  was  i^resident  and  manager  of  the  Adirondack 
Pulp  Company,  with  a  capital  of  §750,000,  and  effected  the  first  consolidation  of  talc 
interests  by  obtaining  control  of  the  Gouverneur  Pulp  Company  and  uniting  it  with 
the  former.  This  combination  has  been  further  perfected  recently  by  the  New  York 
Central  magnates,  Depew  and  Webb.  He  is  president  of  the  Thousand  Islands  In- 
vestment Company  and  actively  interested  in  promoting  the  interests  of  ^lurray  Isl- 
and as  a  summer  resort. 


BLOOMFIELD  USHER. 

Bloomfield  Usher  was  born  in  the  village  of  Herkimer,  January  o,  1S14.  He  had 
the  benefit  of  the  best  schools  in  that  place,  and  his  native  intelligence  enabled  him 
to  secure  a  fair  education. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  ^-ears  his  father  died  and  the  son  at 
once  took  charge  of  the  business,  conducting  it  successfully  in  his  mother's  name  un- 
til he  reached  his  majority,  when  he  continued  it  in  his  own  name.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  four  boys  and  four  girls.  Their  care  and  education  fell  upon  the  shoulders 
of  Bloomfield,  and  thej-  were  all  enabled  to  obtain  educations  suitable  to  fit  them  for 
the  duties  of  life,  one  of  the  sons,  Luke  Usher,  graduating  as  civil  engineer. 

Having  the  promotion  of  all  worthy  public  affairs  at  heart,  Mr.  Usher  eventually 
took  a  warm  interest  in  politics,  and  was  on  several  occasions  an  active  delegate  in 
the  State  conventions  of  the  Whigs.  His  influence  in  this  field  led  to  his  appointment 
as  one  of  the  superintendents  of  the  canals,  which  office  he  filled  acceptably  for  three 
years.  He  was  subsequently  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  administered  the  duties 
of  the  office  with  ability  and  integrity. 

But  it  was  in  connection  with  the  banking  business  that  Mr.  Usher  made  his  most 
conspicuous  success  in  life,  a  business  wherein  his  sound  judgment,  prudent  fore- 
sight and  unj-ieldmg  integrity  conspired  to  rapidly  advance  him  to  the  front  rank  as 
a  financier.  He  was  chosen  a  director  of  the  Agricultural  Bank  of  Herkimer,  where 
for  several  years  his  duties  enabled  him  to  acquire  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
business,  and  turned  his  attention  to  that  field  for  his  after  life.  In  company  A\dth 
Col.  H.  P.  Alexander,  president  of  the  Herkimer  County  Bank,  and  J.  C.  Dann,  then 
of  the  Sackett's  Harbor  Bank,  he  negotiated  the  purchase  of  the  Frontier  Bank  from 
the  late  Henry  Keep,  and  located  it  at  Potsdam.  Of  this  institution  the  following 
was  printed  in  a  local  newspaper  about  the  year  1875: 

"On  the  1st  day  of  Ma}-,  1851,  the  officers  of  theFrontierBank  of  Potsdam  opened 
their  doors  for  doing  and  conducting  a  banking  business  in  this  village.  The  stock- 
holders, three  m  number,  were  the  late  Col.  H.  P.  Alexander,  then  president  of  the 
Herkimer  County  Bank,  and  was  so  for  thirty  years;  J.  C.  Dann,  then  cashier  of  the 
Sackett's  Harbor  Bank;  and  Bloomfield  Usher,  formerly  of  Herkimer,  now  of  Pots- 
dam, were  the  owners  and  proprietors  of  said  bank,  with  a  capital  of  §50,000.  On  the 
1st  day  of  May,  1854,  it  was  reorganized  and  made  an  association  under  the  laws  of 
this  State,  increasing  its  capital  to  8100,000.  This  corporation  continued  in  their 
business  with  reasonable  success  until  October  32,  1866.  In  the  blue  time  of  the 
B 


10  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTV. 

sjreat  civil  war  the  government,  to  help  preserve  its  own  existence,  organized  the  na- 
tional banking  sj-stem,  and  that  act,  in  its  operations,  wiped  out  all  the  State  bank 
notes,  substituting  national  currency  in  its  place.  The  Frontier  Bank  passed  awaj', 
and  at  the  date  mentioned  its  capital  was  merged  in  and  transferred  to  the  National 
Bank  of  Potsdam.  At  the  same  date,  October,  1866,  the  capital  was  increased  to 
$162, 000,  and  so  continued  until  March  1,  1871,  when  the  capital  was  again  increased 
and  made  $200,000.  In  the  years  1870  and  1871,  on  a  capital  of  8162,000,  and  1872  and 
1875,  on  a  capital  of  8200,000,  the  National  Bank  of  Potsdam  paid  to  the  United 
States  government  810,621.39;  to  the  State,  countx' and  village  87,069.54 — total  taxes 
in  four  years,  S17, 690.93.  *  *  *  The  capital  stock  of  the  bank  at  present  is  main- 
ly held  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Frontier  Bank  and  their  descendants.  *  *  *  As 
will  i-eadih-  be  observed  from  what  precedes,  Potsdam  has  been  favored  with  a  reli- 
able, efficient  and  pre-eminently  sound  banking  institution  for  the  past  twenty  or 
more  years,  and  it  has  added  no  small  amount  to  its  healthy  and  steadfastly  growing 
interests.  The  Messrs.  Usher  are  skilled  and  experienced  financial  managers,  as 
their  well  earned  reputation  and  their  labors  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  full}'  attest. 
No  bank  or  banking  house  in  the  State  of  New  York  stands  better  to-day  in  the  finan- 
cial world  than  does  the  National  Bank  of  Potsdam." 

As  before  indicated,  the  above  account  was  printed  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  and 
it  needonh'be  added  in  relation  to  the  financial  institution  to  which  Bloomfield  Usher 
gave  so  much  of  his  life  work,  that  its  reputation  as  one  of  the  most  prudently  man- 
aged and  successful  banks  in  the  interior  of  the  State  was  maintained  down  to  the 
date  of  Mr.  Usher's  death,  and  still  is  continued  under  direction  of  other  members  of 
the  family.  A  further  account  of  the  bank  .will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Potsdam 
village,  in  earlier  pages  of  this  work. 

In  the  year  1851  Mr.  Usher  first  removed  to  Potsdam,  and  in  1857  he  was  elected 
by  the  Republicans  to  the  State  Senate.  Here  he  represented  the  interests  of  his 
constituents  with  his  characteristic  fidelity  and  energy,  giving  intelligent  and  unre- 
mitting attention  to  such  measures  as  would  promote  their  welfare,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  gave  freely  of  his  aid  to  the  advancement  of  all  beneficent  legislation  for  the 
people  of  the  State  at  large.  But  his  natural  taste  was  not  for  politics  or  public  posi- 
tion, and  upon  the  expiration  of  his  senatorial  term  he  retired  from  tliat  field  and 
subsequently  gave  his  entire  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  bank. 

While  thus  building  up  this  staunch  institution  Mr.  Usher  did  not  fail  in  his  duties 
as  a  citizen  of  Potsdam  and  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  In  every  movement  that  tend- 
ed to  the  promotion  of  the  interests  of  the  village  he  was  foremost.  The  Bayside 
Cemetery  was  organized  by  him,  he  having  purchased  the  land,  and  he  was  its  pres- 
ident until  his  death.  For  three  years  he  served  efficiently  as  president  of  the  vil- 
lage. During  almost  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in  Potsdam  he  was  warden 
and  vestryman  of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  and  contributed  liberalh-  to  its  support. 
In  the  discharge  of  all  his  duties  as  a  public  spirited  citizen,  Mr.  L'sher  was  never 
found  wanting,  while  his  kindly  nature,  his  integrity  and  conscientiousness,  made  for 
him  a  large  circle  of  friends.     Mr.  Usher  died  April  10,  1893. 

He  was  married  first  in  1836,  to  Ann  L"^sher,  of  New  York  city.  They  had  several 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Usher  died  in  1865.  He  married  second 
Grace  M.  Laflin,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  who  with  their  daughter  Grace,  survives. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  11 

C.   W.   BAYLEY,   M.D. 

Dk.  C.  W.  Bavi.ev  was  born  in  Massena,  October  6,  1845,  and  was  educated  at  I-'ort 
Covington  Academy  in  Franklin  county.  He  then  took  his  medical  course  in  Bur- 
lington Medical  College,  graduating  with  honors  in  187(3.  In  1880  he  took  a  post 
graduate  course  in  the  University  of  New  York.  In  187()  he  settled  in  Rensselaer 
Falls,  where  he  now  conducts  the  leading  drug  establishment  of  the  place  besides  at- 
tending to  a  large  medical  practice. 

Dr.  Bayle}-  is  a  ]\Iason,  a  member  of  Blue  Lodge  Fellowship  No.  749,  and  was  a 
member  of  Company  F.  106th  New  York  Volunteers. 

In  1880  Dr.  Bayley  married  Carrie  Cooper;  they  have  one  daughter,  Ada  Lucretia 
Bayley.  Mrs.  Bayley's  father  and  the  celebrated  novelist,  J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  were 
cousins.  Dr.  Bajdey's  father  was  Cyrus  M.  Baylejr,  and  his  mother  was  Mary  (San- 
born) Bayley.     The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society. 


DAN  SPAFFORD  GIFFIN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  descendant  of  Simon  Giffin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Nova  Scotia,  born  m  1711. 

Simon  Gitfin,  jr.,  son  of  the  above,  born  in  1740,  was  a  quartermaster  of  the  Third 
Connecticut  Regiment  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  A  diary  and  quartermaster's 
record  of  rations  issued,  kept  by  him  at  that  time,  is  still  in  existence.  His  brother 
John,  born  in  1748,  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

David  Giffin,  son  of  Simon,  jr. ,  above,  born  in  1766,  was  a  captain  in  the  War  of  1812. 
His  commission  assuch,  dated  April  30,  1811,  signed  by  Daniel  B.  Tompkins,  governor, 
is  in  the  possession  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Nathan  Ford  Giffin,  born  in  1805,  was  a  son  of  above  David.  He  located  at  Heu- 
velton  in  1830  and  was  a  successful  business  man  at  that  place  for  over  sixtA'  years. 
When  he  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  he  and  his  brother  William  dug  the  grave 
and  buried  the  body  of  one  Truax,  who  was  one  of  the  party  that  threw  overboard 
the  cargo  of  tea  in  Boston  harbor.      Truax  was  di-owned  in  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 

The  above  Dan  S.  Giffin  is  the  fourth  child  of  the  above  N.  F.  and  Marj^  Galloway, 
his  wife,  born  May  19,  1838.  He  was  educated  at  the  district  school  of  Heuvelton, 
Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminar3%  and  Union  College.  He  was  admitted  as  attorney 
and  counselor  at  law  in  1861 ;  married,  ^larch  3,  1862,  Mary  C.  Shepard,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Hiram  Shepard,  a  pioneer  Methodist  preacher  of  Northern  New  York,  grand- 
daughter of  Gideon  Shepard,  a  major  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  grandniece  of  General 
William  Shepard,  who  was  active  in  suppressing  Shays's  Rebellion  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. 

Dan  S.  Giffin  enlisted  as  private  in  Company  G,  142d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  captain  in  said  company, 
and  was  discharged  for  a  wound  received  in  action  at  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.  Since  his 
discharge  from  the  army  he  has  resided  at  Heuvelton,  where  he  first  engaged  in 
merchandise  and  manufacturing  and  now  has  a  law  office.     He  has  been  active  in  pub- 


12  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

lie  matters  pertaining  to  his  town  and  county,  and  has  held  several  minor  official  po- 
sitions. 

He  has  three  children — Gertrudq  T. ,  Clarence  S.  and  Nathan  F. 


HENRY  L.   KXOWLES. 

Liberty  Knowles  was  born  in  Woodbury,  Conn. ,  November  5,  1784.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Williams  College  and  studied  law  with  Dorance  Kirtland,  in  Coxsackie. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  1809  and  in  the  same  year  set- 
tled in  Potsdam.  In  1812  he  was  married  to  ^lelinda  Raymond,  of  Richmond,  Mass. 
Although  he  was  successful  in  his  law  practice,  he  was  forced  to  abandon  it  in  middle 
life  through  ill  health.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  interest  himself  in  the  Potsdam 
sandstone  for  building,  and  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  village  and  county. 
He  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  was  a  Federalist  and  a 
Whig.  For  thirty  years  he  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence Academy,  and  was  a  munificent  supporter  of  the  institution.  'Sir.  Knowles 
left  a  record  of  a  useful  life,  and  died  January"  7,  1859. 

Henrj"  L.  Knowles,  born  in  Potsdam,  June  23,  1815,  was  a  son  of  Liberty  Knowles. 
His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  academy,  which  he  left  in  December,  1831, 
when  sixteen  years  old.  After  a  period  of  stud}^  in  Burlington  University  of  Ver- 
mont, he  entered  L^nion  College  and  graduated  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
His  preparatory  study  of  law  was  prosecuted  in  Potsdam  and  he  finished  in  New  York 
city,  being  admitted  in  1839.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison  and 
his  last  for  Benjamin  Harrison.  Returning  to  Potsdam  he  began  his  long  and  hon- 
orable career  with  high  ideals  and  a  determination  to  succeed  upon  the  principles  of 
justice  and  right. 

By  continued  diligent  study  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  law  that  was  second  to 
that  of  no  other  person  in  Northern  New  York,  and  his  ability  and  integrity  were 
such  that  had  he  been  more  self-reliant  and  self-assertive  he  might  have  attained  to 
almost  any  public  station.  Without  these  qualities  to  a  paramount  degree,  he  won  a 
position  of  eminence  in  his  profession,  and  without  solicitation  on  his  part  and  soleh' 
because  of  his  fitness,  he  was  in  1863  elected  judge  of  the  county,  and  held  the  office 
until  1872.  The  duties  of  this  office  he  discharged  with  abilit3^  fairness  and  impar- 
tial justice  to  all.  He  was  an  earnest  and  practical  Christian,  united  with  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  during  the  sixty  year  of  his  after  life  he 
never  regretted  nor  dishonored  his  profession.  In  1867  he  was  elected  a  ruling  elder 
of  the  church  and  held  the  office  until  his  death.  He  often  represented  his  church  in 
the  Presbytery  and  the  General  Assembly,  and  it  is  as  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the 
cause  of  Christ  that  he  is  most  remembered.     His  death  occurred  in  March,  1892. 


BIOaRAPHICAL.  13 

ABRAHAM   X.    PARKER. 

Abraham  X.  Parker  was  born  in  Granville,  Addison  county,  Vt. ,  November  14, 
1831,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Lawrence  county  since  1839.  His  great-grandfa- 
ther, Joseph  Parker,  was  born  in  Andover,  ]Mass. ,  October  9,  lT3o.  He  served  in  the 
provincial  army  during  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  in  camp  at  Cambridge  'Slay 
24,  1775,  as  his  "powder  horn  record,"  duly  made  and  preserved,  attests.  At  the 
close  of  the  struggle  for  independence  the  family  went  to  New  Hampshire,  and  later 
to  Vermont. 

Isaac  Parker,  the  father  of  Abraham  X. ,  was  a  farmer  of  means  and  respectabilitj- 
and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Vermont  State  Legislature.  In  1839  he  removed 
to  St.  Lawrence  county  where  he  became  a  leading  farmer ;  was  a  trustee  of  St.  Law- 
rence Academy,  a  school  superintendent,  and  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Potsdam. 
His  death  took  place  March  4,  1856. 

Until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen  years  j'oung  Parker  worked  upon  his  father's 
farm,  attending  the  common  schools  in  the  regular  seasons.  He  finished  his  education 
in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  during  two  winters  taught  a  common  school. 
Active  and  intelligent,  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  local  affairs  from  early  life,  doing 
his  full  share  of  such  unpaid  labor  as  usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  those  to  whom  a  com- 
munit}'  looks  for  leadership  and  direction.  He  was  repeatedh'  made  chief  of  the  lo- 
cal iire  department,  president  of  the  village  of  Potsdam,  and  president  of  the  Raquette 
River  and  St.  Regis  Valley  Agricultural  Society. 

As  was,  perhaps,  natural  under  the  circumstances  of  his  early  career,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  l&gal  stud}-,  and  after  prosecuting  it  under  favorable  auspices  in  Pots- 
dam for  about  a  year,  he  attended  the  Albany  Law  School  and  in  1854  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  1856  he  began  practice  in  Potsdam,  having  occupied  the  intervening 
two  years  in  close  study,  first  under  Cook  &  Fithian,  of  Buffalo,  and  subsequently 
with  the  late  Judge  Noxon,  one  of  the  foremost  attorneys  of  Sj'racuse,  N.  Y.  In  1861 
^Ir.  Parker  resigned  the  ofJice  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  had  held  since  1858, 
and  in  1863  took  a  seat  in  the  Assembly,  having  been  elected  the  preceding  autumn 
by  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  made  himself  a  conspicuous  member.  In  the 
Assembly  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Claims,  which,  under  the  con  - 
stitution  then  in  force,  had  a  laborious  and  responsible  task  in  hearing  and  passing 
upon  the  numerous  "canal  claims"  which  came  before  it.  A  report  at  length — which 
became  a  permanent  printed  document — was  made  by  Mr.  Parker  in  this  capacity  as 
to  every  claim,  save  one,  that  came  before  the  committee  in  that  year,  and  his  report 
was  almost  universally  concurred  in  by  the  action  of  both  houses.  Re-elected  to  the 
Assembly,  he  served  in  1864,  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce  and  Navi- 
gation, and  as  a  member  of  that  on  Federal  Relations,  doing  important  work  upon 
both.  Towards  the  close  of  this  term  he  was  unanimously  renominated  to  the  As- 
sembly, but  declined  to  accept  the  candidacy.  In  1865  President  Lincoln  appointed 
him  postmaster  at  Potsdam,  but  as  he  publicly  opposed  the  "policy"  of  President 
Johnson,  he  was  superseded  in  the  fall  of  1866.  A  year  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  and  served  during  the  91st  and  93d  sessions  of  that  bod}-,  as  chairman 
of  the  Committees  on  Insurance  and  Public  Health,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Commit- 
tees on  Finance,  Engrossed  BiUs  and  Railroads.     In  the  Senate  ^Ir.  Parker  made  few 


14  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

set  speeches,  but  he  took  an  active  part  in  all  important  debates,  was  regarded  as  a 
skilled  parliamentarian  by  his  colleagues,  and,  when  Judge  Folger  left  the  Senate  for 
the  Bench,  he  was  generally  accorded  the  delicate  position  of  leader  of  his  party  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1876  he  was  first  "  elector-at-large  "  up- 
on the  Republican  ticket.  In  1880  he  was  unanimously  nominated  b}^  his  party  to 
represent  the  19th  district  in  the  XLVIIth  Congress,  and  was  elected  by  about  nine 
thousand  votes  over  the  Democratic  nominee.  The  Nineteenth,  or  St.  Lawrence 
district,  then  comprising  the  counties  of  Franklin  and  St.  Lawrence,  has  long 
been  famous  for  its  large  majorities.  Amoiig  the  famous  men  who  have  represented 
it  in  Congress  are  Silas  Wright,  Preston  King,  Francis  E.  Spinner,  William  A. 
W^heeler,  and  many  others.  Mr.  Parker's  term  began  on  the  4th  of  March,  1881.  A 
change  in  this  Congressional  district  gave  it  the  XLIXth  session,  Jefferson  county, 
with  St.  Lawrence.  Mr.  Parker  was  re-elected  in  1882,  and  his  rapidly-rising  rep- 
utation in  that  body  of  eminent  men  and  the  conspicuous  position  taken  bj^  him  in 
the  proceedings,  gave  him  a  re-election  in  1884  and  in  1886 — a  continuous  service  in 
Congress  of  four  terms,  which  closed  in  18S9.  In  the  XLIXth  Congress  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  of  the  Committee  on  Private  Land  Claims, 
and  of  the  committee  which  investigated  and  terminated  the  great  southwestern 
railroad  strikes.  In  the  Lth,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  of  a 
special  committee  for  the  investigation  of  the  labor  difficulties  which  were  then  con- 
vulsing the  coal  region.  The  investigations  of  the  labor  troubles  were  personally 
pursued  in  four  different  States  and  were  of  great  public  interest. 

During  his  congressional  service  Mr.  Parker  was  also  one  of  the  foremost  in  initiat- 
ing and  carrying  through  the  legislation  relating  to  the  control  of  the  production 
and  sale  of  oleomargarine,  a  measure  of  great  benefit  to  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  country.  He  obtained  apporpriations  for  deepening  the  steamboat  channel  in 
the  Grasse  River:  and  secured  important  improvements  in  Ogdensburg  harbor;  and 
provided  for  the  fine  United  States  Public  Building  which  now  ornaments  the  city  of 
Watertown. 

Returning  to  Potsdam  at  the  close  of  his  long  public  service,  Mr.  Parker  resumed 
his  law  practice,  which  he  continued  until  his  appointment  as  assistant  attorney-gen- 
eral for  the  United  States  by  President  Harrison,  for  which  high  office  he  qualified 
September  8,  1890.  This  office  was  created  by  an  act  passed  in  July,  1890,  and  Mr. 
Parker  was  therefore  the  first  incumbent.  Its  duties  involved  the  stud}^  and  prepa- 
ration of  cases  and  their  argument  before  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  when 
brought  before  it  on  appeal  or  writ  of  error ;  and  the  preparation  of  opinions  for  sub- 
mission to  the  attorney-general  in  response  to  requests  from  the  heads  of  departments 
made  by  authority  of  statute,  and  from  the  president.  The  office  is  one  of  the  staff 
positions  with  the  administration  in  power.  As  is  well  known,  the  administration 
changed  on  the  4th  of  March,  1898.  One  who  prepares  legal  opinions  upon  pending 
governmental  questions  submitted  upon  written  inquiries  by  the  heads  of  the  great 
departments,  has,  necessarily,  the  policy  and  purposes  of  the  administration  before 
his  eye;  this  made  it  incumbent  upon  Mr.  Parker  to  tender  his  resignation,  which 
he  promptly  did  on  the  13th  of  March.  It  was  as  promptly  accepted,  and  his  suc- 
cessor was  appointed  on  the  loth  in  the  person  of  Edward  B.  Whitney,  of  New  York. 
It  is  extremely  complimentary  to  Mr.  Parker  that  he  was  requested  by  the  attorney- 
general  to  remain  in  the  office  until  May   Isl,  1898,  to  complete  the   important  work 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  15 

necessary  before  the  adjournment  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Mr.  Parker  returned  to 
Potsdam  at  the  close  of  his  official  labor  in  that  position  and  resumed  his  law  practice. 

Mr.  Parker  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  formation 
in  1856,  and  prominent  in  its  ranks  for  twenty-five  years.  He  has  been  what  may  be 
termed  a  "regular",  never  swerving  from  his  support  of  its  principles,  its  policy  and 
standard-bearers.  His  labors  in  its  behalf  have  been  able  and  persistent,  and  place 
him  among  the  few  conspicuous  political  leaders  of  Northern  New  York.  He  has 
been  upon  the  platform  in  nearly  every  important  political  campaign  from  1856  to  the 
present  time,  and  his  views  upon  current  public  issues  are  always  listened  to  with  re- 
spect. 

Mr.  Parker  takes  a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  was  for  several  years 
secretary  of  the  State  Normal  School  in  Potsdam ;  he  was  also  a  tru.stee  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  Academy  for  some  years.  In  1880  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Mas- 
ter of  Arts  by  Middlebury  College.  Living  in  the  valley  of  the  beautiful  Raquette 
River,  which  laps  the  Hudson  and  reaches  far  into  the  depths  of  the  wonderful  Adi- 
rondack region,  he  has  made  a  close  study  of  the  vast  wilderness,  is  familiar  with 
its  physical  characteristics,  its  routes  and  waters,  and  a  lover  of  its  solitudes. 

Mr.  Parker  is  a  working  member  of  the  County  and  State  Bar  Associations,  has, 
when  relieved  from  public  duties,  been  actively. and  successfully  engaged  in  practice, 
which  has  called  him  into  every  grade  of  court  from  that  of  justice  of  the  peace  to 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

In  1857  Mr.  Parker  was  married  to  Mary  J.  Wright,  of  Potsdam,  daughter  of  Al- 
pheus  Wright,  late  of  Heuvelton,  N.  Y.  She  still  lives  to  share  his  labors  and  his 
fortunes ;  they  have  four  children  living. 


CHARLES  W.   McCLAIR. 

Charles  W.  McCl.a.ir  was  born  in  the  town  of  Macomb,  March  26,  1847.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth 
gave  evidence  of  the  modest  worth  and  sterling  qualities  that  have  marked  his  riper 
years  and  made  him  a  successful  bu.siness  man. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  began  his  commercial  career  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store, 
and  worked  in  this  capacity  till  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  J  1th  New 
York  Cavalry  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  home  he  took  a  course 
in  the  Gouverneur  Academy  and  then  resumed  his  mercantile  career  as  a  clerk  in 
the  store  of  Nathan  Frank.  He  worked  for  this  house  seven  years,  and  became  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  all  the  details  of  the  business,  and  jDopular  with  a  large  class  of 
customers. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  he  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  L.  Seaman,  and  embarked 
in  the  dry  goods  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Seaman  &  McCIair.  This  part- 
nership continued  for  thirteen  years.  In  the  spring  of  1889  Mr.  McClair  purchased 
his  partner's  interest,  and  since  then  the  business  has  been  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  C.  W.  McClair  &  Co. 

In  addition  to  raising  himself  to  the  position  of  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  Mr.  McClair  has  found  time  to  devote  his  abilities  and  energies  to 


16  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

public  and  social  affairs,  and  few  men  have  been  able  to  secure  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  tlieir  fellowmen  to  the  high  degree  that  he  has. 

A  Republican  by  education  and  war  experience,  he  adhered  to  that  party  till  1884, 
when  he,  voted  the  Prohibition  ticket  for  president,  and  since  that  date  he  has  been 
actively  associated  with  this  party. 

In  1892  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Ogdensburg,  and  his  incumbency  of  the  office  was 
marked  by  that  cleanness  and  thoroughness  which  characterize  the  able  executive  of- 
ficer and  the  upright  man. 

Socially  Mr.  McClair  is  known  as  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  he  is  an  elder;  an  earnest  worker  and  supporter  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  always  manifesting  a  lively  interest  in  everj^  effort  to  help  young  men 
to  a  higher  and  truer  life. 

In  1872  Mr.  McClair  married  Rachel  J.  Pollock,  an  estimable  lady,  whose  excellent 
business  abilities  are  rarely  equaled.  Mrs.  McClair  has  conducted  the  millinery  de- 
partment of  the  business  all  these  years  with  marked  success,  and  in  no  small  degree 
helped  to  build  up  the  reputation  of  this  popular  and  prosperous  firm. 


THOMAvS  B.   STOWELL. 

Thomas  Blanchakd  Stuwell  was  born  in  the  town  of  Periy,  Wyoming  county, 
N.  Y. ,  March  29,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  David  P.  Stovvell,  who  has  been  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  a  native  of  that  county.  He  is  at  the  present  time  the  oldest  living 
resident  of  Wyoming  county.  His  wife  was  Mary  Ann  Blanchard ;  she  is  also  living. 
Thomas  B.  Stowell  was  given  opportunity  to  obtain  an  excellent  education,  graduat- 
ing from  Genesee  College  (now  the  Syracuse  University)  in  1865.  Since  that  time, 
during  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years,  he  has  been  a  teacher,  and  to-day  is  in  the 
front  rank  of  public  educators.  His  professional  life  began  with  one  ^-ear  of  service 
in  the  Addison  (Steuben  county)  Academy.  This  was  followed  by  a  j-ear  in  the  Un- 
ion School  at  Morrisville,  Madison  county,  and  one  year  in  teaching  mathematics  in 
the  Wesleyan  Seminar}^  at  Lima.  He  then  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  con- 
ducted the  High  vSchool  one  year.  His  next  change  placed  him  in  a  position  of  im- 
portance and  influence,  which  he  filled  with  eminent  success  for  twenty-one  years  and 
down  to  1889 ;  this  was  the  chair  of  natural  sciences  m  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Cortland,  N.  Y.  From  that  position  he  came  to  accept  the  principalship  of  the  Nor- 
mal School  in  Potsdam.  Here  he  has  met  the  highest  expectations  of  his  friends 
and  the  State  authorities,  and  the  school  has  became  one  of  the  most  jjrosperous  in 
the  State.  In  1868  the  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  Syracuse 
University,  and  in  1881  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.,  by  the  same  institution,  on  examination. 
Dr.  Stowell  has  performed  a  vast  amount  of  work,  both  in  the  direct  line  of  his  pro- 
fession and  in  branches  analogous  to  it.  He  has  lont^  been  an  ardent  worker  in 
teachers'  institutes  and  associations,  before  which  his  addresses  have  been  too  nu- 
merous to  mention,  and  embracing  all  phases  of  educational  problems.  His  work  in 
microscopy  has  also  been  extensive  and  conscientious,  and  in  the  field  of  neurology 
few  men  have  performed  more  valuable  labor.     In  that  connection  his  study  and  pub- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  17 

lications  (the  latter  embracing  eight  separate  pamphlets  illustrated  by  his  own  draw- 
ings) upon  the  origin  of  the  cranial  and  special  nerves  of  the  domestic  cat,  with  ref- 
erence to  making  this  mammal  the  standard  of  study  of  comparative  neurolog\\  have 
commanded  wide-spread  and  favorable  attention,  and  his  conclusions  are  adopted  by 
advanced  students  and  thinkers.  Dr.  Stowell's  position  in  the  educational  world  is 
an  enviable  one.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society  of  Microscopists ;  a  mem- 
ber and  fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  which 
he  joined  in  1879.  and  was  made  a  fellow  in  1885;  an  original  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Society  of  Anatomists,  in  which  connection  he  has  done  a  vast  amount  of  work ; 
a  member  of  the  National  Educational  Association  and  the  New  York  State  Teacher's 
Association. 

Dr.  Stowell  married  in  1869,  Mary  Blakeslee,  of  Lima,  N.  Y.     They  have  one  son. 


WILLIA:\r  A.   DART. 

Hon.  William  A.  D.\rt  was  born  at  Smith's  Corners,  now  known  as  West  Potsdam, 
October  25,  A.  D.  1814,  and  died  at  Potsdam  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1891, 
having  resided  in  that  town  the  whole  of  his  long  and  useful  life. 

His  father,  Simeon  Dart,  came  of  sturdy  New  England  stock.  He  emigrated  from 
Hartford,  Conn.,  to  Williston,  Vt.,  where  he  married  a  Miss  Allen  and  resided  until 
he  moved  to  Potsdam  in  1808.     He  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  that  town. 

He  lived  many  years  on  his  farm  at  West  Potsdam  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  more 
than  ninety  years.  He  was  a  farmer  in  fairly  comfortable  circumstances,  with  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children,  of  whom  William  was  the  youngest.  During  his  boyhood  he 
worked  on  the  farm,  attending  district  schools  in  the  winter,  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age,  when  he  attended  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy  in  Potsdam,  boarding  him- 
self m  his  room  in  the  institution,  supplying  eatables  from  home.  In  the  early  part 
of  his  academical  studies  he  taught  school  winters  to  obtain  money  for  tuition,  and 
a  few  articles  of  clothing  that  home  could  not  supply.  This  continued  until  the  spring 
of  1834,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  late  Hon.  John  L.  Russell,  at  Canton, 
where  he  remained  a  year.  In  the  spring  of  1835  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  late 
Hon.  Horace  Allen,  at  Potsdam,  then  first  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and 
surrogate  of  the  county.  He  remained  with  him  until  May,  1840,  when  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  opened  an  office  in  Potsdam. 

In  September,  1841,  he  married  Judge  Allen's  only  daughter,  Harriet  S.  Dart. 
About  that  time  the  ]udge  withdrew  from  practice,  and  Mr.  Dart  succeeded  to  his 
business,  which  was  large  for  a  country  business. 

In  the  spring  of  1845  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Potsdam,  and  district  attorney 
of  the  county.  The  latter  appointment  then  came  from  the  judges  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  of  the  county.  The  constitution  of  1846  made  the  office  of  district  at- 
torney an  elective  office.     :Mr.  Dart  decHned  to  be  a  candidate. 

In  the  fall  of  1849  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the  then  15th  district,  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  St,  Lawrence  and  FrankHn,  t<i  succeed  Hon.   John   Fine,  of 

C 


18  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

O'j-deiisburg,  and  took  his  seat  January  1,    1850,  and  served  in  the  vSenate  during  the 
years  I8o0  and  1851. 

He  took  active  part  in  the  proceedings  of  that  body,  and  was  one  of  the  celebrated 
twelve  Democratic  senators  who  resigned  in  order  to  prevent  a  quorum,  thus  for  the 
time  defeating  a  bill  to  enlarge  the  Erie  Canal  on  credit,  which  they  deemed  uncon- 
stitutional, and  which  was  afterwards  declared  so  by  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Mr.  Dart's  position  was  sustained  by  his  constituents,  and  he  was  re-elected  by  more 
than  double  his  former  majority.  He  declined  to  be  a  candidate  in  the  fall  of  1851, 
preferring  to  follow  his  profession,  in  which  he  had  gained  a  high  position,  and  an 
extensive  practice. 

In  February,  1853,  he  entered  into  copartnership  with  Edward  M.  Dewey  and 
Charles  O.  Tappan,  the  firm  name  being  Dart,  Dewey  &  Tappan.  Mr.  Dewey  with- 
drew in  August,  1856,  and  established  himself  in  law  practice  at  Chicago,  where  he 
died  in  1860.     The  partnership  with  Mr.  Tappan  continued  until  1869. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Dart's  affiliations  were  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  always  de- 
te.sted  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  was  among  the  earliest  of  the  younger  Demo- 
crats in  this  State  to  join  the  Barn-burners,  whose  creed  was  "  no  more  slave  .States," 
and  acted  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  State  committeeman  of  that  organization,  which 
embraced  the  late  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  Andrew  H.  Green,  John  Bigelow,  William  Cas- 
sady,  Peter  Cagger,  Sanford  E.  Church,  and  almost  every  prominent  young  Demo- 
crat in  the  State. 

The  young  Whigs,  in  hopes,  through  the  split  in  the  Democratic  party,  to  elect  a 
Whig  president,  refused  to  join  the  Barn-burner  Democrats.  After  their  defeat  with 
General  Scott  in  1852,  and  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  during  the  admin- 
istration of  President  Pierce,  the  anti-slavery  men  in  both  parties  were  willing  to 
unite,  and  a  meeting  of  committees  rej^resenting  the  Barn-burners,  and  the  Woolly- 
head  Whigs,  was  held  at  Albany  and  a  union  agreed  upon  ;  the  late  Chief  Judge  Folger 
and  Mr.  Dart  drawing  up  the  articles  for  the  Barn-burners,  and  Edward  Dodd,  of 
Washington  county,  and  others  acting  for  the  Whigs. 

At  that  time  the  name  "Republican  Party"  was  adopted.  At  each  presidential 
election  since  that  time,  during  his  life,  Mr.  Dart  labored  actively  for  the  success  of 
the  Republican  nominee. 

In  April,  1861,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  attorney  for  the  Northern 
District  of  New  York,  which  embraced  the  whole  State  except  the  counties  of  New 
York,  the  counties  on  Long  Island  and  Staten  Island  and  the  Hudson  River  counties 
south  of  Albany,  and  Rensselaer. 

With  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  came  the  enrollment  and  internal  revenue  laws,  and 
laws  authorizing  United  States  notes,  and  fractional  and  national  bank  currency,  which 
greatly  increased  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  office.  Under  the  Internal 
Revenue  Bureau  there  were  created  eighteen  assessment  boards  and  as  manj'  collect- 
ors' oilices,  with  their  numerous  deputies  and  assistants,  and  the  War  Department 
created  eighteen  enrolling  boards,  all  within  liis  district. 

The  reader  can  form  an  estimate  of  the  business  of  that  office  when  he  recalls  the 
fact  that  almost  every  business  required  a  United  States  license.  That  notes,  bank 
checks,  receipts,  deeds  of  conveyance,  and  agreements  had  to  be  stamped,  and  that 
omitting  a  stamp  thereon  when  issued  was  a  misdemeanor.  That  si)irituous  and  fer- 
mented liquors  and  tobacco  were  heavily  taxed,  and  that  the  violation  of  the  law  in 


SlOGRAPHICAt.  19 

regard  to  the  payment  of  such  taxes  was  severely  punished,  and  that  the  United 
States  district  attorney  was  charged  with  the  enforcement  of  these  laws,  by  the  re- 
covery of  penalties  and  criminal  prosecutions. 

The  frontier  line  of  the  district  extended  from  Rouse's  Point  to  Dunkirk,  and  had 
to  be  watched  to  guard  it  against  smuggling. 

Clay,  Saunders,  and  Thompson  and  many  other  leading  confederates  were  refu- 
gees in  Canada,  fertile  in  expedients  to  injure  the  government  and  people  of  the 
United  States.  The  district  attorney's  office,  in  connection  with  the  Secret  Service 
Bureau,  watched  them  and  touk  measures  to  guard  against  their  incursions  from 
Canada  for  robbing  banks,  and  committing  other  depredations  in  the  United  States. 

It  took  the  government  some  time  to  understand  and  get  used  to  the  increase  in  the 
business  of  the  office  that  the  war  had  made.  For  the  first  three  years  Mr.  Tappan 
was  the  only  assistant  allowed  in  the  office.  For  the  remainder  of  the  time,  an  addi- 
tional assistant  was  allowed. 

Before  the  war  the  United  States  Courts  in  the  district  usually  sat  from  one  to  five 
days,  but  while  it  was  in  progress  they  sat  from  two  to  six  weeks,  with  .seven  terms 
a  year. 

It  often  became  the  duty  of  the  district  attorney  to  advise  the  government  as  to  the 
propriety  of  sending  citizens,  who  were  by  their  influence  doing  injury  to  the  Union 
cause,  from  their  home  to  Fort  Lafayette ;  such  removals  were  sparingly  advised, 
and  never  where  the  persons  ofi:'ending  had  a  mere  local  influence.  Many  citizens 
through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Dart  were  saved  that  humiliation. 

Applications  for  habeas  corpus  to  discharge  soldiers  from  service  in  the  army,  were 
made  to,  and  granted  by  State  judges. 

A  test  case  was  made  before  Mr.  Justice  Bacon  at  Utica.  Mr.  Dart  procured  the 
late  Roscoe  Conkling  to  assist  him  in  the  argument.  Judge  Bacon  in  an  elaborate 
opinion  held  that  a  State  judge  had  no  jurisdiction  in  such  cases.  For  this  service 
the  War  Department  paid  Mr.  Conkling,  and  that  was  one  of  the  points  Mr.  Blaine 
made  against  him,  in  their  set-to  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  that  alienated 
those  two  eminent  men  forever. 

Mr.  Dart  was  reappointed  United  States  district  attorney  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
April,  1865.  Having  no  competitor  for  his  place,  the  nomination  was  confirmed 
without  a  reference. 

Early  in  April,  1866,  he  was  directed,  with  the  aid  of  the  marshals,  to  ascertain  and 
report  to  the  government  whether  the  Fenian  organization  really  intended  to  make  a 
demonstration  into  Canada.  It  was  evident  they  did  so  intend,  and  that  Buffalo 
would  be  the  point  from  which  the  first  demonstration  would  be  made.  The  entire 
chrage  of  suppressing  this  invasion  was  placed  in  Mr.  Dart's  hands,  and  in  this  he 
succeeded  so  well  that  he  received  the  warm  thanks  of  the  government.  He  was 
however  a  few  months  afterwards  removed  from  office  by  President  Johnson,  partly 
because  he  refused  to  follow  Mr.  Johnson  over  into  the  Democratic  party,  and  part- 
ly in  the  hope  of  conciliating  the  Irish  Democrats,  who  were  indignant  at  the  action 
of  the  government. 

Upon  the  succession  of  General  Grant  to  the  presidency  in  April,  1869,  Mr.  Dart 
was  appointed  consul-general  for  the  British  Provinces  of  North  America  with  con- 
sulate at  Montreal.  Then  there  was  but  one  consul-general  in  those  Provinces,  now 
there  are  three  such  officers.     This  office  he  held  from  the  spring  of  1869  until  March, 


20  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1878.  He  then  returned  to  Potsdam  and  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  entering 
into  a  partnership  with  his  son-in-law,  Hon.  Geo.  Z.  Erwin,  which  was  contintied  to 
within  a  few  weeks  before  his  death,  when  Mr.  Erwin  withdrew  and  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Edward  A.  Everett.  Mr.  Dart  was  a  lawyer  fifty-one  years,  and  when  at 
practice  resided  at  Potsdam. 

He  was  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church,  Potsdam,  in  1844,  and  continuously  held 
that  office  fi'om  Easter  Monday,   1879,  until  his  death. 

The  rector,  warden  and  vestrymen  of  that  church,  and  the  members  of  the  bar  of 
the  village  of  Potsdam,  at  meetings  held  after  his  death,  passed  resolutions  to  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  his  worth  as  a  man  and  the  value  of  his  professional  and  pub- 
lic services. 

Ml".  Dart  was  pre-eminently  a  social  man.  He  loved  the  society  and  companion- 
ship of  his  fellowmen  and  was  beloved  by  them.  He  enjoj^ed  encounters  with  keen 
bright  minds.  He  loved  a  good  story  and  was  apt  and  witty  in  respcjnding  with  a 
better  one,  pat  to  the  occasion.  Pie  was  a  busy,  industrious  man,  diligent  in  accu- 
mulating general  knowledge,  and  he  imparted  it  to  his  friends  most  delightfully. 

He  was  faithful  to  duty  in  every  relation  in  life,  and  died  without  a  stain  upon 
his  record  as  a  man,  a  citizen  or  a  public  officer,  with  the  love  and  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  ranked  among  the  solid  men  of  St.  Lawrence  county  in  respect  to 
ability,  strength  of  character  and  excellence  of  judgment. 

Mr.  Dart's  wife,  Harriet.  S.  Dart,  and  his  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Geo.  Z.  Erwin  and 
Miss  Harriet  F.,  survived  him.     Mrs.  Dart  died  December  17,  1893. 


GEORGE  ZALMON  ERWIN. 

This  distinguished  citizen  of  Potsdam  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  St.  Law- 
rence countv,  January  15,  1S40.  He  was  descended  from  Irish  ancestry,  his  great- 
grandfather having"  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  become  a  settler  in  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  had  a  son  born,  named  Joseph  Erwin,  who  settled  at  what  has  been  known 
as  Trout  Brook,  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  when  the  surrounding  region  was  a  wilder- 
ness. There  George  Erwin,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born,  September  21,  1813. 
He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  native  ability,  a  man  of  considerable  note  in 
in  the  community,  and  whose  intelligence  was  in  advance  of  his  surroundings.  He 
obtained  an  education,  in  spite  of  serious  obstacles,  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  teach 
school  in  his  younger  years,  while  in  later  life  he  devoted  himself  to  farming.  He  is 
now  a  resident  of  Potsdam,  and  at  more  than  eighty  years  of  age,  is  active  in  body, 
clear  in  intellect  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  the  community  where  his  long  life  has  been 
passed.  The  mother  of  George  Z.  Erwin  was  a  descendant  of  General  Bayley  of 
Revolutionary  fame,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  New  England  States  during 
the  struggle  for  independence. 

George  Z.  Erwin's  earl j^  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the 
district  schools.  When  he  was  fourteen  he  went  into  a  drug  store  in  Madrid  village, 
where  he  served  as  clerk  two  years.  He  then  entered  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at 
Potsdam  and  gave  four  j-ears  to  assiduous  study,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  began  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  21 

course  at  ]\Hddlebury  College,  Vermont,  where  he  graduated  in  August,  1865.  In  or- 
der to  aid  in  defraying  the  expense  of  his  college  course  he  taught  school  winters,  thus 
laying  the  foundations  of  an  independent  spirit  and  confidence  in  his  own  powers 
which  characterized  his  later  life.  Long  before  his  graduation  from  college  Mr. 
Erwin  had  determined  to  make  the  legal  profession  his  life  work,  and  accordingly 
he  spent  a  year  and  a  half  directly  after  leaving  school  in  the  office  of  the  United 
States  district  attorney  for  Northern  New  York,  which  was  then  in  the  hands  of  that 
eminent  attorney,  William  A.  Dart,  with  whom  was  associated  Charles  O.  Tappan. 
Mr.  Erwin  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1867.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1868, 
he  became  a  partner  with  Samuel  B.  Gordon,  in  Potsdam,  which  connection  contin- 
ued one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  took  the  vacated  place  of  William  A.  Dart  in 
the  firm  of  Dart  &  Tappan,  succeeding  which  the  firm  of  Tappan  &  Erwin  continued 
ten  years.  ]\Ir.  Tappan  was  elevated  to  the  bench  in  1878,  retiring  from  the  law  firm  ; 
meanwhile  Mr.  Dart  returned  to  Potsdam  and  joined  ^Ir.  Erwin  in  the  formation  of 
the  firm  of  Dart  &  Erwin,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Erwin's  withdrawal  from  active 
practice.  It  need  hardly  be  said  that  it  was  eminently  complimentary  that  Mr.  Er- 
win was  called  to  associate  himself  so  early  in  his  professional  career  with  such  men 
as  Charles  O.  Tappan  and  William  Dart — men  who  then  and  later  stood  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  profession  in  Northern  New  York. 

The  two  firms  of  Tappan  &  Erwin  and  Dart  &  Erwin  commanded  an  extensive 
practice,  much  of  it  in  the  higher  courts  and  in  cases  where  large  interests  were  at 
stake,  and  they  were  more  than  ordinarily  successful. 

As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Erwin  was  indefatigable,  and  his  efforts  to  master  his  profession 
and  to  secure  every  possible  advantage  for  his  clients  by  untiring  industry  and  the 
most  careful  preparation  before  going  into  court,  were  never  relaxed.  Before  court 
or  jury  he  was  a  forcible  speaker  and  possessed  in  an  unusual  degree  the  power  to  in- 
fluence men  towards  his  line  of  thought,  as  well  as  to  control  their  subsequent  ac- 
tion. This  faculty  made  him  conspicuous  a  few  years  later  in  the  halls  of  State  gov- 
ernment. 

In  Novenber,  1881,  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  from  the  Third  District  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  and  was  re-elected  for  five  successive  terms.  In  his  first  term, 
though  in  a  Democratic  Assembly,  his  ability  as  a  legislator  was  recognized  by  his 
being  placed  on  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee  and  also  on  several  investigating 
cofnmittees.  Before  the  close  of  his  first  session,  his  well  ordered  mind,  knowledge 
of  political  history  and  his  natural  aptitude  as  a  leader  of  men  had  gained  for  him  a 
very  creditable  and  prominent  position  as  a  legislator. 

In  the  session  of  1883  he  served  on  the  Waj's  and  Means  Committee ;  also  on  that 
of  Railroads  and  Privileges  and  Elections,  and  by  his  tact,  abilit\-  as  a  debater  and 
indomitable  energy  gained  stiU  greater  prominence  as  a  party  leader  and  legislator. 

In  1884  he  was  a  strong  candidate  for  the  position  of  speaker,  but  was  defeated  by 
the  Hon.  Titus  Sheard.  He  was  again  placed  on  important  committees ;  and  during 
the  session,  on  a  special  committee  to  investigate  the  Public  Works  Dej^artment  of 
New  York  city,  in  which  he  acquitted  himself  with  great  credit  as  a  cross-examiner 
and  investigator. 

In  1885  his  ability  as  a  legislator  and  party  manager  was  recognized  throughout 
the  State,  and  he  was  easily  elected  speaker  of  the  Assembly.  In  this  position  he 
presided  with  great  fairness  and  impartiality.     His  tact,  knowledge  of  parliamentary 


22  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

law  and  fertility  of  resources  enabled  him  to  conduct  the  deliberations  of  the  Assem- 
bly with  much  credit  to  himself. 

In  the  sessions  of  1886  and  1887  he  was  recognized  as  the  Republican  leader  in  the 
Assembly,  in  which  position  he  achieved  still  greater  distinction.  Mr.  Erwin  was  a 
born  leader.  Sagacious  in  determining  the  policy  his  part}-  should  adopt,  the  course 
it  should  pursue,  he  was  fearless  in  accomplishing  the  end  once  settled  upon.  No- 
thing could  or  would  swerve  him  from  this. 

In  1887  he  received  the  unanimous  nomination  in  the  Republican  Senatorial  Con- 
vention for  senator  from  the  Twentieth  District,  and  was  of  course  elected.  For 
thi'ee  terms,  from  1888  to  1893,  he  was  a  distinguished  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
and  had  no  Democratic  opponent  when  a  candidate  for  his  third  term.  His  abilitv 
as  a  legislator  and  leader  gained  during  his  six  j-ears'  service  in  the  Assembly  well 
fitted  him  for  the  duties  of  senator.  During  his  service  in  the  Senate  he  was  the  peer 
of  any  of  his  colleagues,  and  in  the  sessions  of  1892  and  1893  was  the  Republican  lead 
er  of  the  body.  His  native  pugnacity,  his  unswerving  persistence  in  any  course  once 
determined  upon,  and  his  coolness  and  magnetic  influence  in  debate  gave  him  a  high 
position  as  a  leader,  legislator,  and  in  the  State  councils  of  his  party. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Erwin  as  a  legislator  was  one  of  much  honor  to  himself,  credit 
to  his  constituents  and  usefulness  to  the  State.  During  the  last  eight  or  ten  years  of 
his  service  in  the  Legislature  he  was  one  of  the  ablest,  strongest  and  most  influential 
of  its  members.  Few,  if  any,  members  during  that  time  did  more  to  enact  beneficial 
laws.  To  him  is  principall}'  due  the  credit  of  organizing  the  Dairy  Department,  for 
suppressing  the  manufacture  and  sale  as  butter  of  oleomargarine  ;  also  the  bill  pre- 
venting the  sale  of  liquor  in  quantities  of  five  gallons  in  towns  which  had  no  license. 
He  was  also  active  in  overhauling  insurance  receiverships  and  in  the  reduction  of  re- 
ceivers' fees.  He  also  rendered  notable  service  as  a  member  of  the  Chapin  Commit- 
tee in  1883,  which  investigated  the  matter  of  receivers  of  insurance  companies,  the 
sherifl^'s  office  and  Police  Department  of  New  York  city.  Again,  in  1882,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  a  special  committee  to  investigate  the  sheriff" s  office  of  New  York,  he  ably  sec- 
onded the  efforts  of  the  Hon.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  chairman  of  the  committee. 

Perhaps  in  no  one  instance  during  his  whole  legislative  career  did  he  exhibit  his 
wonderful  powers  as  a  leader  more  conspicuously  than  in  the  candidacy  and  election 
of  the  Hon.  Frank  Hiscock  to  the  United  States  Senate.  In  that  contest  he  w^as 
the  leader  of  his  forces  and  displayed  great  skill  and  great  tact,  holding  his  forces  in 
line  to  the  end.  His  leadership  in  that  struggle  was  Napoleonic  in  its  originality 
and  dash. 

In  1891  he  was  chairman  of  the  General  Laws  Committee,  and  made  interesting  in- 
vestigations into  the  subject  of  electricitj^  for  lighting  and  power  purposes.  During 
the  same  session  he  was  chairman  of  a  special  committee  to  investigate  the  sugar 
trust,  and  the  results  of  the  investigation  attracted  widespread  attention. 

One  of  the  most  notable  of  Mr.  Erwin's  achievements  as  a  legislator  was  in  securing 
the  passage  of  the  act  in  1888  creating  and  locating  the  new  and  modern  Asylum  for 
the  Insane  at  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  Its  location  at  this  place  was  strongly  and  ably 
opposed,  other  places  seeking  it.  Mr.  Erwin's  great  skill,  influence  in  the  Legisla- 
ture and  indomitable  energy  finally  prevailed.  The  asylum  is  now  nearly  completed, 
is  one  of  the  finest  institutions  of  its  kind  in  this  country,  and  will  stand  as  a  monu- 
ment to  Mr.  Erwin's  power  as  a  legislator,  and  influence  in  the  Legislature. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  23 

In  the  session  of  1892,  when  Republican  leader,  he  made  a  gallant  but  unsucnj^-.- 
ful  fight  against  a  reapportionment  of  the  State,  and  for  his  refusal  to  vote  on  an 
enumeration  bill  appropriating  almost  a  half  million  dollars  and  with  the  provisions 
of  which  no  senator  was  or  could  be  familiar,  he,  with  Senators  Saxton  and  O'Conner, 
was  declared  guilty  of  contempt  by  Lieutenant-Governor  Sheehan,  and  his  name  tak- 
en from  the  Senate  roll.  The  Judiciary  Committee,  to  which  the  matter  was  referred, 
passed  a  resolution  of  censure,  and  the  three  senators  who  had  unflinching!)'  stood  by 
their  convictions  were  purged  of  contempt  and  their  names  restored  to  the  roll. 

One  of  the  latest  acts  of  Senator  Erwin  affecting  Northern  New  York  was  the  se- 
curing in  live  days  of  an  appropriation,  in  1893,  of  8181,000  to  restore  the  asylum 
buildings  at  Ogdensburg,  burned  March  4,  1893. 

To  get  a  full  history  and  knowledge  of  what  he  did  in  his  twelve  vears  of  legisla- 
tive life  one  must  consult  the  journals  of  the  Legislature.  During  his  legislative  ca- 
reer he  was  able  to,  and  often  did,  render  not  onh^  his  native  village,  but  man}-  other 
communities  in  Northern  New  York,  valuable  assistance  in  legislation.  In  all  his 
varied  and  multiplied  duties  he  never  forgot  to  look  after  his  constituents  and  people. 
It  is  quite  safe  to  say  that  the  people  of  Northern  New  York  have  not  had  in  years  a 
representative  at  Albanj'  so  capable  in  securing  their  rights  and  protecting  their  in- 
terests as  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Aside  from  his  labors  as  a  legislator,  Mr.  Erwin  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  the  village  where  he  resided.  In  the  struggle  to  locate  the  State  • 
Normal  School  at  Potsdam  he  labored  assiduously.  He  was  made  a  member  of  the 
Local  Board,  and  for  years  had  been  its  treasurer.  He  aided  the  school  often  in  se 
curing  appropriations  and  in  other  needed  legislation.  He  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Fair  Society  at  Potsdam,  was  for  several  j-ears  one  of  its  board,  and  one  \-ear  was 
president  of  the  societ}-.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Fire  Department  and  one  or  more 
terms  its  chief.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  putting  in  the  water  supply  svstem  in 
1870,  and  in  the  building  of  the  Opera  House  in  his  village.  He  also  took  an  active 
jjart  in  the  sewering  and  draining  of  his  village  in  1886,  securing  necessary  legislation, 
etc. 

Ever  ready  to  help  any  public  movement  he  was  equally  read}*  to  help  with  purse 
and  hand  any  private  enterprise  or  business  which  bid  fair  of  success.  He  was  one 
of  the  promoters  and  chief  organizers  of  the  Thatcher  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
had  been,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  the  vice-president  of  the  company.  He 
also  took  an  active  part  in  the  formation  and  promotion  of  the  High  Falls  Sulphite 
Pulp  and  Mining  Company  and  was  the  president  of  the  companj'.  Much  of  the 
success  of  the  enterprise  was  due  to  his  labor  and  efforts.  He  was  also  connected 
with  several  other  industrial  enterprises  in  other  sections  of  the  State. 

And  withal  he  was  an  especially  social  person.  He  was  fond  of  sports  and  games 
of  all  kinds,  hunting,  fishing,  athletic  sports,  etc.  No  one  excelled  him  in  generous, 
hearty  good  nature.  He  had  a  kind  word  and  a  warm  word  for  all.  There  was  no- 
thing of  the  snob  or  aristocrat  in  his  makeup  or  nature.  He  would  step  out  of  his 
way  to  greet  a  poor,  struggling  old  friend  as  readilv  as  he  would  to  meet  those  in  the 
upper  walks  of  life,  and  do  it  with  equal  warmth  and  goodfellowship.  Into  whatever 
set,  gathering  or  partj^  he  came  he  brought  good  cheer  and  good  nature  and  was  al- 
waj's  most  welcome.  And  what  is  more,  perhaps,  than  all  the  rest,  no  whisper 
against  his  personal  and  political  integrity  has  ever  been  li.'ivrl. 


24  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Erwin  joined  the  Episcopal  church  in  1891,  and  was  confirmed  on  Thanksgiv- 
ing Day,  1893,  by  Bishop  Doane. 

His  ilhiess  was  due  to  a  heart  trouble  which  at  times  caused  him  intense  suffering. 
The  end  came  suddenly  and  peacefully,  January  16,  1894.  The  news  of  his  death 
rapidly  spread  over  the  State,  and  heartfelt  sorrow  was  expressed  in  the  entire  press 
of  the  State. 

The  Senate  and  Assembly  each  passed  appropriate  resolutions  on  his  death,  and 
appointed  committees  to  attend  his  funeral.  Lieutenant-Governor  Sheehan  and  other 
prominent  men  from  abroad  accompanied  the  committees  to  Potsdam.  The  leading 
men  from  every  village  in  St.  Lawrence  county  were  present  at  the  funeral,  as  also 
delegations  from  Franklin  and  Jefferson  counties.  The  bar  of  the  count}-  attended 
in  a  body,  the  faculty  of  the  Normal  School,  the  Masons,  the  firemen,  and  other  mi- 
nor organizations.  On  his  death  resolutions  of  respect  and  sorrow  were  passed  by 
the  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  Ogdensburg,  by  the  bar  of  Gouverneur,  by  the 
bar  of  Potsdam,  by  the  Raquette  River  Lodge,  by  the  Local  Board  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School,  by  the  Fire  Department,  by  the  Thatcher  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
by  the  High  Falls  Sulphite  Pulp  and  Mining  Company. 

Mr.  Erwin  married  Miss  Caroline  C.  Dart,  daughter  of  William  A.  Dart,  in  1868, 
who  survives  him. 


CHARLES  O.   TAPPAN. 

Charles  O.  Tapi-an  was  born  in  Addison,  \'t.,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1831.  In  the 
same  j^ear  his  parents  removed  to  Essex  count}^  N.  Y. ,  where  the  son  grew  to  man- 
hood. His  grandfather,  Silas  Tappan,  removed  from  New  Jersey  about  the  year 
1800  and  settled  in  Panton,  Vt.,  where  he  passed  his  life  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
ty years.  He  was  for  many  years  a  magistrate  of  that  town  and  was  frequently  sent 
to  the  Legislature  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  plain,  un- 
assuming, possessed  of  good  judgment  and  sterling  common  sense,  of  unquestioned 
integrity,  and  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Jacob  Tappan,  father  of  Charles  O.,  was  born  at  Panton,  Vt.,  October  23,  1801, 
and  died  there  August  22,  1864.  He  resided  in  Essex  county  from  1831  to  1855,  when 
he  returned  to  Panton  and  lived  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  also  represented 
his  town  in  the  Vermont  Legislature  several  years.  He  was  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
to  which  occupation  he  was  much  devoted  and  which  he  thoroughly  understood. 
Charlotte  Adams,  his  wife,  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Adams,  at  onetime  judge  of 
the  County  Court  of  Grand  Isle  county,  Vt,  and  was  born  at  South  Hero,  in  that 
county,  October  6,  1802,  and  died  at  Essex,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,   December  23,  1839. 

Mr.  Tappan's  father  was  determined  that  his  son  should  have  a  good  English  edu- 
cation, and  after  the  boy  had  passed  the  primary  stages  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
district,  sent  him  for  several  successive  terms  to  the  Moriah  Academy,  a  well  known 
and  reputable  institution  of  learning  in  Essex  county.  After  leaving  that  school  Mr. 
Tappan  took  up  the  study  of  law,  entering  the  office  of  John  F.  Havens  at  Moriah  in 
the  spring  of  1851,  and  sustaining  himself  during  his  studies  by  teaching  school. 
While  thus  engaged,  and  for  some  time  afterward,  he  devoted  his  leisure  to  the  study 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  25 

of  the  sciences  and  Latin,  taking  lessons  on  these  subjects  from  his  friend  and  fellow 
student,  Edward  M.  Dewey,  who  was  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  College.  After 
three  years  of  studying-  in  summer  and  teaching  in  winter  he  had  made  such  progress 
in  the  law  that  on  the  4th  of  July,  1858,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  General 
Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  In  the  following  month  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  friend  Dewey  and  together  they  entered  on  the  practice  of  the 
profession  in  Potsdam.  In  the  next  year  the  young  firm  formed  a  connection  with 
Hon.  William  A.  Dart,  then  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Potsdam,  who  was  very  favorably 
impressed  by  the  ability  and  industry  of  its  members,  the  style  adopted  being  Dart, 
Dewey  &  Tappan. 

This  business  arrangement  continued  until  1S."")6,  when  Mr.  Dewey  withdrew  from 
the  firm  and  sought  a  wider  field  of  practice  in  the  rising  city  of  Chicago,  where  he 
died  October  18,  1861.  His  former  partners  continued  business  in  Potsdam  with  ex- 
cellent success.  Mr.  Tappan,  like  his  partner,  Mr.  Dart,  was  an  early  and  zealous 
Republican,  and  when  the  latter  was  appointed  United  States  district  attorney  for  the 
Northern  Districtof  New  York,  in  1861,  he  made  Mr.  Tappan  assistant  district  attor- 
ney, which  position  he  held  until  the  retirement  of  Sir.  Dart  in  the  autumn  of  1866, 
when  he  was  for  a  short  time  acting  U.  S.  district  attorney  for  that  district.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  United  States  commissioner  for  said  district.  In  1862  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  and  in  1864  in  the  United 
States  District  Court  of  that  district. 

The  firm  of  Dart  &  Tappan  remamed  actively  in  practice  until  1869  when  Mr.  Dart 
was  appointed  United  States  consul-general  to  Canada.  Mr.  Tappan  then  associated 
himself  with  George  Z.  Erwin,  and  under  the  name  of  Tappan  &  Erwin,  the  firm  be- 
came widely  and  favorably  known  and  continued  business  down  to  January  1,  1878. 

Although  busied  with  a  large  practice,  Mr.  Tappan  never  lost  sight  of  his  duties  as 
a  citizen  and  a  neighbor.  In  educational  affairs  he  has  been  especially  active.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  St.  Lawrence  Academy  for  many 
vears.  He  was  zealous  in  the  work  of  securing  the  location  of  a  State  Normal  School 
.  at  Potsdam.  In  1866  he  advocated  the  levy  of  the  tax  necessary  to  erect  the  buildings, 
before  the  Board  of  Supevisors  of  St.  Lawrence  county  and  meetings  of  the  tax-pay- 
ers of  the  town  and  village  of  Potsdam.  He  attended  to  and  defeated  the  object  of 
the  litigation  by  which  it  was  sought  to  prevent  the  location  of  the  school  there,  and 
drafted  Chapter  6  of  the  Laws  of  1867  under  which  taxes  were  levied,  the  buildings 
erected,  and  the  school  established  at  Potsdam.  He  was  also  one  of  the  commission 
entrusted  with  the  superintendence  of  the  construction  of  the  building,  acting  during 
its  existence  as  its  secretary.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Local  Board,  was  its 
first  secretary  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  until  January  1,  1878,  when  he  be- 
came ineligible  through  assuming  the  office  of  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  was 
conspicuous  in  forming  the  Raquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  \'alley  Agricultural  So- 
ciety in  1870  and  was  its  president  during  the  first  three  years  of  its  existence.  He 
was  the  first  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Bar  Association,  organized  in 
1876,  and  continued  such  president  until  1878.  In  the  spring  of  1886,  the  village  of 
Potsdam  where  he  resided,  was  in  great  need  of  sewers  and  drains.  For  want  of 
them  the  removal  of  the  State  Normal  School  from  that  place  was  being  agitated. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  corporation  called  for  the  purpose  of  taking  action   upon  that 

D 


26  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

subject,  he  presented  and  advocated  the  passage  of  a  law  which  he  had  drafted,  for 
a  svstem  of  drains  and  sewers,  which  was  approved  bj-  the  meeting,  and  afterwards 
enacted  by  the  legislature  into  the  law,  chapter  374,  of  the  laws  of  1886,  which  gave 
that  village  its  present  complete  and  effective  system. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  Mr.  Tappan  was  elected  county  judge  for  the  term  of  six  years. 
As  his  term  approached  its  close  he  was  nominated  b}'  the  Republican  party  for  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  being  elected,  took  his  seat  on  the  bench 
January  1,  1878,  and  served  the  term  of  fourteen  years.  He  proved  himself  in 
every  way  fitted  for  this  high  judicial  position. 

At  the  bar  he  was  characterized  b}-  industry  and  carefulness  in  preparing  his  cases, 
and  by  a  logical  and  candid  presentation  of  them,  rather  than  by  any  of  the  sharp 
maneuvering  and  questionable  methods  in  which  some  counselors  delight  and  on 
which  the  success  of  too  many  is  based.  The  same  attributes  of  candor,  industry 
and  sound  judgment  were  steadily  manifested  in  the  office  of  count}"  judge,  which  he 
filled  with  honor  to  himself  and  entire  satisfaction  to  his  fellow  citizens.  In  the  high- 
er tribunal  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  exhibited  the  same  qualities  which  marked  his 
earlier  career,  and  became  distinguished  for  the  soundness  of  his  legal  views  and  the 
justice  and  impartiality  of  his  rulings.  At  the  close  of  his  term  as  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  on  January  1,  1892,  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Potsdam, 
and  has  since  continued  actively  engaged  in  such  professional  work.  In  1880  Mr. 
Tappan  became  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  of  Trinity  Parish 
at  Potsdam,  and  since  then  has  been  one  of  the  vestrymen  of  that  parish. 

Mr.  Tappan  was  married,  February  24,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Hewitt,  daughterof 
Dr.  Heniy  Hewitt,  of  Potsdam.     They  have  four  children  now  living. 


EDGAR  A.   NEWELL. 

EDG.A.R  A.  Xewell  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  May  10,  1853.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  graduated  from  what  is  now  the  academy 
at  the  early  age  of  sixteen.  He  then  took  a  business  course  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  went  on  the  road  as  traveler  for  a  New 
York  advertising  agency.  In  1877  he  returned  to  Ogden.sburg,  and  from  that  date  to 
the  present  has  been  an  active  and  important  factor  in  the  progress  of  the  cit}-. 

On  his  return  he  first  entered  the  employ  of  H.  F.  Lawrence,  wholesale  and  retail 
dealer  in  books,  stationery  and  notions.  The  death  of  Mr.  Lawrence  in  1878  left  the 
business  on  the  market,  and  Mr.  Newell  formed  a  partnership  with  his  father  and 
Eugene  Smith,  purchased  the  business  and  continued  it  under  the  firm  name  of 
Xewell,  Smith  &  Co.  Under  Mr.  Newell'sable  management  the  business  grew  rap- 
idly, and  at  the  expiration  of  three  years  he  bought  out  both  of  his  partners  and  con- 
ducted the  business  alone  till  1891,  when  the  name  became  "  The  Edgar  A.  Newell 
Co.,"  (incorporated)  with  Mr.  Newell  its  president  and  manager.  The  fact  that  the 
house  does  a  business  of  8200,003  a  year  is  a  practical  illustration  of  Mr.  Newell's  busi- 
ness abilities,  as  b}-  his  own  energy  and  superior  management  he  has  built  up  the 
trade  of  the  house  from  a  very  small  beginning  to  these  magnificent  proportions. 


^ 


^ a^ '.A^u^^-^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  2? 

This  achievement,  while  it  is  sufficient  to  stamp  an)'  man  as  a  leader  in  commercial 
affairs,  is  but  a  part  of  the  success  which  has  crowned  Mr.  Newell's  efforts. 

He  has  been  in  business  only  fourteen  years,  and  yet  there  is  scarce!}''  a  prominent 
project  in  the  city  with  which  he  is  not  connected.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Loan  and  Savings  Building  Association,  was  its  first  president  and  is  president  at 
present.  He  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank ;  secretary  of  the  Ogdensburg 
Street  Railway  Company;  vice-president  and  director  of  the  Ogdensburg  Wholesale 
Grocery  Company;  treasurer  of  the  Ogdensburg  Agricultural  Societ}',  and  a  director 
of  the  ]\Iascmic  Tier  Mutual  Aid  Association. 

In  recounting  these  enterprises,  the  activity  and  value  of  Mr.  Newell's  life  are  well 
indicated,  and  no  words  can  add  to  the  high  encomiums  of  practical  achievements. 
His  executive  and  financial  abilities,'  his  ready  and  liberal  support  of  all  projects 
tending  to  the  advancement  of  his  native  city,  and  his  sterling  character  have  all 
all  combined  to  win  the  highest  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  This 
appreciation  has  manifested  itself  in  a  practical  way,  particularly  in  his  election  to 
the  mayor's  chair  in  the  years  18S9  and  1890,  and  again  in  ths  spring  of  the  present 
year  1893.  In  dealing  with  public  affairs  Mr.  Newell  has  always  exhibited  the  same 
zeal  and  careful  management  that  characterizes  him  in  his  private  enterprises,  and 
his  discharge  of  all  public  duties  is  dignified  and  able. 

In  1879  Mr.  Newell  married  Addie  B.  Priest,  of  Potsdam.     They  have  two  bright 
and  promising  sons. 


M.   W.   S PAULDING. 

M.  W.  Sp.aulding  was  born  in  Rutland,  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1819.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  the  first  seventeen  j-ears  of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  farm. 
At  that  age  he  began  teaching  school,  and  taught  for  three  3rears,  when  he  took  a  course 
in  the  Black  River  Literary  and  Religious  Institute.  His  last  teaching  was  at  the 
village  of  Johnsonsburgh,  Wyoming  County,  N.  Y.  Was  four  years  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  L.  B.  Walker's  Patent  Smut  Mill,  at  Henderson,  N.  Y., 
which  had  a  large  sale.  Spring  of  1848  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  St.  Lawrence  County, 
N.  Y.  ;  was  in  a  general  trade  four  years. 

In  1852  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  timber  land  and  other  property  for  milling 
purposes  in  Edwards,  and  remained  there  seven  years.  It  was  about  this  time  that 
he  began  to  take  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  a  strong  anti-slavery  man,  but 
notwithstanding  this  he  was  elected  supervisor  in  1853,  and  re-elected  in  1854.  When 
the  first  move  was  made  toward  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  he  took  a 
large  delegation  to  Canton  to  the  first  convention  held  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and 
was  elected  clerk  of  that  convention. 

Three  years  later  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  and  subsequently  he  was  appointed 
by  the  supervisors  school  commissioner  for  the  Second  District.  He  moved  to  Can- 
ton in  1859  and  lived  there  for  twelve  years. 

In  1869  he  purchased  property  in  Rensselaer  Falls  and  rebuilt  the  saw  and  grist  mills, 
established  the  bent  works,  and  did  a  great  deal  toward  building  up  the  business  in- 
terests of  the  village.     After  five  years  in  the  bent  works,  he  turned  his  attention  to 


28  HISTORY  OP  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

mineralogy,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  mining  and  marble  business  of  the 
county  ever  since.  He  is  now  opening  a  talc  mine  in  Fowler,  which  promises  to  be 
very  valuable  and  is  located  in  a  part  of  the  county  hitherto  overlooked  by  prospectors. 
He  has  served  four  successive  terms,  sixteen  years,  down  to  1892,  as  justice  of  the 
peace. 

In  1845  Mr.  Spaulding  married  Venila  Armsberry.  They  have  had  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  four  daughters  and  one  son.  Their  names  are:  M.  Warren, 
who  resides  in  Larimore,  N.  D.  ;  Mrs.  H.  R.  Burrington,  of  Franklin,  Mass.,  her 
husband  being  principal  of  the  Dean  Academy;  Mrs.  Chester  Buck,  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  ;  Mrs.  William  C.  Ghering,  of  Orr,  N.  D.  ;  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Blodgett,  of  Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

Mr.  Spaulding  has  lived  a  long  and  honorable  life,  all  of  which  has  been  identified 
with  St.  Lawrence  county,  throughout  which  he  is  well  known  and  highly  esteemed. 


CHARLES  WILLIAMS. 

C11.A.KLES  W1LLI.A.MS  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  January  29,  1833.  In  1834 
his  parents  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Williams 
now  lives,  near  Richville,  in  the  town  of  De  Kalb.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
consequently  reared  a  farmer  and  has  been  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits  all 
his  life.  In  1870  he  embarked  in  the  lime  business,  of  which  he  has  made  a  great  suc- 
cess. The  firm  is  now  Williams  &  Johnson,  the  latter  being  Mr.  Williams's  son-in-law. 
The  partnership  was  formed  in  1892. 

In  1857  Mr.  Williams  married  Bethia  W.  Leonard,  daughter  of  C.  C.  Leonard.  They 
have  four  children  living,  one  son  and  three  daughters,  namely:  Mr.  H.  N.  AVilliams, 
Mrs.  X.  P.  Holland,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Johnson,  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Jones. 

ilr.  Charles  Williams  is  one  of  the  prominent  Prohibitionists  of  St.  Lawrence  coun- 
ty, and  is  the  chairman  of  the  Prohibition  County  Committee.  Previous  to  1884  he 
was  a  Republican  and  voted  for  all  the  Republican  candidates  from  Fremont  to 
Blaine.  He  also  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  has  been 
trustee  of  the  school  district  in  which  he  resides. 

In  his  earlier  daj-s  Mr.  Williams  taught  school  several  terms,  but  ill  health  forced 
him  to  give  up  this  vocation  and  return  to  the  farm.  His  business  career  has  been 
very  successful,  and  he  is  regarded  by  all  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town  of 
De  Kalb. 


AMOS  S.    EGERT. 

Amos  S.  E(;ekt  was  born  in  Trenton,  Oneida  count}-,  N.  Y. ,  October  2,  1826.  His 
father  was  of  Holland  Dutch  descent,  his  mother,  English.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  came  to  Ogdensburg  with  his  uncle,  C.  P. 
Egert,  who  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  with  James  G.  Averill.  Here  Amos 
S.   Egert  learned  the  principles  of  thorough   business  so  soundlv  and  developed  so 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  29 

much  ability  that  he  subsequentl}'  became  one  of  the  partners.  He  moved  to  Gou- 
verneur  and  looked  after  the  interests  of  the  concern  there  for  many  years,  and 
afterwards  formed  a  Hmited  partnership  with  J.  P.  AVeiser,  in  Prescott,  Ont.,  and 
lived  there  for  a  short  time,  still  retaining  his  Gouverneur  interests.  Returning  to 
Ogdensburg,  he  purchased  a  grain  business  from  ]\Ir.  Bean,  and  this  he  conducted 
successfully  up  to  within  two  years  of  the  date  of  his  death  in  1887. 

In  1852  I\Ir.  Egert  married  Lois  A.  Rhodes,  of  Gouverneur.  They  had  two  children : 
William,  and  Harriet  (now  Mrs.  C.  S.  Westbrook  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Wholesale  Gro- 
cery.)    William  died  a  few  months  before  his  father. 

Amos  S.  Egert  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Ogdensburg,  highly  respected  and 
much  admired  for  his  sterling  integrity  and  business  success.  He  was  frequentlj- 
importuned  to  accept  public  office,  but  always  refused.  His  business  interests  occu- 
pied his  life,  and  he  died  leaving  a  large  property.  He  was  one  of  the  most  amiable 
and  well-balanced  men  that  one  could  meet,  and  truthful  almost  to  a  fault  (if  this 
were  possible),  and  rather  conservative,  especially  as  to  political  questions.  He  was 
a  Democrat  and  was  always  interested  in  his  party's  success  and  voted  its  ticket. 


ALOXZO  A.   SMITH. 

Alonzo  a.  S.mith  was  born  in  the  town  of  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  X.  Y. . 
,  November  7,  1855.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  was 
graduated  from  St.  Lawrence  University  in  1875.  He  engaged  in  editorial  work  on 
the  St.  Lawrence  Plaindealer,  and  in  1876  went  to  Albany  as  legislative  reporter 
for  the  New  York  Daily  Witness  and  the  A  lb  any  Morni?ig  Express.  After  an 
experience  of  three  \-ears  in  the  capital  as  correspondent  for  various  papers  he  came 
to  Ogdensburg  in  August,  1879,  and  began  editorial  work  on  the  Ogdensburg  Daily 
Journal  and  the  .S7.  Lawrefice  Republican. 

L^pon  the  death  of  Col.  S.  P.  Remington  in  1880  ^Ir.  Smith  became  editor  of  both 
papers,  which  position  he  has  since  held.  In  1882,  upon  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  and  Journal  Company,  he  became  a  part  owner  uf  that  institution. 

The  utterances  of  the  editorial  columns  of  these  papers  on  political  issues  and 
secular  questions  attracted  attention,  and  he  was  soon  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
politics  of  the  county  and  State.  The  Republicans  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  recog- 
nizing his  capacity  as  an  organizer,  elected  him  chairman  of  the  County  Committee 
in  1883,  which  position  he  filled  with  marked  ability  until  1891,  when  he  resigned 
because  of  his  appointment,  in  April  of  the  previous  year,  as  postmaster  at  Ogdens- 
burg. 

As  postmaster  ;Mr.  Smith  was  efficient,  courteous  and  obliging,  sun-ounding  him- 
self with  the  best  assistants  in  his  power  and  sparing  no  effort  or  labor  which  could 
conduce  to  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  In  the  appointment  of  subordinates  he 
recognized  merit  and  ability,  and  retained  the  services  of  several  of  the  most  efficient 
carriers  and  clerks  who  had  been  placed  in  the  office  by  his  predecessor.  This  feat- 
ure of  civil  service  reform  has  since  been  applied  by  law  to  the  administration  of  this 
office.      During  his  term  the  work  of  the  post-office  was  systematized  and  perfected ; 


30  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  carrier  service  was  extended,  by  the  employment  of  a  mounted  carrier,  to  include 
the  entire  city;  the  office  was  made  the  depository  of  postal  funds  for  Northern 
New  York,  and  numerous  minor  changes  and  improvements  were  consummated. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  member  of  many  Republican  gatherings  and  conventions 
since  1880,  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance  throughout  the  State. 

In  addition  to  his  regular  newspaper  work,  he  has  acted  as  writer  on  special 
subjects  for  different  New  York  papers,  making  tours  of  selected  districts  of  this 
country  and  Canada,  and  contributing  articles  of  merit  on  various  topographical  and 
other  subjects. 

During  his  residence  in  Ogdensburg  he  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educational 
matters,  has  been  a  member  of  the  city  Board  of  Education  for  twelve  years,  and 
also  president  of  that  bod}'.  He  is  in  sympathy  with  progressive  movements,  and 
in  harmony  with  the  best  principles  of  public  and  social  life.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  State  Press  Association,  vice-president  of  the  Republican  State  Editorial  Asso- 
ciation, and  allied  with  other  institutions. 

In  1884  Mr.  Smith  married  Mary  Louise  Pettibone,  daughter  of  Rev.  Ira  Pettibone, 
of  Winchester,  Conn.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  teacher  of  wide  experience  and  eminent 
success.     They  have  one  daughter,  Louise  Pettibone  Smith. 


GEORGE  F.  DARROW. 

George  F.  Darrow  was  born  in  West  Eaton,  Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  June  18,  1854. 
His  father  was  an  extensive  farmer,  and  his  early  days  were  spent  on  the  farm.  He 
attended  district  school  in  his  boyhood,  and  afterward  entered  Cazenovia  Seminar\', 
whence  he  graduated  in  1873.  He  entered  Syracuse  University  the  following  fall 
and  graduated  in  the  centennial  year  of  1876. 

After  leaving  college  he  took  Horace  Greeley's  advice  and  went  west,  locating  at 
Fort  Scott,  Kans. ,  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Monitor  Publishing  Company. 
The  business,  however,  did  not  develop  as  anticipated  and  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  his  eastern  home. 

In  May,  1877,  he  came  to  Ogdensburg  with  a  brother-in-law  and  purchased  the 
Aduance  and  St.  Laiurence  Week  I  v  Deiiioc^-at.  They  continued  in  partnership  till 
January,  1878,  when  Mr.  Darrow  became  sole  proprietor.  Since  that  time  the  Ad- 
vance has  grown  largely  in  circulation  and  business,  and  now  stands  second  to  no 
other  newspaper  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Mr.  Darrow  has  been  the  pioneer  in  many  successful  features  of  journalism  in  this 
section.  He  was  the  first  to  make  most  prominent  the  local  and  town  news  of  the 
county,  and  to  introduce  the  eight  page  form,  folded,  pasted  and  trimmed  by  ma- 
chiner}-.     He  has  to-day  the  only  web  perfecting  press  in  the  whole  northern  section. 

Mr.  Darrow  has  made  a  specialty  of  printing  almanacs  and  pamphlets  in  large  edi- 
tions, and  with  special  machinery  secures  customers  from  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try.    His  annual  output  is  between  fifteen  and  twenty  millions. 

In  1879  Mr.  Darrow  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Louise,  daughter  of  the  late 
Hon.  Charles  G.  Myers.  To  them  one  daughter,  Georgiana,  was  born  in  1882.  They 
occupy  a  pleasant  home  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Greene  streets. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  31 

Ml".  Darrow  has  always  been  a  warm  supporter  of  every  interest  designed  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  Ogdensburg,  and  is  connected  with  many  of  its  business  and 
public  enterprises.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  St.  Lawrence  State 
Hospital,  a  director  of  the  National  Bank,  and  a  trustee  of  the  City  Library.  All 
positions  of  trust  have  been  admmistered  with  integrity  and  ability.  As  an  editor, 
his  work  has  been  influenced  by  a  conscientious  regard  for  the  public  good.  He  holds 
the  duties  of  his  profession  to  be  something  above  a  mere  party  advocate,  and  his 
editorials  are  clear  and  convincing,  and  the  issues  are  stated  fairly  and  honestly. 


WILLIAM  L.  PROCTOR. 

Ix  a  comprehensive  history  of  St.  Lawrence  county  special  mention  is  due  to  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  both  because  of  his  business  success  and  his  valuable  jjublic 
services.  The  son  of  a  farmer,  born  in  East  Washington,  N.  H.,  March  26,  1837, 
the  first  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he  acquired 
the  physical  and  mental  vigor  that  are  peculiarly  the  gifts  of  rural  life  and  good  pa- 
rentage. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  j-ears  he  went  to  work  at  the  lumber  business  with  his  uncle, 
Lawrence  Barnes,  in  Burlington,  Vt. ,  where  he  remained  until  June  3,  1859,  when 
he  was  entrusted  with  tho  management  of  the  Ogdensburg  branch  of  the  business, 
then  recently  established  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  &  D.  Whitney,  jr.,  &  Co.,  his 
uncle  being  one  of  the  partners.  In  1875  Mr.  Barnes  withdrew  from  the  firm,  which 
became  Skillings  &  Whitney  Bros. ,  and  continued  under  this  style  until  1878,  when 
it  was  incorporated  as  "  The  Skillings,  Whitneys  &  Barnes  Lupiber  Company,"  with 
a  paid  up  capital  of  $1,000,000.  Mr.  Proctor  is  still  a  prominent  factor  in  the  com- 
panv,  having  been  a  director  and  quite  a  considerable  stockholder  from  the  first,  and 
for  some  time  its  president  and  at  the  present  time  its  manager.  The  business  is 
very  extensive  and  has  been  managed  with  gratifying  success. 

Outside  of  his  large  business  interests,  which  constitute  an  important  feature  of 
the  commercial  life  of  Ogdensburg,  Mr.  Proctor  is  recognized  in  the  community 
Avhere  he  lives  for  his  spirit  of  public  enterprise,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  acts 
and  influence  in  support  of  all  public  measures  that  promise  the  promotion  of  the 
welfare  of  the  cit}'  at  large.  In  connection  with  Col.  E.  C.  James  and  Silas  W.  Day, 
Mr.  Proctor  acted  as  the  people's  executive  in  carrying  out  their  will  and  erecting 
the  new  town  hall,  which  is  to-day  the  pride  of  the  city  and  town. 

He  has  been  repeatedly  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  and  has  held  many  minor  of- 
fices, in  all  of  which  he  has  displayed  a  degree  of  executive  ability  and  public  spirit 
most  commendable.  At  the  present  time  (1893)  he  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Pub- 
lic Works,  vice-president  of  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Oswe- 
gatchie,  and  one  of  the  managers  of  the  St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital. 

Politically  Mr.  Proctor  is  a  Republican,  and  his  standing  in  his  party  is  indicated 
b}'  the  fact  that  he  was  made  one  of  the  presidential  electors  in  1888,  and  has  been 
officially  connected  with  the  State  Committee  for  many  years. 


32  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

On  February  12.  1861,  Mr.  Proctor  was  married  to  Dolly  P.  Howard,  daughter  of 
Rev.  J.  J\I.  Howard,  deceased,  of  Ogdensburg.  Mrs.  Proctor  is  a  woman  of  gener- 
ous impulses  and  interested  in  all  good  works.  She  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  of  which  she  and  her  husband  are  vahied  members.  Their  children  are 
William  H.,  Lawrence  M.,  Mary  Isabel,  Nancy  Grace,  and  Mabel  Jane. 


ZENA  B.  BRIDGES,  M.  D. 

Zen.a.  B.  Bridges  was  born  in  Massena,  N.  Y.,  December  29,  1826.  He  was  the 
fourth  child  of  a  large  family,  and  consequently  owes  his  advancement  in  life  to  his 
own  indomitable  energy  and  tenacity.  He  early  displayed  those  qualities  of  supe- 
rior ability  and  foresight  which  eventually  placed  him  at  the  head  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, and  made  him  a  power  in  our  body  i3olitic. 

Dr.  Bridges  received  his  rudimentarj-  education  in  the  local  schools  and  the  old 
Potsdam  Academy,  and  after  a  preliminary  course  of  study,  entered  Bellevue  Hospi- 
tal ]\Iedical  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1849.  He  immediately  thereafter 
came  to  Ogdensburg  and  entered  upon  the  active  and  most  successful  practice  of  his 
profession,  acquiring  a  very  large  practice  and  becoming  in  due  time,  as  befitted  his 
acknowledged  abilities,  one  of  Ogdensburg's  leading  citizens,  and  one  whose  advice 
and  counsel  was  eagerly  sought  for  upon  all  matters  of  local  importance. 

Dr.  Bridges  never  sought  political  preferment,  but  considered  that  every  true  cit- 
izen owed  somewhat  of  his  time  and  attention  to  public  matters.  He  therefore  ac- 
cepted the  election  to  the  mayor's  chair,  and  other  public  offices.  He  was  town  su- 
perintendent of  schools  for  many  years,  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  of 
the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners,  State  ^Medical  Society,  and  identified  in  a  marked 
degree  with  all  local  social  and  political  aftairs. 

Dr.  Bridges  was  married  on  the  10th  of  December,  1865,  to  Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Lowell, 
an  accomplislT,ed  and  talented  lady  of  New  England  parentage. 

After  a  life  of  such  usefulness  and  honor,  it  is  no  matter  of  surprise  that  this  com- 
munity was  shocked  when  called  upon  to  pay  the  last  sad  rites  to  Dr.  Bridges,  so 
loved  and  respected  for  his  gentle  qualities  of  heart,  his  open  hand,  and  his  profess- 
ional skill  ever  at  the  service  of  the  needy  and  sufi^ering.  Dr.  Bridges  died  .Sunday 
night,  July  16,  1893.  His  death  was  deeply  regretted  b}'  the  whole  community,  and 
many  were  the  expressions  of  appreciation  of  his  high  character,  fine  learning  and  of 
his  public  worth,  although  his  private  life  exhibited  to  them  who  knew  him  best  even 
greater  lustre  and  nobleness  of  character. 


DAVID  McFALLS,  M.  D. 

David  McF.'M.ls  was  born  January  10,  1822,  at  Morristown,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Gouverneur,  April  6,  1891,  aged  si.xty-nine  years, 
two  months  and  twenty-seven  days. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  33 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  in 
the  town  of  ]\Iorristown,  after  which  his  father  moved  to  the  town  of  Rossie.  Young 
McFalls  being  of  an  ambitious  turn  of  mind  and  believing  himself  capable  of  winning 
success  in  some  field  of  usefulness  which  promised  greater  rewards  for  industry  and 
ability  than  were  usually  found  on  the  farm,  chose  the  medical  profession  as  the  field 
which  best  suited  his  boyish  desires ;  and  his  long  and  honorable  life  of  success  and 
splendid  usefulness  more  than  justified  his  laudable  ambition. 

He  began  his  medical  studies  with  Dr.  Slade  in  the  village  of  Rossie,  and  subse- 
quently entered  the  College  of  Medicine  at  Castleton,  Vt. ,  from  which  he  graduated 
with  honor,  June  30,  1848.  Being  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  his  parents 
being  unable  to  give  him  a  thorough  mental  training  he  was  compelled  to  start  upon 
his  professional  career  with  onh'  the  meager  educational  advantages  offered  b}"  the 
country  schools  of  that  day.  But  by  native  abilit)^  and  persevering  pluck  he  readily 
surmounted  all  obstacles  and  far  outstripped  in  the  race  of  life  many  competitors, 
who  at  the  start  were  far  better  equipped  than  he;  and  the  ripe  years  of  his  mature 
manhood  gave  no  sign  of  that  lack  of  early  advantages  which  would  have  defeated 
man}-  men  of  his  heroic  mould. 

Upon  receiving  his  diploma,  Dr.  ]McFalls  returned  to  Rossie,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  his  profession,  which  resulted  in  the  building  up  of  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. 

Having  established  a  successful  business,  he  sought  and  found  a  desirable  wife  in 
the  person  of  the  talented  and  accomplished  Miss  Cornelia  Pierce,  of  Rossie,  to  whom 
he  was  married  May  10,  1854.  Their  matrimonial  union  was  blessed  bj'  the  birth  of 
three  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  namely:  David,  who  is  practicing  law  at  Ellins- 
burg,  Wash.,  and  Miss  Alida,  now  with  her  bereaved  mother. 

Dr.  McFalls  proved  his  patriotism  during  the  war  by  giving  up  his  medical  prac- 
tice, and  enlisting  as  a  soldier  in  the  defense  of  his  country.  He  was  commisioned, 
August  25,  1862,  as  surgeon  of  the  142d  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  ably  and 
faithfully  in  that  capacity  until  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  when  he  was  appointed 
to  the  responsible  position  of  medical  purveyor  of  the  Andersonville  prisoners  of  war, 
at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Returning  to  Rossie,  he  resumed  and  continued  his  profession  until  1873,  when  he 
moved  to  Gouverneur.  His  good  name  as  a  man  and  a  physician  having  preceded 
him,  he  was  warmly  welcomed  b\-  his  new  neighbors  and  continued  an  uninterrupted 
career  of  success  until  the  fall  of  1876,  when  he  was  elected  member  of  assembly 
from  the  first  St.  Lawrence  county  district.  Discharging  his  legislative  duties  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents,  he  was  re-elected,  and  having  acquitted  himself  with 
honor  and  fidelity,  he  resumed  his  medical  profession  in  Gouverneur. 

In  the  spring  of  1880,  induced  by  a  most  tempting  offer  for  his  services,  he  went  to 
Park  City,  Utah,  where  he  practiced  his  profession.  Although  his  services  were 
meeting  with  a  splendid  financial  reward,  he  returned  to  and  resumed  his  practice 
in  Gouverneur,  after  an  absence  of  about  four  years. 

Dr.  McFalls  merited  and  achieved  success  in  every  undertaking  upon  which  he 
entered  and  deserved  the  friendship  and  confidence  of  those  who  knew  him,  by  a 
faithful  discharge  of  all  duties. 

Among  his  many  public  duties  he  served  his  Rossie  townsmen  as  supervisor  for 
several  terms;  occupied  the  position  of  one  of  the  Board  of  U.  S.    Examiners  for 
E 


34  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

St.  Lawrence  county.  He  held  high  rank  as  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County 
Medical  Societ)^;  was  frequently  called  as  counsel  by  his  medical  brethren  in  difficult 
and  important  cases;  was  an  esteemed  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. ;  in  fact,  a  complete 
history  of  his  nearly  seventy  years  would  be  the  account  of  a  long  life  crowded  with 
important  duties,  faithfulh-  performed,  and  crowned  at  last  with  the  deserved  plaudit, 
"  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant." 

He  was  the  friend  of  the  poor  and  will  be  sadly  missed  and  sincerely  mourned  by 
many  whose  ill  success  in  gathering  and  laying  up  golden  treasures  on  earth  made  it 
impossible  to  pay  for  medical  assistance. 

During  the  four  weeks'  sickness  that  preceded  his  death  the  doctor  was  constantly 
attended  by  his  devoted  wife  and  daughter,  who  administered  everj^  comfort  that 
willing  hands  could  afford,  and  was  cheered  in  his  djdng  days  by  every  token  of  filial 
affection  that  a  life  of  unselfish  devotion  could  inspire  in  the  human  heart. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  at  his  late  residence,  and  were  attended  by  a  host 
of  friends  and  the  members  of  Barnes  Post,  his  comrades  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

He  was  a  man  in  the  best  and  highest  sense  of  that  term ;  his  death  is  a  sad  loss 
not  only  to  his  family  but  to  this  entire  cominiinity ;  he  will  be  greatly  missed  and 
sincerely  mourned  by  all  who  appreciate  the  sterling  qualities  which  constitute  true 
manhood. 

The  tireless  hands  which  have  wrought  so  much  for  the  good  of  his  fellows  are  now 
folded  forever  upon  his  faithful  breast.  His  Avorld-weary  spirit  has  pushed  ajar  the 
gates  of  life  and  a  right  royal  soul  has  passed  in  peace  beyond  earth's  strife  and  en- 
tered thie  .shadowy  portals  of  eternal  rest.  Thus  we  must  bid  a  final  farewell  to  a 
true  man  and  faithful  friend. 

We  subjoin  a  few  remarks  from  the  funeral  address  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner; 

"  At  11  o'clock  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner  introduced  the  services  and  delivered  the  address, 
and  was  followed  briefly  by  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  of  Ogdensburg,  who  spoke  of  the  de- 
ceased in  terms  of  the  most  affectionate  personal  appreciation. 

"  Two  reasons  combine  to  make  this  an  exceptional  occasion,  and  to  make  us  all 
mourners.  The  first  reason  is,  a  good  man  has  been  taken  away.  The  second  rea- 
son is,  this  good  man  belonged,  in  a  very  exceptional  degree,  to  us  all.  This 
makes  our  sorrow  personal  as  well  as  sympathetic.  We  mourn  with  those  who 
mourn.  We  mourn  a  loss  which  is  our  own.  We  are  often  called  to  pay  the  last 
honors  to  respected  fellow  citizens.  We  are  not  often  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a 
good  man  whose  going  leaves  such  a  sense  of  personal  loss  in  so  many  lives  and  so 
many  homes." 


THE  CLARKSON  FAMILY. 

The  Clarksons,  of  Potsdam,  are  descendants  of  the  Clarksons  of  Bradford  county, 
York,  England.  From  Mrs.  Lamb's  History  of  the  City  of  New  York  we  sketch  the 
early  history  of  the  family : 

Matthew  Clarkson,  son  of  the  Rev.  David  Clarkson  of  Bradford,  landed  in  New 
York  January  28,  1691,  and  was  made  secretary  of  the  Province  of  New  York.     He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  35 

had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1718  the  thi'ee  brothers,  David,  Levinus,  and 
^latthew,  were  established  as  merchants  in  London,  Amsterdam,  and  New  York  re- 
spectively. David  in  six  years  returned  to  New  York.  He  had  six  children,  three  of 
whom  left  issue.  Matthew  married  Elizabeth  De  Peyster ;  David  married  Elizabeth 
French :  and  Levinus  married  ^Nlary  Van  Home.  Shortly  after  the  war — perhaps 
about  1820 — ^Matthew's  grandson,  John  Charlton  Clarkson,  came  to  Potsdam  as  man- 
ager of  the  lands,  but  returned  to  New  York  in  1835.  His  son,  David  M.,  now  living 
in  Texas,  is  his  only  survivmg  child. 

David  and  Elizabeth  French  had  eight  children.     The  issue  of  these  only  are  con- 
nected with  our  sketch,  viz. :  Matthew,  born  m  1758,  served  in  the  armjr  throughout 
the  war,   and  died  in  1824;  Thomas  Streatfield  married  Elizabeth  Van  Home,  and 
died  in  1844;  Levinus  married  Ann  !Mary  Van  Home,  and  died  at  Potsdam  in  1845. 
As  has  already  been  stated  in  these  pages,  these  three  brothers  owned  large  tracts  of 
land  in  Potsdam.     Short!}-  after  1821  Matthew  conveyed  his  share  to  the  others.     His 
grandson,  T.  Streatfield,   married  his  cousin,   daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Clarkson  and 
Elizabeth,  and  in  1852  moved  from  New  York  to  Potsdam,  and  is  the  present  owner 
of  the  house  erected  by  John  C.  Clarkson  in   1821,  now  known  as  "  Holcroft."      The 
socond  brother,  Thomas  Streatfield,   had  two  children,   who  removed  to  Potsdam: 
Frances  Selina,  who  married  Augustus  L. ,  son  of  Levinus  and  Ann  Mar)'  Van  Horne ; 
and  Thomas  S. ,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Levinus  and  Ann  M.  Van  Horne. 
He  came  to  Potsdam  in  1840,  having  previously  erected  the  stone  house,  known  as  the 
"Homestead,"    which  is  now  occupied  by  his  children,  Thomas  S.  and  his  three  sis- 
ters.    Levinus,  the  third  brother,  removed  in  1840  to  the  estate  now  known  as  "  Hol- 
croft," where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.     His  death  occurred  in  Septem- 
ber, 1845,  in  his  eighty-first  year.     Mrs.  Clarkson  outlived  her  husband  eleven  }-ears 
and  died  at  Potsdam  in  her  seventy-ninth  year.     They  had    four  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Lavinia,  who  passed  the  greater  portion  of  her  time  at  Potsdam,  and 
died  in  1881 ;  Ann  Mary,  died  unmarried;  a  son  died  in  infancy.     Augustus  Levinus 
married  first  Frances  Selina,  moved  to  Potsdam  in  1825,  and  built  the  stone  house  on 
the  estate  known  as  "Woodstock."    His  wife  died  in  1829.     In  1852  he  married  Emily 
C.  McVickar,  by  whorri  he  had  one  daughter,   Mrs.  Frances  McClean,  now  living  at 
Halstead,  England.     He  died  in   Florida  in  1855.     David  L.,  the  fifth  child  of  Levi- 
nus and  Ann  ^lavy  Van  Horne,  came  to  Potsdam  with  his  brother,   Augustus  L., 
purchased  the  estate  of  William  H.  Le  Roy,  and  after  the  burning  of  the  old  mansion 
erected  the  stone  house  still  standing  on  Le  Roy  street.     Elizabeth,  the  fourth  child, 
married  Thomas  S. ,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been  made.     Levinus,  the  young- 
est, moved  to  New  York  in  1849  and  married  Maiy,  daughter  of  Edward  P.  Livings- 
ton, and  died  in  1861,  lea\'ing  two  sons,  Edward  L.  and  Robert  L.,  who  still  own  land 
in  Potsdam  between  Canton  Avenue  and  Pine  street. 

^lembers  of  the  famil}-,  as  the  readers  of  these  pages  may  learn,  have  contributed 
effectively  in  many  ways  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town  and  village  of 
Potsdam. 


36  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

LOUIS  De  VILLERS  HOARD. 

Louis  De  V.  Hoard  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  April  10,  1824. 
While  he  was  }^et  young  his  father  died  and  the  family  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  and 
here  he  received  his  education.  When  fourteen  years  old,  in  the  spring  of  1838,  he 
went  to  Chicago  with  his  uncle,  Samuel  Hoard,  who  was  then  editor  of  the  Sf.  Law- 
rence Republicaji.  Returning  here  for  a  short  time,  he  went  again  in  1842  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  his  success  is  indicated  by 
his  having  been  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  county  recorder  of  deeds.  These 
offices  were  continued  under  his  incumbency  in  1856.  He  was  the  first  Republican 
elected  to  this  office.  He  occupied  the  position  for  eight  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Ogdensburg  in  1864.  Soon  after  he  again  went  to  Chicago  and  lived  there  for 
ten  years,  returning  to  Ogdensburg  in  1874,  and  making  it  his  permanent  home 
from  that  time.  It  was  during  Mr.  Hoard's  third  period  of  residence  in  Chicago  that 
the  historic  fire  occurred.  Mr.  Hoard  conducted  an  Abstract  of  Title  office,  and  as 
the  public  county  records  were  all  destroyed  the  abstracts  possessed  by  his  firm 
became  of  great  value. 

After  his  return  to  Ogdensburg  Mr.  Hoard  did  not  engage  actively  in  business,  but 
gave  his  time,  attention  and  liberally  of  his  large  means  to  the  promotion  of  benefi- 
cent movements.  A  quiet  and  unostentatious  man,  deep  in  his  heart  was  planted  the 
sentiment  of  love  for  his  fellowmen,  and  many  were  the  noble  deeds  of  charity  that 
gilded  and  distinguished  his  life.  So  high  did  he  stand  in  the  esteem  of  his  towns- 
men that  when  he  died,  March  4,  1893,  a  special  meeting  of  the  Citj-  Council  was 
called  by  Mayor  McClair  to  take  action  in  relation  to  fitting  recognition  of  the  demise 
of  so  good  a  citizen,  and  to  do  public  honor  to  so  grand  a  man.  At  this  meeting  the 
following  resolution  was  passed : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Louis  De  Villers  Hoard,  Ogdensburg  has  lost  a 
citizen  always  earnestly  devoted  to  its  best  interests ;  whose  open  hand  ever  promptly 
responded  to  the  generous  impulses  of  his  heart;  while  we,  his  friends  and  neighbors 
are  deprived  of  one  whose  advice  in  counsel,  whose  vigor  in  action  and  whose  intel- 
lectual ability  and  genial  courtesy  in  daily  intercourse  have  won  our  esteem  and  ad- 
miration. 

"  Mr.  Hoard  was  known  among  us  as  a  wise  and  prudent  man,  whose  wide  sym- 
pathies and  public  spirit  reached  out  in  many  directions  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
his  fellows.  While  shrinking  from  publicity  and  always  preferring  the  path  of  quiet, 
unrecorded  service,  yet  he  never  flinched  from  the  calls  of  dutj^  nor  shrank  from  the 
burden  of  responsibility. 

"  In  the  State  his  energy  and  influence  were  exerted  with  unwearied  patience  and 
marked  success  for  the  preservation  of  our  fisheries  and  game ;  and  in  civic  life, 
whether  in  the  public  care  of  the  poor,  gifts  for  the  adornment  and  enrichment  of 
our  city  and  town,  or  in  private  benefactions  innumerable,  we  knew  him  always  as 
the  wise,  conscientious  administrator,  the  generous,  sympathetic  helper,  and  the  ten- 
der-hearted, loyal  friend.  An  honest,  upright,  benevolent  man,  we  honor  his  mem- 
ory, and  to  the  family  we  e.xtend  our  sympathy  in  the  hour  of  their  affliction." 

Earnest  eulogies  and  high  tributes  were  also  paid  to  the  memory  of  ]\Ir.  Hoard  by 
prominent  gentlemen  of  the  city.     So  public  a  mode  of  expressing  grief  for  the  loss 


^n^-i^c^ 


■7^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  37 

of  a  citizen,  and  the  sincere  regret  of  the  whole  community  were  striking  evidences 
of  the  appreciation  of  the  noble  life  he  led  and  the  exalted  esteem  in  which  he  was  held. 
To  Mr.  Hoard  the  city  owes  the  splendid  bell  in  the  city  hall  tower,  and  the  chapel 
at  the  cemetery,  while  his  memory  lives  green  in  the  hearts  of  many  for  his  kindly 
deeds.  He  wore  the  white  flower  of  a  blameless  life  and  he  wore  it  well.  Neither 
the  sculptor  nor  the  historian  can  add  to  his  honest,  manly  fame,  but  to  these  preser- 
vers of  worth  it  is  a  pleasure  to  write  his  name  and  record  his  deeds. 


SAMUEL  H.   PALMER. 

Samuel  H.  P.\lmf,r  was  born  in  the  village  of  Colton,  August  12,  1887.  Soon  after 
his  birth  his  parents  moved  to  Madrid,  and  there  his  youth  and  early  manhood  were 
passed.  He  was  educated  in  the  village  schools  and  at  the  Potsdam  and  Gouverneur 
Academies.  He  taught  school  for  several  years,  and  then  studied  law  in  the  office 
of  Hon.  Daniel  Magone,  where  he  remained  for  upwards  of  three  years.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  took  up  the  insurance  business.  After  some  time  he  gave 
this  up,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  the  late  H.  R.  James,  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
St.  Lawrence  Republican  January  1,  1874.  He  is  manager  and  treasurer  of  the 
Republican  and  Journal  Company,  and  owns  a  major  portion  of  the  stock. 

Mr.  Palmer  has  been  actively  connected  with  public  affairs  in  the  past,  although  at 
present  he  gives  most  of  his  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  .S7.  Laiurence  Repicblican 
and  Ogde7ishurg  Journal.  He  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Oswegatchie  for  thirteen 
years,  and  was  chairman  "of  the  board  for  three  years.  He  was  town  clerk  for  five 
terms,  and  was  chairman  of  the  School  Board  when  the  project  of  establishing  the 
academy  in  Ogdensburg  was  carried  through.  Projects  of  merit  have  always  met 
with  his  hearty  support,  and  his  intelligent  advocacy  has  secured  the  success  of  many 
worthy  undertakings. 

In  1867  Mr.  Palmer  married  Martha  Packard  Wright.  They  have  had  live  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living. 

The  Palmer  family  is  of  English  descent.  Walter  Palmer,  the  first  of  the  race  in 
America,  came  over  with  Endicott  in  1629,  and,  after  remaining  in  Salem  and  Reho- 
both,  Mass.,  settled  in  Stonington,  Conn.,  in  1653.  His  old  residence  still  stands  in 
that  town. 


HORACE  D.   ELLSWORTH. 

Horace  D.  Ellsworth  was  born  in  Granville,  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1834.  His  father  was  Lyman  Ellsworth,  who  was  of  the  old  Connecticut  fam- 
ily of  that  name  that  had  been  settled  in  Windham  county  of  that  State  for  several 
generations;  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  early  in  the  present  century 
removed  with  his  family  to  Granville,  and  there  Lyman  Ellsworth  lived  for  some 


38  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

years.  Fie  married  Amanda  Barnes,  and  removed  with  liis  family  to  St.  Lawrence 
county  in  the  year  1835,  where  Mr.  Ellsworth  has  resided  since. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Judge  W.  H. 
Sawyer;  he  enlisted  in  Scott's  900  Cavalry,  and  served  with  his  regiment  from  Nov- 
ember 1861  to  July  1865.  His  record  as  a  soldier  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that,  going 
into  the  service  a  private,  he  was  mustered  out  a  major. 

Major  Ellsworth  is  a  representative  of  a  famih*  that  has  been  identified  with  the 
three  national  wars  of  this  Republic.  His  grandfather  fought  in  the  Revolutionary 
War;  his  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  also  related  to  the  famous 
Colonel  Elmer  Ellsworth,  the  first  martyr  of  the  war,  who  was  shot  at  Alexandria, 
Va.,  in  May,  1861. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  State  in  1870,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  active  practice  since.  He  has  been  assistant  district  attorney  for  nine 
years,  and  special  surrogate  six  years,  besides  filling  several  minor  offices,  and  in  all 
his  public  services  his  career  has  been  marked  by  ability  in  the  discharge  of  dut}-. 

Politically  Major  Ellsworth  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  rejDeatedly  a  delegate  to 
the  conventions  of  his  party,  count}^  and  State.  He  is  a  fine  public  sj^eaker,  forcible 
and  convincing,  and  is  v  erj^  popular  throughout  this  part  of  the  State. 

He  commands  an  excellent  legal  pratice,  and  is  interested  m  many  of  the  most  im- 
portant c  ases  before  the  courts.  Socially  he  is  a  close  friend,  a  kind  neighbor,  and 
a  good  citizen,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  town  and  community 
where  he  resides. 

In  1871  Major  Ellsworth  married  Fannie  M.  Collins,  of  Canton,  N.  Y.  They  have 
one  child.  Rich  ard  Collins  Ellsworth,  and  live  in  a  pleasant  residence  in  Canton,  a 
noteworthy  feature  of  which  is  a  valuable  library,  embracing  both  law  and  secular 
departments. 


HIRAM  W.   DAY. 

Major  Hiram  W.  Day  was  born  in  Hermon,  N.  Y.,  March  13,  1835.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Jennie  Day,  who  settled  in  the  Day  neighborhood  in  1825,  and  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  the  town.  Hiram  W.  attended  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan 
Seminary,  where  he  paid  for  his  tuition  by  acting  as  bell  ringer,  and  at  the  Potsdam 
Institute,  where  he  also  worked  his  way.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judson  & 
Powell,  Ogdensburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1859. 

In  1862  when  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for  300,000  troops.  Colonel  Judd, 
Captain  Paine  and  Mr.  Day  enlisted  a  large  part  of  the  men  who  composed  the 
106th  N.  Y.  Infantry.  Mr.  Day  went  out  as  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  August 
27,  1863,  but  had  command  of  the  company  and  continued  to  command  it  until  com- 
missioned as  captain,  March  8,  1863. 

Captain  Day  speedily  showed  himself  to  be  a  man  of  resolution,  ability  to  command 
and  brave  almost  to  recklessness.  The  most  notable  instances  of  his  service  m  the 
field  were  as  follows : 

His  capture  of  the  celebrated  guerrilla  Sam  Hi  and  his  gang,  and  of  a  captain  of 
the  Confederate  Black  Horse  Cavalry  with  nineteen  of  his  recruits,  both  of  which  ex- 


^_l3t<!>^, 


■C'-t^Ct.-fT^ 


<«-5*c 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  39 

ploits  were  effected  with  a  small  number  of  men.  At  the  celebrated  Martinsbiirg  af- 
fair, where  Lee's  army  was  checked  by  a  few  companies  under  Colonel  James,  Cap- 
tain Day  with  his  company  was  in  the  front  and  bore  the  heavj'-  work  of  the  da^^ 

Captain  Day  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  just  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 
In  November,  1863,  he  was  detailed  as  acting  assistant  inspector-general.  Third  Brig- 
ade, Third  Division,  Third  Army  Corps. 

At  Locust  Grove  Captain  Daj'  prevented  a  general  stampede  of  the  brigade  by 
holding  two  companies  in  check,  revolver  in  hand,  and  with  Lieutenant  Judson  de- 
ployed and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy,  eventually  holding  the  left  of  line  and  winning 
the  day.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  and  bore  his  full  share 
of  the  honors  that  gave  the  106th  so  terrible  a  name  to  the  rebels.  At  the  Slaughter 
Pen  and  Cold  Harbor  his  company  was  in  the  front  of  the  battle,  and  while  losing 
manv  men,  covered  themselves  with  glory.  At  the  battle  of  Monocacy,  Md. ,  July 
9,  1864,  also,  the  106th  took  a  prominent  pail — the  hardest  battle  of  the  war  and  the 
one  that  saved  AVashington.  During  the  latter  part  of  this  battle  Captain  Da)',  the 
inspector  general  of  First  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division,  Sixth  A.  C. ,  which  fought 
that  battle,  was  the  only  living  non-disabled  staff  officer  on  the  entire  line,  and,  con- 
stantly on  horseback  and  exposed  to  the  close  musketry  fire  of  5,000  rebels,  he  assisted 
Colonel  Truax  to  retire  the  army  in  good  order  after  General  Lew  ^Yallace  had 
ordered  a  surrender. 

He  also  participated  in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  Cedar  Run,  and 
other  notable  engagements,  and  while  miraculously  escaping  without  a  wound,  his 
old  war  scabbard  shows  the  dents  of  several  bullets.  At  Sailor's  Creek  Captain  Daj^ 
received  the  flag  of  truce  from  Major  Pegram  of  Genearl  Pegram's  South  Carolina 
Division,  surrendering  Major  General  Ewell,  Major  General  Curtis  Lee,  Major  Gen- 
eral Pegram,  General  Burbridge,  Commodore  Tucker,  and  the  army  of  10,000  men  of 
E well's  command,  and  the  entire  Richmond  reserx^e  troops,  the  flower  of  Lee's  army. 

Captain  Day  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lee  to  Grant.  At  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Creek,  October  19,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  brevet  major  and  acting  assistant 
inspector-general,  staff  department.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  for  brilliant  and  merito- 
rious service  during  the  war,  and  especially  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  twice 
saved  the  regimental  colors  at  Cedar  Creek  and  at  the  assault  on  Petersburg,  where 
he  led  First  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division,  Sixth  A.  C,  on  the  left  of  the  assaulting 
line. 

During  the  war  Major  Day  was  appointed  judge  advocate  at  different  times  for 
special  exigencies.  He  is  a  prominent  Grand  Army  man,  has  been  post  commander 
and  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Veterans'  Association.  He  is  a  warm 
and  true  friend  to  every  honorably  discharged  soldier. 

After  the  war  Major  Day  married  Emma  A.  Budlam,  daughter  of  Edward  Budlam, 
af  Ogdensburg.  Mrs.  Day  is  a  lady  of  much  culture  and  one  of  the  finest  amateur 
painters  in  Northern  New  York. 


HENRY  RODEE. 

Henry  Rodee  was  born  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  September  39,  1829.     He  received  a 
good  common  school  education,  and  early  in  life  entered  a  grist  mill  m  his  native 


40  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

town,  where  he  thoroughly  learned  this  branch  of  industry.  Upon  the  completion  of 
his  apprenticeship,  he  established  himself  in  business  in  Morley,  where  he  remained 
for  three  years.  He  then  rented  a  mill  in  Canton  and  conducted  business  there  for 
two  years. 

Mr.  Rodee  then  purchased  a  mill  property  in  Potsdam,  and  shortly  afterwards 
opened  and  operated  two  more  mills  in  Plattsburg,  which  he  conducted  for  nine 
j^ears;  at  the  expiration  of  this  period  he  moved  into  Ogdensburg  and  purchased  the 
Front  Mill,  and  subsequently  the  Parker  Mill,  all  now  constituting  the  Rodee  prop- 
erty. This  latter  venture  was  destined  to  be  his  most  successful  one,  gradually  ne- 
cessitating increased  facilities,  and  more  mills,  until  at  present  writing  his  mills  con- 
tain four  stones  and  sixty-six  rolls,  employment  being  furnished  therein  to  twenty- 
five  millers,  besides  coopers,  clerks,  etc.,  being  one  of  the  largest  milling  houses  in 
this  State,  and  whose  products  reach  all  parts  of  the  country.  Mr.  Rodee's  large 
business  interests  command  his  entire  attention,  so  that  of  late  years  he  has  found  no 
time  to  accept  public  office,  although  some  years  ago  he  served  as  supervisor  and  in 
other  local  offices.  His  advice  and  counsel  are,  however,  eagerly  sought  in  the  in- 
terests  of  local  and  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Rodee  married,  in  1856,  Elvira  McCantey,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  two 
children — a  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  Rodee  is  so  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out Northern  New  York  that  it  seems  superfluous  to  add  that  he  is  also  much  re- 
spected and  esteemed  for  his  kindly,  generous  nature,  as  well  as  for  his  unusual  busi- 
ness qualifications. 


CHARLES  A.   KELLOGG. 

Charles  A.  Kellogg  was  born  inMassena,  St.  Lawrence  county,  November  30,  1850. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Massena  Academy  and  Fort  Edward  Institute,  and  in  1874 
began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  L.  C.  Lang:  subsequently  he  entered  the  office 
of  L.  E.  Wadleigh,  of  Potsdam,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  State  of  New 
York  in  1877. 

In  1878  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the  town  of  Russell,  but  moved  to  Ogdens- 
burg in  the  fall  of  1881,  and  here  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  ever  since. 

In  1887  Mr.  Kellogg  was  elected  district  attorney  and  took  the  office  January  1, 
1888.  He  was  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1890  and  held  the  office  up  to  December  31, 
1893.  He  has  also  been  supervisor  of  his  ward  in  this  city  two  years,  and  is  known 
throughout  the  county  as  an  able  lawyer  and  a  strong  Republican.  He  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  chap- 
ter and  commandery  in  Ogdensburg. 

In  1881  Mr.  Kellogg  married  Flora  Barnes,  of  Russell.  They  have  two  children — 
a  son  and  a  daughter. 

Mr.  Kellogg' s  father  w-as  Chester  Kellogg,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  county. 
His  mother  was  Lucinda  M.  Seaton,  and  daughter  of  Willard  Seaton,  who  was  a 
prf)minent  man  in  this  county  in  its  early  days.  Mr.  Kellogg' s  ancestors  on  both 
sides  came  to  the  county  about  the  year  1800,  and  on  both  sides  the  family  has  been 


P.rOGRAPHICAL.  41 

prominent  in  tlie  affairs  of  the  count}-  from  that  time  down  to  the  present.  Mr. 
Kellogg  is  a  member  and  also  manager  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club,  the  leading  social 
organization  of  the  city. 


HENRY  R.  JAMES. 

Hknrv  Rii'i.KV  James,  son  of  Judge  A.  B.  James,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  February 
■ii,  1839.  He  completed  his  education  at  the  old  Ogdensburg  Academy,  and  graduated 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  early  developed  wonderful  business  talents  and  a 
taste  for  journalistic  work,  which  led  him  with  two  others  to  start  T/ic  Boy's  four- 
)ial,  of  which  the  first  copy  was  issued  August  2(3,  1854.  Two  years  later,  through 
his  influence,  1  he  Boy' s  foitriial  was  changed  to  the  Daily  [oiirnal,  and  in  1858 
the  company  purchased  the  St.  Laun-encc  Repiibiicaii  and  published  it  in  connection 
with  the  I ■  ailv  Join-nal.  Within  the  year  Mr.  James  became  the  editor  and  sole 
proprietor  of  both  papers,  and  continued  the  publication  up  to  1874,  when  he  sold  a 
portion  of  the  business  to  others. 

Mr.  James  was  a  man  of  untiring  industry  and  had  an  almost  unlimited  amount  of 
"  push  and  energy."     In  addition  to  publishing  the  two  papers  he  dealt  quite  exten- 
sively in  stocks  and  had  an  interest  in  several  manufactitring  establishments.     He  al 
so  built  and  successfully  ran  a  large  paper  mill  at  Waddington,  and  used  a  portion  of 
its  product  to  supply  the  paper  for  his  printing  house. 

He  was  patriotic  in  his  views,  a  staunch  Republican  and  a  politician,  but  not  an 
office  seeker.  He  could  have  had  the  nomination  for  a  State  or  United  States  office 
had  he  desired  it,  but  preferred  to  dictate  who  should  fill  such  places.  As  a  leader  in 
political  movements  he  was  unexcelled;  in  fact,  he  was  a  power  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  anv  purpose  which  he  believed  to  be  for  public  or  local  benefit.  He  took 
great  interest  in  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  and  was  one  of  the  most  active  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation,  sparing  neither  time  nor  money  to  further  the  interest  and 
])rosperity  of  the  society. 

Mr.  James,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  had  accumulated  a  handsome  property,  and 
had  his  life  b^eh  spared  a  few  3^ears  longer,  he  undoubtedly  would  have  become  one 
of  the  richest  men  m  Northern  New  York. 

The  close  attention  he  gave  to  political  matters  in  the  county  and  State,  besides 
attending  to  his  large  correspondence  and  all  the  affairs  of  his  increasing  business, 
without  the  assistance  of  even  a  private  clerk,  obliged  him  to  work  as  it  were  da\-  and 
night,  which  proved  too  much  for  human  endurance,  and  the  golden  bowl  was  bro- 
ken in  the  prime  of  his  life. 

He  attended  church  as  usual  on  Sunday  evening,  January  30,  but  on  returning  home 
he  was  suddenly  stricken.  He  died  ^Monday  morning,  January  31,  1882,  leaving  a 
widow,  one  son,  two  daughters,  and  a  host  of  friends  to  mourn  his  untimely  death. 

"The  great  mountain  must  crumble. 
The  strong  beam  must  break. 
The  wise  man  must  wither  away  like  a  plant." 

F 


42  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

REV.  E.  P.  WADHAMS. 

VfiRY  Rev.  Edgar  Philip  Wadiiams,  first  bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ogdensburg, 
Avas  the  son  of  General  Luman  and  Lucy  Wadhams,  \vho  came  from  Goshen,  Conn., 
in  1803,  and  settled  in  the  township  of  Lewis,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  where  they  reared 
a  family  of  six  children. 

Edgar  P.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  May  21,  1817.  He  had  the  good 
fortune  to  be  raised  in  a  Christian  home  (Presbyterian),  receiving  his  early  education 
in  the  district  and  select  schools  of  his  native  town.  He  entered  Middlebury  College 
at  an  early  age,  and  graduated  with  distinction  in  1888.  Having  a  desire  for  the 
clerical  profession,  he  entered  the  Episcopal  Theological  Seminary  at  New  York  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  ministr}-  of  that  denomination.  He  was  ordained  deacon  in 
1844,  and  was  appointed  to  do  missionary  work  for  that  body  in  Essex  county,  N.  Y. 

During  this  time  the  famous  Oxford  movement  was  making  itself  felt  in  this  coun- 
try, and  Rev.  E.  P.  Wadhams  and  others  became  favorably  impressed  with  the 
teachings  of  Catholicism,  withdrew  from  the  Episcopal  body  and  joined  the  Catholic 
Church  in  1846.  He  was  encouraged  to  continue  his  theological  studies,  and  entered 
St.  Mary's  Seminary  at  Baltimore,  and  in  due  time  was  ordained  a  priest  at  Albany 
by  Bishop  McCloskey,  January  1(5,  1850. 

He  was  first  sent  as  assistant  priest  to  the  Pro  Cathedral  at  Albany,  and  afterwards 
psssed  thirteen  years  as  assistant  rector  at  the  Cathedral  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion in  the  same  city.  In  186(5  he  was  appointed  rector  of  the  Cathedral  and  vicar- 
general  of  Albany  Diocese,  acting  as  such  until  February  lo,  1872,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  preside  over  the  new  See  erected  by  Pope  Pius  IX.  He  was  consecrated 
at  the  cathedral  at  Albany,  May  5,  by  Most  Rev.  John  McCloskey,  archbishop  of 
New  York,  assisted  by  several  church  dignitaries  of  high  rank. 

He  came  to  the  newly  formed  Diocese  of  Ogdensburg  on  the  16th  of  the  same  month, 
where  he  was  met  at  the  depot  by  a  large  concourse  of  people  of  all  denominations 
and  made  welcome  to  his  new  field  of  labor. 

The  bishop  entered  with  cheerfulness  upon  his  arduous  duties,  pursuing  with  un- 
tiring energy  the  work  of  looking  up  the  indifferent  and  extending  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  The  bishop  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duty  visited  Rome  in  Jan- 
uary, 1877,  and  again  in  the  spring  of  1887. 

For  nearh^  twenty  years  he  labored  with  all  sorts  of  people — the  religious  and  the 
irreligious,  the  cultivated  and  the  rude,  the  famous  and  the  commonplace ;  but  his 
manner  always  and  with  all  was  the  same,  a  living  witness  to  the  truth  that  "the 
life  is  more  than  meat,"  and  the  end  more  than  the  means.  He  commanded  from 
all  alike  confidence  and  that  kind  of  respect  which  at  the  same  time  heightens  one's 
own  self-respect  and  manliness  of  spirit. 

In  an}''  community  the  influence  of  such  a  person  and  of  such  a  life  is  beneficial. 
And  the  memory  of  them  remains  a  power  for  go(Kl  long  after  their  familiar  forms 
have  disappeared  from  view. 

He  died  in  Ogdensburg  at  the  episcopal  residence,  December  5,  1891,  aged  seventy- 
four  jrears,  and  his  remains  were  deposited  in  a  recess  of  the  crypt  beneath  the  sanc- 
tuary of  the  cathedral. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  43 

LEvSLIE  W.   RUSSELL. 

Hon.  Lkslie  W.  Ruslell  was  born  in  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  April 
15,  1840,  and  was  the  only  son  of  John  Leslie  and  Mary  Wead  Russell.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  the  academy  at  Canton,  and  from  sixteen  to  eight- 
een years  of  age  he  taught  a  district  school.  He  then  took  up  the  stud}-  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Nicholas  Hill,  Peter  Cagger  and  John  H.  Porter,  of  Albany.  He  remained 
with  these  celebrated  attornej^s  until  1851),  when  he  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and 
entered  the  office  of  Carej^fe  Pratt.  In  18(51  he  returned  to  Canton,  on  account  of  his 
father's  death,  and  on  Mav  T  of  that  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  York 
State. 

He  opened  a  law  office  in  Canton  in  1861,  and  in  1862  formed  a  partnership  with 
William  H.  .Sawver,  which  continued  until  December  29,  1876,  when  Mr.  Sawyer  was 
appointed  to  the  Supreme  Bench.     vSince  that  date  he  has  had  no  partner. 

In  186T  ]\Ir.  Russell  was  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Convention,  of  which  Horace 
Greeley  was  chairman.  In  1869  he  was  elected  district  attorney.  From  1869  to  1872 
he  was  law  professor  of  St.  Lawrence  University.  In  1876  he  was  nominated  for  su- 
pervisor of  Canton  b}-  both  political  parties  and  was,  of  course,  elected.  In  1876  he 
was  one  of  the  presidential  electors  on  the  Republican  ticket.  In  1877  he  was  elected 
count}-  judge.  In  November,  1881,  he  was  elected  attorney-general  of  the  State, 
serving  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  people  the  term  of  two  years. 
Removing  to  New  York  he  practiced  law  there  from  Januar}-  1,  18S4,  to  January  1, 
1892,  when  he  began  his  duties  as  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  In  November,  1890, 
he  was  elected  representative  in  Congress,  but  before  he  took  his  seat  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  both  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties  for  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  to  which  position  he  was  elected  and  in  which  he  is  now  serving. 

On  October  19,  1864,  Judge  Russell  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Rev.  R.  F.  Law- 
rence, a  Presbyterian  minister  of  Malone,  N.  Y. 


JAMES  AVERELL. 

J.VMEs  AvEKELL  was  bom  at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  in  1790,  and  passed  his  youthful 
days  at  his  native  place.  He  married  at  an  early  age  and  came  with  his  young  bride 
in  the  spring  of  1809  to  the  western  part  of  DeKalb,  which  place  was  afterwards  set 
off  and  became  a  part  of  Depeyster. 

Mr.  Averell  with  his  wife  came  by  the  way  of  Plattsburg  over  the  newly  bushed-out 
State  road,  which  was  at  the  time  impassable  for  wagons,  and  he  was  therefore  obliged 
to  employ  pack  horses  to  convey  his  party  and  their  goods  to  their  forest  home. 

He  settled  on  a  tract  of  3,000  acres  of  timber  land  which  his  father  had  purchased 
from  Mr.  Cooper,  the  father  of  the  novelist.  The  house  they  first  occupied  was  of 
the  primitive  style,  situated  on  the  State  road  about  a  mile  south  of  Depeyster  Four 
Corners,  where  they  remamed  about  one  year  and  where  their  first  child,  a  daughter, 
was  born,  being  the  second  white  child  born  in  that  town,   and  cradled  in  a  dugout 


41  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

log  put  on  rockers.  He  then  removed  to  Ogdensburg  and  soon  became  identified 
with  the  young  and  growing  place. 

Mr.  Averell  was  possessed  of  more  than  ordinary-  e.Kecutive  ability  and  forethought. 
He  managed  his  various  enterprises  as  a  lumber  dealer,  merchant  and  general  trader 
with  such  economy,  that  every  movement  in  those  lines  turned  to  his  benefit.  He 
was  also  for  several  years  associated  with  Sylvester  Gilbert  and  Amos  Bacon  in  the 
lumbering  and  general  mercantile  business.  He  was  identified  more  or  less  with  the 
various  improvements,  such  as  steamboats  and  railroads,  that  were  calculated  to  ad- 
vance and  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  place. 

In  politics  Mr.  Averell  first  acted  with  the  Whig  partv  during  its  career,  then  he 
gave  his  support  to  the  Republican  party.  He  was  not  a  politician,  yet  was  often 
called  upon  to  accept  positions  of  trust,  but  preferred  to  remain  in  a  more  quiet 
sphere,  to  which  his  business  called  him.  He  did,  however,  accept  the  presidency  of 
the  Ogdensburg  Bank,  which  position  he  held  for  a  number  of  years;  and  in  1840 
was  appointed  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

Mr.  Averell  was  a  believer  in  the  old  adage,  "Take  care  of  the  pennies  and  the 
pounds  will  take  care  of  themselves."  He  could  not  endure  waste,  even  in  the  small- 
est things;  yet  no  man  could  bear  greater  loss  M'ith  more  equanimity.  On  one  oc- 
casion he  reprimanded  a  servant  sharply  for  throwing  away  a  small  quantit\^  of  fiour. 
He  mentioned  the  matter  several  times,  and  it  seemed  to  trouble  him ;  but  on  the 
same  evening  he  was  informed  that  a  large  raft  of  his,  valued  at  §50,000,  was 
wrecked  in  the  Lachine  Rapids,  and  was  a  total  loss.  He  only  said,  "  Well,  it  can't 
be  helped,"  and  apparently  never  gave  the  matter  another  thought. 

Mr.  iVverell  died  at  his  home  in  Ogdensburg,  July  8,  1861,  leaving  a  large  estate  to 
his  two  sons,  our  esteemed  fellow  citizens,  James  G. ,  and  W.  J.  Averell,  and  the 
property  has  increased  in  value  under  their  management.  Mrs.  Averell  survived  her 
husband  nearly  twenty-four  years,  and  died  February  27,  1885,  in  her  ninetj'-second 
vear. 


FORREST  K.   MORELAND. 

FoRRESi-  Kellogg  MoRELAND  is  a  native  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  of  Irish-American 
parentage.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  and  has  since  his  admission  been 
in  active  practice  except  during  a  period  from  1886  to  1890. 

From  early  boyhood  he  had  been  a  frequent  writer  in  leading  journals  upon  agri- 
cultural topics,  and  had  in  this  manner  acquired  an  enviable  national  reputation  as  an 
advanced  agriculturist.  In  1886  he,  in  connection  with  other  leading  agriculturists 
interested  in  the  dairy  industry,  becoming  alarmed  at  the  injurious  results  of  coun- 
terfeiting dairy  products,  attempted  to  secure  national  legislation  controlling  oleomar- 
garine, and  for  that  purpose  Mr.  Moreland  prepared  the  necessary  bills  and  went  to 
Washington  to  secure  their  passage.  In  the  interest  of  the  dairy  Mr.  Moreland  ad- 
dressed the  House  Committee  on  Agriculture,  and  also  the  Senate  Committee  on  Ag- 
riculture. 

These  addresses,  models  of  research  and  convincing  logic,  were  published  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  House  and  Senate  Committees  for  1886,  and  the  result  was  the 
passage  of  the  bills  which  had  been  prepared  by  Mr.  Moreland. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  45 

In  1887  he  spent  three  months  in  Europe,  principally  in  Stockholm,  where  he  had 
gone  in  the  interest  of  New  York  city  clients. 

In  1888  he  served  the  Republican  vState  Committee  on  the  stump  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  State,  later  in  the  same  year  g  >ing  to  Mexico  in  the  interest  of  a  syndi- 
cate interested  in  Mexican  lands. 

In  1889  he  again  went  to  Europe  on  legal  business,  spending  about  five  months, 
and  becoming  conversant  with  the  Swedish  language. 

In  1890  Mr.  Moreland  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and  has  since  devoted  himself  stead- 
ily t)  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has  frequent  calls  from  this  and  other  States 
to  deliver  addresses  before  agricultural  societies,  and  his  addresses  in  the  past  may 
be  found  in  the  published  proceedings  of  such  societies  in  Ohio,  Pennsvlvania,'  Ver- 
mont and  other  States.      He  has  never  sought  or  held  a  public  office. 


JOHN  D.  JUDSON. 

John  D.  Judson  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  September  28,  1811.  His  pa- 
rents moved  there  when  the  place  was  a  wilderness,  and  had  to  endure  the  hardshijjs 
incidental  to  that  early  period,  when  the  onl}?  ambition  of  the  pioneer  was  to  con\-ert 
his  new  farm  in  the  forest  into  a  comfortable  home,  and  to  raise  and  educate  his 
young  family  to  habits  of  industry,  economy  and  integrity.  Such  a  life  though  full 
of  hardships,  is  well  calculated  to  rear  men  and  woman  able  to  tight  the  battle  of  life 
successfully. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  raised  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  during  the 
winter  months  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools  of  that  locality,  by  walking 
eight  miles  each  day  through  the  woods.  While  yet  quite  young  he  lost  his  father, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Ogdensburg  where  he  continued  his  schooling.  After- 
wards, through  the  kindness  of  his  elder  brother,  David  C.  Judson,  he  went  to  the 
academy  at  Potsdam,  where  he  fini.shed  his  education;  he  then  returned  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  entered  the  store  of  G.  N.  vSeymour  as  clerk,  where  he  remained  for  six  3-ears, 
losing  only  three  days  from  business  during  that  time.  In  June,  1881,  he  entered  his 
brother's  bank  in  Ogdensburg,  and  was  connected  with  that  institution  while  it  exi.^t- 
ed,  filling  every  office  from  that  of  clerk  to  that  of  president. 

His  wife  was  Harriet  A.,  daughter  of  G.  N.  Seymour.  Mr.  Judson  died  December 
27,  1891.  He  was  an  able  man  of  excellent  business  abilities  a  good  husband  and 
father,  and  was  much  respected  and  esteemed  during  his  life. 


LEDYARD  P.  HALE. 

Ledyard  p.  Hale  was  born  in  Canton,  two  miles  south  of  the  village,  May  17,  1854. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Canton  and  graduated  at  St.  Lawrence  University 
in  1876,  and  the  law  department  of  the  LTniversity  of  Wisconsin  in  1878.     He  was 


46  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

admitted  to  the  bar  of  "Wisconsin  in  the  year  18T7,  and  to  the  bar  of  the  State  of  New- 
York  in  1881.  In  1881  Mr.  Hale  began  his  law  practice  in  Canton,  and  has  risen 
to  a  foremost  place  in  the  bar  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  also  has  been  actively 
associated  with  the  public  affairs  of  his  town  for  the  past  twelve  years,  having 
been  president  of  the  village  of  Canton  in  1886,  and  supervisor  of  the  town  from 
February  1890,  to  February  1894.  He  served  on  the  Canton  School  Board  from  1881 
until  1890,  excepting  one  year,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  St.  Lawrence  L'niver- 
sitv  since  1884.  Mr.  Hale  was  assistant  district  attorney  from  1881  to  1888,  and  was 
elected  district  attorney  in  the  fall  of  1898,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

In  1879  Mr.  Hale  married  Georgiettie  Bacheller,  and  they  have  two  children — Ir- 
ma  and  Horace  C.  Hale. 

yiv.  Hale  IS  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  also  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi 
College  Society. 

Mr.  Hale's  father  was  Horace  AY.  Hale,  a  native  of  Orwell,  Yt.  He  was  born  in 
1810,  and  came  to  Canton  in  1835.  His  mother  was  Betsey  Russell  Lewis,  a  native 
of  Cornwall,  Yt.  « 


PHILETUS  G.   CARR. 

PHiLETibCi.  Cakk,   the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Fowler,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y.,  January  81,  1842.     Having  received  a  common  school  education  only, 

at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  work  in  a 
grist  mill  one  mile  from  Antwerp  \-illage  in 
Jefferson  county.     This  occupation  he  has 
.....  followed   more   than   twenty   years,  having 

worked  in  Copenhagen,  Lewis  county,  and 
-_  in  Plattsburg,  Clinton  county. 

In  April,  1864,  ^Ir.  Carr  came  to  Russell 
from  Plattsburg  and  commenced  the  milling 
business  for  Hiram  Bartlett,  where  he  served 
faithfully  for  eleven  3-ears.  He  afterwards 
rented  the  same  mill  seven  years. 

^Ir.  Carr  is  a  staunch  Republican,  his  first 

vote  for  president  being  cast  for  Abraham 

Lincoln  for  his  second  term.     This  fact  he 

states  with   pride.     He  has  alwa^-s  been  a 

.  strong  advocate  of  the  temperance   cause, 

and  says  he  wants  "to  live  to  see  the  right 

of  suffrage   extended   to   women,  then   the 

temperance  millenium  will  come."     He  is  a 

member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566  F.  and 

A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices 

except  tyler. 

He  has  served  one  term  as  town  clerk,  and  has  recently  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace.     Since  Mr.   Carr  quit  the  milling  business  he  has  been  sev- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  47 

eral  years  in  life  insurance  work — an  agent  for  the  Connecticut  General  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

In  the  fall  of  1892  he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  in  Russell,  and  is  so  fav- 
orably impressed  with  the  business  he  expects  to  make  it  a  life  work. 

Mr.  Carr  married  Marion  A.  Clark,  daughter  of  Augustus  Clark,  in  Canton,  June 
18,  1873.  'Mrs.  Carr's  grandfather,  Hubbard  Clark,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
this  county;  he  with  his  brothers,  Elisha,  Shubel,  Augustus,  Zenas  and  Amos,  com- 
ing from  Washington,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  and  settling  in  Canton.  Her  great- 
grandfather, Amos  Clark,  died  in  Washington,  Mass.,  August  3,  1795.  Her  grand- 
father, Hubbard  Clark,  died  in.  Canton,  October  IT),  1824,  and  her  father,  Augustus 
Clark,  died  in  Canton,  November  6,  1877. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  have  had  two  children — Eddy  Sumner,  born  February  12,  1875, 
and  a  daughter  who  died  in  infanc}-.  Eddy  S.,  after  receiving  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation in  Russell,  entered  the  State  Normal  School  at  Potsdam  in  1891,  where  he  is 
now  studying  and  where  he  intends  to  graduate.  He  is  a  young  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  are  Universalists  in  belief. 

At  this  point  we  give  the  genealogy  of  :\Ir.  Carr  from  his  first  known  ancestor, 
which  is  as  follows: 

I.  Benjamin  Carr,  born  in  London,  Eng.,  August  18,  1592;  married  Martha  Hard- 
nigton  in  London,  September  2,  1613.  Thev  had  four  sons.  He  died  in  London  in 
1635. 

II.  Robert  Carr,  born  in  London,  Eng.,  October  4,  1614;  came  to  Rhode  Island  in 
1635,  married  and  had  six  children.     He  died  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  in  1681. 

III.  Caleb  Carr,  born  in  Newport,  R.  L,  married  Phillis  Greene,  had  six  children. 
He  died  in  Jamestown,  R.  I.,  in  1690. 

R'.   Caleb  Carr,  born  in  Jamestown,  R.  I.,  March  26,  1679,  married  Joanna  Slocum  ; 

second  wife,  Mary ;  had  seven  children.     He  died  in  West   Greenwich,  R.  I., 

in  1750. 

V.  Caleb  Carr,  born  in  Jamestown,  R.  I.,   November  6,  1702,  married  Mary , 

in  West  Greenwich;  had  thirteen  children.     He  died  there  in  1798. 

VI.  Caleb  Carr,  born  in  West  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  June  19.  1744,  married  Abigail 
Very  and  settled  in  Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  had  eight  children,  and  died  May  16,  1789. 

VII.  Gideon  Carr,  born  in  Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  November  7,  1785,  married  Phebe 
Northrop  and  had  eleven  children.  He  moved  with  his  family  to  Edwards,  St.  Law- 
rence county,  in  1828.  He  was  an  ardent  Freewill  Baptist.  He  died  in  Edwards, 
January  16.  1875. 

^'III.  Gideon  R.  Carr,  born  in  Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1811,  came  to  Ed- 
wards with  his  parents  in  1828.  He  married  Amanda  M.  Hodgkins  in  Gouverneur, 
October  23,  1838.     He  had  seven  children.     He  now  lives  in  Michigan. 

IX.  Philetus  G.  CaiT,  our  subject. 

X.  Eddy  Sumner  Carr. 

This  line  is  further  traceable  back  to  the  Norman  Conquest  in  1066.  The  names  of 
the  followers  of  William  I  are  still  preserved  in  the  records  of  Battle  Abby,  and 
among  them  is  one  Karr.  This  was  in  times  when  but  few  had  only  one  name,  and 
from  this  came  the  name  Carr  and  Kerr. 


48  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

The  crest  of  the  coat  of  ai'ms  belonging  to  this  family  was  a  stag's  head,  and  the 
shield  was  emblazoned  with  chives  with  three  stars.  There  was  one  brought  to  this 
country  in  the  "Mayflower,"  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Edson  I.  Carr,  of 
Rockton,  111. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of  Hezekiah  Hodgkins,  who  was  a  son 
of  Henr}^  Hodgkins,  who  was  a  son  of  John  Hodgkins,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
England  with  his  brother  Henry  about  the  year  1680.  They  both  settled  in  New 
London,  Conn.  The  name  is  spelled  by  some  of  the  family  Hodskin.  This  name 
was  also  taken  to  England  by  William  the  Conquerer,  and  was  then  spelled  Hodg- 
kins. 


ELBRIDGE  G.   SEYMOUR,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Antwerj),  X.  Y.,  October  30,  1885.  After 
receiving  a  thorough  public  school  education  he  took  a  three  year  course  in  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  cit^^  His  course  there  was  marked  by  un- 
usual ability  and  enthusiastic  love  for  his  profession.     He  graduated  March  8,  1860. 

Dr.  Seymour  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Redwood,  but  when  the  94th  N.  Y. 
Volunteers  were  organized  he  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier,  but  was  soon  tendered  the 
position  of  assistant  surgeon,  which  he  accepted,  remaining  with  the  94th  through- 
out nearly  all  its  service. 

In  1862  Dr.  Seymour  married  Clara  I.  Stevens,  daughter  of  ( )sm(jnd  Stevens,  of 
Redwood,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  they  located  in  Hermon,  where 
he  resumed  his  medical  practice.  Here  his  genial  and  attractive  nature  soon  won 
him  manv  friends,  and  his  great  success  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  drew  a  large 
practice,  extending  all  over  this  part  of  the  country.  He  was  often  called  upon  to 
perform  difficult  operations,  and  his  counsel  was  sought  by  the  best  physicians  in 
the  county. 

In  addition  to  his  medical  practice.  Dr.  Seymour  carried  on  a  drug  store,  and  was 
also  interested  in  other  business  aifairs.  In  man}-  ways  he  did  a  great  deal  for  Her- 
mon, his  handsome  residence  and  the  line  Seymour  Block  being  notable  additions  to 
to  the  architecture  of  the  village.  His  fine  intelligence  and  sterling  principles  won 
for  him  the  esteem  and  fullest  confidence  of  all,  and  among  other  marks  of  apprecia- 
tion, he  was  elected  president  of  the  village,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

The  large  amount  of  work  entailed  by  his  large  practice  affected  his  health  while 
he  was  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  he  died  ]May  4,  1892,  mourned  by  all  jjeople  who 
had  the  good  fortune  to  know  him.  In  his  death  Hermon  lost  one  of  her  best  and 
grandest  citizens,  and  the  medical  profession  of  St.  Lawrence  county  one  of  its  bright- 
est members. 

His  estimable  wife  was  untiring  in  her  devotion  to  him  during  his  fatal  illness. 
She  still  resides  in  Hermon,  in  the  fine  old  home  that  commemorates  in  its  own  way 
the  successful  life  and  domestic  culture  and  qualities  of  one  of  the  best,  truest  and 
ablest  men  of  our  county. 

Dr.  Seymour  was  a  self-made  man.  He  educated  himself  and  was  always  self- 
reliant,  which  characteristic  was  unquestionably  the  secret  of  his  success. 


-^.^.^. 


T 


^^^'CLt^'i, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  49 

GEN.   ROvSCIUS  W.  JUDSON. 

Gen.  Roscus  W.  Jldson  is  worthy  of  more  than  passing  mention  in  a  comprehen- 
sive liistory  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  both  because  of  his  long  residence  in  Ogdens 
burg,  and  the  active  and  honorable  life  which  he  has  lived.  Roscius  W.  Judson  was 
born  August  IT,  1810,  in  the  town  of  Louisville,  St..  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
that  part  of  it  which  became  Norfolk  when  the  town  was  divided.  His  father  was 
Eben  Judson,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  the  first  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Louisville ; 
and  his  mother  was  Elizabeth  (Winslow)  Judson,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where  the 
family  is  well  known,  his  father  dying  June  29,  1814. 

Young  Judson  worked  on  his  mother's  farm,  going  to  school  in  the  winter,  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He  at- 
tended this  institution  for  five  years,  teaching  sometimes  in  the  winter,  and  finallv 
graduating  in  July,  1834,  winning  the  first  prize  for  oratory  in  a  class  of  thirteen. 

In  the  year  1834  he  came  to  Ogdensburg  as  a  private  tutor  in  the  family  of  Henry 
M.  Fine,  brother  of  Judge  Fine.  In  1835  he  entered  the  old  Ogdensburg  Academy 
as  assistant  principal,  and  at  the  same  time  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Judge  Fine.  He  finished  his  legal  studies  with  Hon.  Ransom  H.  Gillett  and  Attor- 
ney-General Charles  G.  Myers,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January'  17,  1839. 
Since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged  continuously  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Ogdensburg,  with  the  exception  of  a  break  when  he  was  rendering  efficient  mili- 
tary service  in  his  country's  cause  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

His  services  to  his  country  when  it  was  called  upon  to  go  through  the  baptism  of 
fire  were  so  patriotic,  so  unselfish,  so  zealous,  so  distinguished,  as  to  entitle  his  name 
to  be  placed  side  by  side  with  the  honored  names  of  the  best  and  truest  patriots  that 
have  ever  risen  up  in  this  or  anj'  other  countrj'  in  the  world. 

He  was  on  his  way  from  New  York  to  Bf)Ston  on  a  steamer  when  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon.  He  left  Boston  at  once  on  hearing  the  news,  and  as  soon  as  he  ar- 
rived home  took  an  active  part  in  the  exciting  war  meetings  held  in  Ogdensburg, 
acting  as  one  of  the  chief  speakers  at  all  and  presiding  at  many  of  the  meetings. 
To  him  belongs  the  credit,  in  a  large  degree,  for  the  large  number  of  men  which  St. 
Lawrence  count}'  sent  to  the  front  during  the  Rebellion.  He  made  the  first  volun- 
tary contribution  of  money  in  Ogdensburg  to  assist  the  cause,  and  the  incident  is 
worthy  of  mention,  showing  as  it  does  his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

It  was  at  a  war  meeting  of  which  he  was  the  presiding  officer,  and  after  swearing 
in  some  volunteers,  he  said:  "Gentlemen,  it  remains  for  us  who  cannot  go  to  the 
front  to  say  how  much  we  love  the  cause.  I  love  it  SlOO  worth  to-night,"  and  accom- 
panied his  words  with  the  money  which  he  threw  in  a  roll  upon  the  table. 

The  result  of  this  piece  of  practical  patriotism  was  a  subscription  list  amounting  to 
§5,000,  and  raising  forty-four  men  before  the  meeting  adjourned, 

Mr.  Judson  aided  in  raising  the  16th,  18th,  60th,  and  106th  Regiments,  and  raised 
the  142d,  numbering  1024  men,  of  which  he  was  colonel  until  his  health  broke  down 
and  he  was  no  longer  able  to  keep  the  field.  In  recognition  of  his  services  he  was 
commissioned  brigadier-general. 

But  although  debarred  from  participating  in  the  actual  struggle  to  the  glorious 
end,  General  Judson's  sympathies  and  support  have  always  been  with  the  veterans, 
G 


50  HISTOKY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  he  is  a  staunch  G.  A.  R.  man;  he  has  delivered  no  less  than  twentj'-five  different 
Fourth  of  July  orations,  a  statement  which  cannot  be  made  of  any  other  man,  living 
or  dead.  These  orations  have  been  not  mere  speeches,  but  ably  prepared  and  elo- 
quently delivered  discourses  on  the  national  theme,  without  one  word  of  party,  sect 
or  creed  in  them. 

As  a  lecturer  the  general  has  attained  a  high  standard  and  wide  reputation,  and 
has  tilled  many  important  engagements  in  New  York  city,  Brooklyn,  New  Jersey, 
Vermont,  Missouri,  Iowa  and  other  Western  States,  besides  a  large  number  in  New 
York  State.  He  is  a  historian  of  close  reading  and  deep  research,  and  has  accum- 
ulated a  great  deal  of  valuable  manuscript  on  the  history  of  our  own  land,  as  well 
as  a  large  collection  of  rare  and  curious  relics. 

As  a  lawyer.  General  Judson  has  for  over  half  a  century  held  a  conspicuous  place 
in  the  bar  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  has  been  commissioner  of  deeds,  master  in 
chancer}^,  and  special  county  judge,  but  sought  no  office.  Educational  matters  have 
always  been  interesting  to  him,  and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion and  chairman  of  that  body. 

His  social  and  family  relations  have  always  been  the  most  pleasant  and  commend- 
able. 

On  Januar}-  5,  1842,  he  married  vSarah  A.  Collins,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sel- 
den  Collins,  of  Lewis  county.  On  January  5,  1892,  General  and  Mrs.  Judson  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding,  upon  which  occasion  they  were  the  recipients  of  many 
fervent  congratulations.  To  commemorate  the  occasion.  General  Judson's  son,  Sei- 
dell C.  Judson,  designed  a  ver}^  pretty  souvenir  invitation  card,  having  the  photo- 
graphs of  the  celebrants  as  they  appeared  when  first  married  at  the  top,  and  their  pic- 
tures as  they  were  at  their  golden  wedding  beneath.  The  design  was  unique,  beau- 
tiful, and  probabl)'  without  a  parallel  in  America, 

The  children  of  General  and  ^Irs.  Judson  are  Capt.  Selden  C.  Judson,  who  com- 
manded a  company  in  the  106th  Regiment  during  the  Rebellion;  Winslow  Judson, 
a  celebrated  railroad  attorne3%  who  died  in  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  April  7,  1890.  He  was 
an  able  and  eloquent  advocate  and  orator ;  Frank  R.  Judson,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.  ; 
and  John  J.  Judson,  of  Salt  Lake  Cit}'.  They  also  had  one  daughter  who  died  in 
infancy. 

To-daj'  there  is  probably  no  better  known  man  in  St.  Lawrence  county  than  Gen- 
eral Judson.  He  is  universalh'  esteemed  for  his  integrity  of  purpose,  his  genial 
disposition  and  his  untiring  zeal  in  support  of  every  worthy  project,  while  he  is  ad- 
mired for  his  sterling  patriotism  and  genial  disposition  that  even  now  at  his  advanced 
age  is  as  bright  and  cheerful  as  ever.  He  has  always  been  an  active  temperance 
man  and  has  delivered  many  orations  in  this  cause. 


CURTIS. 

Wii.i.iAM  CiKTis  was  born  in  Esse.K  county,  iMigland,  in  1595.  He  married  Sarah 
EHot,  sister  of  Rev.  John  Eliot,  who  came  over  to  Boston  in  1631,  to  labor  with  the 
Pilgrims  in  christianizing  the  natives,  and  became  widely  known  as  the  "apostle  of 
the  North  American  Indians." 


BTOGRAPHICAL.  51 

William  Curtis  with  his  wife  and  four  children  came  over  in  the  ship  "  Mary  Lion," 
and  landed  in  Boston,  in  October,  168"2.  He  settled  in  Roxbury,  where  four  more 
children  were  born  to  them.  The  English  family  "  coat  of  arms,"  under  Puri- 
tan influences,  was  not  continued  by  his  descendants.  His  homestead  was  inherited 
by  his  youngest  son,  Isaac,  and  was  occupied  in  1858  bj- Isaac  Curtis,  the  fifth  gene- 
ration, who  also  had  a  son  Isaac. 

John,  the  eldest  son  of  William  Cin-tis,  at  his  majorit}'  settled  in  New  Bedford, 
where  he  and  four  generations  of  his  family  were  engaged  in  the  whaling  industry. 
John's  eldest  son  was  named  Jonathan,  and  the  eldest  son  for  six  generations  in 
succession  bore  the  same  name. 

Jonathan  the  sixth  was  born  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  January  13,  1788.  He  left  home 
in  180T,  lived  one  year  in  New  Hampshire,  one  in  Vermont,  and  went  to  Essex 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1809.  He  married  Phebe  Rising,  January  13,  1811,  and  soon  after 
moved  to  Chateaugay,  Franklin  county.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  in  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg,  and  was  one  of  Captain  Tilden's  companj'  captured  in  the 
blockhouse  at  French  Mills,  now  Fort  Covington. 

In  ^lay,  1822,  he  with  his  wife  and  family,  consisting  of  four  children — Milansa, 
INIiranda,  Albern  and  .Sabrina  (two  sons  and  a  daughter  having  died  in  infancy) — 
moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  settled  in  the  southerly  part  of  Oswegatchie, 
now  Depeyster,  where  five  more  children  were  born  to  them — Gates,  Sitsan,  An- 
drew J.,  Pamelia  L. ,  and  N.  Martin.  His  principal  occupation,  except  a  few  years 
in  lumbering,  was  farming. 

At  the  organization  of  the  town  in  1825  he  acted  as  chairman,  and  afterwards  held 
several  offices  of  trust,  as  the  town  records  show.  He  died  at  Depeyster,  March  20, 
18GL  Phebe,  his  widow,  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Pamelia  Flack,  in  Og- 
densburg,  September  20,  1868. 

Milansa  married  Ira  Washburn,  May  22,  1881,  to  whom  were  born  six  children — 
Curtis,  Ann,  Gilbert,  Ruby,  Adelia  and  Gates.  She  died  October  5,  1890.  Miranda 
died  August  8,  1834.  Albern  was  born  October  4,  1817.  He  married  Angeline  Hare, 
October  19,  1847,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children — William  H.,  Alfred  B.  and 
Millie.  Albern  enlisted  as  an  artificer,  September  12,  1861,  in  Company  C,  1st  Mich- 
igan Engineers ;  he  w^as  present  with  his  company  from  date  of  enlistment  until 
mustered  out  of  service  October  31,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  Sabrina  died  February 
7,  1849. 

Gates  was  born  October  17,  1822.  Having  a  natural  inclination  for  mechanism, 
in  the  spring  of  1848  he  established  himself  in  the  foundry  business,  and  manufac- 
tured plows  and  threshing  machines  in  Bertheir,  Canada.  Here  he  married  Roxana 
J.  Clement,  March  12,  1849,  and  where  Albert  J.  and  Amelia  R.  were  born.  In  1855 
he  with  his  wife  and  two  children  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Depeyster,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  and  where  Cora  A.,  their  younge.st  child,  was  born. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  he  with  his  family  moved  to  Ogdensburg.  He  is  the  invent- 
or and  patentee  of  several  models  of  steel  plows;  a  turbine  water  wheel  and  shingle 
machine,  which  with  agricultural  implements  he  manufactures  in  connection  with  a 
general  foundry  business. 

Susan  married  Horace  N.  Clark,  April  8,  1851.  She  died  at  Depeyster,  September 
5,  1854,  leaving  a  daughter,  who  died  in  childhood. 


52  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Andrew  J.  was  born  August  8,  1827.  At  his  majority  he  went  to  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grain  and  milUng  business.  He  returned  to  Depeyster, 
and  died  at  his  father's  residence,  July  ."),  1858. 

Pamelia  L.  married  George  W.  Flack,  June  12,  ISfifi.  They  have  one  child,  Ella 
P.  C. 

N.  Martin  was  born  in  Depeyster,  May  21,  1885.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  vSeminary.  ()n  the  surrender  of  Fort  vSumter  he 
raised  a  company  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  May  15,  1861, 
as  captain  of  Company  G,  16th  N.  Y.  Infantry.  He  was  promoted  to  the  lieutenant- 
colonelcy  of  the  142d  Infantry,  October  27,  1862,  and  to  the  colonelcy,  January  21, 
1863.  He  married  Emeline  Clark,  of  Springfield,  111.,  March  23,  1863,  while  on  leave 
of  absence.  He  was  promoted  to  brevet  brigadier-general,  October  27,  1864,  brigadier- 
general,  January  15,  1865,  and  brevet  major-general.  The  last  two  promotions  were 
for  gallantry  displayed  in  leading  the  troops  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  January 
15,  1865,  where  he  lost  his  left  eye.  He  was  several  times'  wounded  previous  to  this 
date. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  passed  resolutions,  April  5,  1865,  thanking  General 
Curtis  and  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command  (who  were  all  New  York  troops)  for 
their  achievements  on  that  occasion.  At  the  close  of  hostilities  General  Curtis  was 
assigned  to  the  district  of  Southwestern  Virginia  with  headquarters  at  Lynchburg, 
Va.,  where  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  January  15,  1866. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life  he  was  appointed,  August  14,  1866,  collector  of  customs 
for  the  District  of  Oswegatchie,  and  March  4,  1867,  special  agent.  Treasury  Depart- 
ment. He  was  chosen  to  represent  the  First  District  of  St.  Lawrence  county  in  the 
State  Assembly,  in  1884,  and  served  seven  years  in  succession.  In  1890  he  was  elect- 
ed to  represent  the  Twenty-second  Congressional  District  in  the  Llld  Congress,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Lllld  Congress.  Mrs.  Curtis  died  August  4,  1887,  leaving 
four  children — E.  Phebe,  Mary  W.,  Florence  R.,  and  Eliza  C. ,  two  having  died  in 
infancv- 


RT.  REV.  DR.  HENRY  GABRIELS. 

Henry  Gauriels  was  born  at  Wannegem-Lede,  in  the  diocese  of  Ghent,  Belgium, 
in  1838,  and  was  educated  in  the  colleges  of  Audenarde  and  St.  Nicholas.  He  made 
his  theological  studies  in  the  seminary  of  (Jhent  and  the  LTniversity  of  Louvain.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  1861,  and  was  one  of  the  four  Belgian  priests,  who, 
with  two  American  priests,  founded  St.  Joseph's  Provincial  Seminary  in  Tro}-,  N.  Y., 
in  1864.  In  thatj'earhe  received  the  degree  of  Licentiate  in  theology  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Louvain  with  Bishop  vSpalding,  of  Peoria.  From  1864  to  1871  he  was  pro- 
fes.sor  of  dogmatic  theology  in  the  seminary,  and  since  1871  was  president  of  that  in- 
stitution and  professor  of  church  history  and  Hebrew.  In  1882  he  received  from  the 
University  of  Louvain  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Theology.  He  was  one  of 
the  secretaries  of  the  Third  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore  in  1884.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  vicars-general  of  the  Dioceses  of  Ogdensburg  and  Burlington,  diocesan  exam- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  53 

iner  for  the  Archdiocese  of  New  York  and  the  Diocese  of  Albany,  and  one  of  the  dio- 
cesan consultors  of  the  Diocese  of  Albany.  For  nearly  thirty  years  Bishop  Gabriels 
lived  in  Trov,  doing  in  a  very  quiet  and  unobtrusive  manner  a  work  that  has  made 
him  celebrated  throughout  the  Catholic  world.  So  modest  has  he  been  in  his  bear- 
ing, so  retiring  in  his  methods,  that  a  great  many  people  will  be  surprised  to  learn 
that  in  the  highest  and  most  scholastic  circles  of  his.  church  Bishop  Gabriels  is  re- 
garded as  a  profound  theologian  and  an  authf)rity  on  intricate  ecclesiastical  law  prob- 
lems. In  general  knowledge  his  attainments  are  wide  and  varied.  Master  of  several 
languages,  a  writer  with  the  simplicity  of  erudition,  acquainted  with  many  branches 
of  science  and  still  eager  to  learn,  he  is  regarded  by  those  who  are  privileged  to  know 
him  as  a  marvel  of  knowledge.  Living  in  retirement  from  the  ambitions  of  the 
world,  seeking  no  promotions.  Bishop  Gabriels  believed  that  his  life  work  was  at  St. 
Joseph's  Seminary.  Neither  his  own  acts  nor  ambitions,  but  the  work  that  he  has 
done  in  prej^aring  young  men  for  the  priesthood,  not  only  as  an  instructor,  but  as  ex- 
amplar  in  simple  living  and  lofty  faith,  brought  about  his  elevation  to  the  episcopate 
as  a  successor  to  the  late  lamented  first  bishop  of  Ogdensburg. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1892,  Bishop  Gabriels  was  consecrated  in  the  cathedral  at  Al- 
bany, by  Archbishop  Corrigan,  of  New  York,  in  presence  of  twenty-four  archbishops 
and  bishops  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  about  six  hundred  clergyman  and 
seminarians. 

He  was  solemnly  installed  in  his  cathedral  at  Ogdensburg,  May  11,  1S92,  in  pres- 
ence of  all  the  priests  of  the  diocese  and  a  large  concourse  of  the  laity. 

He  held  his  first  diocesan  synod,  October  26,  1892,  at  which  were  present  about 
seventy  priests  of  the  diocese. 

He  made  his  first  visit  ad  liinina  to  Rome  in  November,  1893,  on  which  occasion 
he  had  several  audiences  with  Leo  NIII,  who  inquired  carefully  into  the  state  of  re- 
ligion in  Northern  New  York. 

The  elevation  of  Bishop  Gabriels  to  the  Diocese  of  Ogdensburg  has  proved  to  be  a 
wise  step  for  the  church.  The  diocese  is  composed  of  two  different  races — English 
speaking  and  French  speaking.  By  birth  and  education  Bishop  Gabriels  is  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  latter,  while  having  become  thoroughly  American  in  ideas  and  adher- 
ence to  our  national  institutions,  he  is  respected  and  reverenced  by  the  former. 


JAMES  S.   BEAN. 

James  S.  Bean  was  born  October  6,  1824,  at  Meriden,  N.  H.  In  1848  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  his  native  town,  and  continued  the  same  until  the  spring 
of  1853,  when  he  came  to  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  as  an  agent  for  John  G.  Prentiss  &  Co., 
m  the  flour  and  grain  trade.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Bean  started  in  the  same  business  for 
himself  and  successfully  continued  the  same  for  nearly  twenty  years. 

On  March  17,  1858,  he  married  Mary  A.  Deane,  of  Weathersfield,  Vt. 

In  December,  1875,  Mr.  Bean  became  associated  with  the  Ogdensburg  Bank.  His 
connection  with  this  institution,  of  which  he  was  vice-president  and  the  chief  busi- 
ness manager,  continued  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  10,  1883. 


54  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTr. 

In  the  oLirsc  of  his  active  business  life  Mr.  Bean  had  acquired  a  large  fortune, 
which  made  him  intimately  interested,  and  an  important  factor  in  the  financial  affairs 
of  the  citv.  He  won,  by  his  honor,  integrity  and  good  judgment,  the  confidence  of 
the  young  business  men  of  the  community,  whom  he  was  always  ready  to  assist, 
either  by  his  means  or  counsel.  He  possessed  those  qualities  which  were  pre-emi- 
nently required  of  a  man  in  the  position  which  he  occupied.  Of  kindly  manner,  a 
pleasant  man  to  meet,  with  interests  interlocked  with  many  of  the  institutions  of  the 
city  of  his  home,  he  merited  and  won  the  kindliest  feelings  of  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact. 

Mr.  Bean  possessed  a  charitable  disposition,  giving  in  a  quiet  way  freely  to  worthy 
objects  and  to  the  deserving  poor.  He  donated  liberally  towards  the  erection  of  a 
church  in  his  native  town  in  New  Hampshire,  one  in  Virginia,  also  to  the  various 
church  organizations  of  this  city ;  but  more  especially  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
which  his  wife  is  a  member  and  which  he  attended,  and  in  which  held  the  office  of 
trustee  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Bean  was  not  a  politician,  though  he  held  clear  views  on  political  economj-, 
which  always  governed  his  action  in  the  matter  of  right  and  wrong,  and  led  him  to 
speak  his  mind  freely  on  all  matters  of  importance. 

^Irs.  Bean  survives  her  husband,  and  has  endeavored  to  carry  out  his  wishes  in  all 
things  as  far  as  possible. 


WILLIAM  RICHMOND  WEED. 

William  R.  Weed  was  born  at  Glens  Falls,  Warren  county,  N,  Y.,  July  5,  1860, 
and  received  his  education  at  a  district  school  and  at  the  Glens  Falls  Academy.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  First  National  Bank  of  Glens  Falls  as  a  clerk, 
where  he  served  for  five  years,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Saratoga  Springs,  which  he  held  for  two  years. 

He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  William  AVaterbury  at  Saratoga  Springs 
in  the  hardware  business,  conducting  a  prosperous  and  enterprising  establishment 
for  several  years. 

Air.  Weed  is  a  grandson  of  Augustus  Sherman,  the  millionaire  lumberman  who 
died  at  Glens  Falls  in  December,  1884,  leaving  large  lumbering  interests  in  several 
places  and  notably  at  Potsdam.  In  March,  1886,  Mr.  Weed  moved  with  his  family 
to  Potsdam,  and  with  his  brother  Frederic,  took  Mr.  Sherman's  late  interest  in  the 
extensive  lumber  business  conducted  by  the  A.  Sherman  Lumber  Compau}-,  which 
is  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  important  lumber  companiesin  Northern  New  York. 

Mr.  Weed  at  once  took  an  active  interest  in  all  the  affairs  pertaining  to  the  busi- 
ness, social  and  religious  success  of  his  adopted  town,  and  has  been  ever  found  ready 
to  help  with  his  time  and  his  money  any  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  the  village  of 
Potsdam.  He  is  a  thoroughly  public  spirited  man  and  is  prominently  identified  with 
most  of  the  larger  business  enterprises. 

He  has  been  secretary  of  the  Potsdam  Electric  Light  and  Power  Co.  since  its  organ- 
ization ;  he  is  a  director  in  the  Thatcher  Manufacturing  Co. ,  a  flourishing  concern  man. 
ufacturing  butter  color  and  milk  dealers'  supplies;  he  is  a  director  m  the  High  Falls 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  55 

Sulphite  Pulp  and  Mining  Company,  one  of  the  most  thoroughlj'  equipped  plants  of 
its  kind  in  the  country;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Local  Board  of  the  State  Normal  School 
at  Potsdam,  an  institution  of  learning  in  which  he  takes  great  pride ;  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Fire  Department  and  of  the  Masonic  organization ;  and  as  an  active 
member  of  the  ]\Iethodist  Episcopal  church,  he  is  enthusiastic  in  all  church  and  re- 
form work. 

He  is  a  great  fancier  of  blooded  cattle,  and  with  his  father  and  brother  owns  the 
Raquette  Valley  Stock  Farm,  on  which  is  raised  some  of  the  finest  high  bred  regis- 
tered Jerseys  to  be  found  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Weed's  interest  in  lumbering  led  him  to  acquire  a  large  amount  of  valuable 
knowledge  and  information  of  the  vast  Adirondack  region,  and  in  April,  1893,  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Flower  a  member  of  the  State  Forest  Commission.  He  is 
heartih'  in  favor  of  the  establishment  of  a  great  State  Park,  and  since  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  commission  has  devoted  a  large  amount  of  tniie  and  energy  to  the  work  of 
the  commission  in  caring  for  the  State  s  interests  in  the  great  wilderness. 

Mr.  Weed  is  a  thorough  and  enthusiastic  Republican,  and  although  he  has  held  no 
political  office,  he  enjoys  the  acquaintance  and  personal  friendship  of  all  the  prom- 
inent representatives  of  the  other  party.  He  is  not  a  candidate  for  any  office,  but  is 
most  energetic  in  the  political  arena  of  his  town  and  county,  and  his  work  and  vote 
are  always  for  the  best  element  and  the  purest  government. 

In  189'2he%vasan  alternate  delegate  at  large  to  the  National  Republican  Conven- 
tion at  Minneapolis  which  nominated  Harrison  and  Reid. 

Mr.  Weed  is  always  active,  genial,  courteous  and  generous,  his  sympathies  can  al- 
ways be  enlisted  in  any  worthy  cause,  and  his  heartiest  co-operation  is  ever  ready  for 
the  assistance  of  worthy  enterprises. 

He  is  quick  in  resources,  fertile  in  expedients,  read}',  open  hearted  and  willing  to 
act — traits  which  make  him  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  popular  men  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resides. 

On  March  '29,  1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  S.  Ella  Waterbury,  daughter 
of  his  former  partner,  and  now  has  two  bright  children.  Hazel  and  Woolsey.  His 
home,  although  of  modest  exterior,  is  a  model  of  taste  and  elegance,  and  his  friends 
have  frequent  occasion  to  accept  the  genial  hospitality  of  his  handsome  home  and  in- 
teresting family. 


Z.   W.   BABCOCK. 

Z.  W.  B.\BcocK  was  born  m  the  town  of  Russell  February  lo,  1830,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  cabinet  maker  with  his  father.  In  1852  he  left 
home  and  sailed  for  California,  callod  at  Rio  Janeinj,  went  through  the  Straits  of 
Magellan  and  visited  nearly  all  the  principal  seaport  towns  on  the  western  coast  of 
North  and  South  America.  He  left  California  for  Australia,  touching  the  Society  Isl- 
ands on  his  way.  He  remained  in  Australia  until  1859,  and  came  home  by  way  of 
England.  In  1867  he  married  Nellie  Acres  and  their  living  issue  is  two  children ; 
Juan  A.  and  Murray  A.     Mr.  Babcock  is  regarded  as  one  of  Hermon's  representative 


5G  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

men.  He  was  supervisor  six  3'ears,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  nine  years 
and  justice  of  the  peace  six  years,  and  is  now  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Hermon 
Cemetery  Association  and  is  interested  in  every  prfjject  tliat  helps  to  build  up  and 
benefit  the  town. 


J.    W.    MUSGROVE. 

TirE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Ottawa,  Out.,  July  1,  1867.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Ottawa  High  vSchool  and  in  the  Pennsylvania  College  of  Dental  Surgery, 
Philadelphia.     He  graduated  from  this  college  with  the  degree  of  L.  D.  S.  in  1890. 

Dr.  Musgrove  first  began  practice  in  Toledo,  but  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1892,  and 
has  rapidly  advanced  to  be  the  leading  dentist  of  the  city,  making  specialties  of 
crowning  and  bridging. 

Dr.  Musgrove  is  a  member  of  several  of  the  leading  social  orders;  is  a  Mason,  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Encampment  of  that  order,  as  well  as  of  the 
Canadian  Order  of  Foresters,  and  several  other  organizations. 

In  1888  Dr.  Musgrove  married  Carrie  Dunn  Haynen.  They  have  one  son,  Milton 
Musgrove.  Dr.  Musgrove's  father,  John  M.  Musgrove,  is  a  professor  in  the  Inter- 
national College  of  Toronto,  Ont.  His  grandfather  was  Rev.  James  Musgrove,  a 
]\Iethodist  minister  and  also  a  Canadian.  His  mother  was  Charlotte  Thackery,  of 
Cobourg,  Ont. 


DAVID  H.    LYON. 

Da\  ID  H.  Lyon  was  born  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  October  21,  1845.  When  he  was 
about  three  vears  of  age  his  parents  came  to  Ogdensburg,  and  here  he  was  educated 
in  the  public  .schools  and  by  private  tuition.  On  October  27,  1861.  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  60th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  .served  with  his  regiment  until  after  the  battle  of 
Lookout  Mountain  in  1863.  He  then  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more,  December  24, 
1863,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  twenty-six  general  engage- 
ments and  being  wounded  once. 

After  the  war  he  took  a  course  in  Eastman's  Business  College,  and  in  1866  went 
into  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  lumber  and  saw  mill  business.  In  1871  he 
sold  out  his  interest  in  this  business,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  S.  Phillips 
in  the  old  Furness  mill. 

In  1874  he  disposed  of  his  share  in  this  enterprise  and  went  into  the  steamboat 
business,  of  which  he  has  made  a  signal  success.  He  purchased  the  steamer  New 
York  on  the  ferry  at  Ogdensburg,  and  gradally  extended  his  operations,  until  in  1886 
he  organized  the  Canadian  Pacific  Car  and  Tran.sfer  Compan3%  of  which  he  was 
manager  until  1893,  when  he  resigned,  retaining  the  office  of  managing  director. 
This  company  has  facilities  for  transferring  780  cars  every  twenty  hours,  and  they 
keep  the  transfer  going  in  winter  as  well  as  summer,  keeping  the  ice  cut  and  an  un- 
interrupted traffic  the  year  round. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  'u 

Captain  Lj'on  is  also  interested  in  farming,  real  estate,  woolen  mills,  and  manu- 
facture of  agricultural  implements  here  and  in  Brockville,  and  in  cotton  mills  in  Can- 
ada.    He  is  al.so  a  stockholder  in  the  Carthage  National  Bank. 

In  18(j6  Captain  Lyon  married  Ella  M.  Potter,  of  Philadelphia,  a  niece  of  Bishop 
Potter.  They  have  one  son,  Charles  Potter  Lyon,  who  is  secretary  of  the  Transfer 
Company. 

The  Lyon  family  dates  back  to  the  Lvon's  Farms  Settlement,  near  Morristown,  X.  J. , 
formed  in  the  early  part  of  1700.  Several  of  them  were  charter  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  organized  in  Morristown  in  1743.  John  Lyon  and  wife  united 
with  that  church  in  1776.  He  and  family  came  to  Ogdensburg  with  Nathan  Ford  in 
July,  179(3.  Charles  Lyon,  grandson  of  John  and  father  of  David  H.,  was  for  many 
years  a  prominent  bu.siness  man  of  Ogdensburg  and  held  several  offices  of  trust. 
He  was  commissioned  by  Governor  ilarcy  in  188'2,  lieutenant  in  the  89th  Regiment 
Infantry,  and  in  1884  paymaster  in  the  Third  Brigade  of  Cavaliy  ;  al.so,  in  the  same 
brigade  he  was  commissioned  hospital  surgeon. 


HON.   DANIEL  MA(t()XE. 

Daniel  Magone,  born  in  Oswegatchie,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.Y.  was  educated 
at  the  Ogdensburg  Academy,  and  taught  school  and  studied  law  from  1850-53 ;  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Og- 
densburg in  1854.      He  has  always  been  a  staunch  Democrat. 

Mr.  Magone  has  been  prominent  in  his  party.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic 
County  Committee  of  St.  Lawrence  for  many  years;  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
State  Committee,  and  its  chairman  in  1875-76 ;  delegate  to  the  Democratic  National 
Convention  at  St.  Louis  in  1876,  and  to  the  Chicago  Convention  in  1884,  when  he 
was  on  the  committee  that  nominated  Samuel  J.  Tilden ;  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Legislature  a  member  of  the  committee  to  investigate  canal  frauds.  He  was  super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  1882-83.  From  1886-89  he  was  collector  of  the 
Port  of  New  York ;  and  was  appointed  by  the  secretar^^  of  the  treasury  a  member  of 
the  Commission  to  investigate  the  methods  of  doing  business  in  the  New  York  Custom 
Hou.se  in  1894.  In  1892  Governor  Flower  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Commission 
to  revise  the  Statutes  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  he  is  still  a  member  of  that 
commission. 


THOMAS  SPRATT. 

Thomas  Spkait  was  born  in  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence  county,  December  12,  1848. 
He  received  a  thorough  education  in  the  schools  and  academies  of  tliis  county,  after 
which  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Foote  &  James,  and  later  on 
was  admitted  to  the  State  bar,  from  the  office  of  Hon.  Daniel  Magone  (about  1870). 
Shortly  after  Mr.  Spratt  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  District  and  Circuit  Courts 
H 


5S  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  CULXTV. 

of  the  United  States,  and  in  18S6.  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
He  has  always  been  actively  engaged  in  his  professional  duties,  and  is  one  of  the 
foremost  law\-ers  of  the  State.  Mr.  Spratt  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  State 
Committee  from  1884  to  1883:  a  delegate  to  the  .Democratic  National  Convention 
which  nominated  Grover  Cleveland  at  St.  Louis  in  1888,  and  has  held  other  impor- 
tant public  offices. 

He  married  Emma  J.,  daughter  of  Nathan  J.  Lvtle. 


GUST  AVE  S.   DOR  WIN. 

GiSTAVE  S.  DoKwiN,  SOU  of  S.  A.  Dorwin,  was  born  in  Hammond,  St. ^Lawrence 
count}-,  June  26,  186'2.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  State  Normal  School 
at  Potsdam.  N,  Y.,  and  after  three  years'  attendance,  taught  school  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  entered  Union  College  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886.  Having 
decided  to  enter  the  legal  profession,  Mr.  Dorwin  studied  law  for  a  year  in  the  office 
of  Hon.  Daniel  Magone,  at  Ogdensburg,  and  after  taking  a  course  in  the  Albanv  Law 
School  was  admitted  to  the  bar  May  15,  1888 

He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  J.  ^I.  Kellogg,  county  judge,  and  in  1890 
opened  an  office  alone  in  Ogdensburg,  where  he  has  ever  since  practiced  his  profess- 
ion. In  1889  he  was  elected  Recorder  of  the  city  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1890  b}-  the  largest  majority  ever  given  for  Recorder.  Mr.  Dorwin 
takes  great  interest  in  political  matters  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every  cam- 
paign since  1888. 

He  is  also  interested  in  the  commercial  affairs  of  Ogdensburg.  He  is  a  director  in 
and  attorney  for  the  St.  Lawrence  Wholesale  Grocerv  Co. ,  president  of  the  Mann 
Mfg.  Co.,  and  attorney  for  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Co-operative  Builders'  Bank, 
and  is  interested  in  other  minor  business  operations.  Mr.  Dorwin  is  at  present  vice- 
president  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club  and  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  member  of  the  40th 
Separate  Co.  of  the  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.  Mr.  Darwin's  family  is  of  English  origin  and  his 
ancestors  came  to  America  in  1789  and  settled  on  Long  Island.  June  19,  1889,  Mr. 
Dorwin  married  ilary  L.  Allen,  daughter  of  the  late  W.  B.  Allen  of  Ogdensburg  and 
has  one  son. 


GERRIT  S.   CONGER. 

Gekkh-  S.  Conger  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  Ontario  countv,  N.  Y.,  September 
25,  1847.  He  was  educated  in  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminarv  and  the  Universitv- 
of  Michigan,  and  studied  law  in  Gouverneur  with  the  late  Charles  Anthony,  D.  A. 
Johnson  and  E.  H.  Near}-.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871,  and  has  resided  in 
Gouverneur  ever  since. 

On  February-  4,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Battery  D,  1st  New  York  Light  Artiliei-\-,  and 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  seventeen  general  engagements  and 


BJOGRAPHICAL  59 

was  wounded  ouceat  Cold  Harbor.  Reorganized  Barnes  Post  No.  loG,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
was  its  commander  for  several  years.  This  was  the  first  post  organized  in  Northern 
New  York.  Judge  Conger  was  also  vice-commander  of  the  Department  of  New 
York. 

December  4,  1880,  Mr.  Conger  was  appointed  special  couuty  judge  by  Governor 
Cornell,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  in  the  fall  of  1881  he  was  elected  to  the  same  position, 
which  he  has  held  ever  since,  his  present  term  expiring  December  81,  1896. 

In  1M84  he  was  attorney  for  the  Legislative  Committee  apj^ointed  to  investigate  the 
armories  and  arsenals  of  New  York  State.  He  has  also  been  president  of  the  village 
of  Gouverneur. 

In  1873  Judge  Conger  married  Martha  A.  Church.  They  have  two  children,  a  son, 
Alger  A.  Conger,  now  attending  Cornell  University,  and  a  daughter,  Mary  A.  Con- 
ger. 


F.   F.   WILLIAMS,   M.   D. 

F.  F.  Wii.Li.\Ms  was  born  in  Stockholm,  St.  Lawrence  county,  July  10,  18.")T.  He 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Bicknellville  and  Potsdam  Normal  School. 
He  taught  the  district  school  at  Bicknellville  while  attending  the  Normal  School, 
and  after  his  graduation,  July  1,  1S79,  he  was  principal  of  the  Unif)n  Free  School  at 
Heuvelton  for  two  years. 

He  began  the  study  of  medicine  while  teaching,  and  in  the  fall  of  1881  he  entered 
the  New  York  Homeojjathic  ^Medical  College  and  Hospital,  and  graduated  March  15, 
1883. 

After  practicing  nine  months  with  Dr.  Brown,  of  Potsdam,  with  whom  he  had 
previou.sly  studied,  he  came  to  Canton  January  15,  1884,  and  opened  his  jjresent  office. 
His  practice  was  gi-atifying  from  the  first,  and  he  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  very 
large  professional  clientage. 

Dr.  Williams  is  a  meinber  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin  county  Homeopathic 
Medical  Society,  and  is  one  of  the  censors.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Homeopathic 
]\Iedical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  American  Institute  of  Homeopathy, 
and  of  the  American  Association  of  Orificial  Surgeons.  He  is  also  a  Mason  of  high 
degree,  being  past  master  of  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  No.  Ill  F.  and  A.  M. ;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  13'2  R.  A.  M.  ;  St.  Lawrence  Commanderj^  No.  28 
K.  T.  ;  of  Media  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  located  at  Watertown ;  of  St.  Lawrence 
Lodge  of  Perfection  ;  and  a  present  patron  of  the  Empire  Chapter  Eastern  Star  No. 
68.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Canton  Lodge 
No.  635,  and  is  examining  surgeon  of  the  Foresters  at  Canton.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Social  Club  of  Canton. 

Dr.  Williams  married  Lilla  A.  Thornton,  eldest  daughter  of  Alonzo  Thornton, 
formerly  of  Heuvelton,  August  12,  1884.  Thejf  have  two  sons  living;  one  daughter 
deceased. 

Dr.  Williams's  father  is  Selden  Williams,  who  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Jamaica, 
Yt.  He  was  born  March  21,  1828,  and  has  resided  in  Stockholm  since  five  years  of 
age.     His  mother's  maiden  name  was  vS.  Jane  Sumner.     She  died  January  30,  18T7. 


60  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

WILLIAM  H.    DANIELS. 

William  H.  Daniels  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  November  8,  1840.  He  is  a 
descendant  of  old  Revolutionary  stock,  his  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Daniels, 
being  a  soldier  in  the  Revoluticmary  War.  He  is  a  son  of  M.  S.  Daniels  and  Fanny 
Stephens.  M.  S.  Daniels  was  boi'n  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  and  came  with  his  father's 
family  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. ,  in  1806.  He  also  served  his  country  in  the 
second  war  with  Great  Britain.  Fanny  Stei^hens  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Vt.,  where 
she  resided  until  her  marriage. 

William  H.  Daniels  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Ogdensburg. 
From  1855  to  18fil  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  grocery  business.  In  April,  1861, 
he  was  among  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  first  company  that  was  raised  in  Ogdensburg ; 
m  fact,  it  was  the  first  company  that  left  Northern  New  York  for  the  seat  of  war. 
The  company  was  mustered  into  service  as  Company  A,  16th  N.  Y.  Vols.  He  served 
as  a  corporal  in  his  company  until  March,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted  to  qviarter- 
inaster-sergeant  of  his  regiment,  and  in  July  of  the  same  year  was  promoted  to  cap- 
tain and  assistant  quartermaster  U.  S.  Vols.  In  1864  he  was  commissioned  major 
and  quartermaster  U.  S.  Vols.  He  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  the  day 
it  was  organized  until  it  was  disbanded. 

At  different  periods  during  this  time,  he  was  on  the  stafi:"s  of  Generals  Bartlett, 
Slocum,  Upton,  Seymour,  Ricketts,  Wright  and  Sedgwick.  He  was  with  the  Sixth 
Army  Corps  when  it  was  with  General  Sheridan  in  his  Shenandoah  Valley  campaign, 
and  at  one  time  had  charge  of  Sheridan's  entire  supply  train. 

In  May,  1865,  he  was  offered  the  commission  of  lieutenant-colonel  and  quarter- 
master to  accompany  Sheridan  to  Texas,  which  he  declined.  He  was  then  placed 
on  waiting  orders  and  returned  home,  but  was  soon  after  ordered  to  Fort  McPherson, 
Neb.  At  that  time  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  was  not  built,  and  to  reach  the  fort 
he  had  to  ride  six  hundred  miles  in  a  stage  coach. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  there  he  was  oft'ered  a  commission  in  the  regular  army, 
which  he  declined.  He  remained  at  Fort  McPher.son  until  August,  1866,  Avhen  he 
resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Ogden.sburg,  after  a  service  in 
the  army  of  nearly  five  and  a  half  years.  His  position  and  long  service  brought 
him  in  personal  aquaintance  with  many  of  the  leading  generals  of  the  war. 

On  his  return  home  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  a  short  time,  when  he 
purchased  the  old  Ogdensburg  Bakery,  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  bakery  busi- 
ness with  which  he  has  since  been  identified. 

Major  Daniels  married,  in  1864,  Annie  E.  Chatterton,  daughter  of  Hiram  Chatter- 
ton.  To  them  were  born  three  children,  two  daughters,  who  died  in  chiUlhood,  and 
one  son. 

Major  Daniels  was  collector  of  customs  for  the  District  of  Oswegatchie  from  April, 
1S8(),  to  June,  1888;  for  a  number  of  years  was  president  of  the  Oswegatchie  Agricul- 
tural Society;  for  two  years  he  was  president  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  it  was 
under  his  administration  and  due  almost  to  his  personal  efforts  that  the  present 
beautiful  club  house  was  erected,  which  is  such  an  ornament  to  the  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners,  is  also  one  of  the  Fair  Ground  and 
Tcnvn  Hall  Commissioners,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  chairman  of  the  Re- 
publican County  Committee,  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.     He  is  known  to  all  as  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  Gl 

man  of  superior  bvisiness  ability,   possesses  fine  social  qualities,   liberal  and  broad 
minded  and  full  of  the  spirit  of  enterprise,  both  public  and  private. 


Hox.  (tEORc^e  hall. 

Geokck  Hall  was  born  in  Sackett's  Harbor,  X.  Y.,  March  \l,  1847.  He  resided 
there  until  1S61.  He  then  took  up  the  trade  of  telegi-aph  operator  and  was  employed 
at  various  places  in  this  State  until  1865,  when  he  settled  in  New  York  city.  He 
came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1871  and  was  employed  by  the  firm  of  Hall  &  Gardner,  coal 
dealers  and  forwarders,  of  which  his  brother,  Henry  Hall,  was  a  member.  In  1872 
his  brother  died  and  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  and  continued  with  it  until 
the  winter  of  1880,  when  it  was  dissolved. 

Then  Mr.  Hall,  in  connection  with  J.  S.  Bean  and  W.  L.  Proctor,  purchased  the 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Geo.  Hall  &  Co.  Under  ]Mr.  Hall's  management 
the  business  rapidly  increased  and  prospered.  In  189B  it  was  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  The  George  Hall  Coal  Ct)mpany,  with  a  capital  ot  8650,000.  A  large 
number  of  men  are  employed,  and  the  annual  business  of  the  firm  runs  into  the  mil- 
lions. 

Mr  Hall  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  public  afl^airs.  He  has  been  alderman 
of  his  ward  .several  times,  and  in  1887  and  1888  was  elected  mayor  of  Ogdensburg, 
and  his  administrations  were  eminently  successful.  Upon  the  establishment  of  the 
State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  he  was  selected  by  Governor  Hill  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  and  in  1892  he  was  elected  president  of  the  board. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married,  June  B ),  1873,  to  Helen  Brown,  of  Watertown.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  a  daughter  and  a  sou.  They  occupy  a  handsome  res- 
idence on  State  street. 

Mr.  Hall  is  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen  and  business  man.  He  is  public  .spirited 
and  alwavs  willing  and  anxious  tf)  advance  the  interests  of  thecitvin  which  he  lives. 


G.   W.   REYNOLDS,   ^l.  D. 

Gkkali)  Whit.nev  Rev.xolds,  :M.  D.,  was  born  in  Isle  La  Motte,  Grand  Isle  county, 
Yt.,  June  12,  1844,  a  son  of  ilartin  Yan  Buren  Reynolds,  a  native  of  Yermont  and  a 
farmer.  The  boyhood  of  the  subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  and  his  first 
education  was  received  at  a  select  school  under  the  tutorship  of  Prof.  Nathaniel  Gale, 
a  graduate  of  Albany  State  Normal  Schaol.  At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  entered 
Plattsburg  Select  School,  where  he  prepared  for  college.  From  1862  to  1865  he  was  a 
teacher  in  the  common  schools  of  Clinton,  Franklin  and  St.  Lawrence  counties,  and 
also  a  select  school  in  the  autumns  during  this  time. 

He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  H.  H.  Hogan,  at  Bombay,  while  teach- 
ing, and  after  giving  up  teaching  he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 


(52  HISTORY   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sitv  of  Vermont  at  Burlington,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D., 
June  10,  ISOfi.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  the  same  year  at  Morley,  St. 
Lawrence  count}-,  where  lie  ministered  to  the  wants  of  the  people  for  seven  years,  and 
August  1,  1873,  came  to  Madrid  and  bought  the  property  and  took  the  place  of  Dr. 
John  Pierce,  where  he  established  a  very  extensive  practice  and  enjoys  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  successful  physician. 

Dr.  Reynolds  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  in  which  he  was  for  a  few  years  a 
steward  and  district  steward  one  season.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. He  married,  in  1868,  Lottie  A.  Hoyt,  of  North  Lawrence,  who  died  in  1878, 
leaving  two  children ;  Clarence  Ira,  head  attendant  of  the  St.  Lawrence  State  Hos- 
pital;  and  Jessie  Marcia,  a  student  of  Ives  vSeminary,  Antwerp.  He  married  second, 
m  1879,  Amanda  M.  Erwin,  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  four  children:  Georgia  D., 
Martin  V.  B.,  Charlotte,  and  Caroline. 


JOHN  H.   AUSTIN. 

John  Howard  Austin  was  born  in  Waddington,  St.  Lawrence  county,  July  2,  18:55. 
He  received  his  educa'.ion  in  the  public  and  select  schools  at  Morley  in  this  county. 
He  was  connected  with  two  mercantile  houses.  In  1868  he  established  himself  in  his 
]3resent  business  in  Ogdensburg.  His  ancestors  came  from  England  before  the  Rev- 
olution. They  distinguished  themselves  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  also  in  the 
war  with  Me.xico.  The  city  of  Austin,  Texas,  was  named  ior  Provisional  (xovernor 
Stephen  Austin,  who  died  in  a  Mexican  prison. 

Mr.  Austin  married  Ellen  R.  Lee  in  18(51,  daughter  of  John  Lee,  whose  father, 
Thomas  Lee,  came  to  this  county  as  one  of  the  first  settlers.  They  have  had  two 
children,  only  one  living — John  J.  Austin,  who  assists  his  father  in  his  mercantile 
business. 


REV.   L.  MERRILL    MILLER. 

Rkv.  L.  Merrill  Miller,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Rochester,  October  13,  1811). 
He  received  his  early  education  in  that  city,  preparing  for  college  at  the  old  "  High 
School,"  in  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Chester  Dewey,  and  was  graduated  from  Hamilton 
College  in  the  notable  class  of  1840.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  united  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Rochester,  and  early  made  choice  of  the  ministry  as  his  life 
work.  He  began  his  theological  course  at  Princeton  Seminary,  passing  the  exam- 
inations of  the  first  year  and  completing  much  of  the  second  year's  work  before  ill 
health  compelled  him  to  leave  the  seminary.  Later  he  continued  his  theological 
studies  while  teaching,  and  in  November,  1843,  was  examined  and  licensed  to  preach 
by  Steuben  (O.  S.)  Presbytery.  In  May,  1844,  he  was  called  to  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Bath,  Steuben  county,  and  in  October  of  that  year  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  church.      In  October,  ]84(:i,  he  married  Lydia  R.,  daughter  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  63 

Hon.  David  Rumsey,  of  Bath.  After  a  service  of  seven  years  with  that  church, 
fining  the  offices  of  stated  clerk  of  Steuben  Presbytery  and  permanent  clerk  of  the 
Svnud  of  Buffalo,  preaching  and  lecturing  much  outside  of  his  own  church,  and  act- 
ing as  trustee  of  Geneseo  Academy,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Ogdensbnrg,  in  February,  1851.  He  ai'rived  at  his  new 
field  of  labor  suffering  from  a  broken  leg,  in  consequence  of  an  overturned  stage 
coach  on  the  way,  and  entered  his  pulpit  on  crutches.  His  installation  took  place 
June  25,  1851.  Repeatedly  declining  invitations  to  larger  churches  or  to  other  de- 
sirable fields  of  service,  he  still  remains,  and  is  now  entering  upon  the  forty-fourth 
year  of  his  pastorate  in  Ogdensburg.  His  untiring  labors  here  with  his  own  church 
and  for  other  churches  have  been  interrupted  onlj-  bj-  two  or  three  brief  illnesses, 
and  bv  his  travels  through  Europe,  Egj'pt  and  Syria  in  1869-70. 

He  received  the  honorarv-  degree  of  S.  T.  D.  from  his  alma  mater  in  1865,  and  was 
elected  a  trustee  of  Hamilton  College  in  1869.  Dr.  Miller  has  been  secretary  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  Coimty  Bible  Society  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  centur\",  and  ulti- 
mately connected  with  various  ecclesiastical  and  benevolent  associations  of  the 
countv.  After  the  union  of  the  old  and  new  school  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  the  Synod  of  Central  New  York  was  formed,  of  which  he  was  elected  mod- 
erator at  Utica  in  1873,  and  afterward,  when  the  several  synods  of  the  State  were 
combined,  he  was,  in  1885,  elected  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  New  York. 

A  citizen  of  Ogdensburg  for  almost  half  a  century,  Dr.  Miller  has  won  a  high 
place  in  the  esteem  of  its  people.  Wise,  public-spirited  and  energetic,  he  has  effect- 
ively aided  in  all  enterprises  for  the  public  welfare,  and  has  furthered  the  city's 
material  as  well  as  its  spiritual  interests.  While  his  wide  sympathy  and  his  genial 
kindliness  have  made  him  the  personal  friend  of  his  fellow  citizens  without  limit  of 
creed  f)r  church,  he  has  been  unflinching  in  his  support  of  whatever  he  believed  to 
be  right. 

In  the  dark  days  of  '61,  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  when  to  "  preach  politics  " 
in  this  community  required  a  courage  no  less  genuine  than  to  charge  a  battery,  his 
pulpit  gave  forth  no  uncertain  sound.  From  the  church  tower  floated  the  fnited 
States  flag,  wli'le  the  patriotic  eloquence  of  the  preacher  stirred  men's  souls  and  had 
no  small  part  in  rousing  that  enthusiasm  which  carried  into  the  ranks  of  the  Union 
Armv  ninety  men  from  that  single  church. 

When,  in  1891,  Dr.  Miller's  church  arranged  to  celebrate  the  fortieth  anniversary 
of  his  pastorate,  the  entire  city  joined  with  them  to  do  him  honor,  and  church  and 
parsonage  were  thronged  with  those  who  knew  and  loved  him. 


CAPTAIN    H.   HOLLAND. 

Capi.  H.  Holl.and  was  born  at  Rouse's  Point,  N.  Y.,  of  Irish  parentage.  He  at- 
tended the  local  schools  till  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  entered  the  large 
publishing  house  of  John  W.  Lovell.  Here  he  remained  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  became  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  art  of  printing  in  all  its  branches. 
Meanwhile  he  pursued  his  studies  every  evening  with  the  aid  of  a  private  preceptor. 


G4  HISTORY   OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COLNTV. 

and  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen  he  was  appointed  inspector  in  the  Vermont  customs 
service,  an  office  which  he  creditably  filled  for  two  years.  Later  on  he  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business  in  coiinection  with  the  management  of  the  iiopular  Holland 
House,  which  he  built  and  still  owns.  On  completion  of  the  hott.1  he  strove  in  vain 
to  induce  the  town  authorities  to  mtroduce  a  system  of  water  works  for  the  benefit  of 
the  village ;  on  their  refusal  he  erected,  at  considerable  cost,  a  private  system,  which 
supplied  his  hotel  and  other  property  with  water  from  Lake  Champlain.  Following 
his  example,  the  village  fathers  have  since  supplied  the  entire  village  with  water. 
Notwithstanding  his  extensive  business  he  found  time  to  correspond  for  two  daily 
papers,  the  Troy  Times  and  the  Plattsburg  Telegram. 

The  phenomenal  success  of  his  hotel  and  the  large  profits  accruing  therefrom  failed 
to  counteract  his  natural  dislike  for  the  business.  A  prominent  insurance  company 
offered  him  special  inducements  to  remove  to  Ogdensburg.  He  acquiesced  in  the 
proposal  and  purchased  the  business  of  Geo.  B.  Shepard,  which  extended  along  the 
entire  line  of  the  Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad,  and  conducted  it  until 
1892. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  Maple  City  he  organized  the  Thirty-fifth  Separate 
Company,  of  which  he  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  by  Governor  Hill,  and  on  the 
resignation  of  its  first  captain,  was  raised  by  the  vote  of  his  companions  in  arms  to 
the  office  of  commander. 

On  April  13,  1889,  Captain  Holland  established  the  Ogdensburg  Courier,  a  Cath- 
olic weeklv  paper,  and  ran  it  so  ably  as  to  raise  its  circulation  to  a  larger  figure  than 
that  of  any  paper  in  the  count\-  or  Northern  New  York.  On  September  1,  1892,  he 
organized  the  Courier  Publishing  Company,  of  which  he  was  manac^er.  December 
1,  1893,  the  company  leased  the  paper  to  an  individual  publisher. 

July  1,  1890,  Captain  Holland  purchased  the  Ogdensburg  News  plant  and  also  the 
Ogdensburg  Star,  and  Februarx-  2,  1891,  he  merged  both  papers  into  the  Ogdens- 
burg Daily  News.  Finally  the  Ogdensburg  News  Company  was  organized  Sep- 
tember 7,  1893,  with  Capt.  Holland  as  manager,  editor  and  treasurer.  Capt.  Holland 
conducted  the  /  aily  Xe-cus  as  an  "independent  paper  politically  until  the  fall  of  1892, 
when  he  espoused  the  Democratic  cause  and  Cleveland,  and  since  that  time  the 
paper  has  been  Democratic.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  .several  conventions  and  also 
interested  in  social  organizations,  having  been  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  L'.  for  four 
years  and  of  the  C.  M.  B.  A.  for  two  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Ogdens- 
burg Club. 

Captain  Holland  is  an  energetic  business  man  as  well  as  an  able  editor,  and  is 
affable  and  courteous  in  all  his  relations  of  life. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  G5 

JOHN    STEBBINS    LEE,   D.D. 

John  STEiiHiNs  Lee,  the  eldest  son  of  Eli  and  Rebecca  (Stebbins)  Lee,  was  born  in 
\'ernon,  Vt. ,  September  23,  1820.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
school,  where  he  began  preparation  for  college.  He  pursued  the  study  of  Greek  and 
Latin  at  Brattleboro",  Vt.,  Deerfield  and  Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.,  and  entered  Am- 
herst College  in  184L     He  was  graduated  in  1S45,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.B. 

In  August,  1845,  he  took  charge  of  Mount  Cses&v  Seminary  in  Swanzey,  N.  H. 
■  This  was  a  denominational  academy  under  the  auspices  of  the  Universalists,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  been  a  teacher,  mostly  in  institutions  under  the 
care  of  this  denomination. 

In  July,  1846,  he  commenced  his  theological  studies  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hosea  Ballou 
2d,  Medford,  Mass.  He  was  ordained  in  West  Brattleboro',  Vt,  in  June,  1847,  and 
in  August  following  he  took  charge  of  Melrose  Seminary,  a  new  academical  institu- 
tion which  had  been  established  there.  For  two  years  this  institution  was  largely 
patronized,  and  many  of  its  students  took  prominent  positions  afterwards  in  business 
and  professional  circles. 

In  1849  Mr.  Lee  removed  to  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  parish.  During  the  two  years  he  remained  here  he  taught  for  a  portion  of 
the  time  in  Lebanon  Liberal  Institute.  In  1S51  he  resigned  his  charge  and  removed 
to  Montpelier,  Vt. ,  and  became  assistant  editor  of  T/ie  Christiaji  Reposito7-y,  a 
paper  in  charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Eli  Ballou,  and  he  also  continued  to  preach.  In  March, 
1852,  he  accepted  an  invitation  as  principal  of  Green  Mountain  Institute  in  South 
Woodstock,  Vt. ,  where  he  taught  twenty-one  terms  in  succession.  The  number  of 
the  students  continued  to  increase  until  they  reached  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  a 
term.  He  had,  some  terms,  half  a  dozen  teachers  under  his  control.  He  preached 
nearly  every  Sunday,  also,  in  Woodstock  and  the  surrounding  towns.  Wearied  out 
by  constant  labors,  in  May,  1857,  he  resigned  his  position,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
Woodstock  parish  for  two  years.  He  w^as  elected  town  superintendent  of  schools,  a 
position  which  he  had  previoush'  held  in  Lebanon. 

In  April,  1859,  he  accepted  an  invitation  as  professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  lan- 
guages in  St.  Lawrence  LTniversity,  a  college  then  established  in  Canton,  N.  Y.,  in 
connection  with  a  theological  school.  Dr.  Lee  had  charge  of  the  college  for  nine 
years  as  acting  president,  and  also  performed  the  special  duties  of  his  dejjartment 
and  taught  the  Greek  Testament  a  portion  of  the  time  in  the  Theological  School. 
He  was  aided  by  Professors  John  W.  Clapp,  A.M.,  and  Nehemiah  White,  Ph.  D., 
afterwards  president  of  Lombard  University.  With  the  aid  of  these  professors,  and 
the  theological  professors.  Revs.  Dr.  E.  Fisher,  M.  Goodrich  and  O.  Cone,  D.D.,  he 
succeeded  in  evolving  the  college  out  of  the  crudest  materials,  building  it  up  and 
putting  it  on  a  permanent  foundation.  Four  clas.ses  under  him  were  graduated  from 
1865  to  1868,  inclusive. 

In  July,  1878,  worn  out  by  severe  and  unremitting  labors,  the  trustees  granted  him 
nine  months'  leave  of  absence,  which  he  improved  in  foreign  travel  in  Europe,  Egypt 
and  the  Holy  Land,  and  returned  in  March,  1869,  greatly  improved  in  health  and 
knowledge.  His  journey  was  rapid,  but  he  reaped  rich  fruits  from  it  by  reason  of 
his  extensive  reading  previously  in  history  and  the  classics.  He  lectured  extensively 
I 


GG  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  New  York  and  New  England,  and  in  January,  1871,  at  the  request  of  friends,  he 
pubHshed  "  Nature  and  Art  in  the  Old  World."  This  volume  has  been  extensively 
read  and  universally  commended.  He  also  published  "  Sacred  Cities,"  which  treats 
of  Bible  lands.  He  has  Avritten  elaborate  articles  for  "The  Ladies'  Repository," 
"  The  L^niversalist  Quarterly,"  "  The  Miscellany,"  "To-Da}',"  and  other  periodicals. 
He  has  collected  a  library  of  four  thousand  volumes,  which  has  been  constantly  used 
by  students  as  well  as  members  of  his  family. 

He  has  been  zealous  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  has  done  much  to  promote  its 
interests.  For  six  j-ears,  from  1862  to  18(58,  he  was  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
County  Teachers'  Association,  and  frequently  gave  lectures  to  teachers. 

In  1875  Professor  Lee  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from 
Buchtel  College,  Akron,  O.,  having  previously  received  that  of  M.A.  from  his  alma 
mater.  In  1875  he  was  elected  president  of  Lombard  L^niversity,  which  position  he 
declined. 

February  22,  1848,  he  married  Miss  Elmina  Bennett,  of  Westmoreland,  N.  H. 
Their  domestic  life  has  been  eminently  serene  and  happy.  Of  six  children  born  to 
them,  five,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  are  still  living.  They  all  are  graduates  of 
St.  Lawrence  LTniversity,  and  now  occupy  distinguished  positions  in  the  educational 
institutions  of  the  country. 

February  22,  1873,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  celebrated  their  .silver  wedding  in  their 
pleasant  home  in  Canton,  and  they  have  already  passed  the  forty-sixth  anniversary 
in  the  enjoyment  of  health  and  a  well  earned  reputation. 


PART  III. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES 


Personal  Sketches. 


Anderson,  Duncan,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  May  5, 1833.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1850.  He 
has  always  followed  flour  and  grist  milling,  holding  a  number  of  very  important  posi- 
tions in  different  large  mills,  and  also  owning  interests  m  this  line  of  commercial  industry 
himself.  He  is  superintendent  of  theRhodee  &  Bill  mills  of  Ogdensburg.  He  married 
in  1862  Hattie  E.  Cheney,  and  has  three  sons.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order 
No.  128,  and  is  a  sound  and  substantial  business  man  and  citizen. 

Austin,  S.  H.,  Little  York,  was  born  in  Fowler,  July  23,  1844.  He  has  been  more 
or  less  engaged  in  farming  until  recently  he  has  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
pulp,  and  is  secretary  of  the  Raquette  River  Pulp  Company.  They  are  building  a  mill 
with  a  capacity  of  thirty  tons  per  day.  Mr.  Austin  has  been  supervisor  of  Fowler 
and  has  also  held  other  offices.  He  has  married  twice,  first  Althea  Hazelton,  by 
whom  he  had  cwo  children  :  Clarence  J.,  and  Jessie  P.  He  married  second  Ella  T. 
Sterling,  and  had  one  child,  Pauline  Sterling.  Mr.  Austin  is  a  son  of  Samuel  A. 
Austin,  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  county. 

Austin,  Edward  J.,  Potsdam,  was  born  where  he  now  resides,  February  22,  1854. 
Phineas  Austin,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  was  the 
father  of  six  children.  Oliver  Austin,  father  of  subject,  was  born  in  Rochester,  Vt., 
July  22,  1809,  and  was  only  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Law- 
rence county.  Phineas  Austin  bought  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  where  he  died.  Oliver 
Austin  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  was 
married.  For  two  years  previous  to  his  marriage  he  drove  stage  in  Canada.  In  1833 
he  bought  a  small  piece  of  land  of  ten  acres,  which  he  increased  by  purchase  to  165 
acres,  and  he  also  owned  another  piece  of  land  of  thirty-two  acres.  Mr.  Austin  was  a 
staunch  Republican,  but  was  never  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  Potsdam,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  class  leader. 
He  married  in  Canada,  in  1833,  Harriet  Sarah  Sealy,  born  in  London,  Eng.,  who  came 
to  Canada  when  five  years  old.  They  had  seventeen  children,  ten  now  living,  five  in 
Michigan  (^three  being  physicians  and  one  a  minister)  ;  and  five  are  living  in  New 
York  State.  Oliver  Austin  died  March  22,  1893,  and  Mrs  Austin  February  22,  1893. 
The  youngest  of  the  children  were  twins,  Edwin  H.,  and  Edward  J.  Edward  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and    Potsdam  State  Normal  school.     He  acted   as 


2  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

clerk  in  E.  D.  Brooks'  and  M.  Ives'  store  in  Potsdam  for  a  short  time,  and  his  father's 
health  failing,  he  came  back  on  the  farm  which  he  now  has  the  contract  of,  and  con- 
ducts a  dairy  farm  with  a'oout  twenty-four  cattle.  He  married  in  1879  Annie, 
daughter  of  John  T.  and  Jane  A.  (Harder)  Lee,  of  Syracuse,  formerly  of  Troy.  They 
had  three  children  :  Frank  Lee,  born  March  30,  1882;  William  Edward,  born  May  29, 
1886 ;  and  John  T.  Lee,  born  November  6,  1892. 

Ames,  Fisher  F.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Keene,  N.  H.,  June  6,  1814,  a  son  of  Jacob 
Ames,  also  a  native  of  Keene,  N.  H.,  where  he  lived  and  died.  His  wife  was  Martha 
(Woodcock)  Farnsworth,  widow  of  Moses  Farnsworth,  by  whom  she  had  five  daughters 
and  three  sons.  Mr.  Ames  and  wife  had  one  child,  our  subject.  Mr.  Ames  was  a 
harnessmaker  by  trade  and  had  a  large  business  in  Keene,  N.  H.  He  spent  his  last 
days  on  a  farm  and  died  in  1816,  and  his  wife  and  family  came  to  Norfolk  m  1823,  and 
lived  with  her  son  Joel  Famsworth  until  her  death.  Fisher  Ames  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Norfolk  with  his  mother. 
He  and  his  half  brother,  Joel  Farnsworth,  worked  in  the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  for 
Mr.  Culver.  After  five  years  the  family  settled  on  a  farm  and  the  boys  cut  the  first 
tree  and  built  a  log-house.  They  cleared  the  farm  and  afterwards  built  the  house  that 
now  stands  on  the  farm  and  is  owned  by  Mrs.  Harris  and  Frank  Farnsworth,  niece  and 
nephew  of  Silas  J.  Farnsworth,  a  noted  civil  engineer  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  The 
family  kept  hotel  for  several  years.  Mr.  Ames  remained  on  that  farm  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Michigan.  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  and  worked 
in  mill  and  lumber  business,  and  after  two  years  returned  to  Norfolk.  He  purchased 
fifty  acres  of  land  which  he  still  owns.  He  first  lived  in  a  log-house,  but  soon  built  a 
good  frame  building,  and  there  resided  until  1877,  when  he  built  the  finest  residence 
in  Norfolk.  He  added  to  his  real  estate  until  he  now  has  about  600  acres  of  land. 
Dairying  IS  his  principal  business,  keeping  fifty  cows.  Mr.  Ames  married  in  1838  Lucina 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  daughter  of  Leland  Johnson,  who  at  onetime  resided 
in  Norfolk.  He  went  to  Cotou,  Canada,  where  he  died.  Mr.  Ames  and  wife  have  had 
three  sons:  Allen  F.,  a  farmer  of  Norfolk;  Alonzo  L.,  married  Annie  Baker,  a  native 
of  Canada;  and  Silas  T.,  who  married  Ella  Farnsworth,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Fisher.  Mr.  Ames  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  was 
assessor  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Massena,  and  his 
wife  was  also  a  member. 

Aust,  Henry  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  England,  September  25,  1842.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1856,  and  worked  at  the  machinist  trade  for  two  years.  He  then 
learned  the  dying  business  at  which  he  was  employed  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vol- 
unteers, and  participated  in  numerous  engagements.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  Chan- 
cellorsville,  at  which  time  he  received  a  very  severe  wound  in  his  right  arm,  causing  a 
compound  fracture,  from  which  Mr.  Aust  now  suffers.  After  the  war  he  returned 
here  and  engaged  in  the  tin,  glassware  and  jewelry  business,  in  which  industry  he  re- 
mained for  over  fifteen  years.  After  a  visit  to  Europe  Mr.  Aust  again  entered  business 
circles,  this  time  establishing  a  grocery  store  in  State  street,  which  he  is  still  conduct- 
ing.    He  married  in  October,  1861.     His  wife  died  in  1892.     Mr.  Aust  is  a^prominent 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  3 

member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  A.  O.  TJ.  W.,  of  which  he  is  Past  Master.  He  has  one 
son,  Jesse  S.,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  January,  18G5,  and  who  is  a  machinist 
by  trade,  also  has  one  grandchild. 

Austin,  S.  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  April  28,  1815,  and  has  always 
been  a  farmer.  He  lived  fifty-three  years  in  Fowler  and  settled  in  Gouverneurin  1892, 
retirino:  from  active  life.  In  1840  he  married  Eliza  M.  Hazleton,  who  died  in  1890. 
His  children  are :  Anna  E.  Kelley,  Simon  H.  Austin,  Lyman  L.  Austin,  Viola  L  Griffin, 
Rosalie  M.,  and  Allora  E.  His  father  was  Isaac  Austin,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lewis  county. 

Abbott,  Rev.  Henry  Crounce,  M.A.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gallopville, 
Schoharie  county,  November  23,  1830,  a  son  of  Henry,  who  was  a  farmer  and  native  of 
Schoharie  county.  Subject  was  only  four  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Clay, 
Onondaga  county,  where  Henry  received  his  education.  He  afterward  attended  Falley 
Seminary  at  Fulton,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1854.  In  1855  he  entered  Wesleyan 
University  at  Middletown;  graduating  with  the  degree  A.  B.  in  1859,  and  immediately 
entered  the  conference  of  the  M.  E.  church.  His  first  charge  was  at  New  London, 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  located  for  one  year,  and  has  since  been  located 
at  Constantia,  Florence,  Sandy  Creek,  Rodman,  Turin,  Butler,  Fleming,  Hannibal, 
Heuvelton,  Buck's  Bridge,  Massena,  Black  River,  Hermon,  Butler  Centre,  Norfolk,  Lis- 
bon, and  was  appointed  in  1892  agent  for  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Bible  Society,  and 
is  serving  his  second  term.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mary 
Fletcher,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Newman  of  the  New  York  Conference.  Mrs.  Ab- 
bott died  February  2,  1874,  and  he  married  second,  in  1877,  Leonora  Norton,  of  Can- 
ton. He  is  the  father  of  seven  children :  George  Irving,  a  general  clerk  in  Kingsford 
Foundry  at  Oswego  ;  Anna  Laura,  wife  of  Hugh  Flack,  a  leading  clerk  in  Manchester, 
R.  I  ;  Grace  Mary,  of  the  town  of  Van  Buren,  Onondaga  county ;  Dora  Norton,  Leon 
Charles,  Lou.  Doucolion,  and  Lena  Newman,  students  of  Norwood  Academy.  Mr.  Ab- 
bott is  a  staunch  Prohibitionist. 

Archer,  William,  Morristown,  is  the  third  son  of  David  Archer,  who  was  born  at 
Negorton,  Scotland,  August  17,  1803.  He  w^as  a  descendant  of  an  ancient  "  clan,"  or 
family,  who  obtained  the  name  by  being  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  bow.  In  early  life  he 
was  employed  in  guarding  cows,  and  later  as  a  weaver,  which  occupation  he  abandoned 
for  the  farm  and  became  an  expert  plowman,  a  skill  inherited  by  his  sons.  At  his  ma- 
jority he  emigrated  to  the  States  and  took  up  a  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  but  soon  returned 
to  Scotland  and  engaged  with  the  Earl  of  Knooul,  servmg  him  seven  years  as  carter  at 
eighteen  pence  per  day.  In  the  meantime  he  married  Miss  Ceciall  Cuthbert,  of  Methven, 
April  4,  1834.  He  worked  a  farm  for  a  few  years,  which  gave  small  returns,  when 
he  emigrated  to  America  with  his  wife  and  four  children,  as  follows:  David,  jr.,  Ceciall, 
John  and  Cathrine.  They  landed  at  Quebec  about  the  1st  of  June,  1843,  and  proceeded 
up  the  river  by  way  of  Ottawa  and  Kingston,  thence  down  to  Oak  Point,  and  settled 
on  the  shores  of  Chippeway  Bay.  At  this  place  William  and  Anna  was  born.  After 
remaining  some  four  years  he  removed  to  Morristown.  His  effects  consisted  of  a  few 
household  goods,  two  yoke  of  steers,  and  seven  dollars  in  cash.     He  took  a  contract  of 


4  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

106  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  167  acres  more.  At  the  homestead 
A?ness,  Ellen  and  James  were  born.  About  1857  the  family  circle  was  broken  by- 
David  marrying  and  leaving  home.  Ceciall  died  November  9,  1860  ;  Cathrine  died 
April  21,  1864;  the  mother  followed  April  30, 1881 ;  and  the  father  was  called  January 
28,  1887  ;  also  John  d'ed  at  Manitoba,  January  21,  1892.  Mr.  Archer,  from  small  be- 
ginnings through  a  long  life  of  industry  and  frugality,  brought  up  a  large  and  respected 
family,  besides  accumulating  a  handsome  property,  and  died  at  the  ripe  age  of  eigbty- 
four  years  in  the  faith  of  a  Christian's  hope. 

Ames,  Frank  W.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  July  24,  1864.  September 
9,  1885,  he  married  Vira,  daughter  of  Edward  Russell,  and  they  have  two  sons.  Mr. 
Ames'  father  was  Jeremiah  Ames,  his  grandfather  was  of  the  same  name.  They  came 
to  Morristown  from  the  Mohawk  valley.  Mr.  Ames,  although  a  young  man,  has  for 
some  time  been  prominent  in  Morristown.  He  is  a  stauuch  Democrat,  has  been  inspec- 
tor of  elections,  served  on  the  Democratic  town  committee,  and  May  22,  1893,  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  collector  and  inspector  of  customs  at  Morristown.  He  keeps  some  fine 
horses  and  is  interested  in  the  French  Coach  Horse  Company  of  Hammond  and  Morris- 
town, N.  Y. 

Adams,  Charles  F.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockholm  on  a  farm  February 
17,  1840.  Washington  Adams,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in 
1804,  and  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  about  1830,  and  bought  a  farm  of  seventy-five 
acres  in  Stockholm,  where  he  made  his  home.  The  first  residence  was  a  log-house, 
which  in  1855  was  superseded  by  a  frame  house.  He  died  in  1882.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  Sabria  Streeter,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  She  died  in  1867,  aged 
sixty  years.  Charles  F.  was  the  third  son  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  He  followed 
farming  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  In  1S67  he  came  to  Potsdam,  locating 
in  Norwood,  where  he  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  which  he  followed  until  1876, 
and  then  engaged  in  stock  dealing,  about  1887  going  into  the  horse  trade.  The  present 
trade  is  the  importing  of  horses  from  Canada  into  this  section,  where  he  finds  a  ready 
market  among  the  farmers.  He  is  the  most  extensive  dealer  in  horses  in  Northern 
New  York,  handling  at  least  300  horses  per  year.  Mr.  Adams  moved  to  Potsdam  in 
1869,  where  in  1886  he  purchased  the  old  Joseph  H.  Sanford  homestead  on  Elm  street, 
which  was  built  in  1842.  He  married  in  1866  Sarah  Heard,  of  Alleghany  county,  and 
they  had  three  children,  all  deceased.  Mrs.  Adams  died  in  1872,  and  he  married  sec- 
ond, in  1873,  Ellen  Hawley,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  two  children,  both  deceased. 
They  have  an  adopted  son,  Earl  Adams,  and  an  adopted  daughter,  Mildred. 

Allen,  Freeman  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Copenhagen,  Lewis  county,  October  22, 
1862,  a  son  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Allen,  now  in  his  eightieth  year.  Dr.  Allen  has  been 
practicing  medicine  in  Copenhagen  for  over  forty  years.  During  the  life  of  Dr.  Lyman 
Stanton  they  practiced  together.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Susan,  sister  of  Dr. 
Lyman  Stanton.  Dr.  Allen  has  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living:  Al- 
bert D.,  at  one  time  principal  of  Ilion  and  later  of  Trenton  High  Schools,  now  a  com- 
mercial traveler ;  William,  formerly  a  teacher,  also  on  the  road ;  John  E.,  who  serTed 
as  paymaster  sergeant  in  the  regular  army,  discharged  on  account  of  having  suffered  a 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  5 

stroke  of  paralysis,  is  now  living  retired  at  Copenhagen  ;  E.  Stanton,  the  youngest 
brother,  conducting  a  garden  farm  at  Martinsburg,  Lewis  county  ;  and  Freeman  H. 
Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam  Normal  School,  gradu- 
atmg  from  the  latter  in  1885.  After  his  graduation  he  accepted  a  position  as  teacher  in 
the  Normal  School.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  and  has  been 
of  the  National  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Potsdam,  of 
which  he  is  clerk  and  leader  of  the  choir,  a  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Rechabites  and 
Temple  of  Honor.  He  married  in  June,  1890,  Rose,  daughter  of  Capt.  Luther  Priest, 
of  Potsdam. 

Atwater,  Edwin  H.,  Norfolk,  Avas  born  in  Norfolk,  April  30,  1834.  His  father, 
Hiram  Atwater,  a  native  of  Williston,  Vt.,  was  born  January  1,  1802,  a  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Sarah  (Badger)  Atwater,  natives  of  Connecticut,  who  settled  in  Vermont  in  an 
early  day.  In  1828,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  Hiram  came  to  Norfolk  and  taught  sev- 
eral terms  of  school.  He  then  went  to  Vermont,  and  February  8,  1830,  married  Han- 
nah Miner,  a  native  of  Williston,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons:  Henry  M.,  Edwin  H., 
and  Lucius  L.  Henry  M.  went  to  California  in  1881,  and  died  in  April,  1883.  Lucius 
L.  died  in  his  home  in  Norfolk,  September  11,  1892.  In  1830  Mr.  Atwater  returned 
to  Norfolk,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  farming  and  mercantile  business  until  1856,  when  he  built  a 
tannery.  In  1863  he  retired  from  business,  and  died  June  23,  1871.  He  has  witnessed 
all  and  borne  a  part  in  many  of  the  local  improvements  of  the  last  half  century.  He 
served  in  nearly  every  position  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  town.  In  business  matters  he 
was  honest,  reliable  and  straightforward,  and  was  a  man  of  strictly  temperate  habits 
and  liberal  Christian  sentiment.  His  son,  Edwin  H.,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  engaged  as  clerk  for  a  short 
time.  His  father  starting  in  business  in  1851,  the  son  engaged  as  clerk  for  him  until 
1856,  and  then  entered  the  mercantile  business  for  himself,  in  partnership  with  his 
brothers,  and  in  1863  this  partnership  was  dissolved  and  another  formed  with  G.  E. 
Holbrook.  In  1865  this  was  also  dissolved  and  the  business  sold  to  Sayles  &  Sumner. 
In  1867  Mr.  Atwater  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  E.  Sayles,  which  has  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time.  He  is  interested  in  real  estate  in  Norfolk  and  adjoining 
towns.  He  is  independent  in  politics,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years, 
supervisor  nine  years,  and  was  also  supervisor  in  Ogdensburg  for  one  year,  having 
resided  in  that  city  from  1886  to  1889.  October  22,  1860,  Mr.  Atwater  married  Lavina 
C.  Yale,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  a  daughter  of  Lloyd  C.  Yale  of  that  town.  They 
have  had  three  children  :   Horace  G.,  Grace  Y.,  and  Lucia  H. 

Abernethy,  Cyrus  C,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Waddington,  February  22,  1839.  His 
father,  Calvin,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Cyrus  and  Sallie  (Doolittle)  Abernethy,  natives  of 
Vermont,  who  emigrated  to  Madrid  in  1802,  and  here  spent  ihe  remainder  of  their 
days.  Calvin  Abernethy  was  born  at  Cornwall,  Vt.,  in  1797.  He  Avas  five  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  Madrid.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  He  engaged  in  farming,  first  purchasing  a  farm  on  Grass  River, 
where  he  lived  a  short  timp,  when  he  located  in  Waddington  on  the  farm  our  sub- 
ject now  owns.      In  1821  he  married  Lura,  daughter   of    John  McKnight,  a  native  of 


6  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

Massachusetts.  Mr.  Abernethy  and  wife  have  had  these  children:  Sarah,  Levi  0., 
Susan  H.,  Monroe,  Helen,  PauHne  and  Cyrus  C.  Monroe  enlisted  in  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  died  at  Martinsburg,  Va.  Mr.  Abernethy 
was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  in  later  years  a  Republican  and  held  theofiBce  of  highway 
commissioner  two  terms.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Universalist  church  in 
Madrid.  He  died  March  1,  1890,  aged  ninety-three  years.  Mrs.  Abernethy  died  June  7, 
1876.  Cyrus  C.  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington.  He  has  always  been 
engaged  in  farming,  and  at  present  owns  116  acres  of  land  and  follows  general  farm- 
ing. .In  1860  he  married  Samantha,  daughter  of  Stowell  Brigham,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, who  came  to  Madrid,  and  then  removed  to  Canton,  where  he  died  in  1873.  Mr. 
Abernethy  and  wife  have  had  one  son,  Warren,  who  has  spent  eleven  years  of  his  life 
railroading  in  Illinois,  but  at  present  is  engaged  in  farming  at  Waddington.  He  mar- 
ried Ida  Esslinger,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Dawn.  In  1864  Mr. 
Abernethy  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Ninety-first  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  has  held  the  office  of  assessor  thirteen 
vears,  and  is  one  of  the  present  assessors.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Univer- 
salist church  of  Madrid. 

Allen,  Peter,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  October  15,  1841.  His  father  was 
William  Allen,  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  who  came  to  America  in  1818,  and  settled  on  the 
Bay  road,  Hammond.  In  1865  Mr.  Allen  married  Emma  Hicks,  and  they  have  five 
children  :  William  H.,  Erwin  P.,  Anna  E.,  Nellie  J.,  and  Ada  R.  William  H.  married 
Laura  Hewitt.  Mr,  Allen  gives  intelligent  attention  to  stock  breeding  in  Jersey  cattle, 
Oxforddown  sheep,  Cheshire  hogs,  and  Clydesdale  horses,  White  Plymouth  Rock  and 
White  Leghorn  fowls.     Fine  separator  butter  a  specialty. 

Allen,  Alexander,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  January  22,  1846.  He  was 
educated  at  Gouverneur  Seminary,  and  taught  school  four  years.  He  has  been  in  mer- 
cantile business  twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Allen  has  been  three  times  married,  first,  in 
1871,  to  Elizabeth  Battell,  by  whom  he  had  three  children :  Roy  O.  and  W.  Clyde.  In  1880 
he  married  Elizabeth  Kenyon,  and  in  1884  Hattie  Higby,  who  has  three  children : 
Stephen  Alexander,  Emma  Maude  and  Harold  Beckwith.  Mr.  Allen  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Chippewa  Bay  in  1880,  and  held  the  oflice  until  1893.  His  father  was 
William  Allen,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to  America  in  1818.  His  mother  was 
Anna  (Hoag)  Alien. 

Amo,  Alexander,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  October  4,  1839.  He  came  to 
Ogdensburg  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age  and  engaged  with  Thomas  Atchinson,  with 
whom  he  remained  two  and  one-half  years;  then  for  two  summers  he  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  M.  Page,  father  of  the  present  firm  of  Page  Bros.,  brick  makers,  and  then  for 
nineteen  years  following  he  faithfully  served  the  C.  L.  &  C.  railroad.  He  worked  in 
Rosseau  for  two  years  in  an  iron  foundry,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  bought  a  farm 
in  St.  Lawrence  county,  which  he  conducted  for  four  years,  and  then  came  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  started  a  grocery  store  and  began  speculating  in  cattle,  etc.,  which  occupation 
he  followed  for  a  number  of  years.  Two  years  ago,  1891,  he  built  the  hotel  which  he 
is  now  conducting  with  the  assistance  of  his  son.     Mr.  Amo  has  four  children  living. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  7 

He  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years,  and  is  much  respected  and  esteemed. 

Aitchison,  Eobert.  Waddington,  was  born  in  Scotland,  November  24,  1829.  His 
father,  James,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  there  married  Ellen  Robson,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1831  Mr.  Aitchison  and 
family  came  to  Waddington,  settling  on  the  farm  where  the  family  of  George  Aitchison 
now  resides,  and  there  they  lived  and  died,  he  October  18,  1842,  and  his  wife  May  22 
1S84.  Robert  Aitchison  was  an  infant  Avhen  he  came  to  Waddington.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  at  twenty  years  of  age  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
most  of  the  time,  but  for  the  last  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  farmer.  He  now  owns 
190  acres  in  Waddington  and  twenty  acres  in  Madrid.  His  principal  business  is  dairy- 
ing, and  the  farms  are  carried  on  by  his  son-in-law,  Frank  Stearns,  and  son  James.  Mr. 
Aitchison  married  February  4,  1858,  Mary  A.  Fisher,  of  Madrid,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Fisher,  and  they  have  had  two  children  :  James  and  Mary  E.  He  is  a  Republir-an  and 
has  been  assessor  three  years.  He  was  elected  highway  commissioner  in  1893,  also 
held  that  office  one  term  previously.  Mr.  Aitchison,  with  John  McDowell,  were  the 
commissioners  to  build  the  town  hall  in  Waddington.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington.     Mrs.  Aitchison  died  in  March,  1881. 

Anstead,  Alvin,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Manheim,  Herkimer  county,  August  10 
1830,  a  son  of  Jacob,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  June  6,  1791.  The  latter  was  a 
soldier  under  General  Burgoyne  in  the  British  army,  and — the  father  of  the  latter — 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Saratoga.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  American  army  and  served 
three  months,  for  which  he  received  a  pension.  In  1841  Alvin  Anstead  came  to  Par- 
ishville with  his  father,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Wolever,  who  was  born  March  14,  1794,  and  they  had  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters.  He  died  September  17,  1877,  and  his  wife  March  18,  1885.  Alvin 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He  was  ten  years 
old  when  he  came  to  this  town.  His  farm  consists  of  330  acres  of  fine  land,  and  he 
keeps  about  fifty-five  head  of  cattle.  Mr.  Anstead  has  been  thrice  married,  first  in 
1869  to  Lucy  A.  Cox,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Herbert,  Edna  and  Lucy  A. 
Mrs  Anstead  died  in  1869,  and  he  married  second  Mrs.  Lovica  Gleason,  who  died  in 
April,  1889.  His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Cornelia  Timerman,  a  native  of  Lisbon,  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  McCrea,  a  native  of  Essex  county,  and  an  early  settler  of  Lisbon, 
who  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Anstead  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  assessor  six 
years,  and  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of 
P.  of  H.,  No.  542,  of  West  Parishville,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Free- 
will Baptist  church  of  that  place. 

Bonney,  George  W.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Hadley,  Mass.,  November  23,  1825.  His 
father  was  Oliver  Bonney,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Mass.  George  W.  received  an  aca- 
demic education,  and  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  went  to  New  York  to  study  painting. 
He  became  an  artist  of  considerable  repute.  In  beginning  his  work  as  a  painter  he 
first  spent  three  weeks  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  with  an  artist  by  the  name  of  Billings, 
and  then  painted  an   excellent  portrait  of  his  mother,  which  is  the  original  of  all  the 


8  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

pictures  of  her  now  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He  spent  three  seasons  painting 
in  the  Southern  States,  and  in  1849  removed  to  Vermont,  where  he  followed  his  profes- 
sion till  1853.  He  then  removed  to  Potsdam,  and  there  did  some  painting  and  also 
conducted  a  boot  and  shoe  business.  After  a  few  years  he  sold  the  latter  and  engaged 
in  the  clothing  trade,  which  he  conducted  but  a  short  time.  Early  in  the  sixties  he  es- 
tablished a  market  for  the  wholesale  dealing  in  oil  (the  business  now  known  as  the 
Standard  Oil  Co.),  and  continued  in  this  until  his  death  April  9,  1887.  He  married  in 
1851  Helen  S.,  daughter  of  Horace  Wilcox,  of  Pawlet,  Vt.,  and  they  had  two  children : 
Arthur  L.,  cashier  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company's  station  at  Potsdam,  and  Mrs.  Frank 
P.  Matthews. 

Baird,  Robert  J..  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  N.  Y.,  November  25,  1856.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  Baird,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1826.  The  latter  emigrated  to 
Burlington,  Vt.,  and  after  two  years  settled  on  the  farm  in  Lawrence  now  owned  by 
subject.  In  1872  he  bought  an  adjoining  farm  in  Stockholm,  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Mr.  Baird  was  twice  married,  first  to  Margaret  Baird,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  two  daughters.  She  died  in  June,  1869,  and  he 
married  second  Sarah  J.  Robinson,  of  Madrid,  N.  Y.,  who  at  present  resides  in  Stock- 
holm with  her  son.  Mr.  Baird  died  November  23,  1891.  Robert  J.  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  is  a  progressive  farmer,  owning  265  acres  in  Stockholm  and 
Lawrence,  and  keeping  thirty-five  cows  and  six  horses.  He  has  on  his  farm  two  silos, 
holdmg  fifty  tons  each.  He  makes  a  specialt}^  of  breeding  improved  Chester  white 
swine.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of  assessor.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge,  No.  620,  and  P.  of  H.,  of  Winthrop 
In  1881  our  subject  married  Ettie  A.  Meacham,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Ernest  H.  Mrs.  Baird  is  a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  church  of  Ft. 
Jackson,  N.  Y.     She  was  a  school  teacher,  and  taught  eight  terms  before  her  marriage. 

Ballou,  Hiram  H.,  Stockholm,  was  born  December  12,  1845,  in  Stockholm.  His 
father  was  Amos  Ballou,  a  native  of  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  born  December  24, 
1811.  Amos  married  Delia  Chilcott,  a  native  of  Crown  Point,  born  August  1  1812. 
They  reared  nine  sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1844  Mr.  Ballou  and  family  came  to 
Stockholm  with  an  ox  team,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Hiram  H.  Mr. 
Ballou  was  a  man  of  great  energy.  He  cleared  his  own  farm,  and  assisted  in  clearing 
farms  for  his  neighbors.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  His  death  occurred  Jan- 
uary 26,  1876,  and  that  of  his  wife  March  31,  1884.  Hiram  H.  Ballou  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools.  His  principal  occupation  has  been  farming 
and  dairying.  He  owns  212^  acres  and  keeps  twenty-five  cows.  When  a  young  man 
Mr.  Ballou  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  there  followed  carpentry  for  a  short  time.  He 
spent  seven  years  in  that  State,  where  he  married  November  23.  1874,  Jennie  E.  Fos- 
ter, a  native  of  Stockholm,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of  Henry  Foster  (son  of  Henry  Fos- 
ter, one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Stockholm).  Mr.  Ballou  and  wife  have  six  children  : 
George,  Frank  W.,  Vernie  H.,  Hattie  M.,  Addie  D.  and  Ettie  M.  Mr.  Ballou  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  I.  of  Buckton  lodge,  No.  226,  and  he  and  wife  are 
Universalists, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  9 

Brown,  A.  P.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Pitcairn,  September  Ifi,  1846,  and  began  cheese- 
making  in  1884,  which  occupation  he  still  follows.  He  had  previously  been  a  farmer. 
He  owns  the  factory  at  Litt'e  York  with  adjoining  lands,  and  operates  the  factory  him- 
self. Mr.  Brown  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Manie  Clelland,  and  second  to  Sarah 
Grant.  He  has  one  son,  Sherman,  by  his  first  marriage,  and  three  children,  Manie, 
Rose  and  Harold,,  by  his  second  wife.     Mr.  Brown  is  of  Scotch-American  descent. 

Bergeron,  J.  B.,  Ogdensburg.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Canada,  Janu- 
ary 4,  1855,  and  received  a  thorough  rudimentary  education  in  the  French  schools  of 
his  native  place.  In  1872  he  came  to  Ogdensburg  and  was  employed  for  two  years  at 
the  depot.  He  then  clerked  for  Gibbs  about  seven  years  and  for  Wilson  about  six 
years  and  in  all  of  these  positions  acquired  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  employers 
and  gave  evidence  of  that  energy  and  business  ability  which  characterize  him  in  the 
conduct  of  his  own  business,  in  which  he  embarked  in  the  year  1889.  He  conducts  a 
general  mercantile  business  at  No.  —  Ford  street,  and  is  highly  popular  with  his  cus- 
tomers and  the  public  generally.  In  1882  Mr.  Bergeron  married  Maggie  Amo,  and 
they  have  two  bright  children.  Mr.  Bergeron  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ogdensburg  Democratic  club,  of 
which  he  is  a  staunch  supporter.  He  is  what  might  fittingly  be  called  a  thorough  rep- 
resentative of  the  younger  circle  of  Ogdensburg's  enterprising  and  leading  men. 

Babcock,  Sheldon,  Gouverneur,  was  born  January  27,  1817,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  Gouverneur.  He  came  here  in  1839  and  in  that  year  he  married  Lydia 
Mason,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  deceased  but  one  son,  Frank. 
Mr.  Babcock's  father.  Perry,  was  a  native  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  his  mother  was  born 
in  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  his  grandfather  also  lived.  Our  subject  has  been  assessor  of 
this  (own  twenty-five  years,  and  is  the  owner  of  650  acres  of  fine  dairy  land. 

Beach,  James,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  October  20,  1840.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  that  country,  after  which  he  was  located  in  Chateaugay  for  some 
time,  and  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  After  the  completion  of  this  he  returned  to 
Canada  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  and  in  1871  moved  to  Ogdensburg  and  engaged 
in  following  this  branch  of  business,  also  gradually  adding  as  circumstances  permitted  a 
line  of  boots  and  shoes.  He  married  in  1865  Margaret  Worsley,  and  they  have  four 
children.  Mr.  Beach  is  a  menriber  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  a  staunch  Republican, 
and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  energetic  and  worthy  citizens. 

Bailey,  Joseph  A.  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  on  the  Bailey  homestead  in  Pots- 
dam, June  5,  1818,  the  oldest  son  of  Ansel  and  Sarah  (Akin)  Bailey.  He  was  educated 
in  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  company  wjth 
his  cousin,  William  S.  Akin,  in  Cardinal,  Canada.  He  was  there  eleven  years  and  then 
returned  to  the  farm  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  February  7, 
1885.  His  wife  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Peter  Adams  of  Canada,  who  still  survives 
him.  They  had  nine  children,  six  living:  Ansel,  afarmer  of  Potsdam;  Sylve.^ter,  of  the 
American  House,  Norwood;  Bertha,  wife  of  Herbert  Thompson  of  Potsdam;  Hattie. 
wife  of  F.  J.  Higley ;  Eva  and  Anna  who  live  at  home.  Mr.  Bailey  always  took 
b 


10  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

an  active    interest  in  the  Republican  party,  but  never  aspired  to  public  office.     The 
farm  now  conducted  by  his  Avidow  contains   IGO  acres  of  land,  devoted  to  dairying. 

Allen,  Thomas,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  January  28,  1839.  He  has  been 
a  farmer  all  his  life  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  town.  In 
1867  he  married  Catherine  Rodger,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Horace,  William,  Mrs.  Almon  Chase,  and  Mrs.  James  McGregor.  Mr.  Allen  is  inter- 
ested to  some  extent  in  the  breeding  of  Holstein  cattle.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  His  father  was  William  Allen  and  his  mother  Annie  (Hoag) 
Allen.     They  settled  in  Hammond  in  1818. 

Allen,  R.  T.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  May  8,  1859,  and  began  as  a  clerk 
at  the  age  of  fourteen.  This  he  continued  until  1886,  in  which  year  he  married  Adelaide 
McAllister  and  became  associated  in  business  with  his  wife's  father,  J.  E.  McAllister. 
In  1884  Mr.  Allen  established  a  business  in  North  Dakota,  which  he  conducted  seven 
years.  In  1891  he  returned  to  Gouverneur,  and  has  charge  of  the  dry  goods  store  of 
J.  E.  McAllister  &  Company. 

Brouse,  Wesley,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Dundas  county,  Williamsburg,  Canada  W., 
May  30,  1837.  His  father,  Peter,  was  a  native  of  Iroquois,  Canada, who  married  Mary 
Bouck  and  had  six  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  was  a  sergeant  in  the  regular  army, 
and  he  and  his  wife  died  in  Canada.  Wesley  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
and  married  in  Canada,  Mary  J.  Henderson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  daughter  of  Isaac 
Henderson,  who  lived  and  died  in  Ireland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brouse  have  had  five  children  : 
John  S.,  born  in  Canada,  married  a  Miss  Crander,  and  has  two  children;  Wellington, 
born  in  Norfolk,  an  engineer  running  from  Yellowstone  Park  to  Livingston  ;  May  A,, 
who  resides  at  home ;  Jessie  and  Hessie,  twins.  Mr.  Brouse  came  to  Norfolk  in  1860, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  the  wilderness,  having  only  180  acres  of  cleared  land.  He 
owns  216^  acres  of  land  and  is  engaged  in  dairying  and  sheep  raising,  having  twenty- 
four  cows.  Mr.  Brouse  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  the  office  of  trustee  in  the 
district.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars,  and  he  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  church  at  Massena. 

Baum,  Fred  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  January  5,  1861,  a  son  of  Joseph 
H.,  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Columbus,  Columbia  county,  July  24,  1833.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  harness  maker  and  moved  from  his  native  town  to  the  village  of 
Pamelia,  Jefferson  county.  He  was  there  several  years  and  then  moved  to  Potsdam, 
where  he  established  a  harness  and  boot  and  shoe  store.  About  1875  he  gave  up  the 
harness  business  and  gave  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  boot  and  shoe  trade.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Universalist  church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders.  He 
was  clerk  of  the  board  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  new  edifice,  and  his  reputation 
as  a  business  man  was  of  the  best.  Honorable  and  always  courteous,  he  made  for 
himself  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  always  interested  in  every  enterprise  tending  to 
improve  the  village.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Baum  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living :  May  Elizabeth,  wife  of  C.  H.  Kernan,  of 
Orient,  L.  I. ;  Schuyler  L.,  and  Fred  E.,  the  oldest  son.  The  latter  has  always  made 
his  home  in  Potsdam.     He  was  educated  in   the  Normal  school,  and  in  1885  became  a 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  U 

partner  with  his  father  in  the  shoe  business.  Since  the  latter's  death,  April  4.  1890,  he 
has  conducted  the  business  alone.  He  married  in  1888,  Genie  S.  Dayton  of  Potsdam, 
who  died  December  6,  1892.     Mrs.  Baum,  mother  of  our  subject,  died  December  23, 

1882. 

Berry,  Jno.  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canada,  March  4,  1862,  coming  to  the 
United  States  with  his  parents  when  two  years  of  age.  He  is  a  practical  cheese  maker, 
having  made  cheese  for  twelve  seasons,  ten  of  which  have  been  spent  in  the  Sprague- 
ville  factory,  which  he  now  operates.  He  has  taught  school  fourteen  terms,  being 
principal  of  Spragueville  Graded  School  for  two  years.  In  1891,  Mr  Berry  married 
Miss  Isabelle  N.  Tenney  of  Spragueville. 

Benson,  S.  Ellis,  Potsdam,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Potsdam,  November 
12,  1855,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  was  educated  in  common  schools,  and  has 
spent  his  whole  life,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  in  Manchester,  N.  H.,  on  the  same 
farm,  and  was  the  son  of  Ellis  Benson  who  also  was  born  on  the  same  farm,  August 
20,  1820,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  he  reached  his  majority,  he  left  the  old  farm 
to  start  for  himself.  He  worked  as  millwright  twelve  years  erecting  numerous  mills 
in  the  forests  of  the  Northwestern  States  and  Canada,  and  in  his  own  town.  Then 
finally  purchased  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  and  settled  down  and  gave  his  whole 
attention  to  farmmg,  and  in  1854  married  Harriet  P.,  daughter  of  Harvey  Knox,  of 
Canton ;  this  union  was  blessed  with  four  children :  S.  Ellis,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  being  the  oldest ;  Edmee  J.,  widow  of  S.  0.  Loucks ;  Hattie  J.,  wife  of  F. 
E.  Brand,  of  Findlay,  Ohio,  and  Nettie  J.,  the  youngest;  Ellis  Benson,  father  of 
our  subject,  died  October  20,  1883,  in  Algona,  Iowa,  while  on  a  visit  to  friends. 
His  widow  survives  him  and  still  resides  on  the  old  farm  with  her  son,  who  now 
has  a  farm  of  200  acres  devoted  to  dairying,  at  present  there  are  thirty-one 
cows  and  five  horses.  He  supports  the  Universalist  church,  but  is  not  a  member. 
He  married  in  1878,  Miss  Martha  J.  McCormick,  daughter  of  Joseph  McCormick,  of 
St.  George,  New  Brunswick,  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children  ;  Harvey 
King,  born  June  29,  1879;  Fred  Charles,  born  May  28,  1883,  and  Edmee  Genevieve, 
born  July  29,  1885.  Seth  Benson,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Benson,  Vt.,  and  was  born  in  Benson,  May  7,  1798.  He  married  Sally  King,  daughter 
of  Eli  King,  of  Benson.  He  was  married  March  31,  1819,  and  came  to  Potsdam  in 
1820,  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  which  was  a  dense  forest,  but  by  hard  labor  and 
perseverance  he  cleared  and  cultivated,  and  by  his  hands  and  hard  labor,  and  those  of 
his  son  and  grandson  it  has  come  to  be  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county,  if  not  in 
the  State. 

Baldwin,  Henry  K.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Hinesburgh,  Vt.,  August  4,  1825,  a  son  of 
Frederick  W.,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1797.  His  parents  moved  to  Vermont 
in  1800,  where  Frederick  was  reared  and  spent  his  life.  He  learned  the  tanner's  and 
shoemaker's  trades,  which  he  followed  a  number  of  years  and  then  added  farming,  at 
one  time  owning  700  acres  of  Vermont  land.  In  1844  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  all  three  of  which  he  followed  until  his  death  in  1876.  He  was  thrice 
married;  his  first  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Amanda  Bostwick.     The  early 


12  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

life  of  Henry  K.  was  spent  in  his  native  State.  He  was  educated  at  Hinesburgh 
Academy  and  spent  two  years  in  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  mercantile  business. 
In  1850  he  moved  to  Potsdam,  where  for  fourteen  years  he  owned  a  farm  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town.  In  1864  he  sold  this,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  meat 
trade  in  Potsdam,  conducting  a  store  for  five  years,  and  during  this  time  gradually 
gaining  a  trade  in  the  flour  and  coal  business,  which  he  made  exclusive  in  1869  by 
removing  to  his  present  location.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
chu.'"ch,  and  has  been  trustee  for  about  twenty  3'ears,  being  chairman  of  the  board  a 
good  share  of  the  time.  He  married  in  1849,  Constance  A.  Cobb,  of  Coventry,  Vt., 
and  they  have  had  four  children  :  Frederick  "W.,  a  bookkeeper  with  the  Standard  Oil 
Co.;  Minnie  E.,  wife  of  E.  B.  Bayley,  of  Burlington,  Yt. ;  Frank  H.,  a  partner  with 
H.  K.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  and  Charles  E.,  who  died  very  suddenly  of  rheumatism  of  the 
heart  at  the  Niagara  Falls  House,  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  July  30,  1893,  aged  twenty-six 
years.  He  was  a  student  of  the  Normal  School  up  to  the  time  the  Potsdam  sewers 
were  put  in,  and  having  a  taste  and  aptness  for  mathematics,  left  school  to  work  under 
the  engineers.  From  this  on,  promotion  was  rapid,  and  the  future  was  hopeful. 
Since  May  11,  1891,  he  worked  for  W.  C.  Johnson,  now  Johnson  &  Porter,  and  took 
charge  of  the  engineering  work,  having  the  entire  charge  of  the  Niagara  Falls  sewers, 
electric  street  railways,  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.  subway,  and  a  pulp  and  paper  mill  at  Niao^ara. 
Mr.  Baldwin  also  made  a  survey  and  plans  and  estimates  for  the  Buffalo  Electric  Light 
&  Power  Co's.  plant,  which  is  yet  to  be  built.  He  had  also  recently  made  a  survey  of 
Buffalo  harbor  for  an  enterprise  not  yet  developed.  Frank  H.  Baldwin  was  born  in 
Potsdam,  June  19,  1862,  was  educated  in  the  Potsdam  State  Normal  School,  and  for  six 
years  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business,  three  years  with  J.  G.  Cook,  and  three 
years  with  H.  M.  Story.  In  1893  he  joined  with  his  father.  In  1888  he  married 
Maud  L.  Moore,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  child,  \Yilliam  M.,  now  in  his  fourth 
year.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  one  of  the  village  trustees,  elected  in  1893  on  the  Union  ticket. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Fire  department,  in  the  Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

Babcock,  A.  A..  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  Felts  Mills,  Jefferson  county.  September 
11,  1827.  His  grandfather,  Jeremiah,  settled  early  in  the  present  century  in  Madison 
county,  having  removed  there  from  Rhode  Island,  where  A.  A.  Babcock's  father  was 
born.  The  latter's  name  also  was  Jeremiah,  and  he  was  engaged  until  his  health 
and  age  prevented,  in  blacksmithing.  With  him  A.  A.  Babcock  learned  the  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Babcock  eventually  drifted  into 
the  hotel  business,  conducting  a  bouse  at  Black  River  four  or  five  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Rome,  where  he  conducted  a  hotel  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  engaged  in  the  business  of  pump  making,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
identified,  being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  it  in  every  department,  having  in  his 
youth  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  as  well  as  blacksmith.  Mr.  Babcock 
married  in  1849  Miss  Sarah  Treadway,  and  they  had  one  son.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Crittenton,  and  they  have  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Bab- 
cock is  a  Master  Mason,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  the  community. 

Buck,  Alfred  G..  Potsdam,  was  born  at  Buck's  Bridge  in  Potsdam,  February  3,  1828. 
Isaac,  grandfather  of  our  subject  and  the  original  settler  of  this  place,  was  a  native  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  13 

Connecticut  and  eame  to  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1806.  He  was  then  forty-three  years 
of  age.  He  took  up  a  tract  of  1,300  acres  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Potsdam,  and 
built  a  saw-mill  on  the  banks  of  the  Grass  River.  He  also  started  a  store  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river  and  a  potash  establishment,  clearing  land  and  beginning  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil  at  the  same  time.  Orrin  Buck,  father  of  our  subject  was  the  oldest 
son  ;Jsaac,  died  in  1841,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  Orrin  always  made  his  home  at 
Buck's  Bridge,  after  he  came  here  with  his  father,  1806.  He  conducted  a  store  here 
from  1838  to  1848,  and  then  retired  from  mercantile  business.  He  was  born  in 
Addison,  Yt.,  in  1739.  In  1868,  Alfred  established  a  general  store  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  and  in  1884,  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Buck's  Bridge.  Mr.  Buck 
has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  is  a 
steward  and  trustee  of  the  society.  Isaac  Buck  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war 

Batchelder,  Benjamin  F.,  Potsdam  (deceased),  was  born  in  Danville,  Vt.,  May  14, 
1813.  He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer,  but  at  an  early  age  learned  cabinet  making  and 
worked  in  different  places  at  his  trade — St.  Johnsbury,  for  Fairbanks  &  Co.,  at  Bos- 
ton for  the  same  company  and  at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  where  he  married  in  1839  Mary 
Rugg.  In  1841  he  came  to  Potsdam  and  established  a  furniture  manufactory  in  com- 
pany with  M.  Badlam,  and  they  were  the  first  to  manufacture  pianos  in  this  part  of  the 
State.  He  was  a  Whig  and  afterwards  a  Republican,  but  never  an  office  seeker.  He 
was  among  the  pioneers  of  business  men  of  this  town,  and  it  is  said  of  him  he  was 
too  honest  to  become  a  wealthy  man.  He  lost  his  buildings  by  fire  many  times,  but  in 
spite  of  that  he  prospered,  and  in  that  of  more  value  than  worldly  good,  the  honor  and 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living.  He  died  September  24,  1881.  Henry  C.  Batchelder,  second  son  of  Ben- 
jamin, was  born  in  Potsdam,  October  13,  1844.  He  was  educated  at  St.  Lawrence 
Academy  and  taking  up  the  trade  of  his  father,  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  and 
has  charge  of  the  manufacturing  department.  He  is  a  strong  Republican,  but  has 
never  held  political  office.  He  married  December  12,  1872,  Frances  A.,  daughter  of 
Melissa  D.  Brown,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  three  daughters:  Mary  T.,  Edith  G.,  and 
Sue  F.  Mrs.  Batchelder  died  May  14,  1892.  Charles  E.  Batchelder,  youngest  son  of 
Benjamin,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  July  11,  1847.  On  leaving  school  he  went  into  his 
father's  factory.  In  1865  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Rome,  Watertown  and  Ogdens- 
burg  Railroad  Company  for  six  year?,  as  conductor.  In  1871  he  went  to  Missouri, 
where  he  was  conductor  on  the  St.  Louis  and  Iron  Mountain  Railroad,  and  was  so  em- 
ployed for  three  and  one  half  years.  Returning  to  Potsdam  in  1874,  he  went  into 
partnership  with  his  father  and  brother  in  the  furniture  business  and  has  ever  since  been 
a  member  of  the  firm,  now  having  charge  of  the  furniture  store.  He  has  served 
two  terms  as  a  trustee  of  the  village,  but  is  not  an  active  politician.  He  has  been 
treasurer  of  Raquette  River  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M..  for  seventeen  years  and  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  Chapter  the  same  length  of  time.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  Potsdam  Fire 
Department.  He  married  in  1876  Marion  E.,  daughter  of  Norman  Swift  of  Potsdam, 
and  they  have  one  son  and  two  daughters:   Anna  L..  Benjamin  F.,  and  Elizabeth  Jane. 


14  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Bartholomew,  Jerome,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Waddington,  November  10,  1848.  The 
first  ancestor  of  whom  we  find  trace  is  Isaac,  his  grandfather,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
who  came  to  this  country  when  a  young  man,  locating  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Wad- 
dington. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
county.  James,  father  of  Jerome,  was  the  oldest  son.  He  was  born  in  Waddington, 
June  11,  1820,  and  has  always  lived  in  this  county.  He  followed  the  blacksmith's 
trade  for  a  number  of  years  in  this  section,  and  over  a  year  in  California  during  the 
gold  excitement.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Potsdam.  He  married  in 
1845  Polly,  daughter  of  Zurah  Wells  of  Morley,  and  they  had  four  children  :  Oscar, 
a  farmer  of  Canton  ;  Alma  T.,  wife  of  Warren  Mead  of  Potsdam;  Mary  Eugenie,  and 
Jerome.  The  latter  was  about  six  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  into  this  town, 
and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  resident  here.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  took  up  farming,  which  he  has  ever  since  followed. 
He  lived  with  his  father  on  the  old  place  until  twenty-four  years  old.  In  1872  he  bought 
a  farm  of  116  acres,  on  which  he  has  made  many  valuable  improvements,  rebuilding  the 
residence  into  a  pleasant  home,  repairing  the  barns,  etc.  He  conducts  it  as  a  dairy  farm 
with  fourteen  head  of  cattle  and  selling  milk  to  the  butter  factory.  Mr.  Bartholomew 
has  always  been  an  active  Republican,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terian church  of  Waddington  for  ten  years.  He  married  March,  12,  1872,  Susan, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Todd)  Fisher,  and  they  have  one  son,  George,  a  student 
of  Potsdam  State  Normal  School. 

Butler,  John  F.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  St.  Lawrence  county.  October  28, 
1861,  a  son  of  David,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country  about  1850,  and 
died  in  1883.  He  had  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  next  to  the  youngest. 
He  was  only  three  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Potsdam.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  at  eighteen  years  of  age  went  with  Mr.  Welch  to  learn  the 
jeweler's  trade.  In  1889  he  attended  Dr.  Bucklin's  School  of  Optics,  graduating  Octo- 
ber 29,  1889,  and  since  that  time  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  optical  department  of  the 
store.  At  the  present  time  he  has  full  charge  of  both  jewelry  and  optical  business,  Mr. 
Welch,  his  partner,  having  given  the  care  of  all  the  business  over  to  him.  Mr.  Butler 
married  in  1889,  Etta  A.  Bradley,  of  Potsdam. 

Benton,  Knowlton,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  September  15,  1858.  His 
father  was  Elihu  Benton,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  and  son  of  Warham  Benton,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  May  4,  1781.  Warham  Benton  when  a  young  man  went  to  Ver- 
mont, and  there  married  Sarah  Smith,  a  native  of  that  State,  and  had  two  sons  and  one 
daughter.  About  1813  Mr.  Benton  settled  on  a  farm  in  Stockholm,  where  he  remained 
a  short  time  and  then  went  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  subject.  Mr.  Benton  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  He  died  July  25,  1874,  and  his  wife  in  1869. 
Elihu  Benton  was  born  in  Stockholm,  March  4,  1822,  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  followed  farming,  and  owned  300  acres.  Mr.  Benton  was 
twice  married,  first  Jane  6,  1848,  to  Fannie  Perkins,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter, 
Fannie.  Mrs.  Benton  died  October  27,  1851,  and  March  25,  1856,  Mr.  Benton  married 
Mary  A.  Arquit,  a  native  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  one  of  eight  children  of  Michael  and 
Melinda  (Chubb)   Arquit,  of  Canada  and  Vermont  respectively.     Mr.  Arquit  died  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  15 

Stockholm  Jul}'  IS,  1875,  and  his  wife  in  Dickerson  in  184^.  Mr.  Benton  and  wife  had 
two  children  :  Knowlton  E.  and  Elon  W.  Mr.  Benton  died  June  12,  1868.  Mrs.  Ben- 
ton married  for  her  second  husband  Amos  Chubb,  a  native  of  Lawrence,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Chubb  was  a  farmer  and  miner.  He  spent  eighteen  years  in  California,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 9,  1881.  Mr.  Chubb  and  wife  had  one  daughter,  Agnes  M.,  who  married  August 
2,  1893,  Frank  Benjamin,  of  Stockholm.  Knowlton  Benton  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman,  and  owns  300 
acres  of  land.  Mr.  Benton  has  been  twice  married,  January  16,  1878,  to  Kate  Gary,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons:  George  S.,  born  June  13,  1878,  and  Carlton  G.,  born  Septem- 
ber 14,  1880.  Mrs.  Benton  died  October  10,  1880,  and  May  2,  1888,  Mr.  Benton  mar- 
ried Eva  M.  Fuller,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Justina  (Perry)  Fuller.  Mr.  Benton  had 
two  sons  by  his  second  wife,  Gerald  F.,  born  August  10,  1889,  and  B.  Lloyd,  born 
April  9,  1891.  Mr.  Benton  is  a  P.  of  I.,  Riverside  Lodge,  No.  166,  and  he  and  family 
attend  and  support  the  M.  E.  church. 

Bristol,  L.  M.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  De  Peyster,  July  12,  1848.  He  received  his 
education  at  the  schools  there  and  at  the  Potsdam  Normal  School,  General  Curtis  be- 
ing among  his  teachers.  His  earlier  years  were  spent  upon  a  farm,  his  family  having 
originally  moved  into  this  vicinity  from  Vermont  and  taken  up  land.  L.  M.  Bristol 
came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1887  and  went  into  the  wood  business,  and  in  1892  took  into 
partnership  Mr.  Dorgan  and  added  coal  to  the  commodities  handled.  The  firm  pur- 
chased an  entire  block  to  add  to  their  facilities  for  handling  coal  and  wood,  and  have 
an  elegant  office  up  town  at  5  Ford  street.  Mr.  Bristol  also  owns  a  residence  at  No.  22 
Congress  street.  He  married  in  1875  Mariah  McRorie,  of  Lisbon,  who.se  father  pur- 
chased the  Curtis  farm  from  the  author  of  this  work,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Mr. 
Bristol  comes  from  a  good  old  American  family,  and  worthily  sustains  the  honorable 
reputation  of  his  ancestors. 

Barrows,  Aaron,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Dorset,  Bennington  county,  Vt.,  August  23, 
1806.  The  father  of  our  subject,  also  Aaron,  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  Mans- 
field, September  28,  1775,  removed  to  Dorset,  Vt.,  and  in  1800  married  HuldaLangdon, 
born  at  Fishkill,  February  9,  1774,  and  died  October  18,  1873.  She  was  a  descendant 
of  the  old  Dutch  settlers  of  Dutchess  county.  Solomon  Barrows,  father  of  Aaron,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  was  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains.  Our  subject  was  the 
third  son  of  six  children,  all  deceased  but  one  sister,  Lydia  Rice,  of  Ohio,  and  our 
subject.  February  25,  1816,  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  locating  in 
Canton.  After  leaving  school  he  taught  for  seven  winters  and  in  the  summers  worked 
at  cabinet  making,  a  trade  he  followed  until  1849,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Crary's  Mills,  where  he  has  ever  since  conducted  a  store.  For  six  years  he 
b'^ught  produce  for  Proctor  &  Wood  on  joint  account,  and  handled  from  twenty  to 
twenty-seven  thousand  dollars  worth  of  butter,  cheese,  etc.,  per  year.  He  has  been 
the  Postmaster  of  Crary's  Mills  for  thirty  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  nine  years, 
was  also  school  inspector  for  several  years  and  school  commissioner.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat until  the  war  broke  out,  and  has  since  been  a  Republican.  He  married,  January 
8,  1835,  Emeline,  daughter  of  William  Boyden,  of  Canton,  one  of  its  eariest  settlers. 
They  have  had  three  children,  all  deceased.     Mrs.  Barrows  died  December  25,  1892,  at 


16  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  advanced  age  of  80  years.  His  oldest  daughter,  Amelia,  married  Russell  S.  Elmer, 
and  died  June  11,  1870,  and  they  had  one  daughter,  who  died  in  18G9,  aged  seven 
months. 

Bowhall,  William,  Canton,  was  born  in  Denmark,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  February  6, 
1815.  He  commenced  the  trade  of  miller  at  eleven  years  of  age,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  the  business  sixty-seven  years.  He  came  to  the  town  of  Fowler  in  this  county  in 
1823,  and  ran  the  mill  at  Hailesborough.  He  next  went  into  the  mill  at  Marshville  in 
the  town  of  Hermon.  He  next  came  to  Canton  and  ran  the  mill  at  Morley,  and  from 
there  to  the  mill  at  Madrid  and  ran  that  mill  sixteen  years.  He  then  came  to  Canton 
and  ran  a  grist-mill  three  years  for  Lucius  Moody,  leased  a  mill  at  Norfolk  one  year, 
then  sold  out  and  went  to  Waddmgton  on  the  St.  Lawrence  and  ran  those  two  mills 
seventeen  years  for  Proctor  &  Wood  and  then  came  to  Canton,  and  has  run  this  mill 
for  eight  years.  He  married  Phoebe  Kinney,  and  they  have  had  four  children : 
Harriet,  Caroline,  Juliette  and  Ralph  D.,  who  died  April  2'J,  1893. 

Barker,  Harvey,  Canton,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gouverneur,  December  30,  1827. 
He  is  a  son  of  Nathan  Barker  who  was  born  March  14,  1797,  in  the  town  Sandistield, 
Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  and  located  in  Gouverneur  in  1825.  He  went  into  the  woods 
and  took  up  a  wild  lot,  cleared  and  miproved  it,  and  lived  there  on  that  farm  until 
1860,  then  moved  into  the  town  of  De  Kalb  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  August  14, 
1880,  aged  33  years  and  five  months.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Baptist  church  at 
Richville.  Harvey  Barker  was  a  trustee  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Canton  for  twenty- 
four  years  in  succession.  He  has  been  deacon  of  this  church  for  about  fifteen  years. 
He  married  Jane  Curriston,  who  died  June  8,  1875.  leaving  seven  children  :  Nathan 
C,  Frank  H.,  Emma  M.,  Judson  E.,  Edson  1.,  Nellie  J.,  and  Ida  B.,  Leila  J.  having 
died  October  7,  1862.  Ed^on  I.  died  August  29,  1878,  aged  ten  years.  Harvey  Barker 
married  second,  December  25,  1873,  Mrs.  Lydia  J.  Leach,  daughter  of  Luther  Drake. 
Nathan  Barker  married,  September  11,  1822,  Sally  Wheeler,  and  they  had  ten  children, 
of  whom  Harvey  is  the  fourth  child.  Moses  Barker  is  the  fifth  child,  is  a  Baptist 
minister  having  served  several  churches  in  this  State,  among  which  are  the  Baptist 
churches  of  Adams,  Friendship,  Canton  and  Dannsville.  He  has  now  a  position  in 
the  World's  Fair.  His  wife,  Ellen  M.  Barker,  is  one  of  the  lady  managers  in  the 
World's  Fair.  Matilda,  the  sixth  child  of  Nathan  Barker,  was  a  teacher  ten  years 
in  North  Carolina,  and  a  missionary  there  one  year.  She  died  on  the  field  in  Ralph, 
North  Carolina,  September  26,  1880,  aged  49  years  and  six  months. 

Barnes,  E.  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  December  24,  1814.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Gouverneur  Academy  and  taught  school  f.  r  twenty-five  terms,  including 
district,  graded  schools,  and  academies.  Mr.  Barnes  has  spent  about  fifteen  years  in 
mercantile  lines.  He  married  Lucretia  Allen  in  1842,  and  their  children  are:  first, 
Erwin  H.  Barnes,  (deceased),  after  whom  Barnes  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gouverneur,  is 
named.  Erwin  H.  Barnes  belonged  to  Co.  D.,  16th  N.  Y.  Vols. ;  was  wounded  at 
Gaines  Mills  near  Richmond ;  taken  a  prisoner  to  Libby  prison  and  died  six  weeks  after 
of  his  wound  in  Philadelphia  hospital,  having  been  exchanged  two  weeks  previous ; 
second,  Lucretia  M.,  (deceased),  wife  of  Geo.  P.  Taitt ;  third,  Celia  E.,  wife  of  A.  E. 


TERSONAL  SKETCHES.  17 

Smith  ;  fourth,  Louisa  Anna,  (deceased),  wife  of  Frank  L.  Cox,  Mr.  E.  S.  Barnes  has 
been  school  commissioner  and  superintendent  of  schools  for  a  number  of  years.  His 
father,  Rockwell  Barnes,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  country  and  was  a 
commissioned  officer  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a  leading  mechanic  in  his  day. 

Barber,  Luman  M.,  Canton,  dairy  and  grain  farmer,  owns  103  acres  of  land,  and  also 
keeps  an  apiary,  shipping  his  honey  to  the  Boston  market.  He  is  a  son  of  Col.  Henry 
Barber,  who  was  sheriif  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  also  deputy  United  States  marshal 
eight  years.  He  was  recruiting  officer  during  the  Rebellion.  He  was  born  in  Bark- 
hamsted,  Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  in  1805  and  came  with  his  father  and  settled  here  in 
1807.  He  was  a  member  of  the  assembly  in  1847.  His  father,  Zimri  Barber,  married 
Thankful  Wilcox,  and  their  children  were:  Zimri, jr.,  Lucy,  Vastie,  Violet,  Jason, 
Gideon  and  Henry,  who  was  afterwards  member  of  assembly.  He  married  Eunice 
White,  and  they  had  these  children :  Silas  W.,  Luman  M.,  Clarrissa  and  Henry  Barber 
jr.,  Thomas,  H.  B.,  Eunice  M.,  and  Mary  A.,  of  whom  only  Luman  survives.  Luman 
M.  Barber  married  Flora  L.  Clark,  and  they  have  these  children:  Thomas  H.,  Osman 
L.,  Carlton  J.  and  Stanley  Barber. 

Barber,  Ira,  Canton,  was  born  in  Canton,  a  son  of  Gideon  Barber  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, who  settled  in  this  town  with  his  father,  Zimri  Barber,  in  1806.  Gideon  Barber 
married  Lovina  White,  and  they  had  these  children :  Alvin,  Darius,  Mary,  Ira, 
Cornelia  and  Betsey.  He  married  second  Polly  Morrill,  and  had  two  daughters, 
Alice  and  Ella.  Ira  Barber  married  Sarah  A.  Wilson,  who  died  October  1,  1886. 
Mr.  Barber  has  made  a  specialty  of  bee  keeping,  and  ships  his  honey  twenty  pounds  in 
a  case.  He  began  this  business  in  1852  with  four  colonies  and  in  1857  had  120,  all 
from  the  four  swarms  with  which  he  commenced.  He  keeps  at  present  about  150 
swarms  of  Italian  bees.  He  has  been  one  of  the  town  auditors  for  two  years.  He  is 
known  among  the  bee  fraternity  of  this  country  and  Canada  as  the  high  temperature 
winterer  of  bees,  and  was  the  first  to  demonstrate  to  a  certainty  that  bees  can  be 
wintered  in  a  temperature  of  heat  from  65  to  90  degrees,  and  come  out  in  spring  in  the 
best  possible  condition,  after  a  confinement  of  five  or  six  month  in  cellar. 

Bailey,  Hollis  Hovey,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Irasburg,  Vt.,  January  14, 
1843,  a  son  of  Levi  Bailey,  who  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Newburyport 
in  1800,  and  immigrated  with  his  parents  to  Vermont  when  only  a  lad.  He  died  in 
Vermont,  in  1845.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Margaret  Achsah  Ainsworth,  was  also 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  four  children,  of  which  Hollis,  is  the  second  son. 
The  early  hfe  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  his  native  State.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  twenty-two  years  of  age  took  up  bookkeeping,  being  employed 
in  a  lumber  office  two  years.  The  spring  of  1867  he  went  west  for  the  Fairbanks 
Scale  Co.,  traveling  one  year  through  Michigan  and  Indiana,  and  was  nine  years  the 
bookkeeper  in  their  branch  office  at  St.  Louis.  In  1877  he  came  to  this  county, 
locating  in  the  village  of  Norwood  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Norwood  Lum- 
ber Co.,  and  at  the  assignment  of  the  company  in  1883,  he  was  appointed  manager  by 
the  receiver,  and  when  the  Norwood  Manufacturing  Co.  took  possession  he  remained 
with  them.     February  17,  1890,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  postmaster  at 


18  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Norwood,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Bailey  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  en- 
listina:  August  6,  1862,  in  Company  F,  Eleventh  Regiment  Vermont  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  regiment  vv^as  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  was  at  the  great  battles  of  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  and  Petersburg.  At  the 
last  named  in  June,  1864,  Mr.  Bailey  was  taken  prisoner  while  with  a  detail  of  fifty 
men,  forty-eight  of  whom  were  taken  prisoners  and  only  seven  lived  to  reach  home. 
As  one  of  this  number  Mr.  Bailey  served  six  months  in  Andersonville  and  other  prisons, 
and  on  his  return  March  16,  1865,  was  made  second  lieutenant  of  his  company.  Mr.  Bailey 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  twenty-seven  years,  and  a  member  of  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  six  years.  He  married  in  1865,  Julia  K.,  daughter  of  John  W.  Mason  of  Iras- 
burg,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  has  had  thirteen  children,  seven  now  living.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  Luther  Priest  Post,  No.  167,  G-.  A.  R.,  past  commander. 

Bowen,  David  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Chester.  England,  April  4, 1827.  He  re- 
ceived an  education  in  the  schools  of  Chester,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1842. 
Possessing  a  musical  temperament  he  cultivated  it  and  soon  became  identified  with  nu- 
merous musical  enterprises  and  organizations,  and  besides  following  his  regular  occupa- 
tion, painting,  was  leader  of  the  Ogdensburg  band,  etc.  August  29,  1863,  he  became 
leader  of  the  Brigade  Band,  Third  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  and 
served  until  the  end  of  the  late  war.  He  was  mustered  out  in  Bladensburg,  Maryland, 
June  12,  1865.  Returning  to  Ogdensburg  he  again  followed  painting  and  became  also, 
professor  of  dancing,  having  during  the  past  forty-six  years  conducted  the  leading  dancing 
schools  of  St.  Lawrence  and  adjoining  counties.  Professor  Bowen  married  in  1847, 
Miss  C.  Sharpstein,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons,  both  living.  In  1869  he  married  second 
Mrs.  Gr.  A.  Turnbull.  Mr.  Bowen  is  one  of  the  oldest  Knight  Templar  Masons  in  St. 
Lawrence,  Jefferson  and  Franklin  counties.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  member  of  the 
Gr.  A.  R.,  etc.  He  has  served  as  alderman  of  this  city  for  four  years,  and  as  mayor  pro 
tem. 

Berry,  William  C,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  July  12,  1857.  After 
leaving  school  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  meat  business  for  a  number  of  years 
and  in  1887  became  identified  with  the  liquor  traffic,  and  now  possesses  the  most  ele- 
gant establishment  engaged  in  this  branch  of  commerce  in  this  city.  Mr.  Berry's  family 
are  among  the  oldest  residents  of  this  State,  having  settled  atKeysville  near  Plattsburg 
over  half  a  century  ago.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Berry  is  one  of 
Ogdensburg's  most  respected  young  businessmen. 

Brown,  N.  E.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1852,  and  came  to  Gouverneur 
in  January,  1878.  He  began  as  a  clerk  for  seven  years,  was  a  partner  in  the  business 
firm  of  Graddis  &  Brown  five  years,  and  on  May  1,  1891,  the  partnership  of  Brown  & 
Beardslie,  still  existing,  was  formed.  In  1878  Mr.  Brown  married  Lepha  J.  Martin.  He 
is  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  a  prominent  Mason. 

Barnes,  George,  B.,  D.  D.  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fowler,  August  13,  1854,  and 
began  dentistry  in  1874.  He  graduated  in  1879,  and  began  practice  here  in  the  same 
year.  In  1880  he  married  Anna  M.  Cushman.  Dr.  Barnes'  father  was  Franklin  Barnes, 
also  a  native  of  Fowler.     His  mother  Avas  Belinda  Picket.     The  Pickets  were  also  an 


t'ERSONAL  SKETCHES.  ly 

old  family  in  the  town  of    Fowler.     Dr.  Barnes  and  his  wife  are  members  of   the 
Methodist  church,  and  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 

BiHings,  A.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Vermont.  March,  15,  1825,  but  has  resided 
in  Gouverneur  for  thirty-five  years.  He  has  been  connected  with  farming  all  his  life, 
and  owns  240  acres  of  land.  In  1849  he  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Nathan  Hills,  of 
Gouverneur.  After  marriage  they  settled  in  the  wilds  of  Wisconsin  for  six  years;  then 
returned  to  this  place,  Gouverneur,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 
At  this  time  they  reside  in  the  village  of  Gouverneur.  The  Billings  family  were  among 
the  first  settlers  in  Connecticut,  and  came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  Mr.  Billings'  father 
took  part  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Bliss,  Oliver,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Wilmington,  Essex  county,  August  20,  1838,  a 
son  of  Ezra,  a  native  of  Vermont  who  came  to  this  State.  The  paternal  ancestry  has 
been  traced  back  to  the  tenth  century.  The  mother  of  Oliver,  Harriet  Boothe,  was 
also  a  native  of  Vermont.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  now  living. 
Ezra  died  May  4,  1892,  aged  eighty-one  years.  Oliver's  parents  moved  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Pierpont.  After  leaving  school  he  worked  as  clerk  until  1862.  Sep- 
tember 12,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until 
June  18,  1865,  being  in  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor,  siege  of  Petersburg  and  siege  of 
Foit  Anderson,  Newburn,  N.  C,  March  14,  1863.  The  last  two  years  of  his  army 
service  were  as  steward  for  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Ninety-second  Regiment 
and  in  Officers  Temporary  Hospital,  Point  of  Rocks,  Va.  After  his  return  home  he 
spent  a  few  months  clerking,  and  then  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  W.  W. 
Best,  with  whom  he  studied  and  practiced  for  three  years.  In  April,  1868,  he  opened 
an  office  for  himself,  and  has  now  been  twenty-five  years  engaged  in  dentistry;  for 
seven  years  in  Hermon,  and  the  balance  of  the  time  in  Potsdam.  The  doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  Universalist  church,  of  which  he  is  trustee  and  deacon.  He  married 
in  1869  Cornelia  A.  Turner,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Anna  Lillian. 

Brouse,  Jacob,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  Canada,  in  1831.  His  father 
was  Peter  Brouse.  Jacob  came  to  Norfolk  when  a  young  man,  and  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Julius  Grant,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  J.  Peter  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  and  his  brother  John  now 
own  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  keep  a  dairy  of  eleven  cows.  John  W.  was  born 
in  Norfolk  in  1860,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He 
married  Alice,  daughter  of  Alonzo  Gibson,  of  Norfolk.  Mr.  Brouse  and  brother  are 
both  Republicans,  and  John  W.  is  a  member  of  P.  and  I ,  No.  167,  of  Norfolk.  The 
third  child  of  Jacob  Grant  was  Benson  J.,  born  in  1862,  and  at  present  living  in 
Agawam,  Mass.  He  is  engaged  with  the  Weston  &  Smith  Gun  Works.  Sarah  J. 
Brouse  died  aged  two  years,  and  one  son  died  in  infancy.  Jacob  Brouse  was  a  lum- 
berman in  an  early  day.  but  his  chief  occupation  was  farming.  He  owned  130  acres  of 
land,  and  was  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church. 

Bradish,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  January  8,  1859.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  cigarmaker,  and  has  for  the  past  two  years  conducted  a  manufactory  de- 


20  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

voted  to  that  branch  of  industry,  giving  employment  to  four  or  five  assistants.  His 
goods  reach  all  parts  of  this  county.  Mr.  Bradish  married  Miss  C.  Egan  of  this  city, 
and  they  have  four  children. 

Bonney,  Oliver  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Hadley,  Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1823,  a  son  of  Oliver,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Plymouth  county,  Mass.  The  grand- 
father, Oliver,  was  also  a  native  of  Plymouth  county.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  June,  1790,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  learned  the  cabinetmaker's 
trade,  and  also  worked  at  house  and  bridge  building,  and  during  the  latter  jears  of  his 
life  was  a  farmer.  He  represented  his  town  in  the  Lower  House  of  the  ^[assachusetts 
Legislature  in  1832  and  1833.  He  married  Betsey  F.  Hay  ward,  of  West  Bridgewater, 
Mass.,  and  they  had  eleven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living.  Dr.  Franklin  Bon- 
ney. of  Hadley,  Mass.,  (where  he  has  practiced  medicine  for  forty-  five  years,)  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Dartmouth  Medical  College.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  his 
native  State.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  and  at  twenty-two 
years  of  age  had  charge  of  a  printing  office  in  Boston,  but  his  health  failing,  he  took  to 
agriculture.  He  was  in  trade  from  1859  until  1865  in  different  towns  in  Massachusetts, 
and  in  1865  moved  to  Potsdam,  where  he  established  a  crockery  and  grocery  store  on 
the  corner  of  Market  and  Elm  streets.  He  was  fourteen  years  in  that  location,  and  in 
1879  moved  to  his  present  place  on  Market  street,  where  he  has  continued  in  the  same 
trade  and  added  the  buying  of  butter  and  <^heese.  He  also  deals  in  coal.  Mr.  Bonney 
is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  has  been  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  many 
years.  He  married  March  5,  1850,  Lucy  A.  Judd,  of  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  and  they 
have  two  children  :  Edmund  J.,  who  is  in  the  insurance  business  at  Watertown,  N.  Y.  ; 
and-  Joseph  P.,  a  partner  in  the  store  at  Potsdam.  One  other  child,  Joseph  P.,  died  in 
Massachusetts  before  their  removal  to  New  York  State. 

Buttolph,  James  S.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  January  9,  1838,  He 
received  his  education  in  common  school  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  Son  of  Abyram, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  New  Haven,  April  24,  1803.  His  early  life  was  spent  in 
his  native  State.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  married  October  15, 
1826.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  he  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  first  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Hopkinton,  when  that  town  was  a  wilderness.  He  lived 
there  but  a  few  years  and  then  bought  a  farm  of  175  acres  in  Potsdam.  In  1840  he 
moved  to  West  Stockholm,  where  he  engaged  in  the  maunfacture  of  forks  and  hoes, 
employing  from  thirty  to  forty  hands.  He  found  a  market  for  the  product  through 
Northern  New  York  and  Canada,  and  shipped  large  quantities  to  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
the  west.  He  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  about  fifteen  years,  and  gave  it  up  to 
return  to  farming.  He  had  previously,  in  1844,  bought  a  farm,  where  he  then  moved 
and  by  purchase  increased  the  size  to  200  acres.  Mr.  Buttolph  was  a  Republican,  and 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  His  wife  was  Betsey,  daughter  of  Gideon 
Sprague,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  at  that  time  residents  of  Vermont,  and  they  had 
five  children,  of  whom  only  our  subject  survives.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he 
was  the  earliest  to  enlist.  October  10,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Nmety-second  Regi- 
ment N.  Y.  Vol.,  was  first  lieutenant  Company  C,  and  served  with  them  ten  months, 
being  through  the  Peninsula  campaign.     He  resigned  on  account  of  poor  health,  Aug- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  21 

ust  1,  1862,  and  returned  to  the  farm.  In  1879  he  was  elected  highway  commis- 
sioner of  the  town  and  filled  the  office  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Chapter 
Luther  Priest  Post  G.  A.  R.,  No.  167,  and  also  Potsdam  Grange,  No.  39.  He  has  been 
twice  married.  November  1, 1864,  he  married  Martha  J.  Burnham  of  Potsdam,  daughter 
of  James  and  Hannah  (Grillett)  Burnham,  and  they  had  two  children:  James  A.,  and 
Linnie  May.  Mrs.  Buttolph  died  July  24,  1883,  and  he  married  second  in  1888,  Kate 
E.,  daugliter  of  John  and  Jane  (Tiernan)  Barry  of  Massena.  They  have  one  child, 
Azel  Mary,  born  November  20,  1890. 

Baldwin,  G.  S.,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  March  12,  1843.  He  was  liberally 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  after  which  for  nine  years  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  In  1884  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  office  of 
town  clerk  of  Lisbon,  to  which  he  has  since  been  continuously  re-elected.  He  is  also 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Lisbon  Center  cheese  factory.  Mr.  Baldwin  married  in 
1876  Amelia  Armstrong,  and  they  have  three  children  :  Stella,  aged  sixteen ;  Mabel 
aged  eleven,  and  Merrill,  aged  six.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a  thoroughly  energetic,  unobtru- 
sive and  liberal  gentleman,  who  enjoys  the  marked  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire 
community. 

Among  the  pioneer  families  who  settled  in  Lisbon  town,  prominent  mention  must  be 
accorded  to  the  Baldwins.  Eleazer  Baldwin,  a  native  of  Bennington  county,  Vt., 
came  to  Lisbon  in  1802,  and  took  up  260  acres  of  land  near  Lisbon  Center.  There  he 
lived  to  a  good  old  age,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  son,  Thomas  Baldwin, 
kept  the  old  farm  and  followed  the  same  occupation.  George  Baldwin,  subject  of 
sketch,  was  a  son  of  Thomas,  and  inherited  from  him  100  acres  of  land,  a  part  of 
the  old  homestead.  He  was  born  in  1811,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing up  to  his  retirement,  and  he  still  owns  the  old  farm.  He  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Alma  Byington,  whom  he  married  in  1841,  and  sometime  after  her 
decease  he  again  married  (1866j  Margaret  Gara.  He  has  no  children.  Mr.  Baldwin 
has  always  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  material  welfare  of  the  town,  and  has  held 
several  local  town  offices,  as  also  did  his  father  and  grandfather.  He  is  among  the  very 
few  old  residents  of  Lisbon  who  were  born  in  this  town  and  always  lived  here,  and  at- 
tended a  dinner  at  Lisbon  Center  in  1893  in  honor  of  the  dozen  or  so  remaining  oldest 
living  "  Lisbon  Boys,"  at  which  meeting  he  suggested  that  the  occasion  be  perpetuated 
by  an  annual  jollification  so  long  as  there  were  remaining  members.  He  is  much 
esteemed  and  respected  by  all.  His  father,  Thomas  Baldwin,  was  a  surveyor  and  did 
the  surveying  for  the  people  settling  in  the  town  of  Lisbon  for  many  years;  he  was  also 
captain  of  the  [militia  in  the  year  1812  ;  he  was  called  in  the  draft  that  was  made  in 
that  year  or  the  next  to  protect  the  city  of  Ogdensburg. 

Benton,  Joseph,  Heuvelton,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  where  the  Benton  family  lived  for  many  years.  He  came  to  St.  Lawrence 
county  in  1842,  and  located  at  Canton,  when  his  son  was  a  child,  and  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building.  He  also  owned  the  sa.w-mills  near  the  brick  shops,  and  afterward 
purchased  a  farm.  He  raised  a  family  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living.  S.  S. 
Benton  was  born  in  Vermont,  October  14,    1838.     After  leaving  the  farm  he  taught 


22  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

school  for  twenty-nine  terms,   after  which  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  with 
which  he  is  yet  identified,  owing  a  general  grocery  establishment  in  Heuvelton. 

Blodgett.  James  B.,  Fowler,  wa«  born  in  Fowler,  March  5,  1836,  and  has  resided  in 
that  town  nearly  all  his  life.  He  married  Amanda  M.  Kitts,  daughter  of  Archibald  A. 
Kitts,  and  their  children  are  Jennie  L.,  Jessie  B.,  and  Maude  A.,  also  Frank  B.  and 
Fred  E.,  who  died  in  early  childhood.  His  father  was  F.  J.  J.  Blodgett,  his  grandfather, 
Samuel  Blodgett.  Mr.  Blodgett  enlisted  in  the  regiment  known  as  Scott's  900,  after- 
wards known  as  Eleventh  New  York  Cavalry,  in  1862,  and  served  until  close  of  war. 
He  is  a  member  of  Barnes  Post  156,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Blodgett  has  for  many  years  taught 
vocal  music  in  his  own  and  neighboring  towns.     His  present  occupation  is  farming. 

Brown,  Le  Roy  S.,  Lisbon  Centre,  was  born  at  Wells,  Hamilton  county,  March  11 
1854.  He  received  an  education  in  the  schools  of  that  vicinity,  after  which  he  clerked 
for  Wm.  Burnhams  &  Sons,  seven  years.  He  then  entered  the  establishment  of  E. 
Spalding,  of  Boston,  as  book-keeper,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year,  and  was  also 
in  the  same  position  for  a  like  period  in  the  house  of  Thos.  E.  Proctor,  of  Boston.  He 
then  established  a  mercantile  concern  in  Colton  in  conjunction  with  E.  Butler,  which  he 
conducted  for  two  years,  and  finally  in  connection  with  S.  D.  Butler  established  his 
present  store  in  Lisbon  Centre  about  eleven  years  ago,  and  during  the  past  seven  years 
has  been  sole  proprietor.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  village  under  President 
Harrison,  which  position  he  still  occupies.  Mr.  Brown  married  in  1881  Anna  L.  Mc- 
Gary,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Baum,  James  N.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Manheim,  Herkimer  county, 
April  20,  1836.  Jacob  Baum,  the  father  of  James  N.,  was  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  born  in  1802.  He  was  reared  in  the 
county  of  his  birth,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  up  farming.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  Lepper,  of  Dauube,  Herkimer  county,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Amos,  a  banker  of  Watertown, 
Wis. ;  Oliver,  a  farmer  of  Marathon,  Cortland  county  ;  Mrs.  Martha  McYean,  of  Mar- 
athon ;  Mrs.  Barbara  Baker,  of  Auburn  ;  and  James  N.  James  was  only  about  a 
year  old  when  his  parents  moved  into  Jefferson  county,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Leray,  where  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Theresa 
High  School.  In  1856  the  family  moved  to  Marathon,  Cortland  county,  where  Jacob 
Baum  died  the  same  year.  James  made  his  home  in  that  county,  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  for  fourteen  years.  In  1872  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county, 
buying  a  farm  in  the  towns  of  Potsdam  and  Stockholm,  where  he  has  a  vast  farm  of 
300  acres,  devoted  to  dairying  and  the  cultivation  of  hay  and  grain.  He  has  now  sixty 
head  of  stock,  and  the  milk  produced  is  taken  to  Hewittville  butter  factory.  Mr. 
Baum  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  while  in  Cortland  couniy 
was  town  clerk  of  Freetown.  Mr.  Baum  has  been  twice  married,  first  in  1860,  to 
Nancy  Squires,  of  Marathon,  and  had  one  daughter,  Elma,  who  died  December  27,  1883, 
at  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Baum  died  August  13,  1868,  and  he  married  his 
second  wife  in  February,  1871,  Delia,  daughter  of  Isaac  Ellis,  and  widow  of  Henry 
Allen.     They  have  three  children :    Lovisa,  Alida  and  Edwin  Ellis.      A  daughter  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  23 

Mrs.  Baum,  Bertha  Lovisa  Allen,  a  teacher  in  Westchester  county,  makes  her  home 
with  Mr.  Baum.     The  beautiful  residence  of  Mr.  Baum  was  erected  in  1883. 

Bartell,  W.  V.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Morristown,  August  6,  1823, 
and  after  receiving  a  common  school  education  taught  school  for  fourteen  consecutive 
terms.  He  then  took  up  farming  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to  Brier  Hill  and  entered 
the  mercantile  business.  After  spending  twelve  years  there  he  returned  to  Morristown 
village.  He  served  the  town  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years,  also  filled  other 
offices  in  town,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Morristown  and  Black  River 
R.  R.,  serving  as  such  until  its  consolidation  with  the  U.  and  B.  R.  R.  R.  Mr.  Bartell 
married  in  1852  Martha  Robinson  of  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  two 
daughters.  His  wife  died  in  1858,  and  in  1860  he  married  Pures  I.  Long,  who  died 
September  20,  1892,  and  by  her  he  had  two  daughters,  Bessie  E.  and  Mary  G-ertrude. 
His  father,  James  Bartell,  and  his  grandfather  were  both  natives  of  Massachusetts. 

Bradly,  Oral,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Williston,  Yt.,  June  15,  1800.  He  came  to  Nor- 
folk when  a  young  man,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  Here  he  married 
Mella  Elms,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  Fordyce  G-.,  Celia,  Adelaide,  Delia  E.,  An- 
gelia  and  George  M.,  all  of  whom  he  survived,  with  the  exception  of  the  first  men- 
tioned. Mr.  Bradley  was  the  first  to  engage  in  business  at  East  Norfolk,  where  he 
bought  a  tract  of  land  and  built  a  saw  mill'  During  his  residence  in  the  town  he  was 
foremost  m  encouraging  local  improvements  and  it  was  mainly  through  his  eflForts  that 
the  present  town  hall  was  erected.  He  held  the  offices  of  highway  commissioners  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  besides  filling  other  positions  of  trust.  His  wife  died  in  1871,  and 
after  a  few  years  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  resided  with  his  son,  F.  G.  Bradley, 
till  his  death  in  March,  1891. 

Bailey,  Sylvester  S.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  his  present  farm,  November  10,  1831. 
Ansel  Bailey,  father  of  subject,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Chesterfield, 
April  8,  1781,  came  here  when  a  young  man  and  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land,  that  has 
ever  since  been  in  the  hands  of  the  family.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Sarah  Akin, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Ferrisburg.  Ansel  Bailey  had  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  Sarah,  widow  of  John  A.  Carman  of  Iroquois,  Ontario;  Julia  A. 
Bailey  of  Potsdam ;  and  Sylvester  S.  Ansel  Bailey  died  August  24,  1853.  The  whole 
life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  old  St. 
Lawrence  Academj'  and  took  up  farming.  He  has  here  a  beautiful  home  with  a  farm 
of  156  acres,  which  is  devoted  to  dairying.  Mr.  Bailey  has  always  taken  a  great  inter- 
est in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Canton.  He  married  in 
1862,  Esther,  daughter  of  Thomas  Marshall,  a  farmer  of  Lisbon,  who  has  since  died. 

Bolton,  Thomas  H.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Madrid,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1840.  His 
father  was  James  Bolton,  a  native  of  Northumberland  county,  England,  born  March 
20,  1795.  He  was  the  son  of  a  land  holder  of  England  and  had  three  brothers  and  two 
sisters.  He  and  his  brothers  had  to  oversee  the  business  of  their  father.  James  Bol- 
ton was  a  merchant  in  England  for  some  years  and  also  owned  stage  routes.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  education.  He  married  in  England  Jane  Harrison,  a  native  of  New- 
castle-on-Tyhe.     They  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters.     About  1836  Mr. 


24  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Bolton  and  family  came  to  Madrid.  He  afterward  came  to  Stockholm,  and  here  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  4,  1862,  andhis  wife  died  in  May,  1871.  Thom- 
as H.  Bolton  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam 
Academy.  Mr.  Bolton  is  a  natural  musician  and  has  studied  with  Professor  Thurston 
and  Professor  Morgan  of  New  York  city,  and  has  attended  the  best  institutes  and  con- 
ventions in  Northern  New  York.  He  has  also  studied  in  Davenport,  la.,  taking  private 
lessons  and  doing  institute  work.  He  followed  teaching  vocal  music  exclusively  for 
three  years.  While  in  Davenport  he  was  engaged  in  insurance  business  three  years. 
He  then  came  to  Norwood,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  for  three  years  in  the  same 
business,  representing  at  one  time  sixteen  of  the  leading  companies  in  this  country  and 
in  England.  In  18T8  Mr.  Bolton  went  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  insurance  business 
four  and  one-half  years,  representing  the  American  Insurance  Company  of  Chicago. 
He  was  located  for  some  time  in  Springfield,  III,  and  had  the  collecting  of  several 
counties  for  the  American  Insurance  Company  of  Chicago.  While  in  Springfield  he 
was  made  the  superintendent  of  agents  for  the  Forest  City  Insurance  Company,  and 
remained  with  them  seven  years.  He  was  then  appointed  special  agent  of  the  Ger- 
man Insurance  Company,  and  after  two  years  came  to  Buckton,  N.  Y.,  and  now  resides 
on  his  farm  at  that  place.  He  purchased  thirty- eight  acres  of  his  father  and  has  added 
to  it  until  he  now  owns  195  acres  and  fine  buildings.  In  1863  Mr.  Bolton  married 
Rosina  C.  Schellenger,  daughter  of  Daniel  B.  Schellenger,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who 
came  to  Stockholm  when  a  young  man.  His  wife  was  Caroline  Scott  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  now  living.  Mr.  Schellenger  died  in  1888  and  his  wife  in  April,  1893. 
To  Mr.  Bolton  and  wife  have  been  born  the  following  children  :  Malcolm  C,  who  died 
in  infancy  ;  Malcolm  V.,  a  resident  of  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  the 
order  of  Railroad  Conductors  in  Granby  Block,  No.  56  Third  avenue.  The  youngest 
son  is  Thomas  H.,  who  is  at  home.  Mr.  Bolton  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  is  a 
member  of  Elk  lodge,  No.  577,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Nicholville,  N.  Y.  He  and  his  wife' are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Bloss,  Albro  E.,  Parishville,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns.  He  is  a  son  of 
Elvin  W.,  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  lived  in  Parishville,  as  also  did  his  father,  Aaron. 
Elvin  W.  was  born  September  30,  1806,  in  Plainfield,  N.  H.,  and  came  to  Parishville 
about  1838.  He  married  Mercy  A.,  daughter  of  Isaac  Russell,  an  early  settler  of  Par- 
ishville, where  he  died.  Elvin  and  wife  had  three  children,  two  now  living.  He  died 
May  25,  1893,  and  his  wife  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  Albro  E.  Bloss  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  good  education.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer  and 
owns  the  homestead  place  of  272  acres,  keeping  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.  April  3, 
1893,  Mr.  Bloss  bought  the  Lockwood  starch  factory  at  Allen's  Falls  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  shingles  and  wooden  novelties.  He  married  Mary  E. 
Hatch,  a  native  of  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Bloss  died  November  1,  1891.  Mr.  Bloss  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  attends  and 
supports  the  Wesleyan  church. 

Callaghan,  Peter,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland,  August  15,  1837.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1856  and  engaged  in  blacksmithing.  In  1867  he  started  in  business  for 
himself  and  gradually  worked  up  into  his  present  business  of  carriage  dealing  and  horse 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  25 

supplies.  He  married  in  1855  Bridget  Kelly  of  Ogdensburg  and  they  have  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Callaghan  is  a  self-made  man,  is  careful  and 
painstaking  in  his  business  affairs,  attends  and  supervises  all  details,  and  is  considered 
a  good  substantial  citizen. 

Carpenter,  Adam  F.,  Morristown,  was  born  at  Russia,  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  Sep- 
tember 18,  1817.  His  father  moved  to  Morristown  in  1824.  He  came  on  September 
IS,  1831,  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  worked  at  same  until  April,  1839, 
when  he  went  to  Charleston.  W.  Va.,  from  there  through  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Ala- 
bama and  Georgia  to  Tallahassee  and  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  from  there  to  Charleston,  S.  C, 
then  to  New  York  city  and  home.  He  resumed  work  at  his  trade  until  July,  1862, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  142d  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three 
years  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  front  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  Va.,  at  Fort 
Fisher,  Wilmington  and  Raleigh,  N.  C,  where  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  and  sent 
home  by  way  of  City  Point,  Va,,  and  New  York  city.  After  the  war  he  resumed  work 
at  his  trade  and  followed  it  several  years.  He  is  now  unable  to  do  hard  work  by  rea- 
son of  sun  strokes  and  fever  while  in  the  service,  and  loss  of  sight  of  right  eye  and 
deafness  since.  He  was  postmaster  under  President  Fillmore  and  is  now  president  of 
the  village,  also  of  school  board,  and  has  been  adjutant  of  G.  A.  R.  post  No.  415,  de- 
partment of  New  York.  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Ellen  J.  Griffiths  on  May  3,  1842. 
They  have  five  children,  Willis  F.,  Henry  C,  Charlotta  A.,  Emily  C.  and  Alice  C. 
He  is  in  his  seventy-seventh  year  and  his  wife  in  her  seventy- third. 

Chartrand,  George,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  February  11,  1832.  He 
came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1850  and  followed  the  cooper  business  for  eight  years,  then 
entered  the  liquor  business  with  which  he  has  since  been  successfully  identified.  He 
has  been  twice  married,  and  has  five  children.  Mr.  Chartrand's  establishment  is 
located  on  the  corner  of  River  and  Commerce  streets,  where  he  is  assisted  by  competent 
help.  Mr.  Chartrand  was  one  of  the  founders  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society  m 
Ogdensburg. 

Cook,  W.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  August  3,  1850.  He  began  his 
apprenticeship  at  the  meat  business  with  J.  B.  Armstrong  in  1861,  and  worked  for  him 
until  1876  ;  he  then  started  business  for  himself,  which  he  has  since  conducted  very 
successfully,  doing  the  leading  business  in  this  line  in  the  city,  having  as  his  patrons  all 
of  the  leading  hotels  in  Ogdensburg  as  well  as  the  leading  families.  He  was  for  a 
time  steward  of  the  Palmer  House,  Chicago,  and  is  thoroughly  versed  in  every 
department  of  his  line  of  business.  Mr.  Cook  married  Jennie  Green,  and  they  have 
one  child,  a  boy  of  fourteen.  Mr.  Cook  is  Sir  Knight  and  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
thorough  business  man,  and  is  much  respected. 

Clark,  Richard,  Waddmgton,  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  20,  1840.  His 
father,  James,  was  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to 
Waddington.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Lard,  of  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children.  Mr.  Clark  died  in  1842,  and  his  wife  in  1891.  Richard  Clark  was  reared 
and  educated 'in  Waddington ;  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D.,  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and 
d 


26  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Farming  has  been  his  life  occupation  and  he  owns 
108  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  sixteen  cows.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Waddington.  He  married  in 
Lawrenceville,  N.  Y.,  March  7,  1888,  Emma  Patten,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter, 
Bertha,  and  one  son,  Leslie.     Mr.  Clark  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Curtis,  Lyman  P.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Canada,  May  12,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of 
Crosby  Curtis,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  The  latter  when  a  young  man  went  to  Chazy, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  married  Anna  Baxter,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters. 
After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Curtis,  Mr.  Curtis  married  second  Jemima  Whitcomb.  In 
1857  Mr.  Curtis  settled  on  a  farm  in  Stockholm,  and  afterwards  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
where  he  died.  Lyman  P.  Curtis  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  married  Clara  L.  Graves,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  and  daughter  of 
John  and  Patty  (Smith)  Graves,  natives  of  Vermont.  They  have  six  children : 
Henry  C,  Alice  A.,  Alma  A.,  Edgar  E.,  Anna  A.,  and  Enoch  N.  In  1861  Mr.  Curtis 
enhsted  in  the  60th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Co.  I.,  and  served  fourteen  ■.months.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Gibson  Post.  Mrs.  Curtis  is  a  member  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  church  of  Brookdale. 

Grossman,  W.  R.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Macomb,  June  8,  1870,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Elmdale.  He  rents  a  fine  farm  of  112  acres.  In  November,  1891,  he 
married  Luetta,  daughter  of  Newell  Thayer,  and  they  have  one  child,  Florence  G. 
Mr.  Grossman's  father,  Sylvester,  lives  at  Elmdale.  W.  K.  Crossman  is  an  unusually 
intelligent  and  enterprising  young  man,  and  has  a  bright  future  ahead  of  him. 

Capron,  E.  B.,  Ogdensburg,  is  a  native  of  this  State  and  has  resided  in  this  city  for 
the  past  fifteen  years.  In  1887  he  purchased  the  Oswegatchie  Hotel,  which  he  has 
since  most  successfully  conducted.  This  hotel  contains  thirty-five  rooms,  and  is  filled 
up  with  all  modern  conveniences,  the  office  and  bar  being  especially  fine.  Mr. 
Capron  is  married  and  has  one  child.  He  has  been  eminently  successful  in  the 
business. 

Charlton,  John,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  June  11,  1839.  His  father 
was  Laurence,  son  of  Edward  Charlton,  a  native  of  Ireland  and  an  early  settler  of 
Waddington,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Laurence  Charlton  was  born  in  Ireland, 
May  1,  1797,  came  to  Waddington  early  in  life  and  assisted  in  building  the  dam 
across  the  St.  Lawrence  river  between  Ogden's  Island  and  Waddington  Village.  He 
married  Margaret  Hodge,  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Charlton  was  a  farmer  and  purchased  the  land  now 
owned  by  our  subject.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  died  in  1872,  and  his  wife  in  1880.  John  Charlton  was 
reared  and  educated  in  the  town  of  Waddington  ;  except  nine  months  in  California,  he 
has  been  a  farmer.  Mr.  Charlton  has  traveled  extensively  in  the  Western  States.  He 
married  Maria,  daughter  of  James  Clark,  in  1858,  and  they  have  had  seven  children: 
Sarah  A.,  (deceased),  Margaret,  Josephine,  Gertrude  A.,  Lawrence  E.,  Jennie  M., 
Carrie  F.  Mr.  Charlton  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church  of  Waddington. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  27 

Coughlin,  D.  J.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Ontario,  May  6,  18C5,  but  came  over  to 
this  country  early  in  life,  and  has  always  been  a  popular  hotel-keeper.  He  came  to 
Gouverneur  in  18S8.  In  March,  1802,  he  married  Lena  Ridlespraker  of  Lewis  county. 
Mr.  Coughlin  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  a  genial  as  well  as  successful  business  man. 

Crosby,  Samuel  Thompson,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Madrid, 
near  Potsdam,  August  18,  1839,  son  of  Henry,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  Belfast, 
December  25,  1806,  and  came  to  this  country  when  twenty  years  of  age.  He  first 
located  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  where  he  resided  until  1850,  when  he  bought 
a  farm  of  132  acres  in  Potsdam,  where  he  died  August  20,  1875.  He  married  in 
Madrid  in  1833,  Mary,  daughter  of  George  Morgan,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pots- 
dam, and  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living:  Catherine,  wife  of  Brainard 
Hall,  of  Madrid;  Julia,  wife  of  Abraham  Loomis,  of  Norwood;  Henry  G.,  of  Caze- 
novia,  Kent  county,  Mich.;  Thomas,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  Ellen,  wife  of 
Darwin  Hall,  of  Lake  Park,  Iowa;  and  Samuel  T.  Mrs.  Crosby  still  lives  on  the  old 
homestead,  aged  eighty  years.  Samuel  lived  on  his  parents'  farm  until  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  of  age.  His  first  business  venture  was  made  in  Somerset,  Niagara  county, 
where  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  for  over  four  years.  After  spending  a  year  in  Mich- 
igan in  1868,  he  bought  a  farm  of  110  acres  on  the  Ogden  tract,  where  he  has  erected 
a  beautiful  residence.  He  conducts  this  as  a  dairy  farm,  with  twenty  head  of  cattle 
and  three  horses.  He  married  in  1873  Angeline,  daughter  of  Enoch  Hibbard,  of  Adrian, 
Mich.,  and  they  have  two  sons :  Henry  Enoch,  now  in  his  seventeenth  year;  and  Ernest 
Samuel,  now  in  his  ninth  year.  Mr.  Crosby  and  family  are  members  of  the  Seven  Day 
Adventist's  Church  Society  of  Buck's  Bridge.  Besides  this  farm  Mr.  Crosby  owns  the 
old  Sylvenus  Ellis  farm  on  the  Canton  road  of  111  acres,  which  he  leases. 

Carpenter,  H.  D.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Orange,  Orange  county,  Vt.,  December  7, 
1819.  His  father  was  Jesse  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Plainfield,  N.  H.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  went  to  Corinth,  Orange  county, 
Yt.,  with  his  parents  when  a  boy.  His  parents  were  Jesse  and  Percis  Carpenter,  and 
they  had  ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  Jesse  was  the  oldest. 
Mr.  Carpenter  married  in  Vermont  Catherine  Taplin,  a  native  of  Corinth.  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter and  wife  have  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  came  to  Lawrence,  St.  Law- 
rence county,  N.  Y.,  in  1834,  located  on  a  farm  and  there  spent  most  of  his  days,  but 
died  in  Norfolk,  March  18,  1863,  and  his  wife  June  22,  1866.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  al- 
ways a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Freewill  Baptist 
church.  H.  D.  Carpenter  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Lawrence,  and  studied  English  literature,  mathematics  and  civil  engineering.  Mr. 
Carpenter  has  always  been  a  great  reader,  and  has  a  very  fine  library.  He  married  in 
1846  Mary  J.  Jones,  a  native  of  Willsborough,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has 
had  two  children ;  Mary  A.,  deceased,  and  Nettie  C,  deceased  wife  of  A.  C.  Danforth, 
a  Methodist  minister  of  Fort  Covington,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Carpenter  went  to  California  in 
1852  and  engaged  in  mining,  and  there  remained  until  1855,  when  he  returned  to  Nor- 
folk and  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  owns.  He  has  220  acres  of  land  devoted  to  dairy- 
ing, keeping  twenty-six  cows.  Mr.  Carpenter  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  was  assessor  of 
the  town  fifteen  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  fifth  term  as  justice  of  the  peace.     He 


28  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  supervisor  of  the  town  one  year.  Mr.  Carpenter  is  a  member  of  the  Norfolk 
Grange,  No.  541.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church  of  Norfolk,  and  Mrs.  Carpen- 
ter was  also  a  member  of  the  same  church.     She  died  October  13,  1880. 

Clark,  Silas  W.,  Norfolk,  was  bora  in  Raymondville,  November  17,  1845,  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Rizpah  Clark.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He 
then  spent  three  years  as  clerk,  and  then  for  a  short  time  tried  railroading  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1866  he  went  to  Nevada,  and  there  for  seven  years  was  engaged  in  mining 
and  ranching.  He  then  spent  six  years  in  California  farming,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Nevada  and  spent  another  seven  years.  He  then  came  to  Raymondville,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  farming,  owning  140  acres  of  land.  He  has  also  been  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements.  In  1872  Mr.  Clark  married  Janet 
Scott,  a  native  of  Louisville,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Janet  Scott,  natives  of  Scot- 
land, and  early  settlers  of  Louisville.  Mr.  Clark  and  wife  have  one  child,  Harry  S. 
Mr.  Clark  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  Norfolk  Grange,  No.  541,  of  which  he  has 
been  master  two  years.  He  is  at  present  master  of  the  St.  Lawrence  county  Council, 
P.  of  H.,  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge,  No.  689,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  I.  0.  0.  F., 
No.  486,  of  Norwood. 

Chandler,  Charles  Arthur,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  May.  3,  1842.  The  first  of 
the  family  to  come  into  this  county  was  Stephen,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  and  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Potsdam.  He  was  the  father  of  these 
children :  John,  Henry,  Samuel^  David,  Gardner,  Mariabe,  Roxie  and  Hannah.  David, 
father  of  Charles  A.,  was  born  in  Vermont,  June  9, 1796,  and  married  Orilla  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Berkshire,  Vt,  January  22,  1802,  and  at  the  age  of  three  years  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  county.  David  and  Orilla  were  the  parents  of  four  children  :  Orpha 
M.,  wife  of  John  Hall ;  Catharine  J.,  widow  of  Henry  Dayton  of  Madrid  ;  one  daughter 
who  died,  aged  two  years ;  and  Charles  A.  The  latter  was  five  years  old  when  his 
mother  moved  to  Madrid.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence 
University  at  Canton.  At  seventeen  he  entered  the  employ  of  A.  W.  Hall  in  the  Union 
store  at  Madrid  Station  where  he  acted  as  clerk  three  years.  In  1882  he  bought  a 
grocery,  which  he  conducted  but  a  few  weeks,  when  he  established  a  store  in  his  present 
location  at  Madrid  Station.  Here  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  business.  In  1864  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  under  President  Lincoln,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  and 
one  half  years  under  the  first  Cleveland  administration,  has  held  the  office  continuously  for 
over  twenty-five  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  an  office  he  has 
filled  for  six  consecutive  terms  and  now  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  In  connection  with  his  store  Mr.  Chandler  conducts  a  flour  and  feed  mill  at 
Madrid  Station  which  has  grown  into  a  very  extensive  business.  He  married  in 
1864,  Jane  B.,  daughter  of  Robert  Hanna  of  Lisbon.  They  have  had  one  son,  who 
died,  aged  two  years. 

Clark,  Amos  F.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Gilsum,  Cheshire  county,  N.  H.,  March  19, 
1825.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph,  son  of  Jonathan  Clark,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
in  1758,  who  removed  to  Gilsum,  N.  H.,  where  he  died  in  1830.  His  wife  was  Deha 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Massachusetts  by  whom   he  had    three  sons  and  five  daugh- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  29 

ters.  Mrs.  Clark  died  December  5,  1819.  Joseph  Clark  was  born  in  Gilsum,  June 
25,  1802,  and  married  Jnnuary  2,  1824  in  Gilsum,  Rizpah  Field  of  Surrey,  N.  H., 
born  March  20,  1802,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Clark 
came  to  Norfolk  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  settled  on  a  farm  at  Raymondsville. 
He  built  a  wagon  shop,  where  he  carried  on  business  for  many  years,  being  in 
partnership  with  our  subject  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  was  overseer  of  the  poor  several  years.  He  died  in  Raymondsville,  February 
15,  1878,  and  his  wife  July  27,  1877.  Amos  F.  Clark  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  the  academy  at  Raymondsville.  He  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship in  the  wagon  shop  of  his  father,  for  whem  he  worked  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  partner,  continuing  in  business  until  1850,  (January  1) 
when  he  married  Clarissa  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Washington,  Vt.,  and  daughter  of  Jesse 
Carpenter.  Mr.  Clark  and  wife  had  three  children  :  Kate  R.,  deceased  wife  of  Fred  R. 
Smith,  editor  of  the  Norwood  N^ews.  She  died  March  4,  1879,  aged  twenty-seven 
years  ;  George  A.,  born  in  Raymondsville  in  1855,  a  farmer  of  Norfolk,  who  married 
Carrie  Stearns,  a  native  of  Louisville,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has  four  daughters.  Mrs. 
Clark  died  in  March,  1892  :  and  Fred  H.,  born  July  18,  1862,  who  died  October  13,  1883. 
In  March,  1851,  Mr.  Clark  went  to  California,  and  engaged  in  mining,  where  he  re- 
mained about  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  Norfolk  and  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  He  also  carried  on  a  lumber  business  at  Raymondsville,  and  in  1854  returned 
to  California  and  followed  mining  and  saw-milling.  After  four  years  he  returned  to 
Norfolk,  remaining  until  1862,  when  he  again  went  to  California,  and  in  June  of  that 
year  he  took  passage  in  the  Golden  G'a^e  which  burned  on  the  Coast  of  Mexico,  and  Mr. 
Clark  was  landed  by  a  small  boat  about  ninety  miles  below  the  harbor  of  Manzanillo, 
in  the  wilderness.  His  brother,  Edwin  J.,  who  was  sick,  was  with  him,  and  they  barely 
escaped  with  their  lives,  losing  $7,500  in  gold.  During  the  last  twenty-five  years  Mr. 
Clark  has  been  engaged  in  the  farming  and  nursery  business,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  breeding  Holstein  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep.  He  at  present  owns  175  acres  of 
land,  about  fifteen  acres  of  which  is  nurser3\  He  makes  a  specialty  of  apples  and  has 
a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.  For  the  past  twenty-fivej'^ears  he  has  been  engaged  in  selling 
agricultural  implements. 

Clark,  Charles  A.,  youngest  son  of  Joseph  Clark,  was  born  in  Raymondsville,  June 
28,  1848.  He  was  educated  at  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  Eastman's  Business  College, 
etc.  In  1874  he  built  the  Raymondsville  Butter  Factory,  it  being  the  first  one  built  in 
Norfolk.  Mr.  Clark  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  butter,  of  which  he 
makes  115,000  pounds  yearly.  He  has  three  branch  factories,  two  in  Louisville  and  one 
in  Norfolk.  Mr.  Clark  married,  October  26,  1871,  Josephine  Stearns  of  Chase's  Mills, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  had  four  children  :  Joseph  S.,  Rizpah  F.,  Charlotte  A.,  and  Charles 
A.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  Republican  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Raymondsville. 

Carpenter,  C.  C,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Fowler,  April  10, 1830,  and  has  lived  in  Fowler 
all  his  life  except  twelve  years  spent  in  Norfolk.  In  1852  he  married  Marion  E.  Cross, 
and  their  children  are:  C.  A.  Carpenter  and  Mrs.  John  Mowatt.  Mrs.  Carpenter  died 
in  the  spring  of  1893.     Mr.  Carpenter's  father,  was  Jonathan  J.  Carpenter,   a  native  of 


30  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Providence,  R.I.     His  mother  was  Lucy  (Johnston)  Carpenter.     Mr.  Carpenter  has  held 
different  public  offices  in  the  town  of  Fowler. 

Crawford,  James  V.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Edwardsville,  January  22,  1859.  He 
was  a  farmer's  son  but  early  took  to  mercantile  affairs  and  clerked  four  years,  when  he 
embarked  in  busines  for  himself  in  Morristown,  twelve  years  ago.  He  has  now  the 
largest  establishment  in  the  place.  In  1880  he  married  Agnes  L.  Colborn,  and  they  have 
one  son,  James  Grover.  Mr.  Crawford  is  a  member  of  the  Foresters  and  of  the 
Masonic  Fraternity.  In  the  former  he  is  Court  Deputy  High  Chief  Ranger.  He  has 
been  police  justice  and  is  now  justice  of  the  peace.  He  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the 
school  board.  Mr.  Crawford  is  an  active  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  town  committee 
and  a  strongman  in  his  party. 

Cuthbert,  William,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  June  23,  1820,  and  came  to 
America  in  1834,  settling  in  Hammond  in  1835.  He  has  been  a  most  successful 
farmer  and  has  accumulated  wealth.  He  married  Margaret  Cunningham,  and  has 
seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters :  William  S.,  David,  John  R.,  Elizabeth 
Jane,  Jeanette,  Mary  Ellen  and  Margaret  Cecil.  Elizabeth  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Rodger;  Jeanette  is  Mrs.  F.  A.  Burt;  and  Mary  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fergu- 
son, the  popular  Presbyterian  minister  of  Hammond.  Wilham  S.  Cuthbert  is  one  of 
the  best  stock  breeders  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  is  making  himself  a  name  for 
his  Shropshire  sheep  aod  Berkshire  swine. 

Chaffee,  James  E.,  Heuvelton,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  March  16,  1839.  His  ances- 
tors and  descendants  in  this  country  were  Capt.  Ezra  Chaffee  of  Revolutionary  fame,  one 
of  Washington's  most  trusted  soldiers,  and  James  E.  Chaffee's  grandfather,  Rufus,  a  son 
of  Capt.  Ezra  Chaffee,  who  settled  in  Vermont  from  Connecticut  about  1785,  Elisha 
H.,  son  of  Rufus  Chaffee,  who  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1820  from  Vermont, 
and  who  eventually  died  in  Illinois  in  1841 ;  and  finally  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
James  E.  (son  of  Elisha  H.,)  who  married  in  1864  Sarah  J.  Bell.  They  have  four 
children :  Florence,  Mary  M.,  Abel  and  William  J.  Florence  married  W.  L.  Millard, 
the  successor  to  the  business  of  James  E.  Chaffee  in  the  hardware  business  of  Heuvel- 
ton, which  Mr.  Chaffee  had  conducted  for  over  twenty-one  years.  In  1861  Mr.  Chaffee 
enlisted  in  Co.  G.,  N.  Y.  Inf.,  and  was  assigned  to  extra  duty  in  hospital,  which  he 
entered  first  for  disability  contracted  in  service.  As  soon  as  he  had  recovered  he 
requested  to  be  sent  to  the  front,  but  this  was  refused,  as  his  services  were  neces- 
sary and  most  valuable  at  the  hospital,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  culinary  depart- 
ments. After  eighteen  months  there  he  received  his  discharge  and  returned  to  Heuvel- 
ton, where  he  again  enlisted,  and  was  again  assigned  to  extra  duty  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  received  his  discharge  in  October, 
1865.  After  the  war  he  followed  farming  for  six  years,  then  established  the  hard- 
ware business,  which  he  conducted  until  he  sold  to  his  son-in-law.  Mr.  Chaffee  has 
been  a  Mason  since  1863.  He  has  served  as  superintendent  of  the  poor  for  many 
years,  and  frequently  as  president  pro  tem.  of  that  body.  He  is  one  of  St.  Lawrence 
county's  most  substantial  and  representative  citizens.  He  received  the  appointment 
of  postmaster  of  Heuvelton  July  15,  1889,  which  position  he  still  fills.     His  mother 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  31 

was  Catharine  Paissell,  a  daughter  of  William  Russell,  who  settled  in  this  county  from 
Johnstown  in  1820. 

Cutting,  A.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pierpont,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
February  2,  1836.  Daniel  H.,  the  father  (now  living  at  the  age  of  eighty- five)  was 
born  in  Canada  near  Rouse's  Point.  The  mother,  Jane  (Barrows  Cutting)  was  born  in 
Dorset,  Yt.  The  ancestors  on  the  father's  side  came  from  Worcester,  Mass.  In  1850 
Mr.  Cutting  became  a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store  in  Canton,  where  he  remained  for  ten 
years.  He  then  went  into  business  in  Carthage  for  one  year,  when  in  the  spring  of 
1861  he  came  to  Gouverneur  and  went  into  business  with  B.  Hodskin,  of  Canton,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  A.  B.  Cutting  &  Co.,  which  partnership  continued  for  three  years, 
when  Edwm  Dodge  bought  the  interest  of  Hodskin,  and  in  1869  he  sold  to  Boardman. 
The  firm  being  Boardman  &  Cutting  for  the  nineteen  years  following.  Since  1888  Mr. 
Cutting  has  been  the  sole  owner  of  what  is  considered  the  largest  hardware  business  in 
the  region  outside  of  Ogdensburg ;  the  business  requiring  services  of  from  eight  to  ten 
men.  Mr.  Cutting  married  in  jSTovember,  1860,  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of  John  L.  Barnes, 
of  Canton,  who  was  among  the  earliest  merchants  of  that  place.  The  have  two  chil- 
dren living :   Hurlbert  B.  and  Mrs.  G.  L.  Carpenter. 

Clark,  W.  T.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Hailesborough,  September  7,  1863,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  with  his  father  for  some  time.  He  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Agalite  Fibre  Co.  for  three  years,  and  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Fowler  five  years.  He  was  elected  when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  the  youngest 
man  on  the  board,  and  is  so  still.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  man  of  broad  intelligence,  enterpris- 
ing and  highly  popular.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  A.  Clark,  also  a  prominent  man  in 
Hailesborough.  His  grandparents  came  from  Vermont,  and  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Potsdam.  Mr.  Clark  graduated  from  the  Gouverneur  Seminary  in  1884,  and 
taught  school  two  years. 

Chellis,  J.  S.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  December  29,  1843,  a  son  of 
Abraham  L.,  son  of  John,  whose  father,  Timothy  Chellis,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  seven  years.  The  wife  of  the  latter  was  Elizabeth  Stuart,  a  descendant  of 
the  royal  family  of  Stuarts  of  Scotland.  John  Chellis  was  born  in  Haverhill,  N.  H., 
January  18,  1763,  and  married  Catherine  Burwell,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  In  1836  he  came  to  Stockholm,  where  he  died  January  12,  1867,  at 
the  age  of  104  years.  So  active  in  old  age  was  he  that  at  the  age  of  100  he  cut  a  cord 
of  wood.  Abraham  L.  Chellis  was  born  in  Bridport,  Vt.,  in  1803.  He  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  and  followed  that  in  connection  with  farming.  His  wife  was  Clarissa 
Glidden.  a  native  of  Xew  Hampshire,  born  September  9,  1818.  To  them  were  born 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Chellis  died  October  7,  1880,  and  his  wife  Decem- 
ber 23,  1863.  J.  S.  Chellis  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Farming  has  been 
his  life  occupation,  and  he  owns  fifty-seven  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Chellis  is  a  natural 
musician,  and  has  taught  band  music  for  ten  years,  also  giving  instruction  on  the 
violin.  He  is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge,  No.  305,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of  the  P.  of  I., 
Eureka  Association,  No.  162,  of  which  latter  he  has  been  president  since  its  organiza- 
tion, and  is  at  present  county  president  of  P.  of  I.  of  St,  Lawrence  countj'.     April  12, 


32  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1863,  Mr.  Chellis  married  Cinderella  C.  Courser,  a  native  of  Canada,  by  whom  he  has 
had  six  children  :  Charles  A.,  Bertha  E.,  Edith  B.,  Howard  D.,  Kate  G.  and  Robert  S. 

Catlin,  Chester,  Hammond,  was  born  in  LitchBeld,  Herkimer  county,  September  28, 
1805.  He  taught  school  several  terms,  and  clerked  for  some  time.  He  then  went  into 
farming,  of  which  he  made  a  great  success.  In  1827  he  married  Alvira,  daughter  of 
Moses  Rising.  Their  children  are:  Dr.  C.  A.  Catlin,  of  Redwood,  William  Catlin,  of 
Hammond,  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Donald,  of  Redwood.  In  1879  Mr.  Catlin  married  his 
present  wife,  Philary,  daughter  of  Ira  Taplin.  Mr.  Catlin  has  been  assessor  and  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Hammond.  He  has  lived  in  this  town  since  1842,  and  is  one  of  its 
most  highly  respected  citizens. 

Carey,  F  T.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Edwards,  St.  Lawrence  county,  November 
24,  1853,  an  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  since  seventeen  years  old.  He  came  to 
Gouverneur  in  1888,  and  is  a  member  of  the  grocery  and  meat  firm  of  Hilton  &  Carey. 
He  is  essentially  a  self-made  man.  In  1875  Mr.  Carey  married  Ellen  C.  Randall,  and 
they  have  four  children.     His  father  was  Thomas  G.  Carey,  a  north  of  Ireland  man. 

Clark,  George  Frederick,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Morgan,  Orleans  county,  Vt.,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1851.  Amos  D.,  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  reared  his  family  and  spent  his  days  on  the  homestead  farm, 
where  his  father,  Rev.  Jacob  S.  Clark,  settled  in  October,  1826,  and  was  the  first  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  Morgan.  Amos  Clark  died  in  1856,  aged  thirty-one 
years.  Tbe  mother  of  our  subject,  Martha  Geraldine  Chapman,  was  also  a  native  of 
Vermont.  They  were  married  in  1850,  and  had  three  children  :  Amos  D.  died  in 
Vermont  at  twenty -two  years  of  age ;  Hai-ry  Charles,  a  clerk  in  the  store  at  Norwood ; 
and  George  F.  Subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Hved  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  In  1865  he  entered  a  general  store  as  a  clerk  and 
worked  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  the  farm.  In  the  spring  of  1877  he  came  to 
Norwood  to  take  charge  of  the  Norwood  Lumber  Co's  store  and  was  four  years  en- 
gaged with  them.  He  was  then  eight  years  on  the  road  for  a  Boston  boot  and  shoe 
house,  and  in  1889  he,  in  partnership  with  Edwin  Simonds,  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  bought 
out  the  dry  goods  store  of  0.  L.  Bartlett  &  Co.,  which  Mr.  Clark  has  been  the  manager 
of  since.  The  store  carries  the  largest  stock  of  any  dry  goods  store  in  this  place,  and 
they  do  a  wholesale  as  well  as  retail  trade,  furnishing  many  of  the  neighboring  villages 
with  their  stock.  They  carry  a  full  line  of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  carpets,  dra- 
peries, curtains,  etc.  Mr.  Clark  has  always  been  a  Republican,  is  the  present  treasurer 
of  the  village,  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  in  which  he  is  deacon  and 
trustee.  He  married  in  1871,  Anna  Blake,  of  Derby,  Vt.,  who  died  three  years  later. 
He  married  second,  in  1876,  Minnie  Hatchcock,  of  Westfield,  Vt.,  and  they  have  four 
daughters:  Effie  E.,  Marion  G.,  Helen  M.,  and  Florence. 

Conroy,  Rev.  J.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  November  8,  1858. 
He  began  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Mon- 
treal College.  After  three  years  spent  in  this  noted  institution,  he  entered  St.  Michael's 
College,  Toronto,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  honors  in  June  1877.  The  following 
year  he  held  a  professorship  in  St.  Michael's.     In  September   1878,  he  began  his  theo- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  33 

logical  studies,  and  studied  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gabriels  at  Troy  (now  Bishop  Gabriels), 
of  Ogdensburg  diocese.  Ordained  June  11,  1881,  Father  Conroy  was  appointed 
assistant  to  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Murphy,  of  Cherubusco  and  EUenburgh,  Clinton  county. 
After  six  weekl  in  this  position,  he  was  appointed  rector  of  St.  Patrick's  church. 
Rouse's  Point,  August  15,  1882,  and  the  following  April  was  transferred  to  the  Cathe- 
dral at  Ogdensburg,  succeeding  as  rector  Father  Mackey,  who  had  occupied  this  position 
for  the  previous  forty  years. 

Clark,  Silas  S.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid  on  a  farm,  September  28, 
1834.  The  earliest  ancestry  we  find  of  the  family  was  Abner  Clark,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Silas  S.,  who  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  where  Abner,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared.  He  married  Betsey  Bill,  of  Connecticut,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children.     Abner  Clark,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was   the 

fourth  son.     He  was  born  in  Connecticut, ,  and  was  only  a  lad  when  his 

parents  moved  to  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  where  the  family  lived  until  Abner  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  They  then  moved  into  St  Lawrence  county  and  settled  in 
the  town  of  Madrid,  where  Abner,  the  second  died  .  Abner  married  Cyn- 
thia Skidmore,  of  Vermont,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  six  of  Avhom 
are  living.  Silas  S.,  our  subject,  was  the  fifth  son.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the 
town  of  Madrid  where  he  attended  the  common  schools,  and  finished  his  education  in 
the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  When  Mr.  Clark  had  reached  his  majorit}'  he  started 
out  for  himself  by  first  leasing  farms,  and  after  eight  years  was  enabled  to  purchase  a 
farm  of  his  own.  In  the  fall  of  1867,  he  bought  a  farm  of  112  acres  in  Potsdam,  where 
he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  Mr.  Clark  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
Republican  party,  and  for  four  years  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  of  the  town. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  has  been  a  trustee  for  over  ten  years.  He 
married  in  1857,  Louisa  K.,  daughter  of  Wilder  Wills,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  seven 
children  :  Frederick  Wills,  a  lawyer  of  White  Plains,  Westchester  county ;  Clara  L.,  a 
teacher  of  the  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan  ;  Mary  J.,  a  teacher  in  Grammer 
School  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan  ;  Charles  M.,  surveyor  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Horace  N.,  undertaker;  Earl  B.,  and  Robert  Y.,  students  in  the  Potsdam  State 
Normal  School. 

Crysler,  G.  M.,  Bdwardsville,  was  born  in  Canada,  July  14,  1821,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  at  nine  years  of  age.  He  has  been  a  manufacturer  of  lumber  and 
shingles,  fifty-four  years,  and  forty  years  of  this  time  at  Edwardsville.  Sixteen  years 
ago  he  added  to  his  business  a  cheese  factory  and  provender  run.  He  married  Caroline 
Wilson,  they  had  six  children  three  of  whom  are  living :  Mrs.  J.  F.  Tuttle,  of  Middle- 
town,  N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  J.  B.  Denny,  of  Seattle, Wash.,  and  Miss  A.  Crysler.  Mr.  Crysler's 
father's  uncle  owned  the  Crysler  farm  in  Canada,  where  the  celebrated  battle  of 
Crysler's  farm  was  fought  in  1812.     His  father  was  John  Martin  Crysler. 

Church,  Harvey,  Ogdensburg,  son'ofJSamuel  andj'Mary  (Jones)  Church,  and  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  October  26,  1788,  in  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  and  died  November 
30,  1865,  in  the  city  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.  He  settled  in  Ogdensburg  in  1808,  from 
Connecticut,  engaged  in  the  transportation  business,  and  in  1813  moved  to  Schenectady 


34  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  carried  on  the  same  line  of  business  on  the  Mohawk  river.  In  1815  he  returned 
to  Ogdensburg  and  built  six  Durham  boats  and  ran  them  between  Ogdensburg  and 
Montreal.  In  1826  he  established  the  first  hardware  store  in  Ogdensburg.  Later,  in 
1832-36,  he  owned  and  ran  the  steamer  "Blackhawk,"  from  Ogdensburg  to  Dickinson's 
Landing.  His  wife  was  Catharine,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Hannah  Freeman,  of  the 
city  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  January  25,  1790,  and  died  in  the  city  of 
Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  November  10,  1867.  James  F.  Church  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Schenectedy,  N.  Y.,  in  1814  and  died  in  Ogdensburg  in  1887.  Richard  F.  Church  was 
born  in  '1816;  the  other  children  of  Harvey  Church  are:  Henry,  born  in  1824,  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Whitney,  born  in  1830. 

Crowley,  P.  M.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Mt.  Holly,  Rutland  county,  Yt.,  April  23, 
1822,  and  came  to  Rossie  in  1853.  •  He  was  a  harnessmaker  by  trade,  but  embarked  in 
carriage  making  at  Somerville  where  he  still  resides.  In  1844,  he  married  Martha  L., 
daughter  of  David  Earle  and  a  sister  of  Gardiner  Earle.  They  have  two  children : 
George  G.,  who  lives  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  Mrs.  Foster,  who  lives  in  Michigan.  Mr. 
Crowley  has  been  postmaster  for  twelve  years,  and  is  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  spent 
several  years  of  his  young  days  as  a  Methodist  minister. 

Chambers,  W.  0.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  De  Peyster,  March  22,  1867.  He  spent 
six  years  clerking  and  then  bought  out  I.  E.  De  Mott's  store  at  Edwardsville,  where  he 
is  conducting  a  successful  business  of  general  merchandise,  furniture  and  harness  and 
in  exchange  takes  farmer's  produce.  Mr.  Chambers's  father  is  John  Chambers.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Scott,  both  of  Canada. 

Daggett,  Henry  L.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  April  28,  1842.  His  father, 
David,  was  a  native  of  Cornwall,  Vt,  born  August  9,  1809,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Pame- 
lia  Daggett,  natives  of  Attleborough,  Mass.,  and  of  Cornwall,  Vt.,  respectively.  In  1817 
they  came  to  Stockholm  and  at  this  town  both  died,  Henry  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
and  his  wife  July  7,  1862.  David  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  spent  three  years  as  clerk. 
Nearly  all  of  his  subsequent  life  was  spent  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Hopkinton, 
Stockholm  and  Parishville.  He  went  to  the  latter  place  in  1849  and  there  carried  on  a 
very  successful  business  until  1866,  when  his  son,  Herbert  M.,  took  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness and  continued  it  until  1880.  David  married  Meribah  C.  Greene  of  Cornwall,  Yt. 
born  January  2,  1838.  They  had  four  children :  Clarinda  G.,  wife  of  John  A.  Vance; 
Henry  L.,  Mary  E.  and  Herbert  M.,  the  latter  of  the  Elmira  Portrait  Company.  Mr. 
Daggett  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Parishville  twenty  years,  and  died  May  23,  1891. 
His  wife  survives  him.  Henry  L.  was  reared  in  Parishville  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  With  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  on  a  farm,  he  has  always  followed 
the  mercantile  business.  From  1862  to  1868  he  lived  in  Springfield,  III,  but  returned 
to  make  his  home  again  in  Parishville.  In  1880  he,  in  partnership  with  R.  W.  Bar- 
rows, took  charge  of  the  business  previously  conducted  by  Herbert  M.  Daggett,  and 
continued  for  one  year.  He  then  went  into  partnership  with  S.  L.  Clark  for  two  and 
a  half  years  and  then  with  his  brother,  Herbert  M.,  until  1890,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  alone.  In  1869  Mr.  Daggett  married  Marion  A.  Church,  a  native  of  South  Can- 
ton, N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of  C.  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Follett)  Church,  both  of  whom  died 
in  Brooklyn.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daggett  have  had  two  children  :  Arthur  D.  and  Grace  E. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  35 

Mr.  Daggett  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  sixteen  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Excelsror  Lodge  No.  548  of  Potsdam,  and  he  and  his  fam- 
ily attend  the  Congregational  church  at  Parishville. 

Darrow,  George  F.,  Oswegatchie,  was  born  in  West  Eaton,  Madison  county,  June  18, 
1854.  He  was  educated  in  Cazenovia  Seminary  and  Syracuse  University,  and  graduated 
in  LS76.  He  then  spent  a  year  in  the  west,  returning  to  Ogdensburg  in  1877,  where 
he  purchased  the  Advance  and  has  been  proprietor  ever  since.  In  1879  he  married 
Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Charles  G.  Myers,  Avho  died  in  1881.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Georgiana  Frances.  Mr.  Darrow  has  held  several  important  public  offices 
and  is  at  present  secretary  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  State  Hospital. 

Davis,  H.  K.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  January 
28,  1820.  He  is  a  son  of  Darias  H.,  son  of  Ezra  Davis,  who  w^as  one  of  eleven  children 
born  to  Amos  and  Sarah  (Metcalf)  Davis.  Amos  Davis  was  born  September  2,  1732, 
and  his  wife  June  5,  1737.  The  date  of  their  marriage  was  April  14,  1757.  Darias  H. 
was  a  native  of  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  born  November  6,  1785.  In  1805  he  married  Lois 
Smith,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  in  1785.  They  had  six  children  who  grew  to 
maturity.  Mr.  Davis  and  family  went  from  Vermont  to  Crown  Point,  where  they  re- 
sided a  short  time.  In  1839  they  went  to  Parishville.  and  there  he  built  a  tannery, 
which  now  stands,  and  followed  the  business  of  tanner  until  his  death,  April  8,  1854. 
His  wife  died  August  10,  1869.  H.  K.  Davis  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
reared  a  tanner.  He  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Parishville,  and  then  worked  with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Novem- 
ber 26,  1846.  His  wife  is  H.  L.  Burnap.  a  native  of  Malone,  Franklin  county,  born 
August  7,  182G.  Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis  has  followed  general  farming  and  dairy- 
ing. He  owns  200  acres  of  land,  keeps  twenty  cows,  and  for  several  years  has  made  a 
specialty  of  breeding  fine  horses.  Mr.  Davis  has  been  a  resident  of  Stockholm  about 
twenty-six  years,  and  at  present  resides  on  the  farm  known  as  the  S.  W.  Holmes  farm. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  has  held  the  office  of  assessor  six  years,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  P.  of  H.  No.  538,  Stockholm  Depot  Grange.  Mr.  Davis  and  wife  have 
had  four  children  :  H.  B.,  born  March  14,  1848,  married  Jennie  B.  Church  of  Barring- 
ton,  111.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Leon  L.,  born  February  19,  1880 ;  resides  in  Hebron, 
Thayer  county,  Neb.  Fannie  E.,  born  January  31,  1850,  died  February  4,  1859,  aged 
nine  years.  Bliss  N.,  born  July  19,  1860,  died  March  2,  1882,  aged  twenty-one  years. 
Herbert  L.,  born  July  12,  1862,  married  Myra  N.  Page,  December  2,  1885.  She  is  a 
native  of  Stockholm,  born  April  3,  1861,  and  daughter  of  Philetus  Page,  a  son  of  Jo- 
seph Page,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Stockholm.  Herbert  L.  and  wife  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Bliss  N.  and  Warren  G.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  No.  620,  Win- 
throp  lodge.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  H.  K.  Davis  were  Rev.  Bliss  and  Hannah  (Newton) 
Burnap,  he  a  native  of  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  born  January  13,  1802,  and  she  of  Newfane, 
Vt,  born  September  18,  1799.  They  had  two  children  who  grew  to  maturity.  Rev. 
Burnap  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  who  in  1824  came  to  Malone,  N.  Y.  About  1830 
he  moved  to  Bangor,  thence  to  Parishville  in  1844,  and  afterwards  spent  a  few  years  in 
Massena.  His  last  days  were  spent  in  Moira.  Hannah  (Newton)  Burnap  died  April 
15,  1869.     She  was  a  daughter  of  Marshall  and  Lydia  Newton.     He  was  a  native  of 


36  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Massachusetts,  but  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Newfane,  Vt.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and 
died  December  15,  1833.  Mrs.  Newton  was  born  August  5,  1785,  and  died  May  16 
1839.  Bliss  Burnap  was  the  son  of  Asa  W.  Burnap,  who  was  one  of  twelve  children, 
born  to  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Wyman)  Burnap,  he  (Ebenezer)  was  born  June  21,  1725, 
in  Redding,  Mass;  she  (Mary  Wyman)  was  born  September  7,  1728.  They^  were  mar- 
ried September  28,  1749.  Ebenezer  died  Apr.  12,  1804  and  his  wife,  Oct.  25,  1793.  Asa 
W.,  father  of  Bliss  Burnap,  was  born  June  2,  1768,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Blis.s  in 
June,  1799.  He  died  May  21,  1813,  and  his  wife,  March  21,  1867,  aged  ninety-four 
years,  five  months  and  six  days. 

Dezell,  Kenneth  R.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  October  19,  1866,  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander, a  farmer  of  that  town,  who  died  in  1869,  and  after  whose  death  the  family 
removed  to  Potsdam.  This  consisted  of  the  Avidow  (whose  maiden  name  was  Mar- 
garet Charter)  and  twelve  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest  son.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Potsdam  State  Normal  School,  and 
after  finishing  his  education  spent  a  year  with  Bicknell  &  Felton  in  their  grocery. 
He  was  one  year  with  Felton  &  Senter  and  with  L.  D.  Wetherbee  nearly  two  years. 
In  1888  he  went  to  work  in  the  store  of  G-eorge  Dayton  and  contuiued  in  this  same  lo- 
cation^until  1890,  when  he  bought  the  stock  of  goods  and  went  in  business  for  himself. 
He  has  built  up  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  business  man  and  controls  a  good  propor- 
tion of  the  grocery  and  crockery  trade  of  Potsdam.  The  store  is  located  in  the  La- 
mere  block  on  the  east  side  of  Market  street,  where  he  has  about  twenty- six  feet 
front  and  seventy  feet  in  depth.  Mr.  Dezell  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  married  December  6,  1892.  Henrietta,  daughter  of  John  Thomas  of  St.  Regis 
Falls. 

Dutton,  Ira,  Stockholm,  was  born  in   Moriah,  Essex  county,    March  23,  1840,     His 
father  was  Willard  Dutton,  a  son  of  Parley  Dutton,  who  was  a  native  of  Rockingham, 
Vt.     Here  he  grew  to  manhood  and   married  Rhoda  Loveland,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children.     In  an  early  day  Mr.  Dutton  came  to  Essex  county,  and  there  spent  the  re- 
mainder   of     his    days,    dying   at  the    age    of    seventy-five   years    and  his  wife    at 
eighty.     Willard  Dutton  was  born  in  Rockingham,  Vt.,  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.     He    was    eighteen    years  of    age    when  he  went    to 
Essex  county.     In  1841  he  went  to  Parishville,  N.  Y.,  and  after  one  year  came  to 
Stockholm  and  settled.     Here  he  lived  and  died.     HisAvifewas  Rebecca  Fish,  a  native 
of  Rockingham,  Vt.     To  Mr.  Dutton  and  wife  were  born  four  sous,  three  of  whom 
survive.     Early  in  life   Mr.  Dutton  was   a  Whig,  but  became  a  Republican  after  Lin- 
coln's time.     He  and  wife  were  Universalists.     He  died   February   16,    1880,  and  his 
wife  December  16,  1881.     Ira  Dutton  was  reared  on  a  farm.     His  life  occupation  has 
been  general  farming  and  dairying.     He  owns  175  acres  of  land,  and  keeps  eighteen 
cows.     Dutton  has  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  Phil  Sheridan  stock  of  horses,  and  at 
present  also  breeds  the  Wilkes  strain  of  Hambletonian  stock.     He  owns  the  "  Stock- 
holm or  Dutton  "  horse  sired  by  "Phil  Sheridan,"  also   '' Defendant  Wilkes"  sired  by 
"Onward."     Mr.  Dutton  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  Potsdam    Lodge,  No.  — ,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  P.  of  I.  Eureka  Lodge,  No.  162,  and  P.  of  H.  of  Wmthrop,  No.  538,  Captain 
Gibson  Post  G,  A.  R.,  No.  421.     The  wife  of  Mr.  Dutton  is  Laura  A.  Peck,  a  native  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  37 

Stockholm,  by  whom  he  has  four  children :  Lillie,  wife  of  Linden  Seaver,  a  farmer  of 
Stockholm ;  Deland  E.,  Willie  L.,  and  Lora  M.  Mr.  Button  and  wife  attend  and  sup- 
port the  Universalist  church. 

Dewey,  Frederick,  L.,  A.B.,  A.M.,  Ph.D.,  Potsdam,  was  Dorn  in  the  town  of  Otego, 
Otsego  county,  May  14,  1860,  son  of  William  A.,  a  merchant  and  farmer.  Frederick 
L.  was  only  two  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Franklin,  Delaware  county, 
where  the  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent.  He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Delaware 
Literary  Institute,  and  in  1878,  entered  Hamilton  College  at  Clinton,  Oneida  county, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1882,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He  went  back  to  the 
Delaware  Institute  as  a  teacher  of  classics,  where  he  remained  three  years  and  in  1885 
came  to  Potsdam,  where  he  was  given  entire  charge  of  the  Classical  department  of  the 
State  Normal  School.  His  classes  now  are  the  Latin  and  Greek,  and  besides  gives 
lectures  on  method  work  in  teaching  the  above  studies.  While  in  college  our  sub- 
ject was  the  recipient  of  the  Hawley  prize  in  Latin  and  Greek,  Tompkins's  Mathe- 
matical scholarship,  appointment  as  Clark  prize  orator ;  the  McKinney  prize  debates  and 
the  Valedictory.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  two  years  after  graduation.  The 
degree  of  Ph.  D.  was  given  him  in  1892,  by  Hamilton  "Honorary."  Professor  Dewey 
has  sent  five  valedictorians  to  Hamilton  since  he  left  there  and  in  his  professional  work 
in  1886,  he  was  the  secretary  of  New  York  Teachers'  Association.  Mr.  Dewey  married 
in  1887,  Jessie  M.,  daughter  of  William  Y.  Henry,  teller  of  the  First  Natiouail  Bank  of 
Potsdam.     They  have  one  child,  Lewis  Dayton,  now  in  his  fourth  year. 

Dunkelberg,  C.  C,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  February 
25.  1862.  His  father,  Samuel,  was  a  marble  cutter,  and  with  him  C.  C.  Dunkelberg 
learned  his  trade.  He  came  to  Gouverneur  in  1889,  and  established  his  business  here. 
His  trade  is  large  and  he  ships  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  In  1886  he  married  Mamie 
Sabin,  daughter  of  Joel  Sabin  of  Canton,  and  they  have  one  son,  Charles.  Mr. 
Dunkelberg  also  owns  a  business  in  Ogdensburg. 

Dodd,  Henry,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  near  the  village  of  Toledo,  Ontario, 
November  28, 1845.  While  very  young  he  partly  learned  the  shoe-maker's  trade  there. 
In  1860  he  came  to  this  country,  and  perfected  himself  in  his  chosen  occupation.  He 
was  for  fourteen  years  located  in  Adams,  Jefferson  county,  and  in  1874  became  a  citizen 
of  this  country.  He  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  the  year  1880,  and  has  since  been  a 
resident  of  that  city.  He  conducts  a  boot  and  shoe  store  on  Main  street,  west  side,  and 
does  a  general  repair  and  manufacturing  trade.  His  boot  and  shoes  are  most  creditable 
productions,  and  he  guarantees  satisfaction  or  refunds  the  money.  Mr,  Dodd  was 
married  twenty-three  years  ago,  to  Miss  EUza  A.  Wright,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  David 
H.  Wright,  of  Black  Lake.  They  have  six  children  living.  He  is  a  member  of 
Acacian  Lodge  of  Masons,  No.  705. 

Draper,  W.  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Carthage,  N.  Y.,  September  9,  1864.  He 
came  to  Gouverneur  with  his  parents  early  in  life  and  has  been  in  the  book  and  stationery 
business  for  several  years.  In  September,  1886,  he  established  his  present  business, 
which  is  the  leading  one  in  its  line  in  Gouverneur,  and  has  conducted  it  most  successfully 
since.  In  June,  1891,  Mr.  Draper  married  Stella  Matteson.  His  father,  George  Draper, 
was  a  resident  of  Gouverneur. 


38  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

DufF,  William,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Watertown,  Jefferson  county,  May  15,  1823,  a 
son  of  William  Duff  of  Scotch  Irish  extraction.  The  maternal  ancestors  were  of 
the  family  of  MacMasters,  and  the  Baird  family  also  are  relatives,  Captain  M. 
Baird,  marine  adjuster,  being  a  cousin  of  our  subject.  The  first  occupation  of  the 
latter  was  as  a  farmer  being  then  only  a  lad.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
went  into  the  tannery  of  Jason  Fairbanks,  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  under  whom  he 
learned  the  tanner's  trade.  He  spent  four  years  with  Fairbanks  and  followed  the  trade 
in  different  places  ever  since.  He  was  at  one  time  superintendent  for  E.  R.  Swasey  & 
Co.,  tannery,  for  several  years  and  was  engaged  in  business  in  Copenhagen  two  years 
and  in  Antwerp.  Duff  &  Fuller  conducted  a  tannery  two  years.  He  was  at  the 
Ox  Bow  alone  two  years  and  in  1857  came  to  Potsdam,  where  a  history  of  his 
business  interests  are  found  in  another  chapter.  Mr.  Duff  has  always  been  an  active 
Republican,  and  has  held  the  office  of  village  trustee  for  a  number  of  terms.  Mr. 
Duff  has  for  fourteen  years  been  interested  in  Thousand  Island  Park,  was  trustee 
and  director,  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  which  has  the  whole 
management.  He  has  a  beautiful  cottage  at  the  park  where  he  and  his  family  spend 
the  summer  months.  Mr.  Duff  married  in  1840  Henrietta  Stimson  of  Antwerp, 
Jefferson  county,  daughter  of  Deacon  Jeremy  Stimson  of  that  town,  and  they  have  two 
daughters.     The  death  of  Mrs.  Duff  occurred  January  18,  1893. 

Dardis,  James  Doran,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  County  Maith,  Ireland,  April  11,  1882, 
and  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  in  1842.  Thomas,  father  of  our  subject,  first 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Canton  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days,  and 
died  May  10,  1859,  aged  sixty-one  years.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Mary  Doran,  was 
also  a  native  of  County  Maith,  Ireland.  They  had  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living:  Thomas,  sheriff  of  Outtagama  county,  Wis. ;  Patrick  H.,  a  horse  dealer  of  Bos- 
ton, Mass. ;  William,  also  in  Boston ;  Mrs.  Anna  Lay,  widow  of  Colonel  Lay  of  New 
York  city;  and  James  D.  Mrs.  Dardis  died  in  1886,  aged  eighty-nine  years.  James 
was  only  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  became  an  apprentice  to  blacksmith  L.  V. 
Sherman  of  Canton,  with  whom  he  learned  the  trade  and  followed  it  for  eleven 
years,  nine  years  of  that  time  in  Madrid.  September  1,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
A,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  with  this  regiment  until  January  18,  1863,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of 
disability.  He  returned  to  Madrid  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  1867,  when  he  became 
a  stock  drover,  buying  in  St.  Lawrence  county  and  Canada,  and  shipping  to  Boston. 
During  the  six  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  business  he  did  over  $10,000  worth  of  busi- 
ness per  year.  In  1873  he  bought  the  Peter  White  farm  of  165  acres  in  Potsdam, 
where  he  has  since  conducted  a  dairy  farm  of  thirty-two  cows,  the  milk  being  sent  to 
the  butter  factory.  Mr.  Dardis  is  a  Democrat.  He  married,  November  16,  1858,  Teresa, 
daughter  of  Jonas  S.  Fay  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  four  children  :  Emmett  F.,  Eliza- 
beth, a  teacher  of  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  Helen,  who  lives  at  home,  and  James. 

Dalton,  Thomas,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  January 
1,  1868,  and  although  but  a  young  man,  is  rated  one  of  the  best  cheese-makers  of  this 
part  of  the  country,  which  is  noted  for  its  dairy  interests.  He  has  been  a  cheese- 
maker  for  ten  years,  and  in  1890  purchased  the  Gouverneur  cheese  factory  from  W. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  39 

W.  Hall,  and  has  since  conducted  it  mc^t  successfully,  turning  out  150,000  pounds  of 
cheese  annually. 

Dailey,  S.  W.,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  March  15,  1845.  He  has  followed  farm- 
ing as  a  pursuit.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  M,  Sixth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  in  1863,  under 
Colonel  Kitchen.  His  company  was  attached  to  the  fifth  army  corps,  and  saw  a 
great  deal  of  severe  work  in  the  A-rmy  of  the  Potomac.  Mr.  Dailey  was  wounded 
at  Spottsylvania  and  laid  off  five  months.  He  was,  however,  with  the  army  again, 
and  was  at  Lee's  surrender.  He  was  honorably  discharged  in  1865.  October  20, 
1870,  Mr.  Dailey  married  Matilda  Boyd,  and  their  children  are  :  Samuel  J.,  Justice 
B.,  Walton  W.,  Rosanna,  Kitty  and  Mabel.  Mr.  Dailey's  grandfather,  Samuel  Dailey, 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Lisbon. 

Dunn,  Alexander,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  December  2,  1834.  His 
father,  John,  jr.,  was  a  son  of  John  Dunn,  who  was  born,  educated  and  married  in 
Scotland.  His  wife  was  Isabella  Dunn,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  daughter.  Mr. 
Dunn  was  a  miller.  Early  in  life  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Canada.  He  was  drowned 
while  going  from  Ogden's  Island  to  his  home  in  Canada.  His  wife  and  children  came 
to  Waddington.  where  Mrs.  Dunn  died  May  6,  1836.  John,  jr.,  was  born  in  Canada 
in  1802.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  He 
married  Agnes  Finlay,  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  who  came  to  Canada  with  her 
parents  when  a  child.  Her  father  died  soon  after  coming  to  Canada.  John  Dunn 
and  wife  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  about 
300  acres  of  land.  He  died  December  2,  1875,  and  his  wife's  death  occurred  July 
28,  1886.  Alexander  Dunn  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  He  started  in  life  as  a  clerk  for 
Mr.  McMartin,  with  whom  he  remained  about  two  years.  He  also  clerked  for  Geo. 
Dodds,  Wm.  T.  Wilson  and  Walter  Wilson  in  Waddington.  He  then  went  to  Bos- 
ton, purchased  a  stock  of  goods  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Wadding- 
ton, where  he  carried  on  a  successful  trade  for  sixteen  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  purchased  a  farm  of  125  acres  in  Waddington,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
since  added  to  his  original  purchase,  and  at  present  owns  over  300  acres  of  land. 
Mr.  Dunn  has  followed  general  farming,  but  his  principle  business  is  dairying,  hav- 
ing about  thirty  cows.  February  11,  1858,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Wm. 
Rutherford,  of  Waddingtoj,  and  they  have  adopted  two  children.  In  politics  Mr. 
Dunn  is  a  Republican.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  be- 
coming such  at  its  formation  as  Presbyterian.  He  was  chosen  elder  at  that  time, 
and  continued  to  act  as  such  for  the  following  twenty-six  years,  when  trouble  arising 
on  account  of  the  minister  being  accused  of  falsifying,  which  reports  being  brouglit  to 
the  notice  of  the  elders  under  sworn  statements,  they  were  as  officers  of  the  church  in 
duty  bound  to  bring  the  matter  before  the  Presbytery  for  investigation,  but  through 
the  unscrupulous  efforts  of  the  minister  and  his  influence  over  other  members  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, they  failed;  their  representations  which  were  false,  were  presented  to  Presby- 
tery in  such  a  way  as  to  compel  the  resignation  of  the  elders  under  threats  of  deposi- 
tion, which  act  was  both  unchristian  and  illegal,  as  there  was  not  a  charge  brought 
against  them. 


40  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Donald,  Henry,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  May  7,  1837.  lu  1864  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  More,  and  they  have  two  children:  William  J.  and  i^ellie  Margaret. 
Mr.  Donald's  father  was  John  Donald,  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  who  came 
to  America  in  1833  and  died  in  1889.  His  mother,  Mary  (Frater)  Donald,  was  also 
a  native  of  Scotland,  and  is  still  living  in  Hammond.  Mr.  Donald  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  an  adherent  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Dalzell,  Robert  S.,  Waddmgton,  was  born  in  Waddington,  July  11,  1864.  His  fath- 
er, Robert  Dalzell,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1828,  and  when  fourteen  years  of 
age  came  to  Massachusetts  with  his  parents.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  many  years.  In  1843  he  came  to  Waddington,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  has  given  much  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fast  horses  and  bred  the 
famous  stallion  Phil  Sheridan  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  superinten- 
dent of  public  buildings  under  President  Harrison  and  milk  inspector  of  the  New  York 
State  dairy  commission.  He  has  also  been  supervisor  of  Waddington  for  several  terms. 
He  married  Mary  Taggart,  daughter  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Taggart  of  Ogdensburg,  and 
they  have  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  two  of  whom  survive :  Charles  A.,  a  clerk 
in  the  Dead  Letter  Office  at  Washington,  and  Robert  S.  The  latter  was  educated  in 
the  Union  Free  School  of  Waddington,  graduating  in  188L  He  was  then  appointed 
messenger  boy  in  the  New  York  Assembly  one  year.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the 
work  of  building  a  portion  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad  in  1882-3.  For  some  time  he 
clerked  in  Waddington  and  on  February  1,  1889,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  McDowell, 
he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business.  They  dissolved  partnership  July  24,  1890,  and 
our  subject  continued  the  business,  establishing  an  undertaking  business  in  connection 
with  the  furniture  business,  and  has  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Dalzell  is  a  Republican 
and  has  always  been  an  active  politician.  He  was  elected  town  clerk  in  1892  and 
1893.  In  1890  he  married  Mary  H.  Ilargrave  of  Waddington,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Lillian  H. 

Doud,  George  C,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  April  6,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of 
Horace  Doud,  a  native  of  Addison  county,  Vermont,  born  July  7,  1804.  Here  he  was 
educated  and  married  Sarah  Chapman  of  the  same  county,  born  February  22,  1807. 
They  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Doud  came  to  Stockholm  in  1838  and 
settled  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Rockwood,  and  except  ten  years  when  he  lived 
near  Bicknellville,  he  has  spent  his  days  here.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  and  a  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  He  died  March  2,  1884, 
and  his  wife  September  ]2,  1891,  at  eighty-four  years  of  age.  George  C.  Doud  was 
reared  in  Stockholm.  He  engaged  in  farming,  which  has  been  his  life  occupation, 
having  300  acres  of  land  and  carries  on  general  farming  and  dairying,  keeping  twen- 
ty cows  with  other  stock,  including  a  flock  of  fifty  or  sixty  sheep.  He  married  Martha 
Dunbar  of  Stockholm,  born  March  31,  1847,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  S.  Dunbar,  whose 
father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Potsdam.  Nathan  S.  Dunbar  was  twice  married, 
first  in  1846  to  Mary  A.  Rowley,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Mrs.  Dunbar  died  in  1866  and  he  married  Lucy  C.  Thatcher,  a  native  of  Stockholm, 
born  in  1825.  Her  parents  were  Harvey  Thatcher,  a  native  of  Newport.  N.  H.,  and 
Poll^  Rowley  of  Crown  Point,  N.  Y.     Subject  and  wife  have  had   one   son,    born 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  41 

October  9,  1872.     Mr.  Doud  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  P.  of 
H.,  Stockholm  Lodge  No.  538. 

Emery,  Charles,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm  June  9,  1827.  His  father  was 
Jonathan  Emery,  a  native  of  Walpole,  N.  H.,  born  July  31,  1797.  In  1826  he 
married  Fannie  Dunshee,  a  native  of  Walpole,  N.  H.,  born  May  27,  1803.  They 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  survive.  In  1822  Mr.  Emery  came  to 
Stockholm  and  settled  on  the  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  now  owned  by  subject, 
where  he  endured  many  of  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  He  died  January  22,  1842, 
and  his  wife  August  18,  1887,  aged  eighty-five  years.  Charles  Emery  was  reared 
on  the  farm  he  owns.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited.  When  he  was 
but  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  died.  He  remained  with  his  mother  three  years 
and  then  went  to  New  Ham  jshire  and  worked  for  his  uncle,  John  Dunshee,  six 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Stockholm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  February  5 
1850,  he  married  Hester  H.  Coon,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  born  November  17,  1827. 
She  was  the  only  child  of  William  and  Hannah  (Fletcher)  Coon,  the  former  a  native 
of  Beekmantown,  N-  Y.,  and  the  latter  of  Westmoreland,  N.  H.,  born  August  6, 
1791.  Mrs.  Coon  died  while  residing  with  her  daughter,  January  14,  1889,  aged  ninety- 
seven  years  and  four  months.  She  was  a  kind  and  loving  mother  and  always  ready  to  ad- 
administer  to  the  sick  and  needy.  Mr.  Emery  and  wife  have  had  six  children,  three  of 
whom  survive :  Fannie  E.,  wife  of  Stephen  Cotton,  a  native  of  Madrid  ;  Alma  A.,  who 
resides  at  Walpole,  N.  H.;  Alice,  who  died  in  August,  1877,  aged  twenty ;  Amelia  H.,  who 
lives  at  home  ;  Diantha  F.,  who  died  in  August,  1877,  aged  thirteen  years  and  nine  months 
and  Charles  A.,  who  also  died  in  August,  1877,  aged  seven  years  and  eight  months.  Mr. 
Emery  has  a  farm  of  136  acres  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying.  He  keeps  an 
average  of  sixteen  cows.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a^member  of  Eureka  lodge  No.  162. 
Lucinda  Fletcher,  aunt  of  Mrs.  Emery,  resided  with  the  latter  many  years.  She  was 
born  May  23,  1789,  and  died  May  20,  1876,  aged  eighty-five  years. 

Ellison,  Wayland  F.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam  October  2,  1831.  The 
earliest  ancestor  we  find  trace  of  in  this  family  is  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  James 
Ellison,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  the  town  of  Chester,  and  always  made 
his  home  in  that  State.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Leonard,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  the  eldest  son.  Leonard  Ellison  was  born  in  Chester,  Vt.,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1803,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  took  up  farming.  He  married  in 
Chester,  February  10,  1831,  Laura  Hoard,  and  immediately  after  came  to  what  was 
then  the  new  country  of  Northern  New  York.  He  bought  fifty  acres  in  Potsdam, 
where  he  reared  a  family  of  nine  children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  ac- 
cumulated a  property  of  three  hundred  acres,  which  he  owned  at  the  time  cf  his 
death.  May  29,  1876.  Mrs.  Ellison  died  September  15,  1858,  at  forty-nine  years  of  age. 
Of  the  family  five  sons  and  two  daughters  are  living :  Leander,  George  and  Granville, 
farmers  in  the  west;  Mrs.  Letitia  Hawley,  lives  in  Missouri ;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Burnham, 
lives  in  Nebraska;  Albert,  the  fourth  son,  born  August  4,  1840.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics.  The  whole  life  of  the  subject,  Wayland  F.,  was  spent  in  this  place,  living 
with  his  parents  until  twenty-four  years  or  age,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres 


42  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  Potsdam,  to  which  he  has  since  added  forty  acres,  and  besides  owns  twelve  and  one- 
half  acres  in  the  town  of  Stockholm.  He  married,  September  17,  1856,  Eliza,  daughter 
of  Sylvanias  Burnham  of  West  Potsdam,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children  •_ 
Arthur  V.,  an  engineer  at  Gouverneur ;  Luther  B.,  a  lawyer  of  Chicago,  111.;  Addie, 
wife  of  Ira  Morgan,  a  tinsmith  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  and  Frank  0.,  a  student  in  Brasher 
Falls  graded  school. 

Earl  Brothers,  Ogdensburg.  Earl,  John  W.,  senior  member  of  the  house  of  Earl 
Brothers,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  January  9,  1866.  He  is  a  son  of  poormaster  William 
Earl,  of  this  city.  J.  W.  Earl  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Ogdensburg, 
after  which  for  six  years  he  followed  teaching.  His  last  position  being  that  of  principal 
of  the  Morristown  Union  School,  and  in  the  present  year  (1893)  he,  with  his  brother 
officer,  Grant  Earl  of  the  Ogdensburg  police  force,  established  a  hardware,  tin  and  sheet 
iron  enterprise  on  Ford  street,  having  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  finely  arranged 
stores  in  the  city,  in  which  they  are  already  enjoying  a  large  patronage.  John  W. 
attends  entirely  to  the  management  of  this  business  while  his  brother.  Grant,  devotes 
his  attention  to  his  police  duties.  Mr.  Earl  is  a  high  degree  Mason,  and  has  served  as 
inspector  of  elections,  and  is  now  supervisor  of  the  fourth  ward  of  this  city.  Both 
members  take  an  active  part  in  athletics.  John  W.  is  one  of  the  fastest  bicycle  riders 
in  St.  Lawrence  county,  holding  the  present  championship.  Grant  has  the  county 
championship  for  quarter-mile  running. 

Elderkin,  Noble  S.,  Potsdam  (deceased),  was  born  in  Potsdam,  August  27,  1810,  a 
son  of  Anthony  Y.  Elderkin,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  town.  In  early  life  he 
took  an  active  interest  in,  and  joined  the  militia  of  the  State.  Through  his  efficiency 
he  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  through  nearly  all  the  intermediate  grades  to  brigadier 
general.  For  several  years  he  served  the  State  as  division  inspector  of  this  district 
In  1843  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county  and  entered  on  his  duties  January  1,  1844. 
He  served  his  term  of  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  county.  In 
1853  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  and  was  speaker  of  that  body,  the  first  member 
from  this  county  who  ever  filled  that  position.  He  was  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  St.. 
Lawrence  Academy,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Educational  Board  when  that  institu- 
tion was  supplanted  by  the  present  State  Normal  School,  at  which  time  he  was 
appointed  by  ex-State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  Victor  M.  Rice,  a  member 
of  the  local  board  of  the  Normal  School,  which  position  he  held  until  his  death, 
December  29,  1875.  He  was  a  member  of  Trinity  church  and  for  many  years  vestry- 
man. Mrs.  Elderkin  was  a  daughter  of  William  Clark,  of  Fort  Covington.  The  widow 
and  her  son.  Noble  S.  Elderkin,  jr.,  of  Chicago,  survive ;  also  W.  A.  Elderkin,  major 
in  the  U.  S.  A.,  by  first  wife;  he  is  in  the  regular  army  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Easton,  J.  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Brockville,  Ont.,  March  24,  1828,  and  came 
to  Gouverneur  in  1850.  He  was  a  blacksmith  for  many  years,  but  lately  has  given  his 
attention  to  coal  and  real  estate.  In  1852  he  married  Lydia  L.  Hoover,  and  they  had 
a  son,  Seymour  A.,  who  married  Sarah  Drake;  and  a  daughter,  Eva  0.  Easton.  Mrs. 
Easton  died  in  February,  1891.  Mr.  Easton's  father  was  Soloman  Easton,  of  Vermont, 
and  his  mother  was  Aurillia  Galuchia,  whose  grandfather  fell  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 


PERSONAL  SiCETCHES  43 

Ear],  William,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  January  4,  1831,  came  to  the 
United  States  1848;  his  father's  family  were  originally  from  the  State  of  Vermont.  Mr. 
Earl  married  Elizabeth  W.  Daniels,  November  19,  1S63,  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he 
has  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  He  has  served  as  a  police  ofl&cer  for 
ten  years  in  Ogdensburg,  and  for  the  past  twelve  years  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor 
of  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  including  the  city  of  Ogdensburg.  His  son  Grant  is  on 
the  police  force  of  this  city ;  his  sons  John  W.  and  Grant  have  opened  a  hardware 
store  in  Ogdensburg  under  the  firm  name  of  Earl  Bros.,  and  his  late  son,  E.  H.  Earl, 
was  one  of  the  most  promising  young  men  of  the  county,  and  a  brilliant  scholar,  hav- 
ing passed  the  State  examination  in  twenty-two  subjects,  with  a  standing  of  ninety- 
eight  per  cent,  (just  before  he  died)  which  entitled  him  to  a  State  certificate, 
authorized  liim  to  teach  any  school  in  the  State  during  his  life;  but  it  did  not 
come  to  him  until  after  his  death.  He  died  September  29,  1889,  in  his  25th  year; 
his  son,  Franklin  S.  Earl,  is  attending  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College.  Mr.  Earl's 
wife  is  a  direct  descendant  from  Benjamin  Franklin  by  both  her  parents  side,  they 
marrying  first  cousins. 

Ellwood,  Alexander,  Canton,  foreman  and  salesman  for  the  Hodskin  estate,was  born 
in  Canton,  September  29,  1844,  and  has  held  his  present  position  about  fourteen  years. 
He  married  Olive  B.  Brown,  and  they  have  three  children  living :  Permelia,  Clarance 
A.,  and  Maud  Ella.  Four  children  died  in  July,  1886  by  diphtheria  :  Florence  Isabella, 
died  July  16,  1886;  Blanche  Mabel,  died  July  24,  1886;  Ida  Emma,  died  July  24^ 
1886 ;  Erwin  Ptoyal,  died  July  28,  1886.  Mr.  Ellwood  enlisted  December  14,  1863, 
served  as  a  private  in  Co.  G,  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  was  discharged  October  20, 
1865. 

Ellwood,  Gibson,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Minden,  Montgomery 
county,  June  24,  1825.  He  came  to  this  town  with  his  father  fifty-eight  years  ago, 
in  1835.  His  father  dying  soon  after,  he  was  left  to  depend  entirely  upon  his  own 
resources.  With  his  brothers  he  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies,  and 
after  many  severe  struggles  with  poverty,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  it.  In  1870 
Mr.  Ellwood  became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  since  then  has  been  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  community.  His  land  is  kept  under  excellent  cultivation, 
and  his  premises  are  well  improved.  In  1868  he  married  Maria  Walrath,  also  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Charles  A.  and  George  P.  The  former 
is  in  his  sophomore  year  at  Cornell  University,  the  latter  assists  his  father  in  his 
farming  operations.  Mr.  Ellwood's  father,  Gen.  Isaac  Ellwood,  was  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  War  of  1812  ;  also  for  twelve  years  he  was  supervisor  of  his  native  town, 
and  after  coming  to  St.  Lawrence  county  was  for  several  years  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Morristown.  His  grandfather,  Isaac  Ellwood,  served  in  the  Revolution,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Oriskany.  The  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  English  fami- 
lies, and  the  formation  of  the  name  Ellwood  can  be  traced  back  to  the  Anglo-Saxon 
thus :     Ellwood,  Elwood,  Aldwald,  Athelwold,  Aethelwald. 

Easton,  William  H.,  Madrid,  was  born  near  Brockville,  Ontario,  September  23,  1836. 
John  Mark  Easton,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Lincolnshire  in  1782, 
who  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1820.     He  first  located  near  Brockville,  Ontario,  where  for 


44  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

a  few  years  he  followed  school  teaching,  and  afterward  became  a  farmer.     He  was  a 
jeweler  and  watchmaker  in  his  native  country,  but  never  followed  it  here.     He  married 
in  1821,  Marilla  Smith,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  Smith,  a  major  in 
the  British  army,  who  was  granted  2700  acres  of  land,  including  the  site  of  Smith's 
Falls,  Ont.,  for  his  service  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.     John  M.  Easton  was  the 
father  of  eight  children,  four  still  living :    Dr.  John  Easton,  of  Brockville,  Ont. ;  Mrs. 
Gillespie,  a  widow  of  Ausable  Forks,  N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  M.  Louisa  Currier,  of  Cleveland,  0., 
and  William  H.     The  boyhood  of  the  latter  was  spent  at  his  birthplace.     In  1848  his 
parents  moved  to  Madrid,  where  he  received  his  education.     At  fourteen  he  started  to 
learn  the  harnessmaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  four  years,  and  from  eighteen  to 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  followed  the  sea  in  whaling  expeditions.     Returning  to 
Madrid  he  resumed  harnessmaking,  and  conducted  business  until  1861.     For  some  time 
he  had  been  studying  music,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  enlisted  as  first  cornet 
in  the  band  of  the  Sixtieth  Regt.,  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  remaining  in  that  service  over  a  year, 
and  then  re-entered  the  service  as  leader  of  Mihtary  Governor's  Post  Band,  stationed  at 
Alexandria,  Ta.,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.     Returning  in  1865,  he 
followed  the  profession  of  band  teacher  and  general  musician  until  1891.     Mr.  Easton 
has  been  United  States  claim  agent  and  pension  attorney,  and  also  notary  public,  since 
1890,  and  in  February,  1892,  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  Madrid.     He  is  a 
Mason,  and  was  a  member  of  Grass  River  Lodge,  No.  312,  during  its  lifetime.     He 
married  in  1859,  Julia,  daughter  of  E.  L.  Comstock,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  this 
town,  and  they  have  one  child,  William  H.  Easton,  jr. 

Fenner,  C.  W.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Fowler,  St.  Lawrence  county,  X.  Y.,  August  10, 
1847.  He  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Fenner,  who  died  in  1889.  He  took  up  cheesemak- 
in  1806,  working  with  his  father  in  the  West  Fowler  factory,  which  was  built  in 
1864.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  cheese  business  ever  since  in  different  cheese  fac- 
tories in  this  locality,  and  has  been  in  the  West  Fowler  factory  the  past  two  years. 
The  concern  turns  out  about  100,000  pounds  of  cheese  each  year.  In  1873  Mr.  Fen- 
ner married  Marie  Ackerman. 

Flack,  Garrett  P.,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  May  27,  1824.  He  is  one  of  the 
extensive  farmers  of  the  county,  owning  800  acres  of  land,  and  all  his  property  has 
been  acquired  by  his  own  industry  and  ability.  He  married  Betsey  M.  Jones,  and 
they  have  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Flack  has  been  super- 
visor of  the  town,  and  held  other  important  offices.  His  father  was  James  Flack,  Avho 
took  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Lisbon. 

Frank,  Nathan,  Ogdensburg.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Germany,  Aug- 
ust 4,  1824.  He  emigrated  to  America  when  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  and 
immediately  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  his  life  from  that  date  up  to  the  pres- 
ent has  been  a  steady  and  active  business  career — a  career  too  that  has  been  highly 
successful  and  has  produced  a  large  and  prosperous  business.  Mr.  Frank  now  owns  and 
conducts  the  largest  establishment  in  Ogdensburg.  His  premises  comprise  five  floors 
and  a  basement  of  a  large  double  store,  and  in  the  many  apartments  of  the  business 
everything  in  dry  and  fancy  goods,  notions,  wall  papers,  clocks,  robes,  etc.,  is  carried. 


I 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  45 

Mr.  Frank  is  also  largely  interested  in  real  estate  of  land  owners  in  the  city,  besides 
which  he  has  over  1,000  acres  of  land  in  the  country  portion  of  St.  Lawrence  county. 
All  this  is  the  fruit  of  a  successful  business  life,  and  is  a  fine  exemplification  of  the 
ultimate  success  of  honorable  business  methods  when  coupled  with  business  and  excu- 
tive  ability.  Mr.  Frank  is  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity  and  his  business  reputation 
is  gilt  edged.  Mr.  Frank  married  in  the  year  1860,  and  has  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

Craig,  John,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  June  24,  1829,  and  is  a  scion  of  one  of 
the  best  known  families  in  Lisbon.  His  father,  John  Craig,  married  Mary  Ballagh 
in  1824  and  settled  in  the  town  in  1806,  and  the  Craig  road  is  named  after  the  family. 
Mr.  Craig  has  been  a  successful  farmer,  and  owns  200  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  gentleman 
of  superior  abilities  and  the  highest  integrity. 

Fuller,  William  Dinsmore,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Norwood,  May  24, 
1857,  a  son  Wyman  M.  Fuller,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  Newport 
in  1815,  and  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  about  1840.  He  was  first  located  at  Massena 
where  he  became  quite  prominent  in  politics,  holding  the  ofiice  of  town  clerk,  post- 
master, etc.  He  moved  to  Norwood  in  1850  where  for  a  few  years  he  conducted  a  hotel, 
and  the  later  years  of  his  life  was  a  merchant  in  this  village.  He  held  the  office 
of  postmaster  during  the  war,  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  September  13,  1875.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Olive  Dinsmore,  was  a  native 
of  Lyndonville,  Vt.,  and  they  had  four  children:  George  R.,  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  artificial  limbs  and  president  of  a  Job  Printing  Co.,  at  Rochester,  N.  T. ; 
Frances  E.,  of  Norwood  ;  Etta  A.,  a  teacher  of  Minneapolis ;  and  William  D.  Mrs. 
Fuller,  mother  of  our  subject,  is  still  a  resident  of  Norwood,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
Our  subject  was  educated  in  Norwood  Graded  School,  and  his  first  occupation  was 
as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store.  He  was  two  years  with  G.  E.  Holbrook,  was  eight 
years  with  L.  R.  &  H.  Ashley,  and  was  two  years  with  Heath,  Landers  &  Co.,  at 
Potsdam.  In  the  spring  of  1886  Mr.  Fuller  established  a  clothing  store  in  the 
Matthew's  Block  at  Norwood,  and  two  years  later  moved  to  the  Pert  Block  where  he 
has]ever  since  been  engaged  in  business.  He  has  here  a  large  store  of  twenty-five  feet 
front  and  seventy-five  feet  deep  and  carries  a  large  line  of  ready  made  clothing,  hats, 
caps  and  gentlemen's  furnishing  goods,  and  conducts  in  connection  a  merchant  tailoring 
establishment.  Mr.  Fuller  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge,  No,  689,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  Norwood  Lodge  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  was  four  years  treasurer  of  the  village.  He  is 
a  member  of  Congregational  church,  and  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  married,  October 
9,  1889,  Abbie  M.,  daughter  of  A.  F.  Zoller  of  Hammond,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Wyman  Z. 

Flagg,  Edward  W.,  A.  B.  and  A.  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Wellesley,  Mass.,  October 
27,  1850.  His  father,  William,  was  a  business  man  of  that  town,  who  was  prominent 
in  politics,  representing  at  one  time  his  town  in  the  Lower  House  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. Edward  was  the  youngest  of  five  children.  He  was  educated  in  Williston 
Seminary  at  East  Hampton,  Mass.,  and  entered  Yale  College  in  1847,  graduating  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in  1878,  and    was  granted  in  1891  his  degree   of  A.  M.  from 


46  HISTORY  OV  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  same  college.  His  first  position  after  leaving  Yale  was  as  principal  of  Glencoe 
Hioh  School  near  Chicago,  in  Illinois.  In  1883  Professor  Flagg  removed  to  Pots- 
dam, vi'here  he  had  accepted  the  position  of  teacher  in  the  State  Normal  School, 
having  graduated  from  the  State  Normal  School  at  Westfield,  Mass ,  previous  to 
his  academic  course.  His  department  is  that  of  English  Literature,  History  and 
Rhetoric.  Professor  Flagg  has  been  a  contributor  to  Lippincott's  Magazine  the  Con- 
gregationlist,  published  in  Boston,  the  Standard  and  the  Interior,  religious  papers  pub- 
lished in  Chicago,  also  the  Chicago  Tribune  and  various  educational  journals  In  1892-93 
Professor  Flagg  spent  six  months  at  Clark  University  in  the  educational  department, 
and  in  addition  did  some  research  work  in  "  The  History  of  the  Teaching  of  Read- 
ing in  the  United  States."  He  married  in  June,  1888,  Laura  A.  Cauble  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. 

Freeman,  William  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Athens,  Canada,  June  27.  1865,  but 
has  resided  in  this  country  eight  years,  and  for  ten  years  has  been  an  expert  cheese 
maker.  He  is  proprietor  of  the  East  Gouverneur  cheese  factory,  and  makes  annually 
about  150,000  pounds.  In  June,  1892  he  married  Augusta  McArthur.  His  father  was 
William  Freeman,  a  successful  farmer  in  Athens. 

Farwell,  Charles,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  February  18,  1856.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  Charles  followed  that  occupation  until  twenty  years  ago.  He 
then  took  a  position  with  Turner  Brothers,  of  Ogdensburg,  remaining  about  six  years. 
Thence  he  went  to  tha  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railroad  Company  (extension),  remain- 
ing eight  months,  at  the  end  of  that  time  returned  to  Ogdensburg.  In  1881  Mr.  Far- 
well  married  Ida  Willard,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ercil  May.  In  1881  he  came  to 
Gouverneiir,  and  subsequently  became  connected  with  the  Globe  Hotel,  Watertown,  for 
over  four  years.  He  returned  to  Gouverneur  in  1885,  remaining  three  years,  when 
he  went  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  and  engaged  in  the  furniture  business.  He  re- 
turned to  Gouverneur  in  1890  and  for  some  time  was  engaged  in  paper  hanging  and 
painting.  He  began  his  present  business  (liquor  dealer).  January  28,  1892.  Mrs.  Far- 
well  is  a  daughter  of  Abel  Willard  and  is  an  attendant  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Farwell  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  live  business  men  of  the  town. 

Fife,  James  S.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  September  8,  1836.  His 
father,  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  born  in  1795  and  in  1817 
came  to  Washington  county,  N.  Y.  In  1819  he  came  to  Waddington  and  purchased  the 
farm  now  owned  by  James  S.  Here  he  lived  and  died.  He  married  Elsie  Short,  born 
in  1800,  a  native  of  Northumberlandshire,  England,  and  daughter  of  James  Short  who 
came  to  Waddington  in  1818  and  settled  on  a  farm.  Mr.  Fife  and  wife  had  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  eight  daughters.  They  were  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  was  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  milita.  He  died  February  20,  1883,  and 
his  wife  in  1880,  aged  eighty  years.  James  S.  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  owns  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Deacon  Thomas 
Rutherford,  a  son  of  John  Rutherford.  To  Mr.  Fife  and  wife  were  born  three  children : 
Agnes  H.,  Thomas  R.,  and  Ella.  Mr.  Fife  owns  158  acres  of  land  where  he  resides  and 
eighteen  and  one  half  acres  in  front  of  Madrid  Station  House  and  a  farm  of  268  acres 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  47 

in  Fine,  St.  Lawrence  county.  His  principal  occupation  is  dairying  and  he  keeps  over 
seventeen  cows.  Mr.  Fife  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church. 

Fife,  Thomas  W.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  February  11,  1829.  His 
father,  William  Fife,  was  born  in  Roxboroughshire,  Scotland,  in  1792.  He  came  to 
Waddington  in  1819,  and  he  here  married  Margaret  Walker,  a  native  of  Roxborough- 
shire, Scotland,  who  came  to  Waddington  with  her  parents.  Mr.  Fife  and  wife  had 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  1828  he  purchased  107  acres  of  land,  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides.  Here  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1832.  His  wife  died  in  1872.  Mr. 
Fife  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church  and  he  an  elder  of  that 
church.  Thomas  W.  Fife  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington.  He  'has  followed 
farming  as  a  life  occupation,  and  at  present  owns  150  acres  of  land  and  follows  general 
farming.  November  9,  1865,  he  married  Martha,  daughter  of  William  ^'eitch.  In 
politics  Mr.  Fife  is  a  Republican.  He  and  wife  were  for  many  years  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington,  of  which  Mr.  Fife  was  an  elder,  but,  as  he 
himself  writes:  '"I  am  not  an  elder  now.  because  I  co  ild  not  act  conscientiously  with 
the  minister,  who  was.  by  common  fame,  proclaimed  a  falsifier;  then  sworn  statements 
also,  were  handed  to  elders  to  the  same  effect.  When  the  matter  was  brought  before 
the  Presbytery,  the  stated  clerk  having  a  preponderating  influence  over  the  Presbytery, 
arose  and  dictated  the  terms,  both  to  elders  and  Presbytery,  and  that  was,  that  the 
elders  must  all  resign,  or  be  deposed,  and  that  without  any  trial,  or  hearing,  or  any 
charge  being  brought  against  them.  And  the  Presbytery  acted  through  the  whole  case, 
on  rules  pretending  to  represent  those  governing  banks,  or  worldly  business,  and  with- 
out once  referring  to  the  scripture  rule  of  truth ;  therefore  I  cannot  remain  m  accord 
with  the  Presbytery,  or  the  Presbyterian  church  while  goverened  by  such  rules  and 
principles." 

Freeman,  David,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington  February  29,  1844,  a  son  of 
John,  a  native  of  Wales,  who  went  to  England  when  two  years  of  age,  with  his  pa- 
rents. He  came  to  Canada,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to  Wad- 
dington. He  married  twice,  first  Miss  Page,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  She  died 
and  he  married  Mary  Hessellgrave,  a  native  of  England  and  daughter  of  Thomas  Hes- 
sellgrave,  an  early  settler  of  Waddington,  who  emigrated  to  Illinois.  Mr.  Freeman  and 
wife  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  died  in  Illinois,  where  his  wife  resides  at 
present.  David  Freeman  was  reared  on  the  farm  his  father  settled,  and  which  he  now 
owns.  He  has  ISO  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  sixteen  cows.  He  married  in 
1866,  Isabelle  Robson,  a  native  of  Madrid,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters :  Judith  J.,  Eunice  A.,  John  W.,  Mary  M.,  Frank  A.,  Florence  L.,  Bertha  E.  and 
Fannie  B.  Mr.  Freeman  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  family  attend  and  support  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Waddmgton. 

Fitch,  A.  N.,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  January  30,  1830.  He  first 
followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  mercantile 
trade  for  nearly  twenty  years,  afterwards  went  to  farming.  In  1858  he  married  Eme- 
line  Atwood,  and  had  three  children:  Willie  L.,  Frank  H.  and  Eva  N.     He  married  for 


48  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

his  second  wife  Mary  J.  Dake,  by  whom  he  had  three  children :  Amos  B.,  Leslie  W. 
and  Perc}".  Mr.  Fitch's  father  was  Augustus  Fitch,  of  Connecticut,  and  his  mother 
Emily  (Mines)  Fitch,  of  Massachusetts. 

■  Fulton,  John  J.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  2,  1855.  His  father, 
James  R.,  was  the  son  of  John  Fulton,  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  educated  and 
resided  until  forty  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  after  a  time 
came  to  Waddington,  and  was  engaged  to  assist  in  looking  after  the  business  of  Judge 
Ogden.  He  was  a  surveyor,  and  assisted  in  survey  in  the  town  of  Waddington.  He 
married  Polly,  daughter  of  Peter  Aldridge,  of  Waddington,  and  had  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  there  are  now  living :  Mrs.  Fackrell,  of  Ogdensburg  ;  Mrs. 
Cunimings,  of  Waddington,  and  William  W.  Fulton,  of  Ogdensburg.  He  died  in  1863, 
and  his  wife  in  1879.  James  R.  Fulton  was  born  October  14,  1814,  in  Waddington. 
He  learned  the  millwright  trade,  and  followed  it  as  a  life  occupation.  He  and  a  Mr. 
Wood  for  sometime  owned  a  mill  in  Waddington.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Wadding- 
ton village,  and  now  owned  by  John  J.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Waddington  Lodge, 
No.  393,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  died 
January  17,  1864,  and  Mrs.  Fulton  now  resides  in  Waddington.  He  married  March  11, 
1839,  Rhoda,  daughter  of  Reuben  Smith,  of  Brimfield,  Mass.,  who  was  born  February 
22,  1779.  His  wife  was  Persis  Hutchens,  of  Witherfield,  Vt.,  and  they  had  four  sons 
and  five  daughters.  They  came  to  Waddington,  and  here  lived  and  died,  he  in  1838 
and  she  in  1865.  J.  R.  Fulton  and  wife  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
one  son,  John  J.,  is  now  living.  The  latter  was  reared  and  educated  in  Wadding- 
ton. His  father  dying  when  John  was  in  his  ninth  year,  he  was  soon  compelled  to 
take  charge  of  the  farm,  which  he  has  always  managed  very  successfully.  He  has 
been  a  temperance  man,  and  a  member  of  various  temperance  organizations.  He  has 
made  many  improvements  about  the  farm,  on  which  dairying  is  the  principal  feature. 
December  20,  1876,  he  married  Isabel  A.,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Janet  (Porteous) 
Young,  and  they  have  had  three  children :  Edith  M.,  Lottie  I.  and  William  J.  In 
politics  Mr,  Fulton  is  independent,  and  he  and  wife  are  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Waddington. 

Farmer,  Calvin  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  August 
31.  1845,  a  son  of  Emerson  B.,  a  native  of  East  Rutland,  Vt.,  who  came  to  this  county 
in  1803,  settling  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his 
life.  He  died  in  August,  1880,  at  seventy-five  years  of  age.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Mary  Jane  Lewis,  of  Crown  Point,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  seven  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living:  Benjamin  E.,  of  Mississippi ;  Mary  S.  Angel,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  ; 
Eliza  Babcock,  of  Potsdam  ;  Linden,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam  ;  Clifford,  a  farmer  of  Pots- 
dam; and  Calvin.  Calvin  was  educated  in  Norwood  public  schools,  and  was  only  six- 
teen years  of  age  when  the  war  broke  out.  He  enlisted  January  2,  1863,  as  a  private 
in  Company  B.,  Second  Regt.,  Minn.  Inf.,  and  saw  service  with  them  in  the  battles  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Ringgold,  Buzzard's  Roost, 
and  a  great  many  other  engagements.  Mr.  Farmer  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  At- 
lanta, but  not  serious  enough  to  cause  his  withdrawal  from  the  service.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  returned  to  Norfolk.     In  1878  he  bought  a  farm  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  40 

fifty  acres,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1885.  That  year  he  sold  and  bought  a  farm 
of  150  acres,  which  he  conducts  as  a  dairy,  with  fifteen  head  of  cattle,  four  horses,  sheep 
and  other  stock.  He  has  been  for  the  most  of  the  time  since  in  school  district  No.  18, 
where  he  resides.  He  is  a  member  of  Luther  Priest  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  167.  He  mar- 
ried in  1874,  Angeline,  daughter  of  John  Lamora,  of  Canada,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren: William  Ezra,  born  September  1,  1875;  Harley  John,  born  August  7,  1878; 
Geprge  Madison,  born  January  28,  1881;  and  Edson  James,  born  February  12,  1882. 

Fisher,  John  C,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  October  8,  1844,  a  son 
of  William  and  Eupheraia  (McDonald)  Fisher.  His  whole  life  has  been  spent  on  the 
farm  his  father  first  settled  and  cleared.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  at  the  old  St.  Lawrence  County  Academy  m  Potsdam.  At  the  death  of  his  father 
in  1875  the  farm  (which  now  contains  187i  acres)  fell  to  him,  and  is  conducted  as  a 
dairy,  with  thirty  head  of  cattle.  The  old  stone  residence  superseded  the  first  log 
house,  and  was  built  by  William  Fisher  over  forty-five  years  ago.  Since  Mr.  Fisher 
became  owner  of  this  old  historic  place  he  has  made  many  valuable  improvements  to 
it  in  the  way  of  new  barns,  out- buildings,  etc.  Mr.  Fisher  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  of- 
fice. His  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to  his  home  and  family.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Scotch  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Fisher  married  December  5,  1868,  Minnie  B.,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Roswell,  a  merchant  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  had  four  children  : 
Charles,  who  died  at  nine  years  of  age;  Mabel  Louise,  who  died  at  two  years.  The 
living  ones  are :  Alexander  Fisher,  now  nineteen  years  of  age,  who  assists  his  father  on 
the  farm ;  and  Ernest,  aged  seven  years. 

Fackerell,  L.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Montreal,  April  7,  1829.  His  parents  died 
of  cholera  in  1832,  and  Luther  was  brought  up  by  his  uncle,  John  Fackerell,  then  liv- 
ing in  Ogdensburg,  until  the  age  of  thirteen,  when  he  went  into  the  lumber  business  on 
St.  Lawrence  River  to  work,  and  from  that  time  was  actively  working  in  different 
capacities  until  1852,  when  he  went  to  the  gold  field  in  Cahfornia.  He  returned  in 
1862  and  bought  a  farm  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  about  five  years  ago  established 
his  livery  business.  His  wife  was  Helen  Page,  and  they  have  four  children  living. 
Mr.  Fackerell  has  always  led  an  active  and  busy  life,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
a  frugal  and  honest  career. 

Ford,  James,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  December  25,  1841.  His  father,  John 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  as  was  also  his  mother,  Elizabeth  Tennant.  They  married  in 
this  country  and  had  five  children,  but  two  of  whom  survive :  John,  a  farmer  of  Pots- 
dam, and  James.  The  boyhood  of  the  latter  was  spent  in  this  town.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and  assisted  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war.  August  29,  1864,  he  enlisted  at  Potsdam  in  the  50th  N.  Y.  Engineers, 
Co.  C.  He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Malone,  and  went  to  the  front  at  Petersburg, 
where  he  was  engaged  with  his  company  in  the  management  of  light  pontoons,  re- 
maining in  that  vicinity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Berry, 
Virginia.  Remaining  home  in  1805,  he  remained  on  the  old  homestead  until  the  fall  of 
1866,  when   he  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Potsdam,  which  he  conducts  as  a  dairy 


50  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

with  fourteen  cows  and  other  stock.  Mr.  Ford  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Luther  Priest  Post,  No.  167,  G.  A.  R.  He  married  December  19,  1866,  Emily 
E.,  daughter  of  Norman  and  Lucinda  M.  Austin,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have 
two  children :  Orris  R.,  who  lives  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  ;  and  Adillie  Lucinda, 
who  also  lives  at  home. 

Ford,  John,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  October  29,  1839.  His  father,  John, 
was  born  in  Morbittle,  Scotland,  in  1812,  and  came  to  this  country  when  seventeen 
years  of  age,  locating  in  Potsdam,  and  for  a  few  years  was  employed  by  Ralph 
Pringle.  He  then  bought  a  farm  of  fort}^  acres  m  Potsdam,  but  sold  that  place 
and  bought  100  acers  more,  where  our  subject  now  lives,  to  which  he  has  added 
twenty-six  acres.  He  afterward  bought  the  old  Erwin  farm  of  ninety-two  acres  and 
then  bought  of  Mrs.  Rutherford  thirty-six  acres  more.  He  married  in  1838.  Elizabeth 
Tennant,  also  a  native  of  Scotland.  John  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  August  28,  1862,  in  Co.  I,  142d  N.  Y.  Vol, 
Infy.,  and  served  two  years  and  nine  months,  bemg  with  them  at  Cold  Harbor,  Drury's 
Bluff,  Fort  Fisher,  before  Petersburg  and  many  other  minor  engagements,  escaping 
without  a  wound.  He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Camp  Wheeler,  June  7.  1865. 
Returning  home  he  took  the  Erwin  farm  (ninety-eight)  acres  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  In  1889  he  came  into  possession  of  the  136  acre  farm  adjoining,  also  a  wood 
lot  of  twenty-five  acres.  He  conducts  it  as  a  dairy  with  twenty-two  cows  and  other 
stock.  Mr.  Ford  is  a  staunch  Republican,  but  never  cared  for  public  office.  He  is  a 
member  of  Luther  Priest  Post  No.  167,  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  married  in  1865,  Nancy  V.,  daughter  of  William  Hesselgrave 
and  EUzabeth  Hesselgrave,  and  they  have  had  three  children  :  William  J.,  who  lives  at 
home ;  Edwin  0..  of  Devil's  Lake,  Dakota,  and  Nettie  E.  Ford.  Mrs.  Ford  died  No- 
vember 7,  1877,  at  forty-two  years  of  age. 

Gary,  Shepard  S.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  May  5,  1827,  one  of  five 
children  of  Elnathan  and  Rhoda  (Goodrich)  Gary,  the  latter  a  native  of  Potsdam, 
and  the  former  many  years  a  resident  there.  Shepard  S.  Gary  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  When  a  boy  he  earned  his  own  livlihood.  He  spent  six  years 
with  Augustine  Clarkston,  of  Potsdam,  and  then  came  to  Stockholm,  where  he 
learned  the  carpenter  trade.  This  and  also  the  trade  of  a  wheelwright  he  fol- 
lowed for  many  years.  He  first  settled  in  Stockholm  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  W. 
Sampson,  which  he  traded  for  the  one  he  now  owns  of  100  acres.  He  also  owns  the 
factory  known  as  the  Gary  creamery,  which  manufactures  3,000  pounds  of  butter  per 
month.  In  1853  Mr.  Gary  married  Mirinda  Seaver,  of  Stockholm,  a  daughter  of 
Raymond  Seaver.  Their  children  are:  Homer  E.,  Effie,  Kate  (deceased),  Addie, 
Luna  (deceased),  Fred  and  Minnie.  Homer  E.  is  a  resident  of  Tupper  Lake.  His 
wife  is  Bertha,  daughter  of  J.  S.  Chellis,  and  their  children  are  :  Mabel,  Mildred  (de- 
deased)  and  Isabella.  Homer  Gary  is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  395,  F.  and  A.  M., 
of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  Potsdam  Lodge,  and  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  Winthrop  Lodge. 
Effie  is  the  wife  of  George  G.  Gillett,  of  Stockholm.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0. 
F.  Winthrop  Lodge.  Mr.  Gary  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  liberal  in  religion.  He 
is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  and  A.  M, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  51 

Gregor,  David,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  March  5,  1814,  and  came  to 
America  in  1818.  His  father,  John,  who  came  out  the  same  year,  lived  in  Ham- 
mond until  his  death  which  occurred  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven.  Mr.  Gregor 
married  Mary  Ann  Henderson,  by  whom  he  has  eight  children,  all  living :  John  J., 
Andrew  H.,  Alexander  A.,  Helen  J.,  Margaret  Allen,  Daniel  W.,  Mary  E.  and  Jessie 
Belle.  Mr.  Gregor's  mother  was  Margaret  (Allan)  Gregor.  Mr.  Gregor  has  been 
prominently  connected  with  public  affairs  in  Hammond  and  the  county  for  many 
years,  and  is  one  of  the  wealthy  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  this  town. 

Gibbons,  Williams,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  October  22,  1853.  He 
received  an  excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  this  town,  after  which  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  engaged  in  clerking  here.  In  1876,  he  established  his  present 
stove,  furnace  and  hardware  business,  which  has  proved  very  successful.  Mr.  Gib- 
bons married  in  1887.  Catherine  Shannahan.  Mr.  Gibbons  has  held  the  position  of 
excise  commissioner  for  the  past  six  years  for  the  town  of  Oswegatchie.  He  enjoys 
the  esteem  and  respect  of  this  community. 

Gwin.  Hilend.  Ogdensburg.  conducts  a  grocery  establishment  on  west  side  oppo- 
site the  offices  of  Rhodee  &  Bill.  He  participated  in  the  late  war,  was  a  member 
of  Co.  L,  Frontier  Cavalry,  and  after  the  close,  became  identified  with  the  grain  ele- 
vator here  where  he  was  a  trusted  employee  for  many  years.  Mr.  Gwin  has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Amelia  Marshall,  and  his  second,  Amelia  Perkins. 
He  has  four  children  living.  Mr.  Gwin  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
Knights  of  Labor,  etc. 

Grant,  Andrew,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Matilda,  Canada,  in  1812,  and  was  a  son  of  Ju- 
lius Grant.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came 
to  Norfolk  in  1840  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  resided  a  number  of  years,  then 
went  to  West  Canada,  but  afterwards  returned  to  Norfolk  where  he  died  August  1, 
1882.  He  was  a  Repubhcau  and  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  but 
died  an  Adventist.  He  married  Mary  Worthing,  by  svhom  he  had  three  sons:  Benson, 
Philemon  and  Andrew.  His  wife  died  in  1848  and  Mr.  Grant  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Angelina  Tolb,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  His  second  wife 
died  in  1855  and  he  married  her  sister,  Mrs.  John  Perry,  who  still  survives  him.  Ben- 
son was  born  m  Madrid  in  1840,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming.  He  and  Philemon,  his  brother,  own  a  farm  of  215  acres  and 
keep  a  dairy  of  thirty  cows.  Andrew  Grant,  the  youngest  child,  enlisted  in  the  late 
war  in  Company  A,  14th  Heavy  Artillery,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor. 
Philemon  was  born  in  Norfolk  July  22,  1842,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  In  1880  he  married  Annie  E.  Bush  of  Norfolk, 
daughter  of  Charles  Bush.  She  was  born  in  Massena  December  24,  1852.  They  have 
had  three  children:  Benson,  Maude  A.  and  Lester  M.  Mr.  Grant  is  a  Repubhcan  in 
politics.  Charles  Bush  was  a  native  of  Massena,  born  October  3,  1812.  He  was  a  son 
of  Charles  Bush,  and  early  settler  of  Long  Sault  Island.  He  was  a  farmer  and  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  Massena.  He  moved  from  there  to  Raymondville  and  afterward  to 
Grant ville,  where  he  died  in  1871.     His  wife  was  Jane  Miller,  by   whom  he  had  four 


52  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sons  and  two  daughters.  Mrs  Bush  was  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Miller  of  Massena, 
who  married  Ann  Coates,  a  native  of  England,  who  came  from  there  when  sixteen 
years  of  age.     Mr.  Miller  died  in  Massena  in  1877  and  his  wife  in  1883. 

Grant,  George,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk  June  28,  1841,  being  the  first  child  born 
in  the  Grant  Settlement.  His  father,  James,  was  a  son  of  Julius,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, who  went  to  Canada  when  a  young  man  and  married  Sarah  Sikes  of  Canada,  by 
whom  he  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  They  came  in  1840  to  Norfolk,  where  they 
lived  and  died.  He  was  a  British  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  had  it  not  been  for 
a  comrade  would  have  lost  his  life  while  crossing  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  He  died 
May  18.  18G4,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  and  his  wife,  February  22,  18G3,  aged  seventy- 
seven  years.  James  Grant  was  born  in  Matilda,  Canada,  January  26,  1811,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  He  received  but  a  limited  education,  but  being  a  great  reader,  be- 
came a  well-informed  man.  He  married  Loana  Rosinbarrager,  a  native  of  Williams- 
burg, Canada,  born  May  24,  1816,  and  they  had  ten  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  older 
two  born  in  Canada.  James  Grant,  with  three  brothers,  Andrew,  Jacob  and  Julius, 
made  settlements  in  Norfolk  about  1840,  in  the  part  known  as  the  Grant  Settlement. 
James  died  June  14.  1873  and  his  wife  survives  him  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  being  now 
seventy-seven  years  of  age.  George  Grant  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  September  11,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  60th  N.Y. Vol.,  serving 
two  years  and  three  months.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg 
and  at  the  latter  place  lost  his  left  arm.  He  has  just  visited  the  battlefield  of  Gettys- 
burg it  being  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the  battle.  He  has  received  a  medal  of  hon- 
or for  the  part  he  took  in  that  desperate  fight.  He  married  in  December,  1869,  Nettie 
M.  Couch,  a  native  of  Martinsburg,  Lewis  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Lorin  and  Eliza 
I.  Couch,  who  settled  in  Norfolk  in  1867.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  have  had  three 
children  :  Grace  L.,  died  March  25,  1890,  aged  nineteen  years ;  Leslie  L.  is  now  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Dora  E.  died  March  10,  1885,  aged  two  months  and 
twenty-one  days.  Mr.  Grant  owns  a  farm  of  118  acres  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  eight- 
een cows.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  inspector  of  elections  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  White  Star  Association,  Patrons  of  Industry,  of  which  he  is 
president.     He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Association. 

Grant,  Nelson  J.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk  January  11,  1872.  His  father  was 
Jacob,  a  son  of  Julius  Grant.  Jacob  was  born  in  1815  in  Matilda,  Canada,  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came  to  Norfolk  in  1840  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  now  owned  by  his  five  sons.  Mr.  Grant  owned  450  acres  of  land.  In 
1852  he  married  Malvina  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  daughter  of  Jesse  Carpen- 
ter. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters:  William,  H.  D.,  Albert  R., 
Edward  A.,  Calvin  D.  and  Edith  E.  now  living.  Mrs.  Grant  was  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  church,  which  her  family  also  attended  and  supported.  Mr.  Grant  died  in  1882  and 
his  wife  in  1873.  Nelson  J.  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  He  engaged  in  farming  and  has  since  followed  that 
occupation.  He  and  his  brother,  Albert  R.,  own  about  125  acres  of  the  homestead.  Mr. 
Grant  is  a  Prohibitionist 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  53 

Griswold,  Robert  B.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm  March  19,  1835,  a  son  of 
Jonah  B.  Griswold.  Robert  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  married  Roseltha  Thatcher,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  by  whom  he  has  eight  children : 
Ora  I.,  DeForest  J.,  Lillian  M.,  Ethel  G.,  Lulu  E.,  Leroy  A.,  Robert  F.  and  Edith  G. 
DeForest  married  Leona  Richey  and  they  have  one  child,  Gerald  A.  Mr.  Griswold  has 
always  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  dealing  and  owns  250  acres.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  H.  No.  538,  Stockholm  Depot  Lodge.  In 
religion  he  is  independent,  but  the  family  attend  and  support  the  Congregational 
church.  April  22,  1861,  Mr.  Griswold  enlisted  in  the  16th  N.  Y.  Infanty,  Co.  F,  under 
Captain  Gilmore,  and  served  two  years,  participating  in  sixteen  battles. 

Goodale,  Lucius  L.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam  November  26,  1831. 
The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  trace  of  in  this  family  is  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Timothy  Goodale,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county.  He  took  up  land  in  Potsdam,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He 
married  Lydia  Smith,  and  they  had  four  sons :  Solomon,  Chauncy,  Cyrus  and  Timothy, 
and  three  daughters :  Chloe,  Matilda  and  Caroline.  Chauncy,  the  second  son  and  fath- 
er of  our  subject,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  January  11,  1799,  and  was  a  lad  of  only 
ten  years  when  the  family  moved  to  Potsdam.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  taught  successfully  for  about  four  years.  Early  in  life  he  took  up  land  and  followed 
farming  a  few  years  and  then  learned  the  mason's  trade  In  politics  he  was  first  a 
Whig  and  then  an  Abolitionist  and  Free-soil  party  man.  He  married  when  about 
twenty -five  years  of  age,  Hepsibah,  daughter  of  Manasses  and  Bulah  Sawyer.  Man- 
asses  Sawyer  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  March  28,  1759,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  eight  years.  Chauncy  Goodale  was  the  father  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Azubah,  married  Johnson  W.  Dayton  of  Potsdam,  now  deceased;  Harriet  W., 
who  married  William  Lee  of  Potsdam,  died  January  10,  1862,  and  Lucius  L.  The  latter 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam, 
and  began  teaching  school  when  eighteen  years  of  age  in  the  town  of  Canton.  He 
taught  about  five  years  in  Potsdam  and  in  1858  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  taught  two 
years,  and  returning,  was  principal  of  No.  8  school  in  Potsdam  village  nine  years.  On 
account  of  the  death  of  his  father,  November  12,  1870,  he  was  called  to  his  home  for  a 
year,  and  the  next  two  years  he  was  principal  of  Norwood  Union  School.  In  the  fall 
of  1875  he  was  elected  school  commissioner  of  the  Third  Assembly  district  of  St.  Law- 
rence county,  and  re-elected  in  1878.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  school  commis- 
sioner he  retired  He  was  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Teachers'  association 
for  a  number  of  years  and  is  the  present  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Fire  Re- 
Hef  association.  He  is  a  member  of  Potsdam  Grange  No.  39.  Mr.  Goodale  married 
September  9,  1858,  Myra  A.,  daughter  of  Deacon  Ephriam  Boynton  and  Alice  Thurston. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Harriet  Grace,  a  graduate  of  Potsdam  State  Nor- 
mal School,  class  of  '93,  now  taking  a  post-graduate  course. 

Gedbaw,  Francis,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Ont.,  January  6,  1837.  He 
came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1857,  and  for  two  years  was  finishing  up  and  learning  the  finer 
branch  of  carriage  and  wagon  making,  which  he  had  been  learning  for  a  considerable 
period  in  Canada.     In  1868  he  established  himself  in  business  here,  which  since  that 


54  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

time  he  has  conducted.  Mr.  G-edbaw  married  in  1860  Sophia  Derochie,  and  they  have 
four  children.  Some  time  after  her  death  he  married  Catherine  O'Connor.  Mr.  Ged- 
baw  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  society,  and  is  much 
respected  in  this  city. 

Guerin,  Amos,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  La  Prairie,  Canada,  December  7, 1840.  He 
came  to  Ogdensburg  when  eleven  years  of  age,  and  some  time  afterward  began  to 
learn  the  joiner's  trade,  eventually  learning  that  of  ship  carpenter  also.  He  was  for 
fourteen  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Marine  Railway  as  ship  carpenter,  and  after  that 
started  for  himself  on  the  west  side.  He  was  burned  out  there  and  lost  everything. 
He  then  moved  over  to  the  main  or  business  part  of  the  town  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  river,  where  he  has  followed  for  some  time  the  occupation  of  boat  building. 
He  has  built  many  of  the  finest  boats  used  here,  and  is  a  first  class  designer  and  work- 
man. Mr.  Guerin  married  many  years  ago  Mary  Ann  McDonald,  of  Brockville,  and  has 
eleven  children.  Mrs.  Guerin  died  the  18th  of  January,  1893.  He  is  a  staunch  Cath- 
olic, and  is  much  esteemed. 

Griswold,  Joseph  N.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  September  2,  1833.  His 
father,  Jonah  B.,  was  a  native  of  Essex  county,  born  March  8,  1802.  He  was  thrice 
married,  first  in  1827  to  Poll}'  Fuller,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  She  died  July 
25,  1832,  and  he  married  second  Miranda,  daughter  of  Parley  Seaver,  a  native  of  Crown 
Point,  born  March  14,  1814.  By  his  second  wife  Mr.  Griswold  had  six  sons  and  one 
daughter.  His  wife  died  June  23,  1843,  and  he  married  third  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Chapman) 
Newton.  About  1828  he  came  to  Stockholm  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Joseph  N.  His  death  occurred  June  18,  1882.  Mrs.  Griswold  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm.  Joseph  N.  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  is  a  general  farmer 
and  dairyman.  His  farm  comprises  200  acres,  and  supports  twenty- one  cows.  Jan- 
uary 1,  1865,  he  married  Elmina  Fenner,  a  native  of  Herkimer,  born  August  27,  1833. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Fenner,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  who  was  born  May  28, 1802, 
and  married  Nancy  Farmer,  born  February  23,  1810,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  two 
daughters.  In  1849  Nathan  settled  in  Stockholm,  and  there  died  April  3,  1892,  and  his 
wife  March  30,  1882.  Joseph  N.  and  wife  had  three  children  :  Lora  M.,  wife  of  Byron 
Dearborn,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  is  now  a  farmer  of  Stockholm  ; 
Minnie  A.,  wife  of  Dr.  Alfred  R.  Allen,  of  Parishville,  and  Freddie  M.,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1876.  Mr.  Griswold  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge,  No. 
395,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Parishville. 

Gibson.  Jason,  Stockholm,  was  born  January  15,  1825,  in  Vergennes,  Vt,  and  was 
thirteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  Stockholm  with  his  parents,  John  and  Hannah 
Gibson.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  owns,  and  has  always  followed  farming  as  an 
occupation.  He  owns  165  acres  in  Stockholm  and  twenty  in  Lawrence.  He  keeps  a 
dairy  of  twenty  cows.  In  1854  our  subject  married  Malissa  Weller,  a  native  of  Hop- 
kinton,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  :  Bertha,  wife  of  Herbert  P.  Smith,  of  St. 
Regis  Falls,  has  one  son,  George;  Elsie,  resides  in  Stockholm;  Lois,  wife  of  Fred 
Adams,  of  Lawrence,  has  two  children,  Elmer  and  Libbie;  Charlei  married  Carrie 
Adams  and  has  one  child,  Archie.     They  reside  at  Santa  Clare,  N.  Y. ;  Fred  resides  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  55 

Vermont;   and  Flora,  wife  of  Samuel  Nelson,  a  farmer  of  Stockholm.     Mr.  Gibson  is  a 
Republican,  and  a  member  of  P.  of  H.,  Fort  Jackson  Lodge. 

Gates,  A.  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fowler,  November  25,  1850.  He  was  a 
farmer's  son,  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  went 
to  Wisconsin  and  thence  to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  ten  years.  He  came  to  Gou- 
verneur in  1889,  and  embarked  in  the  flour  and  feed  business.  In  1874  he  married 
Frances  C.  Bacon.     He  is  a  Mason  and  a  Democrat. 

Gregory,  A.  W.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Lackawack,  Ulster  county,  March  2,  1856, 
and  began  his  business  career  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Grand  Gorge,  Delaware  county.  In 
1874  he  went  to  Binghamton,  N.  Y..  in  the  capacity  of  book-keeper  for  a  wholesale 
shoe  manufacturing  firm.  Thinking  that  this  occupation  was  injuring  his  health,  he 
Avent  to  New  York  and  obtained  a  position  as  salesman  in  the  employ  of  Lord  &  Tay- 
lor, dry  goods  merchants.  From  there  he  went  to  Brier  Hill,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
where  he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  1881.  In  1888  he  was  president  of  Og- 
densburg  Dairyman's  Board  of  Trade,  and  while  holding  that  office  went  to  Europe  to 
study  the  English  butter  and  cheese  markets.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
exporting  cheese  to  Europe,  and  has  developed  a  large  business,  which  he  still  con- 
ducts. May  15,  1890,  Mr.  Gregory  was  appointed  customs  officer  at  Morristown.  He 
is  a  high  degree  Mason,  and  an  Odd  Fellow.  In  1886  and  1887  was  D.  D.  G.  M.  of  the 
latter  order  for  the  district  of  St.  Lawrence.  In  1876  he  married  Araminta  Coonradt, 
stepdaughter  of  Charles  Fitch,  of  Brier  Hill,  and  they  have  three  children :  James  Mer- 
ton,  Edna  and  Egbert  Coonradt. 

Goodnough,  William  H.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  September  25,  1839,  and 
has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  except  while  serving  iii  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  1863 
in  Co.  H,  20th  N.  Y.  Cav.,  Captain  Spencer  commanding,  from  which  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged  in  1865.  In  1861  Mr.  Goodnough  married  Ellen  Kitts,  and  they  have 
three  children  :  Sherman  Grant,  Ross  Earle  and  Cornie  E.,  now  Mrs.  R.  K.  Smith.  Mr. 
Goodnough's  father,  Abel,  was  born  in  1801  and  is  still  living. 

Gagnon,  J.  L.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada  in  January,  1838.  He  has  con- 
ducted a  meat  business  in  Ogdensburg  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years.  In  1862  he 
married  Miss  D.  Cardinal,  and  they  have  no  children.  Mr.  Gagnon  is  a  prominent 
member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society,  of  which  society  he  is  a  charter  member.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  church,  and  is  a  thorough  reliable  and  honorable  business  man 
and  a  good  citizen. 

Graves,  James  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Waddington,  St.  Lawrence  county,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1862.  The  father  of  our  subject,  William,  is  also  a  native  of  Waddington,  born 
there  in  1832.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed but  a  few  years,  when  he  was  obliged  to  give  it  up,  as  it  was  injurious  to  his 
health.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  and  mother  of  our  subject,  was 
Mary  A.  Dowdell  She  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Graves 
died  October  18,  1878.  James  M.  received  his  education  in  the  Union  School  in  his 
native  town,  and  taught  for  two  terms  in  a  district  school.  In  February,  1882,  he  en- 
tered Potsdam  State  Normal   School.     He  was  out  from  time  to  time  teaching  in  dis- 


56  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

trict  schools,  and  graduated  in  the  classical  course  in  1888.  The  last  year  of  his  course 
was  devoted  principally  to  teaching  in  the  preparatory  department,  and  in  June,  1888, 
he  was  elected  as  a  regular  teacher  of  preparatory  reading,  arithmetic  and  grammar, 
and  had  charge  of  the  intermediate  rhetorical  work,  and  did  office  work.  In  1889  he 
went  with  Dr.  Cook  to  New  Jersey,  and  taught  in  the  Rutger's  College  grammar 
school,  returning  to  Potsdam  in  the  spring  of  1890.  After  being  re-elected  he  has  had 
charge  of  preparatory  subjects, — composition  and  rhetorical  work,  and  penmanship. 
He  is  a  member  of  tlie  Presbyterian  church. 

Gribson,  George  N.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  June  4,  1845.  His  father, 
Captain  Warren  Gibson,  was  a  sou  of  John  Gibson,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Vergennes,  Vt.  Here  he  married  Hannah  White,  by 
whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade.  In  1836  he 
came  to  Stockholm  and  settled  the  farm  now  owned  by  Jason  Gibson.  Here  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  1865,  and  his  wife  in  1869.  Captain  Warren  Gibson  was  born  in 
Vergennes,  Vt.,  October  '29,  1818.  He  was  reared  a  miller  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  came  to  Stockholm  with  his  parents  and  after  one  year  on  a  farm  came 
to  West  Stockholm  and  worked  for  Hosea  Bicknell  in  the  grist  mill.  After  four  years 
he  purchased  the  mill  and  continued  the  business  until  I860,  when  he  sold  and  re- 
bought  in  1862,  and  again  sold  and  rebought  in  1863,  and  carried  on  business  until  his 
death  in  January,  1887.  Mr.  Gibson  enlisted  in  the  16th  N.  Y.  Inf'y,  Co.  H.,  and  was 
made  captain  of  his  company.  He  was  the  first  man  to  enlist  in  the  town  of  Stock- 
holm. He  served  until  June  27,  1862,  when  he  was  wounded  in  the  head  at  Gaines  Mill, 
and  lost  both  of  his  eyes.  In  1842  Captain  Gibson  married  Mary  Westover,  born 
January  6,  1819,  in  Vermont.  Her  parents  were  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Holcomb)  West- 
over,  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Stockholm  in  1825,  where  the  mother  died.  Mr. 
Westover  went  to  Ohio  and  afterwards  returned  to  Stockholm,  where  he  died  in  1859 
Mr.  Gibson  and  wife  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. He  died  January  18,  1887,  and  his  wife  now  resides  in  West  Stockholm,  aged 
seventy-four  years.  George  N.  Gibson  took  charge  of  his  father's  business  and  carried 
it  on  until  the  death  of  his  father,  at  which  time  our  subject  purchased  the  estate  and 
has  since  carried  on  a  very  successful  business  in  West  Stockholm.  In  1872  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  At  present  he  makes  lumber,  shingles,  butter 
tubs,  furniture,  also  owns  a  grist-mill  and  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
having  a  two-story  building  25  x  60  feet,  which  he  purchased  in  1887  of  his  father's 
estate.  At  present  Mr.  Gibson  employs  in  his  various  kinds  of  business,  twenty-five 
men.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  December  17,  1867,  he  married  Mary  E.  Bur- 
roughs, a  native  of  Potsdam,  and  a  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Adaline  (Loverin) 
Burroughs,  of  Potsdam,  where  Mr.  Burroughs  was  born  in  1810,  and  lived  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Gibson  and  wife  have  had  two  sons,  George  H.,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Leon  L.,  who  graduated  from  Potsdam  Normal  School  in  1893,  and  at  present  assists 
his  father.  Mrs.  Gibson  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  which  the  family  attend  and 
support. 

Graham,  John,  Waddington,  was  born  in   Lisbon,  St.  Lawrence  county,  August  8, 
1849.     His  father  James,  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1798,  and  was  eighteen  years  of  age 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  57 

when  he  came  to  Lisbon  with  his  parents,  they  being  among  the  first  settlers  of  that 
town.  Mr.  Graham  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  followed  farming  as  a  life  occupation, 
having  in  Lisbon  225  acres  of  land.  He  married  Jane  Graham,  of  Ireland,  by  whom 
he  had  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Graham  was  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Lisbon 
Centre.  Mr.  Graham  died  in  1881,  and  his  wife  resides  in  Lisbon.  John  Graham  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Lisbon.  He  built  a  butter 
factory  and  carried  on  a  successful  business  for  three  years  in  connection  with  farming, 
having  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty-four  acres.  This  he  sold  and  in  1890  came  to  Wad- 
dington  and  purchased  a  100  acres,  known  as  the  McDowell  farm,  where  he  now 
resides.  April  18,  1878,  he  married  Phoebe,  daughter  of  James  Randies  of  Lisbon,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Maud  J.  Mr.  Graham  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and 
family  attend  and  support  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington. 

Grifiith,  D.  C,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  December  3,  1849,  in  Vermont.  He  came  to 
Ogdensburg,  when  seventeen  years  of  age  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  American 
Express  Company.  This  corporation  recognizing  his  sterling  worth  gradually  promoted 
him  until  the  entire  business  was  eventually  placed  under  his  control  for  this  district  and 
Prescott.  He  has  now  been  in  the  employ  of  this  company  twenty-seven  years.  In 
1874  Mr.  Griffith  married  Miss  L.  M.  Butts,  who  was  a  graduate  of  the  Oswego  Nor- 
mal School,  and  afterwards  a  successful  teacher.  They  have  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Mr.  Griffith  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  R.  A.,  treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
treasurer  of  the  Ogdensburg  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  treasurer  of  the  Burns 
Curling  Club,  treasurer  of  the  Public  Library  Association,  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Ogdensburg  Club,  etc.,  and  has  an  interest  in  a  group  of  beautiful  islands  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  river,  upon  which  he  spends  the  summer  months  with  his  family.  Mrs. 
Griffith  is  an  attractive  and  influential  church  woman. 

Gage,  John  C,  Madrid,  was  born  in  South  East,  Putnam  county,  December  12, 
1832,  the  oldest  son  of  Samuel  D.  Gage.  His  parents  moved  to  Salisbury,  Herkimer 
county,  when  he  was  an  infant ;  it  was  there  his  boyhood  was  spent.  In  1844  they 
moved  to  Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  county.  At  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject  engaged 
as  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  uncle,  Alden  S.  Gage,  in  Salisbury.  After  coming  to  St_ 
Lawrence  county  he  entered  the  employ  of  Seth  J.  Dew-ey  in  his  general  store  at  Wad- 
dington, and  remained  with  him  about  ten  years.  In  1854-55,  he  Avas  a  commercial 
traveler,  and  from  1856  59,  was  in  Buffalo.  The  year  of  1860  he  spent  in  Waddington 
and  September,  1861,  he  established  a  general  store  in  Madrid,  where  he  has  since 
continued.  He  was  alone  in  business  for  five  years,  and  in  1866  was  joined  in 
partnership  by  his  brother,  Silvanus  D.  The  firm  of  J.  C.  Gage  &  Bro.  existed  until 
1883,  since  which  time  our  subject  has  been  alone.  He  now  has  a  large  double  store 
at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streets,  carrying  a  complete  line  of  dry  goods,  boots 
and  shoes,  crockery,  groceries  and  general  merchandise.  In  March,  1877,  Mr.  Gage's 
store  was  burned  by  burglars,  who  succeeded  in  exploding  and  robbing  the  safe,  and 
setting  fire  to  the  store.  His  loss  was  about  $18,000.  An  attempt  to  repeat  this  out- 
rage was  made  May  29,  1893,  which  resulted  only  in  the  destruction  of  the  safe  and 
h 


58  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

loss  of  a  small  amount  of  silver.  Mr.  Gage  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  has  at 
dififerent  times  been  a  candidate  on  the  minority  ticket  for  member  of  assembly  for 
second  district,  and  has  served  on  county  committees  and  has  been  delegate  to  nu- 
merous State  conventions  for  thirty  years.  He  is  really  the  leader  of  his  party  in  this 
town.  Mr.  Gage  has  married  twice,  first  in  September,  1861,  Minerva,  daughter  of 
Jesse  Cogswell,  of  Madrid,  who  died  in  1863,  leaving  one  son,  Jesse,  who  died  in 
infancy.  He  married  second,  in  1864,  Minerva,  daughter  of  Robert  Pierce,  of  Potsdam, 
and  they  have  two  children:  Vinnie  B.,  a  student  of  the  New  England  Conservatory 
of  Music  at  Boston;  and  William  C,  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store. 

Holmes,  Adam  J.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Vermont,  March,  9,  1844,  and  came  to 
St.  Lawrence  county  when  an  infant.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  took  up  milling  and  contractimg  and  has  been  superintendent  of 
mills  ever  since.  He  is  at  present  superintendent  of  Dean  &  Aldrich's  mills  at  Natural 
Dam,  does  the  sawing  of  the  vast  amount  of  lumber  turned  out  by  this  firm.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  a  thorough  and  most  successful  businesss  man  and  has  occupied  his 
present  position  since  1872.  In  1878  he  married  Edith  Fuller,  and  they  have  two 
children :  Herbert  and  Marion.     Mr.  Holmes  is  a  Mason,  passed  to  the  commandery. 

Holmes,  Charles  R.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Westford,  Vt.,  April  24,  1842,  a  son  of 
Jonathan  Holmes,  a  farmer  of  Westford  and  Milton.  In  1846  his  parents  moved  to  St. 
Lawrence  county,  locating  in  Lawrence.  Later  he  went  to  Stockholm,  where  he  lives, 
aged  eighty-three  years,  and  his  wife,  seventy-six  years  old.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  also  a  native  of  Westford.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  K.  Bates.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  Charles  R.  was  the  third  son.  He 
was  only  a  lad  when  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  this  until  the 
war  broke  out.  He  enlisted  in  the  navy  in  1864  and  spent  one  year  in  service  with  the 
North  Atlantic  squadron.  He  returned  in  1865  and  engaged  in  milling  at  Norwood 
with  Loveless  &  Fonda,  who  at  that'time  were  building  the  steammill.  The  first  year  he 
was  second  hand  and  the  balance  of  the  time,  about  seven  years,  he  was  foreman,  and 
during  the  time  re-built  the  water  mill  and  put  in  the  improved  machinery.  He  was 
one  year  a  partner  with  William  Kemp  in  the  American  House  at  Norwood  and  then 
sold  his  interest  to  Kemp  and  bought  the  Elm  street  restaurant  in  Potsdam  of  H.  L.  & 
M.  B.  V.  Ives.  After  one  year  there  he  spent  a  year  with  his  brother,  A.  J.  Holmes, 
in  Gouverneur  in  the  mills  of  Dean,  Aldrich  &  Weston.  In  1877  he  went  to  Muske- 
gan,  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mill  business  about  three  years.  Returning  in 
August,  1880,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  A.  J.  Holmes,  he  refitted  the  old  Elm 
street  restaurant  and  opened  it  as  a  hotel  under  the  name  of  "The  Albion,"  and  while 
conducting  the  hotel  built  and  operated  the  A.  Sherman  lumber  mill  at  Sissonville.  The 
restaurant  was  a  new  four  story  building,  thirty-three  feet  front,  with  an  annex  of  a 
two-story  building.  This  annex  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1883  and  the  firm 
of  C.  R.  &  A.  J.  Holmes  rebuilt  from  the  office  east,  adding  a  four-story  building  for 
dining  room,  kitchen,  sample  rooms  and  out-kitchen,  with  about  forty  sleeping  rooms. 
Later  they  bought  the  Tupper  property  to  the  east  of  the  hotel,  where  the  Potsdam 
reading  room  is  located,  and  still  later  Mrs.  C.  R.  Holmes  bought  the  McChesney  prop- 
erty  used  in  connection  with  the  hotel  as  a  park.     Mr.  Holmes  is  a  member  of  Rac- 


i'ERSONAL  SKETCHES  69 

quette  River  Lodge  No.  213.  F.  &  A.  M.;  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  of  Perfection  ;  Central 
City  Consistory,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  Media  Temple,  Watertown, 
He  married  April  11,  1882,  Adelaide  A.  Eastman  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Mildred,  a  student  in  the  Normal  School. 

Hall,  Erastus  F.,  Postdam,  was  born  in  Rayraondville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1854.  son  of  Abel  A.,  who  was  the  fifth  son  of  Erastus  and  EHzabeth  (Jackson) 
Hall.  Abel  was  born  in  Norfolk  October  19,  1821,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  his  first  business  ventures  were  in  the  mercantile  business.  The  later  years 
of  his  life  he  was  a  farmer.  He  was  always  a  Democrat  and  he  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  for  some  year.=.  He  died  October  11,  1885.  The  mother  of 
of  our  subject,  Eliza  S.  Winslow,  was  also  a  native  of  Norfolk,  born  September  4, 
1822,  and  she  had  two  children:  Elizabeth  J.,  married  Edgar  T.  Phelps,  died  August  3, 
1890,  aged  forty- three  years ;  and  our  subject.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Norfolk. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  Clinton  Grammar  School  and  Canandaigua 
Academy,  under  Prof.  Noah  T.  Clarke.  After  leaving  school  he  was  a  commercial  trav- 
eler five  years  and  in  1884  bought,  in  parinership  with  C.  C.  Nightengale,  a  grocery  and 
crockery  store  in  Norwood.  This  firm  existed  until  July,  1,  1889,  when  Mr.  Hall 
bought  out  the  interests  of  his  partner  and  has  since  conducted  the  business.  This  is 
the  leading  grocery  in  this  place  and  Mr.  Hall  has  built  up  a  trade  here  second  to  none 
in  the  town.  He  is  a  Democrat,  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge  No.  689,  ¥.  &  A. 
M.,  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24,  R.  A.  M.,  and  St.  Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28,  K. 
T.  He  is  a  director  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Norwood  Savings,  Loan  and  Build- 
ing Association.  He  married,  October  15,  1884,  Lilla  A.,  daughter  of  Allan  D.  Calkins, 
a  native  of  Clinton  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Allan  Atwood  Hall,  now  in  his 
eighth  year. 

Honeycomb,  John  Symons.  The  town  of  Gouverneur  is  widely  known  because  of 
its  talc  and  marble.  One  of  the  best  known  and  most  enterprising  men  of  the  mineral 
regions  is  John  S.  Honeycomb,  who  has  been  identified  with  talc  mining  since  its  incip- 
iency  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  discover  the  great  marble  beds  which  abound  in  this 
locality.  Besides  this  he  has  built  a  great  part  of  the  village  and  has  identified  himself 
with  the  best  interests  and  development  of  the  town.  Mr.  Boneycomb  was  born  in  St. 
Cleer,  Cornwal',  England,  January  8,  1833,  and  learned  the  trade  of  mason  in  that 
country.  In  1855  he  left  England  and  came  to  the  United  States;  but  not  realizing  his 
expectations  in  Gouverneur,  he  left  St.  Lawrence  county  and  went  to  Canada,  where 
he  remained  U  ur  years,  serving  in  that  time  as  captain  of  a  company  of  militia.  In 
1860  he  returned  to  Gouverneur,  where  he  married  Fidelia  Washburn,  and  they  have 
four  children  :  Virgil  F.,  Emma  E.,  Ida  L,  and  John  W.  John  W.  married  Nellie  Enos 
and  they  have  one  son,  John  Howard.  During  the  war  period  our  subject  was  identi- 
fied with  the  lead  mining  interests  of  the  county  and  built  most  of  the  mine  buildings. 
He  also  built  the  blast  furnaces  and  steel  works  at  Ciifton.  He  has  also  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  railroad  building,  having  superintended  the  widening  of  the  New 
York  Central  railroad  from  Schenectady  to  Fort  Plain,  the  first  four  track  road  in  the 
world.  He  was  also  the  contractor  for  building  the  Montreal,  Portland  and  Boston 
railroad,  and  was  associated  with  the  construction  of  the  Quebec  and  Gosford  railway, 


60  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

also  the  Levis  and  Kennebec  railway.  In  building  the  fine  bridge  over  the  Osv^egat- 
chie  in  1876,  Mr.  Honeycomb  discovered  the  marble  beds  of  Gouverneur,  vphile  seeking 
stone  for  abutments  and  piers.  In  1878  Mr.  Honeycomb  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
forming  the  G-ouverneur  Pulp  Company,  with  Col.  Henry  Palmer  and  S.  B.  Van  Duzee, 
Mr.  Honeycomb  being  secretary  of  the  company,  and  he  is  now  joint  owner  with  Col. 
Henry  Palmer,  of  the  talc  property  in  the  town  of  Edwards,  whence  they  drew  their 
supplies  of  talc,  under  lease.  Mr.  Honeycomb  was  also  mainly  instrumental  in  forming 
the  first  organized  marble  company  in  Gouverneur — the  Whitney,  now  the  Gouverneur 
Marble  Company — and  was  its  first  secretary.  Mr.  Honeycomb's  father  and  mother  are 
both  dead  and  lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Canada,  while  his  father's  pa- 
rents both  lie  in  Riverside  cemetery,  Gouverneur.  Mr.  Honeycomb's  grandmother  re- 
ferred to  and  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  were  brothers'  children  (first  cousins),  and  through 
marriage  she  was  aunt  to  George  Borrow,  the  eminent  philologist,  traveler  and  author. 
The  history  of  the  Honeycomb  family  runs  back  to  Norman  times  and  the  fam- 
ily were  always  Royalists.  Members  of  the  family  fought  for  Charles  I.,  suffering  un- 
der the  Protectorate  of  Cromwell,  and  joined  m  the  fetes  in  honor  of  the  restoration. 
The  old  ancestral  mansion  of  the  family  still  stands  near  "Tamar's  banks,"  amid  "the 
stately  homes    of  England." 

Haven,  J.  M.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Dummerston,  Vt.,  May  13,  1822,  and  began  his 
business  career  as  a  clerk  in  Cleveland,  0.,  in  1836.  In  1839  he  returned  to  Putney, 
Vt.,  and  continued  clerking  for  two  years,  then  clerked  for  eight  years  at  Brattleboro. 
In  1850  he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  Brattleboro  and  Rutland,  having  a  store 
in  each  place.  In  1861  he  left  Rutland  and  bought  a  farm  in  Lmcoln,  111.,  and  remained 
there  until  1864,  when  he  went  into  business  in  St.  Louis.  Almostimmediately  he  was 
called  to  take  the  position  of  treasurer  of  the  Rutland  and  Burlington  Railway  Com- 
pany, which  he  filled  for  nineteen  years.  In  1879  he  bought  the  Bates  House  in  Rut- 
land, which  he  made  a  temperance  house.  He  was  also  interested  in  several  other  en- 
terprises at  the  time.  In  1883  he  sold  the  Bates  House,  resigned  his  position  as  treas- 
urer and  moved  to  Albany  to  take  charge  of  several  refrigerators  for  Armour  &  Com- 
pany. In  1886  he  moved  to  Brooklyn  and  assisted  in  closing  up  the  Knickerbocker 
Life  Insurance  Company.  In  1888  he  came  to  Canton  and  bought  the  Hodgkin  House 
(now  the  Haven  House),  and  has  conducted  it  ever  since.  Mr.  Haven  married,  first, 
Harriet  M.  Dickerman,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Dickerman  of  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  in  1848, 
and  they  had  one  son,  Franklin  A.,  now  in  the  Highland  National  Bank  of  Newburg. 
Mrs.  Haven  died  in  1878  and  in  1881  he  married,  second,  Mrs.  Charlotte  L.  Cooke. 
When  the  National  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  organized  in  1874,  Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Haven  was 
made  vice-president  for  Vermont.  She  also  organized  a  State  union  in  Vermont,  and 
was  elected  president  of  it.  She  also  was  president  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society 
of  Vermont  and  of  the  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Rutland,  Vt.,  taking  an  active 
part  in  church  work  of  all  kinds. 

Holmes,  S.  W.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  St.  Albans,  Vt,  October  1,  1815.  His  father 
was  Sheveric  Holmes,  a  native  of  Bennington,  born  April  24,  1784.  He  married  in 
Georgia,  Vt.,  Jerusha  Baker,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity.     In  1826  he  and  his  family  came  to  Stockholm  and  settled  on  a  farm 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  61 

one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Winthrop.  Mr.  Holmes  was  a  farmer  and  lumberman. 
He  was  a  Republican  and  held  the  office  of  high  sheriff  of  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  for 
several  years.  He  was  also  supervisor  of  Stockholm.  He  died  July  28,  1872,  and  his 
wife  May  2,  1859.  S.  W.  Holmes  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  became  to  Stockholm 
with  his  parents.  He  has  spent  his  life  in  farming,  but  at  present  lives  retired  at  Win- 
throp. He  married  in  Fairfield,  Vt.,  June  24,  1847,  Harriet  N.  Burr,  a  native  of  that 
town  and  daughter  of  Col.  Aaron  Burr  of  Redding,  Conn.,  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
The  wife  of  the  latter  was  Rebecca  Cook,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  five  still  living. 
Colonel  Burr  was  the  only  child  of  Jabez  (who  died  in  1825)  and  Mary  (Bartrum)  Burr. 
Mr.  Holmes  and  wife  have  one  child,  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  A.  N.  Trussell  of  Minneao- 
olis,  Minn.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Helen  H.  Mr.  Holmes  has  always  been  a 
Republican  but  has  never  desired  public  office.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church  at  Winthrop. 

Hannan,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland,  June  24,  1844,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  his  parents  in  the  fall  of  1849.  After  receiving  a  good  education  he  en- 
gaged in  the  tobacco  business,  eventually  building  up  a  large  wholesale  and  retail  trade 
in  tobaccos  and  cigars.  He  then  branched  out  into  general  coal  and  lumber  business 
and  carrying  trade,  which  increased  to  its  present  magnitude.  The  company  of  which 
he  is  the  president  and  general  manager  now  controls  from  twelve  to  fifteen  vessels. 
He  also  conducts  a  machine  shop,  and  wood  and  iron  works  here.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Walsh,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Hannan  is  a  staunch 
Democrat.  He  has  served  as  mayor,  alderman,  etc.,  and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  sub- 
stantial men. 

Hall,  Giles  Jackson,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Louisville,  now  Norfolk, 
March  7,  1811.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Erastus,  was  a  native  of  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  born  April  7,  1786.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Elizabeth  Jackson,  was  the 
daughter  of  Giles  Jackson,  who  while  on  General  Gates'  staff  as  chief  drew  up  the  arti- 
cles of  capitulation  of  General  Burgoyne  to  General  Gates  at  Saratoga,  October  16, 
1777.  Erastus  Hall  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Heze- 
kiah  B.,  of  Norwood;  Anson  S.,  a  farmer  of  Norfolk;  Thomas  S.,  a  ranchman  of  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  and  Giles  J.  Erastus  emigrated  to  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1808,  and 
took  up  a  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  where  he  reared  his  family  and  spent 
his  whole  life.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  March  28,  1869,  he  was  the  owner  of  600  or 
700  acres  of  land.  He  held  the  agency  for  the  wild  lands  of  Louisville  and  Norfolk 
from  1824  up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Hall  died  in  March,  1859.  The 
early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  farm  of  his  birth.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  assisted  on  the  farm  until  1829, 
when  he  went  to  Massena  and  was  engaged  in  the  store  of  Benjamin  Phillips  and  Phil- 
lips &  Andrews  until  the  spring  of  1833,  when  he  returned  to  Norfolk  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  and  the  manufacturing  of  lumber  until  1872.  During  these  years 
in  his  native  town,  Mr.  Hall  was  interested  in  the  erection  of  many  of  the  principal 
buildings  of  the  village  of  Raymondville.  Among  them  is  the  grist  mill,  store  and 
dwelling  house  and  saw-mill,  which  are  still  standing.  A  portion  of  the  other  buildings 
have  been  carried  away  by  flood.     Mr.  Hall  was  and  is  now  a  Democrat,  and  has  held 


62  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  office  of  supervisor  three  years.  In  1872  Mr.  Hall  moved  to  the  village  of  Norwood 
where  he  lives  retired.  He  married  in  1842  Wealthy  P.,  daughter  of  11.  G.  Munson,  of 
Potsdam,  and  they  had  one  son,  Charles  E.,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam.  Mrs.  Hall  died  July 
9,  188G.  October  10,  1861,  Thomas  S.  Hall,  brother  of  our  subject,  enrolled  in  Co.  E., 
92d  Regt.,  New  York  State  Inf.,  Vols.  In  January,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  said  company,  subsequently  promoted  major  of  said  regiment,  serving  as  such 
through  the  Peninsular  campaign  under  Gen.  Geo.  B.  McClelland,  participating  in  many 
engagements  that  occurred  from  Newport  News  in  April  to  Harrison's  Landing,  where 
they  arrived  in  August,  1862,  at  which  time  the  regiment  was  transferred  to  Southern 
Virginia,  and  afterwards  to  North  Carolina.  Subsequently,  and  m  August,  1863,  Major 
Hall  was  commissioned  colonel  of  said  regiment,  holding  the  office  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  therefrom.  The  losses  of  the  Ninety-second 
regiment,  then  under  the  command  of  Major  Hall,  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  was 
nearly  one-half  of  the  number  engaged. 

Havens,  Samuel,  Oswegatchie.  grandfather  of  Alonzo,  settled  in  Oswegatchie  about 
1798.  He  followed  farming,  and  was  killed  in  Oswegatchie  during  the  war  of  1812. 
His  son,  Horace  (one  of  eight  children),  was  the  father  of  our  subject.  The  latter  was 
born  October  4,  1832.  He  succeeded  to  eighty-one  acres,  and  added  by  purchase  until 
now  he  possesses  a  farm  of  121  acres.  He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  was 
Isabella  Wetherhead,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah 
Harvey,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.     Mr.  Havens  is  a  successful  farmer. 

Hamlin,  Emory  A.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  N.  Y.,  February  9,  1840.  He 
is  a  son  of  Stephen  S.  Hamlin,  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  county  m  1828.  He  was 
a  clergyman,  but  always  owned  a  farm  and  conducted  it  himself.  Beside  preaching  in 
his  own  town,  he  had  a  circuit  extending  through  Franklin  and  Clinton  counties.  He 
died  in  1870  aged  sixty-two  years.  October  14,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  P2d  N.  Y. 
Vols.,  and  saw  service  with  them  at  Fair  Oaks,  Malvern  Hill,  Newburn,  N.  C,  Cold 
Harbor,  Petersburg,  and  many  others ,  participating  in  sixteen  general  engagements. 
He  was  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  January  7,  1865.  He  went 
out  as  a  private,  and  rose  to  the  rank  nf  sergeant ;  in  1869  he  moved  to  Potsdam,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture  for  fifteen  years ;  in  1887  he  sold  the  fac- 
tory and  engaged  in  the  retail  furniture  trade;  his  store  is  located  in  the  Brooks  & 
Bicknell  Block.  He  is  a  past  commander  of  Marsh  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  church.  He  married  in  1866  Augusta  M.,  a  daughter  of  N.  R.  Merchant, 
of  Merchant,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Hamlin  has  two  daughters,  Inez  S.,  a 
graduate  of  Prof.  Roberts'  College  of  Stenography  in  Elmira,  and  Florence  M.,  a  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  Elmira. 

Heaton,  Charles,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  May  23,  1841,  a  son  of  Lorenzo  D., 
Avho  died  August  5,  1891.  He  was  well  remembered  as  a  politician  and  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  the  town.  He  came  to  this  town  in  1810,  and  always  lived  here  un- 
til his  death.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  next  to  the 
youngest.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and 
enlisted  October  12,  1861,  in  the  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  Co.  B,  and  saw  service  with 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  63 

this  regiment  until  May  31,  1862,  when  he  was  discharged  for  disability.  He  was 
home  only  a  year  when  he  returned,  and  acted  as  sutler's  clerk  in  Scott's  900  cavalry 
until  December,  1863.  After  a  winter  at  home  he  tried  to  enlist  both  in  the  navy  and 
cavalry,  but  was  rejected,  and  found  his  war  service  closed.  He  was  at  work  for  R.  F. 
Welch  the  year  he  spent  at  home,  and  after  his  war  service  was  ended  he  returned  to 
Mr.  Welch  and  finished  his  trade.  On  March  1,  1867,  he  started  for  himself,  and  has 
now  spent  twenty-six  years  in  this  business.  In  1892  he  purchased  the  block  where 
the  store  is  located.  He  is  a  member  of  Marsh  Post,  No.  214,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Heaton 
married  in  1869  Lydia  E.  Herrnian,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  three  children :  Charles 
F.,  an  optician  and  a  graduate  of  Spencer's  Optical  College,  New  York ;  Grace  A.  and 
Ruth  E.,  who  live  at  home. 

Heath,  Milton,  Potsdam,  commonly  known  as  Colonel  Heath,  was  of  Puritan  de- 
scent, his  ancestors  having  come  from  England  among  tlie  early  Pilgrims  and  branched 
into  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  He  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Heath  and  Lucy 
Hidden,  and  was  born  in  Wheelock,  Vt.,  October  2,  1807.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
came  with  his  father  to  Dickinson,  N.Y.,  where  the  family  became  prominent.  The 
father  established  a  stage  house,  the  railway  station  of  those  days  for  the  line  of  mail 
coaches  that  ran  from  Ogdensburg  to  Plattsburg.  He  became  postmaster  and  agent 
for  the  sale  of  lauds,  and  the  house  was  headquarters  for  public  business.  This 
business  fell  ere  long,  by  the  father's  death,  into  the  hands  of  Milton,  who  pros- 
pered and  became  a  sort  of  rural  baron.  He  owned  a  farm  of  many  hundred  acres, 
he  built  a  statel}^  house,  and  employed  many  men,  and  with  it  all  was  generally 
honored  and  respected.  When  thirty  he  married  Emily  Bentley,  then  the  widow  of 
George  Farrar.  They  had  no  children,  but  she  had  a  son  by  the  first  husband,  and  to 
educate  him  they  moved  to  Malone,  and  afterwards  to  various  other  places,  and  finally 
to  Potsdam  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  Meanwhile,  about  1840,  he  raised  a  company  of 
militia,  and  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  was  of  erect  and  noble  bearing, 
full}^  six  feet  tall,  and  when  mounted  on  his  black  charger,  dressed  in  a  blue  and  gold 
uniform  with  scarlet  plume  streaming  from  his  half-moon  hat,  and  attended  by  his 
black  servant  ''Virginia,"  he  made  a  figure  that  is  still  remembered  by  old  men.  His 
latter  days  were  spent  in  Potsdam  where  he  took  great  interest  in  public  affairs,  often 
serving  as  village  trustee  or  school  committee,  but  seeking  no  oflice  of  salary.  He  was 
specially  interested  in  church  matters,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years  was  an  officer  of 
the  Episcopal  church.  When  nearly  seventy,  his  adopted  son,  his  wife,  and  two  adopted 
grandchildren,  all  died  within  a  brief  period,  leaving  him  alone.  Soon  after  his 
brother  who  lived  in  Maryland,  and  whom  he  had  for  some  years  supported,  died  also. 
No  relative  was  left  him  except  a  sister  who  lived  in  New  Jersej',  and  her  son,  his 
nephew.  He  visited  them,  and  they  agreed  to  join  their  fortunes  with  him.  A  firm 
was  formed  at  Potsdam  in  1880,  under  the  firm  name  of  Milton  and  Frederic  Heath, 
for  the  purchase  and  sale  of  lands  and  the  care  of  land  acfencies.  Here  his  declining 
years  were  spent  in  peace.  No  word  of  discord  ever  marred  the  relations  of  uncle  and 
nephew,  and  the  nephew's  children  were  an  unfailing  source  of  pleasure  to  him.  No 
man  ever  loved  children  more  dearly,  and  the  genial  sweet  tempered  old  man  was  loved 
in  return  by  them.  Here,  at  the  age  of  eighty -five,  after  a  long  life  of  usefulness  and 
honor,  he  died  of  praralysis,  November  1,  1892,  and  lies  buried  at  Lawrenceville,  N.  Y. 


64  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Heath,  Frederic  M.,  Potsdam,  appeared  in  Moira,  N.  Y.  promptly  with  the  year  1844, 
having  been  born  there  January  1.  He  was  the  son  of  F.  H.  Petit,  a  physician  of 
local  note,  and  of  Mahala  Heath.  The  father's  ancestry  were  from  Rochelle  in  France, 
but  had  settled  at  an  early  day  in  Saratoga  county ;  while  the  mother's  stock  were 
English  Puritans  from  New  Hampshire.  Both  parents  had  literary  tastes  and  the  father 
was  for  several  years  the  county  school  commissioner,  so  that  Frederick  was  brought 
up  among  books.  At  ten  he  gave  lectures  on  astronomy,  illustrated  by  an  orrery  of 
his  own  making.  The  sun  and  larger  planets  were  balls  of  clay,  and  the  moons  whit- 
tled from  pine.  He  had  a  taste  for  art,  and  drew  a  series  of  Bible  pictures  with  pencil 
and  red  chalk  that  were  meant  to  be  serious,  but  should  have  appeared  in  a  comic 
paper.  At  thirteen  he  read  Barnaby  Rudge  and  formed  a  dark  and  dreadful  club 
among  the  boys,  in  imitation  of  Simon  Tappertit.  They  met  in  distant  woods  where 
their  lodge  was  made  hideous  with  skulls  and  cross  bones,  and  he  kept  their  records  in 
a  secret  alphabet  of  his  invention.  In  due  time  he  went  to  Lawrenceville  Academy 
and  graduated  when  eighteen,  having  made  some  reputation  as  a  debator  and  a  comic 
poet.  He  entered  Union  College,  and  remained  there  till  partly  through  the  Junior 
year.  In  December,  1863,  news  came  that  his  father,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  war, 
had  been  dangerously  wounded.  He  hastened  to  Virginia,  only  to  find  him  dead.  It 
was  now  needful  for  him  to  think  of  a  profession,  and  his  taste  led  towards  minerals 
and  mining.  Just  then  the  first  American  School  of  mines  was  being  founded  at 
Columbia  College,  and  his  friend  Prof.  Chandler  was  chosen  dean.  He  entered,  and 
graduated  there  in  1877,  with  the  degree  of  E.  M.  He  soon  found  a  situation  as  second 
manager  of  a  Pittsburg  iron  firm,  but  the  locality  was  malarial,  and  failing  health 
obliged  him  to  resign.  The  company  were  very  kind  and  sent  him  to  the  mountains 
in  hope  of  a  cure,  but  in  vain.  Rest  restored  him  partly,  and  he  essayed  mining,  first 
in  Ohio,  and  then  near  Easton,  Pa.,  but  he  grew  worse  and  at  last  went  home  to  die, 
so  the  doctors  said,  a  feeble  skeleton  of  ninety  pounds.  He  did  not  die,  but  with  what 
energy  was  left  him  began  search  into  hygiene  and  healthful  living  that  has  since  been 
his  chief  study,  and  on  which  he  has  written  two  pamphlets.  The  first  called  "  The 
Human  Machine,"  was  published  in  Potsdam  in  1884,  and  the  second  in  New  York  in 
1892  by  the  Fowler  &  Wells  Co.  It  may  be  added  that  Mr.  Heath  has  attained  such 
strength  that  he  has  not  had  the  slightest  illness  for  many  years.  In  1869  he  removed 
to  Pompton,  N.  J.,  and  built  a  pleasant  home  in  that  beautiful  region.  He  engaged 
first  in  mining  engineering,  and  then  in  railroad  work,  finally  becoming  general  agent 
of  the  Greenwood  Lake  railway.  At  the  age  of  thirty-one  he  married  Julia  Fullerton, 
the  daughter  of  a  prominent  lawyer,  and  from  this  union,  a  most  happy  one,  have  come 
two  children :  Julien  a  boy  of  sixteen,  and  Flora  aged  six.  Twelve  years  later  his 
mother's  brother,  Milton  Heath,  of  Potsdam,  proposed  to  him  a  partnership  in  his  real 
estate  business,  which  began  to  liurden  his  advancing  years.  Being  childless,  and  the 
last  of  the  Heaths,  he  was  anxious  that  Frederic  should  take  his  name  and  heir  his 
property.  This  was  arranged,  and  in  1880  he  moved  to  Potsdam.  In  1882  he  traveled 
with  Mrs.  Heath  through  Europe,  and  wrote  letters  to  the  local  paper  that  were  widely 
read.  He  is  now  engaged  in  building  a  summer  hotel  at  Lake  Ozonia,  to  be  known  as 
Fernwood  Hall.  Mr.  Heath  is  an  amateur  artist,  and  sometimes  gives  lectures  with 
crayon  illustrations.     He  owns  a  considerable  library,  and  has  been  for  several  years 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  65 

president  of  a  literature  club.     He  has  never  held  political  office,  but  has  been  school 
trustee  and  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  church. 

Herriman.  C.  B.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Fort  Covington,  Franklin  county,  No- 
ven^ber  10,  1833.  He  received  an  excellent  education  and  immediately  after  leaving 
school,  entered  the  establishment  of  William  Hogie  of  that  village.  Afterwards  he  was 
identified  with  E.  B.  Allen  &  Son,  and  J.  B.  Averill,  of  Ogdensburg  for  a  number  of 
years,  in  positions  of  trust.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  purchased  the  grocery  business 
of  John  N.  Oswell,  and  has  since  that  period  been  actively  identified  with  this  special 
branch  of  mercantile  industry,  including  butter  and  cheese  for  eastern  markets.  Mr. 
Herriman  has  served  as  town  clerk  (in  1860),  as  alderman  for  two  years,  1808  and  1869, 
member  of  the  water  commission  for  the  past  twenty  years  and  chairman  for  several 
years,  supervisor  of  the  town  for  the  year  1876,  fair  ground  commissioner  (for  the 
past  twenty-two  years  of  which  he  has  been  secretary),  president  of  the  Dairyman's 
Board  of  Trade  for  several  years,  president  of  the  Grocer's  Association  of  Ogdensburg, 
organized  in  1892,  etc.  Mr.  Herriman  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Louisa  S.  Stark  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  married.  His  son, 
Dr.  Wallace  J.  Herriman,  is  located  in  Rochester,  and  is  one  of  that  city's  most  talented 
and  successful  physicians.  He  is  an  expert  upon  insanity  cases,  and  receives  besides 
his  extensive  local  practice  many  important  cases  from  the  government.  His  other 
children  are :  Edith,  Avife  of  G.  W.  McKinley,  and  Ella,  wife  of  John  T.  Groves. 

Hill,  W.  S.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  March  24,  1840.  He  received 
an  excellent  education  in  the  common  schools,  after  which  he  worked  at  the  bakery 
and  confectionery  business  for  the  late  John  Barber,  for  about  eighteen  years.  In  1869 
he  started  in  business  with  L.  E.  Barber,  at  44  State  street,  where  he  remained 
about  five  years,  when  he  removed  to  89  Ford  street.  In  1886  he  built  the  fine 
business  block  m  which  he  is  now  located  and  moved  into  it.  Mr.  Hill  is  one  of 
the  most  accomplished  confectioners  in  the  State,  or,  in  fact,  in  the  country.  His 
goods  go  to  France  and  other  transatlantic  countries,  and  he  has  many  customers 
in  New  York  city.  He  supplies  such  people  as  the  Wetmores,  the  Benedicts  and 
Lorillards,  and  his  goods  are  in  great  and  constant  demand.  Mr.  Hill  married  in 
1865,  Miss  Jennie  H.  Thrall,  of  Gouverneur.  They  have  no  family.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ogdensburg  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  is  identified  with  several 
other  social  institutions. 

r"  Hilts,  Wm.  J.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Boonville,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  December 
28,  1829,  and  came  to  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  in  1852.  In  1855  he  married  Susan  A. 
Hildreth,  of  Fowler,  N.  Y.  They  have  these  children :  Sumner  G.,  of  Clear  Lake, 
Iowa;  AHce  A.,  wife  of  0.  J.  Gardner,  of  Montrose.  S.  Dak.;  Harriet  E.,  wife  of 
Wm.  Thomson,  of  Montrose,  S.  D. ;  Nettie^E.,  wife  of  John  Fitzgerald,  of  Walkerville, 
Mont.  ;  Helen  M.,  teacher  in  the  Lowell  Business  College,  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ;  and 
Grace,  public  school  teacher.     Mr.  Hilts'  father  was  Geo.  G.  Hilts. 

Hamell,  Henry  W.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Osgood,  Ontario,  August  7,  1853,  a 
son  of  Louis  Hamell,  who  came  to  Ogdensburg  when  Henry  was  fourteen  years  of 
age.     The  latter  after  receiving  a  good  common  school  education  learned  the  paint- 


66  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

er's  trade,  in  which  he  has  been  extensively  engaged.  He  was  also  identified  with 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  business  from  1874  to  1877,  and  now  conducts  a  gro- 
cery store  in  his  block  near  the  Rorne,  W.  &  0.  R.  R.  depot.  To  this  building  he  has 
lately  been  making  extensive  additions,  and  he  also  owns  other  valuable  real  estate 
here.  Mr.  Hamell  has  been  greatly  interested  in  the  patenting  of  carriage  gear,  and 
from  1884  to  1889  pushed  the  sale  of  his  improvements  with  good  success.  In 
March,  1893,  he  obtained  a  patent  on  another  improvement  in  this  direction.  No- 
vember 22,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Gilbert,  of  the  same  place,  by  whon  he  has 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living. 

Harrigan,  Jay  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  February  11,  1859,  and 
began  the  harness  trade  when  sixteen.  In  1887  he  came  to  Gouverneur  and  estab- 
lished his  present  business.  Mr.  Harrigan  is  a  prominent  Mason,  having  passed  to  the 
thirty-second  degree  Scoti.sh  rite,  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  member  of  the  A.  0. 
U.  W. 

Hall,  Walter  W.,  Gouverneur,  one  of  three  children  of  Edward  and  Catherine  (Mc- 
Chesney)  Hall,  Avas  born  in  Gouverneur,  August  19,  1849.  Edward,  the  father,  was  a 
native  of  Franklin  county,  Mass.  He  came  to  this  State  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  married  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  they  now  live  with  their  children,  Lot  and 
Ella  M.  The  grandfather.  Lot  Hall,  lived  in  Massachusetts  and  died  in  Niagara  county, 
N.  Y.  Walter  W.  left  home  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  engaging  in  the  manu- 
facture of  butter  and  cheese.  In  the  fall  of  1873  he  purchased  a  large  cheese  factory 
near  Gouverneur,  with  the  patronage  of  1,000  cows.  He  owned  and  operated  this  fac- 
tory for  seventeen  years,  when  it  was  sold,  he  having  been  appointed  June  1,  1888,  by 
Dairy  Commissioner  Brown  as  cheese  instructor  for  the  State.  As  a  skilled  operator 
he  at  once  commenced  to  instruct  by  actual  process  during  the  summer,  and  in  winter 
addressing  institutes  and  farmers'  gatherings.  The  magnitude  and  importance  of  the 
dairy  interests  in  the  State  (as  well  as  in  St.  Lawrence  county)  may  in  a  measure  be 
appreciated  when  it  is  stated  that  there  are  2,000  factories  and  1,500,000  cows  in  the 
State.  An  important  part  of  the  work  of  the  dairy  commission  through  Mr.  Hall  and 
his  associates,  is  the  education  of  cheese  makers  to  the  production  of  a  better  article,  in 
larger  quantity.  The  results  of  the  work  of  the  commission  will  inevitably  be  of  the 
greatest  benefit  to  the  dairy  interest  of  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Harris,  H.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Renfrew  county,  Ontario,  February  14, 1856. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  province,  and  in  1870  came  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  in  which  he  has  been  prominently  identified. 
May  1,  1892,  he  received  the  appointment  of  manager  for  the  Ogdensburg  branch  of 
Armour's  meats  under  the  Oswego  commission  house  of  Mollison  &  Dowdle,  which 
position  he  has  since  filled.  Mr.  Harris  married  in  1878  Hattie  Worsley  (since  de- 
ceased), they  had  no  children.  Mr.  Harris's  father,  William,  was  a  well  known  news- 
paper proprietor  and  editor  of  Ottawa,  who  was  for  some  years  prior  to  his  death  a 
crown  land  agent  for  Canada.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  a 
member  of  St.  Andrew's  Brotherhood,  and  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  67 

Harris,  Allen  E.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Louisville,  N.  Y.,  December  4,  1856.  His 
father,  Ezra  G.  Harris,  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Harris,  whose  grani.father  with  two  brothers 
came  from  England  in  a  very  early  day.  The  great-grandfather  of  Ezra  G.  settled  in 
Rhode  Island,  one  brother  settled  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  other  in  Pennsylvania. 
Joseph  Harris  was  born  in  Colerain,  Mass.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  came 
to  Louisville  in  1824.  He  went  to  Minnesota  and  engaged  in  farming.  His  wife  was 
Polly  Gleason,  and  they  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  died  in  Minnesota  and 
his  wife  in  Pennsylvania.  Ezra  G.  Harris  was  born  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  in  July,  1821. 
When  three  years  of  age  he  f^ame  to  Louisville,  N.  T.,  with  his  parents.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  which  has  been  his  principal  occupation.  He  married  Diana 
White,  of  Beuvelton,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  1867 
Mr.  Harris  came  to  Norfolk  and  engaged  in  farming  and  blacksmithing  on  Plumb 
Brook,  and  in  1872  came  to  Raymondsville,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican.  His  wife  died  in  1876,  and  he  married  Kate  Bennett,  by  whom  he 
has  one  daughter.  Allen  E.  was  reared  in  Louisville  until  ten  years  ago,  when  he  came 
to  Norfolk  with  his  parents  and  engaged  in  farming.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  en- 
tered his  father's  blacksmith  shop  and  served  three  years,  and  then  worked  at  his  trade 
two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  since  followed  that  occupation.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge,  No.  689,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Norfolk.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Norfolk  Grange,  No.  541,  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Raymondsville.  September  22,  1875, 
Mr.  Harris  married  Julana  A.  Farnsworth,  of  Norfolk.  Her  father  was  Leland  J.,  son 
of  Joel  Farnsworth,  whose  father,  Moses,  was  born  in  1767,  and  lived  and  died  in  New 
Hampshire.  Joel  Farnsworth  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  April  26,  1807.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  leaving  his  mother  and  eight  children,  who,  when 
Joel  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  came  to  Norfolk.  His  mother  soon  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  Joel  and  Fisher  Ames,  a  half  brother  of  his,  cut  the  first  trees  and  erected  a  log 
house,  and  afterwards  the  house  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  Joel  Farnsworth  was 
a  successful  man,  and  in  time  owned  1,000  acres  of  land,  none  of  which  was  acquired 
by  speculation,  but  all  b)-  frugality,  patient  industry  and  laborious  efforts.  His  wife 
was  Lydia  Johnson,  born  in  1809  in  Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  they  had  three  sons:  Leland 
J.,  Silas  J.  and  Alonzo  L.  Leland  was  reared  and  educated  in  Norfolk,  and  here  mar- 
ried Lucy  Glasby,  of  Brockville,  Canada,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  wife  of  our 
subject,  and  Frank  E.,  a  resident  of  Michigan.  Leland  Farnsworth  went  to  California 
when  quite  young,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  by  any  one  of  his  family  for  over 
twenty-five  years  His  wife  at  present  resides  in  Utica.  N.  Y.  Silas  J.  was  born  in 
1828,  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Potsdam  Academy.  He  afterwards  followed 
teaching  and  surveying.  He  was  a  noted  civil  engineer,  and  well  known  in  St.  Law- 
rence county  and  the  State  of  New  York,  being  employed  by  the  latter  at  different 
times  He  was  chief  engineer,  and  one  of  the  leading  promotors  of  the  Massena  Springs 
and  Fort  Covington  railroad.  He  never  married,  only  to  his  profession,  and  of  that  he 
had  mastered  all  its  details.  Corners  in  land  surveys  were  never  established,  or  lines 
run  incorrectly,  and  his  evidence  before  the  courts  was  never  criticised.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat,  was  supervisor  of  Norfolk   a  number   of  years,  and  assessor  many 


(58  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

years.  He  fell  heir  to  his  father's  real  estate,  consisting  of  1,000  acres  of  land,  which 
he  left  to  his  niece,  Mrs.  Julana  Harris,  and  nephew,  Frank  E.  Farnsworth.  He  died 
June  30,  1892.  Alonzo  L.  Farnsworth,  youngest  son  of  Joel,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  and 
here  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of  twenty- one  years.  Mr.  Harris 
and  wife  have  two  children :  Silas  A.  and  Jessie  A.,  both  at  home. 

Hazelton,  M.  V.,  Fowler,  a  farmer  of  Fowler,  was  born  March  2,  1838,  in  the  same 
bouse  where  he  now  resides.  He  married  in  April,  1863,  Clarinda  Rhodes,  and  their 
children  are  Lida  I.,  now  Mrs.  Kelley,  and  Annett  E.,  now  Mrs.  Bancroft.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Hazel  Bancroft  and  Howard  H.  Kelley.  Our  subject's  father  was  James  H., 
who  was  born  in  1809.  and  now  lives  with  M.  V.  His  grandfather  was  Simeon 
Hazleton,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Fowler.  The  name  was  formerly 
Hazelden,  from  hazel,  a  tree,  and  den,  a  valley ;  but  in  this  country  it  took  the  form 
of  Hazelton.  Robert  and  John  Hazelton  came  from  England  with  Ezekiel  Rogers 
in  1637  and  settled  at  Rowley,  Mass.,  and  their  descendants  are  well  scattered  over 
the  United  States.     The  family  have  published  a  book  of  genealogy. 

Hawkins,  Harry,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  June  6,  1847,  and 
came  to  America  when  five  years  old.  He  landed  at  Quebec  and  lived  seven  years 
in  Ottawa.  Then  he  moved  to  Lanark,  Canada,  and  in  1887  came  to  Morristown, 
where  he  has  been  in  a  flourishing  business  for  four  years.  Mr.  Hawkins  married 
Mary  Munro,  and  they  have  two  children:  Clara  Elizabeth  and  William  Alexander. 
Mr.  Hawkins  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  Foresters  and  an  adherent  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 

Hatley,  Walter,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington  October  11,  1842.  His  father, 
James  Hatley,  was  born  in  Jedborough.  Scotland,   and   came  to  Waddington   in   1832 
and  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  lived  and  died.     He  married  Nancy  Oliver,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living.     Mr.  Hatley 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Scotch  Presby- 
terian church.     He  died  in  1849  and  his  wife  in  1887.     Walter  Hatley  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Waddington,  and  when  seventeen  years  old  went  to  San   Francisco,  Cal., 
where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade.     He  worked  on  the  Daily  Alta  seven  years,  then 
went  to  Sacramento  and  was  with  H.  S.  Crocker  as  job  printer  for  three  years.     In  1869 
he  returned  to  Waddington,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in   farming.     June  15, 
1865,  he  married  Zillah  M.,  daughter  of  Flonan  A.  Carnal,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  born 
in  1807,  who  came  to  Waddington  in  1830,  and  was  once  engaged  with  the  Ogdens. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.     His  wife  was  Matilda  Fitzgerald,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children.     His  wife  died  and  he  married,  second,  Mary  Abby,  a  native  of  England,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter,  the  wife  of  our  subject.     Mr.  Carnal  died  in  1888  and  his 
wife    in  1883.     Mr.   Hatley  and  wife  have  seven  children  :  George  L.,  Mary  Agnes, 
Frederick  F.,  Clinton  W.,  Howard  H.,  Ruby  M.,  and  Erastus  C.     Mr.  Hatley  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church  of  Waddington.'    Mr.  Hat- 
ley is  a  member  of  Waddington  Lodge  No.  393,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  Prescott 
Chapter  No.  22. 

Hall,  Anson,  S.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk  October  24,    1819.     His  father  was 
Erastus  Hall,  a  native  of  Tyringham,  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  born  in  1786.     He  was 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  69 

reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  He  married  in  his  native  town, 
Betsey  Jackson,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  who  grew  to  maturity,  four  now  living: 
Giles  Hezekiak  B.,  who  resides  in  Norwood;  Anson  S.  and  Thomas  S.,  a  resident  of 
La  Canada,  Cal.  In  June,  1809,  Mr.  Hall  came  to  Norfolk  and  contracted  for  a  farm  of 
eif^hty  acres  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  being  the  first  land-taker  for  a  farm  in 
this  town.  In  the  month  of  March  following  he  brought  his  family  and  cut  the  road 
from  the  union  in  Potsdam  to  his  land.  Here  he  lived  and  died.  Fearing  he  could  not 
pay  for  his  eighty  acres,  he  sold  one-half,  but  afterwards  purchased  it  with  an  addition 
of  107  acres.  He  became  a  very  extensive  land  owner,  having  at  one  time  2,700  acres 
of  land  in  Norfolk.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  assessor  a  number  of 
years,  and  also  held  other  town  offices.  He  was  an  ardent  churchman  and  assisted 
largely  in  building  the  Congregational  church  at  Raymondsville,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  in  his  last  days.  He  died  March  28, 1869,  and  his  wife  February  1,  1860.  An- 
son S.  Hall  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  Ogdensburg 
Academy  and  select  school  at  Raymondsville,  which  was  established  by  Erastus  Hall. 
Mr.  Hall  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father  until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  April  22, 
1846,  he  moved  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  of  225  acres,  owning  now  450  acres,  keeping 
an  average  of  twenty-five  cows.  Mr.  Hall  in  1852  went  to  California  and  engaged  in 
minino-  and  farmingr.  He  returned  in  1861  to  the  farm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
married,  December  23,  1845,  Eleanor  Webber,'a  native  of  Stockbridge,  Vt.,  who  came 
came  to  Norfolk  when  three  years  of  age.  Her  parents  were  Justice  and  Julia  ( Rich- 
ardson )  Webber,  who  came  to  Norfolk  in  1827  and  afterwards  went  to  Illinois, 
w^here  they  died.  Mr.  Hall  and  wife  have  had  five  children  :  George  E.,  Catherine  J., 
born  in  California,  where  she  died  ;  Ella  M.,  born  in  California,  who  died  in  Raymond- 
ville,  aged  twenty-five  years;  a  son  who  died  in  infancy;  Nettie  L.,  born  in  Norfolk, 
who  resides  in  Massena,  the  wife  of  H.  B.  Russell.  George  E.  was  educated  in  Maringo 
(111.)  High  School  and  Potsdam  and  Gouverneur  Academies.  He  was  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Norfolk  and  Chase  Mills,  but  for  the  last  ten  years  has  been  a 
farmer.  He  married  Alice  Haggett,  a  native  of  Madrid,  by  whom  he  has  two  daugh- 
ters :  Nellie  E.  and  Jessie  E.  He  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge  No.  689,  and 
of  Norfolk  Grange  No.  541,  of  which  he  is  at  present  secretary.  Mr.  Hall  was  a 
Whig  until  war  time,  when  he  joined  the  Stephen  A.  Douglas  branch  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  and  remained  with  this  party  until  1886,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
an  independent  in  politics.  He  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor  six  years  and  assessor 
three  years. 

Hackett,  Patrick,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1832  and  received  his  early 
education  there.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1850  and  completed  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Ogdensburg.  He  afterwards  entered  the  hardware  business  with  Chaney  & 
Co.,  which  afterwards  became  Chaney  &  Allen,  and  eventually  W.  B.  Allen  &  Co.,  Mr. 
Hackett  being  the  junior  partner.  For  eighteen  years  and  a  half  W.  B.  Allen  &  Co. 
carried  on  active  business  operations,  until  the  death  of  the  senior  member.  Mr.  Hack- 
ett purchased  the  entire  business  in  1884  and  has  since  successfully  conducted  it.  He 
now  carries  on  here,  besides  his  hardware  business,  a  foundry.  Mr.  Hackett  married 
Julia  Grant,  and  they  have  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.     He  is  a  mem- 


70  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

ber  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  was  treasurer  for  the  late  bishop  fifteen  years.  He  has 
served  in  the  Common  Council  a  number  of  years  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education.     He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Jeffersonian  and  Ogdensburg  clubs. 

Hobkirk,  Adam  J.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Scotland  July  4,  1832,  a  son  of  John 
Hobkirk,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  October  19,  1798,  and  educated  there.  He  married 
Christian  Riddle,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  December  12,  1793,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son  and  three  daughters.  In  1835  Mr.  Hobkirk  came  to  Waddington  and  settled  in  the 
wilderness  on  the  farm  our  subject  now  owns.  Here  he  lived  and  died  January  4, 
1852,  and  his  wife  died  April  12,  1875.  Adam  J.  Hobkirk  was  three  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Waddington,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  married  June  5,  1861, 
in  Toronto,  Canada,  Margaret  Scott,  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  came  to  Wad- 
dington with  her  parents,  who  afterwards  went  Canada,  where  the  father  died,  the 
mother  being  still  living.  Mr.  Hobkirk  and  wife  have  had  seven  children:  Agnes  W., 
John,  Christian,  Adam  N.,  Margaret  B.,  Edith  J.  and  Mary.  Mr.  Hobkirk  owns  a  farm 
of  180  acres  and  has  cleared  most  of  it  himself.  He  follows  general  farming  but  his 
principal  business  is  dairying,  keeping  twenty-two  cows.  He  has  always  been  a  Re- 
pubhcan  in  politics,  has  been  assessor  seven  years  and  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
in  1890.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  has 
been  an  elder  in  that  church  for  about  twenty-five  years. 

Hobkirk,  Adam  A.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  April  7,  1839,  a  son  of 
Adam  Hobkirk.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Waddington.  He  engaged  in  farming  and  has  always  followed  that  occupation.  He 
now  owns  136  acres  of  laud  and  his  principal  business  is  dairying.  He  married,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1876,  Margaret  Rutherford,  of  Waddington,  born  September  24,  1838,  a 
daughter  of  William  Rutherford,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  1784,  and  came  to 
Waddington  in  1832.  His  wife  was  Christy  Forsythe,  of  Scotland,  and  they  had  five 
sons  and  five  daughters.  He  was  a  shepherd  while  in  Scotland,  and  a  farmer  in  Wad- 
dington. He  died  in  April,  1873,  and  his  wife  September  13,  1881,  aged  eighty-six 
years  Mr.  Hobkirk  and  wife  have  had  four  children :  Bessie  F.,  Ella  C,  William  A., 
and  Alexander  F.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 

Hobkirk,  Thomas  F.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  November  26,  1841. 
His  parents  were  Adam  Hobkirk,  born  in  Scotland,  November  10,  1796,  and  Elizabeth 
Furgeson,  born  March  9,  1801.  They  came  to  Waddington  in  1830  and  settled  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Adam  A.  Hobkirk.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
now  living :  Jane,  the  oldest  daughter  who  resides  with  Adam  A.  Hobkirk  ;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Andrew  W.  Rutherford,  of  Potsdam ;  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Tait  ; 
Isabel,  wife  of  John  M.  Rutherford  ;  and  Christian,  wife  of  Walter  E.  Elliott.  Mr. 
Hobkirk  was  an  elder  in  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church  for  many  years.  He  died 
December  7,  1864,  and  his  wife,  April  18,  1871.  Thomas  F.  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in 
farmmg  and  owns  136  acres,  his  principal  business  being  dairying,  keeping  fifteen 
cows.     Mr.   Hobkirk  married  in  1869,  Agnes  G.   Hargrave,   a  native  of  Madrid  and 


PERSON' AL  SKETCHES.  71 

a  daughter  of  Joseph  Hargrave,  and  they  have  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters  : 
WilHs  A.,  Joseph  H.,  Libbie  B.,  Mabel  E.,  Ethel  M.,  Ross  T.,  Arthur  E.,  and  tvro  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Hobkirk  is  a  Repubican  and  is  now  serving  as  assessor.  He  and  vp-ife 
are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Hobkirk  has  been  a 
member  since  eighteen  years  of  age. 

Hale,  Oscar  H.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk  on  the  farm  he  owns,  February  6, 
1835.  His  father  was  Ira,  son  of  Moses  Hale,  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  married  Freelove  Barber,  September  30,  1798,  by  whom 
he  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  came  to  Norfolk  and  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Ira  Hale  was  born  in  Vermont,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1800,  and  in  1823  came  to  Norfolk  and  purchased  twenty-five  acres  of 
land,  where  our  subject  now  resides.  The  next  year  he  settled  where  he  resided 
until  1859,  when  he  built  a  residence  at  North  Stockholm,  and  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  married  Amelia  Judson,  February  18,  1823.  Her  father 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Norfolk,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Mr.  Hale  and  wife 
have  had  these  children  :  0.  J.  Hale,  who  in  1857  went  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  November  8,  1886.  He  was  a  prominent  and  wealthy  man,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  connected  with  the  transportation  business  ;  our  subject  and  one 
daughter,  Louisa  D.,  wife  of  M.  R.  Knapp,  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Hale  owned  about  600 
acres  of  land.  He  was  agent  at  Knapp's  Station  about  thirty  years,  and  was  then  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  a  number  of  years.  He  was  land  agent  for  Mr. 
Constable  forty  years,  was  prominent  in  politics,  was  a  Whig  in  an  early  day,  and 
a  Republican  after  its  organization.  He  was  supervisor  of  Norfolk  several  years, 
and  also  of  Stockholm.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  a  number  of  years.  He  died 
October  30,  1878,  and  his  wife  March  2,  1848.  Oscar  H.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  and  select  schools  of  the  town  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy. 
At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  engaged  with  his  father  in  store  and  station  at  Knapp's 
Station.  Mr.  Hale  took  up  farming  and  except  in  1864  when  with  his  brother  in  Mil- 
waukee in  transportation  business,  has  since  followed  that  occupation.  Where  he 
resides  he  owns  470  acres  of  land,  follows  general  farming,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty- 
six  cows  and  150  sheep.  April  8,  1858,  Mr.  Hale  married  Margaret  Gage,  of  Fairfield, 
Herkimer  county,  and  daughter  of  Elijah  B.  Gage  of  the  same  place,  but  who  settled 
in  Norfolk  in  1844,  and  spent  his  last  days.  Mr.  Hale  and  wife  have  had  four 
daughters:  Ettie  A.,  H.  Louise,  Margaret  G.,  and  Gertrude  M.  Mr.  Hale  has  always 
been  a  Republican,  has  been  an  assessor  nine  years,  and  at  present  is  supervisor  of 
Norfolk,  a  position  he  has  held  for  seven  years  in  succession.  Mr.  Hale  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Norwood,  of  which  Mr.  Hale  has  been  clerk 
twelve  years,  and  at  present  is  one  of  the  elders.  Mr.  Hale  has  been  connected  with 
County  and  State  Grange,  and  was  county  deputy  five  years. 

Hazelton,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fowler,  December  8,  1816, 
and  spent  his  early  life  in  farming.  He  was  eight  years  in  the  hotel  business  and  some 
time  in  the  mercantile  line.  Lately  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
and  owns  a  farm  still.  He  married  first,  Fannie  Wight,  in  Fowler,  N.Y.,  and  their 
children  are:  Andrew  Jackson  and  George  Dallas  Hazelton.     His  second  wife,  Fidelia 


_2  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

CSaunders)  Hazelton,  is  still  living.  Mr.  Hazelton  was  supervisor  of  Fowler  sct- 
eral  years  and  was  J.  P.  sixteen  years.  His  father,  Simeon  was  born  in  Upton, 
Mass..  in  1783,  and  died  in  Fowler,  August  15,  1877.  His  mother's  name  before 
marriage  was  Anna  Haily,  and  she  was  born  in  Putney,  Vermont. 

Hutton,  G.  E.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Macomb,  August  2,  1865.  His  father  was 
William  Hutton,  and  his  grandfather  came  from  England.  In  1890,  Mr.  G.  E.  Hutton 
married  Anna  D.  Fox,  daughter  of  G.  W.  Fox.  In  1892  the  partnership  of  McFerran 
&  Hutton,  grocers,  etc.,  was  formed  and  still  exists.  Mr.  Hutton  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Marble  City  Lodge  of  Foresters.  His  father  and  grandfather  came 
from  England. 

Hall,  Hezekiah  Brewer,  Potsdam,  third  son  of  Erastus  and  B.  J.  Hall,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Louisville  February  15,  1815.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on 
the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  old  St.  Lawrence  Acad- 
emy at  Potsdam  and  Ogdensburg  Academy  at  Ogdensburg.  At  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  was  chief  of  a  party  of  surveyors  on  the  McVicker  lands,  of  which  his  father  was 
ao-ent,  and  was  engaged  with  his  father  and  brother  in  lumber  manufacture,  farming 
and  various  enterprises  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  married  in  Janu- 
ary, 1846,  Jane,  daughter  of  Bernard  Armstrong,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  at  the  time 
was  a  manufacturer  of  Raymondville.  Mrs.  Hall  was  born  near  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
After  his  marriage  he  started  for  himself  at  farming.  In  1850  he  went  to  California, 
where  he  eno-aged  in  mining  for  some  months  and  then  returned  to  his  home.  In  1863 
he  succeeded  his  father  as  agent  for  the  McVicker  lands  in  Norfolk  and  Louisville,  a 
position  which  he  held  until  1891.  In  1869  he  sold  his  farm  in  Raymondville  and 
moved  to  Norwood,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  He  has  now  retired  from 
active  business.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Raymondville. 
He  has  no  living  children.  The  present  Mrs.  Hall  is  a  daughter  of  Lloyd  C.  Yale,  for- 
merly a  farmer  and  merchant  of  Norfolk.     They  have  one  adopted  daughter,  Katie  W. 

Heath,  Almon  D.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Adams  March  5.  1854,  a  son  of  Luman,  a 
farmer  and  mechanic  of  that  town.  Almon  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  went 
to  Watertown.  where  he  was  employed  in  the  store  of  Johnson,  Wiggins  &  Co.  (now 
the  firm  of  H.  T.  Snook  &;Co.).  He  was  with  them  until  1882  when  he  came  to  Pots- 
dam and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Davies,  Heath  &  Barbour,  which  existed  until 
1884,  when  it  was  changed  to  Heath  &  Scott,  who  ran  it  until  1892.  Mr.  Heath  is  a 
member  of  Excelsior  Lodge  No.  548,  I.  0.  0.  F.  He  is  a  director  of  the  People's  Bank 
of  Potsdam  and  also  a  director  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Potsdam  Building  and 
Loan  Association.  Mr.  Heath  married  in  November,  1380,  Mary  C.  Hubbard  of  Wa- 
tertown. 

Scott,  Brayton  T.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Gouverneur.  St.  Lawrence  county,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1859,  a  son  of  G.  B.  Scott,  long  connected  with  the  tanning  business  in  that 
town.  Brayton  was  only  four  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Jefferson  county, 
where  they  have  ever  since  lived.  He  was  educated  at  Ives  Seminary  at  Antwerp  and 
his  first  occupation  after  leaving  school  was  as  a  clerk  for  Wiggins  &  Goodale  in  Wa- 
tertown, where  he  remained  three  years,  then  represented  their  interests  in  Potsdam  for 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  73 

four  years.  He  became  a  partner  in  their  store  April  1,  1888.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  member 
of  Racquette  River  Lodge  No.  231,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married  in  1890,  Maggie,  daughter 
of  Robert  Wood,  a  miller  of  tliis  town. 

Holbrook,  Giles  Eliphlet,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  March  19,  1839. 
The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  trace  of  in  this  family  is  Eliphlet,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  emigrated  to  this  county  from  Georgia,  Vt.,  in 
1809.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Potsdam,  where 
he  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  in 
1823,  at  forty-nine  years  of  age.  Reuben  Holbrook,  father  of  our  subject  and  the  old- 
est son,  was  born  in  Georgia,  Vt.,  June  3,  1804.  He  was  educated  m  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  death  of  his  father  the  whole  management  of  the  family  depended 
on  him.  He  was  always  an  ardent  Republican,  and  a  Universalist  in  belief.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Tousley,  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  three  children,  two  now 
living,  Charles  H.,  a  railroad  station  agent  of  Brandon,  Vt.  and  Giles  E.  The 
early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  taught  for  three  win- 
ters and  in  the  spring  of  1863,  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Norfolk  in  partnership 
with  E.  H.  Atwater.  The  parnership  lasted  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  Mr.  Holbrook 
removed  to  Norwood  and  established  a  general  store  and  since  that  time  has  continued 
in  business  there.  With  one  exception  it  is  the  oldest  business  house  in  Norwood.  In 
1889  Mr.  Holbrook  purchased  a  portion  of  the  B.  G.  Baldwin  homestead,  some  thirty- 
two  acres,  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  of  Norwood  and  has  since  de- 
voted his  time  to  the  laying  out  of  streets  and  improvements  of  the  property,  by 
setting  it  into  village  lots,  which  he  is  now  selling  to  prospecHve  builders.  Mr. 
Holbrook  married  in  1862,  Janette  E.,  daughter  of  Moses  B.  Hale  of  North  Stock- 
holm, and  they  have  one  son,  Frederick  S.,  for  twelve  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Central  Vermont  railroad,  now  manager  of  a  hotel  near  the  World's  Fair  grounds 
in  Chicago. 

Haig,  J.  A.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Potsdam  October  20,  1848,  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  entered  college  in  1869.  He  resided 
at  Daily  Ridge  until  the  age  of  twenty.  He  came  to  Madrid  in  the  fall  of  1873  and  be- 
came principal  of  the  Madrid  Union  Free  School.  After  teaching  two  years  he  went  to 
Massena  and  became  principal  of  that  school,  where  he  taught  five  years.  Returnmg 
to  Madrid  in  1880,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  C.  R,  McClelland.  The  school  princi- 
palship  being  vacant,  he  entered  the  school  and  taug'ht  one  year.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  school  commissioner  of  the  second  district  of  the  county  and  served  nine  years, 
being  twice  re-elected.  In  the  spring  of  1891  he  was  elected  supervisor,  which  office 
he  has  continued  to  fill  since.  He  has  also  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  period  of  ten 
years  and  was  candidate  for  delegate  to  the  national  convention  in.l8fi2  and  was  sent 
as  alternate  from  this  Congressional  district.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian church.  July  12,  1876,  Mr.  Haig  married  Mary  A.  Hawley  of  Springfield,  Vt.. 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  four  children  :  Ernest  Hawley,  born  February  12,  1879  ; 
Alan  Virgil,  born  July  22,  1881  ;  Myron  J.,  born  September  25,  1885  ;  and  Helen  Eliz- 
abeth, born  May  12,  1888. 
i 


74  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Capell,  Harvey  A.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Parishville  June  15,  1820,  on  the  farm  he 
now  owns.  Bis  father,  William,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  January  25,  1787, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Hayden  and  had  eleven  children.  About  1810  Mr.  Capell  went 
to  Canada  and  then  came  to  this  village,  where  he  superintended  a  saw  and  grist  mill 
for  Mr.  Parish,  and  later  moved  on  the  farm  where  our  subject  was  reared.  His  wife 
died  in  Parishville  April  3,  1834,  and  he  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  August  26,  1837. 
Harvey  A.  received  a  common  school  education  and  with  the  exception  of  nine  years 
as  traveling  salesman  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  now  owns  165  acres,  having  added 
seventy-seven  acres  to  the  original  purchase  of  his  father.  He  married  Betsey  Field, 
March  23,  1848.  She  is  a  native  of  Malone,  X.  Y.,  born  November  17,  1824.  Her 
father,  Ebenezer,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  born  January  14.  1775,  who  married 
Lucinda  Ru.ssell,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  November  10,  1783.  They  had  thirteen 
children,  twelve  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Field  died  January  20,  1853,  and  his 
wife  August  11,  1848.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Capell  have  had  six  children:  Elma  L.,  Orlando 
H.,  C.  Elizabeth,  William  H.,  Mary  E.,  and  Ternon  F.,  who  died  aged  four  years.  Mr. 
Capell  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor  three  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  church  of  Parishville. 

Dominy,  Levi  S.,  Massena.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Nathaniel,  was 
born  on  Long  Island  in  the  early  part  of  the  18th  century  (on  the  paternal  side)  and 
was  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  being  located  in  New  York.  His  grandfather,  Will- 
iam, was  born  in  the  same  place  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  was  on  the  stafl'  of  General  Warren,  and  caught 
him  when  he  fell  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Levi,  our  subject,  son  of  William  and 
Betsey  (Huntley)  Dominy,  was  born  October  23,  1831,  in  Beekmantown.  CUnton  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.;  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and  graduated  at  the  Albany  Normal 
School  in  1853.  He  then  taught  school  nearly  all  the  time  until  1862  at  a  private  acad- 
em}"-  at  West  Chazy,  N.  Y.  He  was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  as  captain  of  Co. 
B.,  118th  N.  Y.  Inf.,  August  29,  1862,  at  Plattsburg  and  went  to  Relay  House,  Md. 
On  October  24,  he  went  to  Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Va..  and  from  there  was  detached  on  en- 
gineer duty,  which  he  performed  till  December,  1862,  when  he  accompanied  his  regi- 
ment to  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  then  detached  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  Balti- 
more and  Washington  depot  and  Soldier's  Retreat,  where  he  remained  until  April  20, 
1863,  when  he  and  his  regiment  were  ordered  to  Suffolk,  Ya.,  wnere  they  participated 
in  the  engagement  against  General  Longstreet.  His  regiment  was  ordered  to  York- 
town,  Ya.,  and  subsequently  participated  in  the  expedition  of  Gen.  J.  A.  Dix  against 
Richmond.  At  the  close  of  the  expedition  the  regiment  returned  to  Yorktown  and 
the  captain  was  detached  on  court-martial  duty  until  October  7,  1862,  when  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Norfolk  and  the  captain  was  detached  on  military  commission. 
In  early  December  the  regiment  removed  to  Newport  News  and  he  was  detached  on 
court  martial  and  continued  in  that  duty  till  February,  1864,  when  he  and  his  regiment 
were  in  the  movement  under  General  Wister,  who  co  operated  with  General  Kilpat- 
rick  in  an  eflFort  to  release  the  Union  prisoners  in  Richmond.  That  movement  proving 
a  failure,  his  regiment  was  removed  to  Bower's  Hill  and  the  captain  was  again  detached 
and  placed  in  command  of  an  infantry  force  which  was  to  hold  the  outposts  at  Suffolk, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  75 

Va.     While  there  they  liad  a  severe  engagement  with  the  enemy,  but  held  their  posi- 
tion.    On  April  20  the   regiment   was   ordered  to  Yorktown  and   became  part  of   the 
forces  known  as  the  army  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  commanded  by  Major  Gen- 
eral  Butler,     He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Walthall  Junction,  Ya.      He  took  com- 
mand of  his  regiment  during  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  which  was  a  severe   one,   the 
118th  lost  199  men  out  of  a  total  of  3'JO.      May  27   the  regiment   took  transport   for 
White  House,  Ya.,  from  which  point  they  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and   partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  the  captain  in  command  of  the  regiment.     On  June 
12  the  regiment  took  transport  from  White  House  to  Bermuda   Hundred   and  partici- 
pated in  the  first  attack  on  Petersburg,  June  15,  1864.     In  August,  18G4,  the  regiment 
was  returned  to  the  command  of  General  Butler  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  they  re- 
mained until  September  29.  when  they  crossed  the  James  river  and  carried  Fort  Harri- 
son.    This  is  the  only  engagement  of  the  118th  regiment  in  which   the  subject  of  this 
sketch  did  not  participate,  he  being  at  the  time  absent  with  leave.     He   was  promoted 
to  major,  September  IG,  1864,  to  take  rank   from   June   15,   1864;   and   to  lieutenant- 
colonel,  February  28,  1864.  to  take  rank  from  September  16,  1864;  and  was  brevetted 
colonel  after  the  close  of  the  war  by  Gov.  Reuben  E.  Fenton,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services.     On  October  27,  1864.  he  commanded   his  regiment  at  the   second   battle  of 
Fair  Oaks,  Ya.,  after  which  he  returned  to  Fort  Harrison,    where  he  was   detached  as 
president    of    court    martial    at    headquarters  of  Gen.  Charles  Devens.     On  April  3, 
1865,  he  was  with  his  regiment  at  the  capture  of    Richmond,    where    he    remained 
till  his  regiment  was  mustered  out,  June  13,   1865      After  the  close  of  the  war    he 
entered  the  University  of  Albany  in  the  department  of  law,  from  which  be  received 
the  degree  of  L.  B.,  May  26,   1866,  and   was  admitted  to  the  practice    of    his    pro- 
fession.    For  several  years  he  was  superintendent  of    the  "Queen    of    the    Harvest" 
Manufacturing  Company  at  West  Chazy,  N.  Y.     In  1882  he  located  at  Massena  and 
began  the  practice  of  law,  and  he  still  remains    there.      In    politics    he    has   always 
been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace    for    seven    years,  on 
the   board  of  education  for  nine  years,   etc.     He   married,   first,  Betsey,  daughter  of 
Simeon  Hedding  of  Chazy,  N.  Y.,  November  6,  1852.     She  died  August  7,  1873.     For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Fannie  E.,  daughter  of  Cornelius  De  Witt  of  Fredonia,  N. 
Y.     They  had  one  daughter.  Belle,  born  July  4,  1880,  and  died  July  21,  1881. 

Ewings,  H.  H.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  October  17,  1840. 
His  father  was  J.  H.  Ewings,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  son  of  Ira  Ewings,  who  came 
from  Vermont  to  Franklin  county  in  1819.  Here  he  spent  about  half  of  his  life,  then 
settled  in  Parishville  where  he  died.  J.  H.  Ewings  was  born  in  Townsend,  Vt,  in  1812 
and  married  Esther  Paine  of  Malone,  daughter  of  Daniel  Paine,  a  prominent  man  of 
that  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ewing  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  He  died  in  1882, 
and  his  wife  in  1857.  Our  subject  has  always  followed  general  farming  and  dairying 
and  now  owns  280  acres  of  land,  keeping  thirty  cows.  He  married,  first,  Josephine 
Willis,  a  native  of  Parishville  and  daughter  of  Samuel  WilHs,  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  an  early  settler  of  this  town,  who  died  March  9,  1877.  By  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Ewing  had  four  children  :  Etta,  Edith,  Alice  and  Ida.  She  died  April  28,  1882,  and  he 
married,  second,  January  28,  1883,  Ora  Willis,  sister  of  his  first  wife.     She  was  born 


76  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Novernl)er  8,  1849,  and  died  March  10,  1888.  Mr.  Ewing  married,  third,  October  28. 
ISiiO,  Emma  E.  Wallace  of  Canton,  daughter  of  Orson  Wallace,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
that  town.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  excise  commissioner  and  in- 
spector of  elections.  He  is  a  member  of  West  Parishville  Grange  .No.  542.  He  is  a 
Free  Will  Baptist  and  has  been  for  many  years  clerk  of  the  church.  Mr.  Ewing  is 
registered  as  a  veterinary  surgeon. 

Flaherty,  Michael  H.,  Massena,  son  of  Thomas  and  Maria  (Kinsella)  Flaherty,  was 
born  August  6,  1842.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  when  a  young 
man  he  took  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  country  store,  where  he  remained  about  five  j'ears, 
then  took  a  position  as  commercial  salesman  for  several  years.  In  1872  he  entered  the 
general  merchandise  business  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  T.  Clark  &  Co.,  which  firm  is 
still  doing  business.  Mr.  Flaherty  is  president  of  the  Massena  Banking  Co.,  of  Massena. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  has  been  super- 
visor of  the  town  for  ten  years,  and  holds  that  position  at  the  present  time.  He  was 
elected  as  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  1888-89. 
He  married  Verona  E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Grinnell,  of  this  town,  June  28,  1876,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Thomas  Grinnell  and  Agnes  Elvira. 

Finnegan,  W.  B.,  M.  D.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Louisville  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  Academy  at  Massena.  He  studied  his  profession  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich., 
graduating  honorably  in  1882.  He  began  practicing  in  Michigan  but  in  1884  returned 
to  his  native  county,  locating  in  Edwardsville.  There,  by  his  professional  skill  and  his 
personal  characteristics,  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice.  His  parents  were  Irish  by 
birth,  and  settled  in  Canada,  where  they  lived  about  two  years;  they  removed  from 
there  to  Louisville  sixty  years  ago  where  they  lived  and  died. 

The  great  industry  of  Weston,  Dean  &  Aldrich,  Gouverneur,  makes  Natural  Dam  a 
place  of  importance.  The  large  office  business  and  general  management  is  in  charge  of 
Mr.  G.  B.  Johnston,  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  the  town  of  Gouverneur.  He  was 
born  in  Ottawa,  Canada,  April  1,  1845,  and  has  been  in  the  United  States  twelve  years. 
He  was  in  the  shipping  department  of  Sherman,  Lord  &  Herdman,  and  filled  a  similar 
office  for  J.  R.  Booth.  He  was  subsequently  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Sherman  & 
Johnston  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Johnston  married  M.  A.  Fairburn,  and  they  have 
two  daughters,  Helena  May  and  Lila  Lord.     Mrs.  Johnston  died  in  September,  1891. 

Ide,  Russell  B.,  Stockholm,  was  born  at  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  April  13,  1809, 
a  son  of  Jesse,  who  was  a  son  of  Ichabod,  who  came  from  England  to  America 
during  the  French  and  Indian  wars.  Jesse  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  in  1859, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  drafted  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  a  Miss  Sheldon,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters,  and  second  to  Lucy 
Hicks,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  a  daughter.  With  the  exception  of  Russell  B., 
the  children  all  died  early.  In  1845  Mr.  Ide  settled  at  Stockholm,  where  he  died  July 
2,  1848.  Mrs.  Ide  resided  with  her  son  until  her  death  in  1869.  Rsssell  B.  was  edu- 
cated in  Vermont,  where  his  parents  lived  for  some  time.  He  married  first,  Maria 
Flint.  His  first  wife  died  and  he  married  second,  Roancy  Dutton,  March  7,  1838. 
She  was  born  in  Brandon,  Vt.,  April  17,  1820,   one  of  nine  children  of   Samuel  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  77 

Sallie  (Kingsley)  Button,  of  Jeffrey,  A't.  Of  tlie  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ide, 
four  died.  The  othe'S  are  as  follows :  Susan,  wife  of  Lorenzo  Page,  residing  at 
Lawrenceville,  has  six  children:  Emma,  who  resides  at  Saifordville,  is  the  widow  of 
Charles  Robinson,  a  native  of  Westford,  Vt.,  who  came  to  Stockholm  with  his  grand- 
parents when  a  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson  had  three  children  :  Minnie,  wife  of 
Edward  Kerr,  has  two  children,  Clara  and  Hazel ;  Eva,  wife  of  Elmer  Green,  of 
Stockholm,  by  whom  she  has  two  children  Floyd  and  Cecil;  and  Charles  who  re- 
sides with  his  mother.  Walter,  third  surviving  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ide,  married 
Effie  Clark  and  lives  in  Stockholm;  Ella,  married  Orson  Murray,  and  has  five  chil- 
nren  ;  Charles  R.  Ide  resides  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Ide  has  lived  in  Stockholm  since  1843. 
He  owns  a  farm  of  IIG  acres,  but  now  lives  retired,  residing  with  his  daughter  in 
Sanfordville.  His  oldest  daughter,  Maria,  married  John  B.  Foster,  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  who  was  wounded  and  died  there.  His  wife  died  two  years  later.  Their  three 
children  are  all  now  living.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  painter  by  trade  and  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war,  where  he  contracted  a  disease  which  resulted  in  his  death  April  19, 
1881. 

The  Andrews  Family. — Martin  Andrews,  Massena,  was  born  in  1761  in  Weathers- 
field,  Conn.,  and  married  Phoebe  Bellefield,  of  Newbury,  N.Y.,  born  December  28, 
1784.  John  B.,  their  son,  born  July  23,  1788,  at  Claremout,  N.  H.,  came  to  Massena 
in  1810  and  married  Susan  Boynton,  January  1,  1815.  They  had  six  children;  Guy 
B.,  Alexander  H.,  Morris  B.,  Hannibal,  Susan  and  John.  Alexander  H.  was  born 
April  10,  1819,  in  this  town,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  with  a  year  each 
at  Fort  Covington  and  Potsdam  Academies.  He  then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  his 
father's  store  for  a  few  years,  and  then  he  and  a  brother  went  into  the  mercantile 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  G.  B.  and  A.  H.  Andrews,  continuing  till  1849, 
since  which  time  our  subject  has  been  a  successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig,  was  postmaster  under  the  administration  of  William  Henry  Harrison ;  was  a 
delegate  to  the  first  Republican  Convention  held  in  the  county  in  1855,  and  has  since 
been  a  Republican,  except  that  he  supported  Greeley  and  acted  with  the  Liberals  while 
they  had  an  existence.  Mr.  Andrews  was  elected  member  of  assembly  from  the  third 
assembly  district  of  this  county  in  1867  and  1868,  has  been  assessor  of  the  town  of 
Massena  for  several  years,  and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Pine  Grove 
Cemetery  for  the  past  twenty  years.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  P.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Miles,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  three  ciiildren  :  Helen  M.,  Kate  G.,  who 
married  H.  H.  Harrington,  and  Miles  II.,  who  married  Miss  L.  M.  Williams.  Mrs. 
Andrews  died  May  2,  1851,  and  he  married  second,  Mrs.  Esther  Sawin,  daughter  of 
Anthony  Thompson,  and  they  had  one  son,  J.  Charles,  who  married  Georgiana,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Hartwell.     Mrs.  Andrews  died  August  8,  1887. 

Johnson,  J.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  October  14,  1850,  and  after  a 
few  years  spent  in  mercantile  business,  he  worked  for  the  Gouverneur  Iron  Ore  Com- 
pany. Next  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Manufacturing  Company.  In 
1885  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Gouverneur  Machine  Company.  In  1886  it  was 
organized  as  a  stock  company  and  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  its  manager  and  secretary 
ever  since.     In  187G  he  married  Libby,  daughter  of  Hugh  Bowtelle.     His  father,  one 


78  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  the  early  settlers  of  Gouverneur,  was  John  Johnson,  born  in  Johnstown,  Fulton 
county,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of  Caleb  Johnson,  wounded  at  battle  of  Saratoga,  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Jenkins,  Jotham,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Canada,  Febrbary  4,  1825,  a  son  of 
Elias,  a  native  of  Bradford,  Vt.,  born  in  1790.  The  latter  came  to  Canada  with 
his  parents  when  a  child.  His  father  dying  when  he  was  ten  years  old  he  was 
obliged  to  assume  much  of  the  responsibility  of  caring  for  the  family  at  a  very 
early  age.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Richard  Gage, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children.  In  1837  Mr.  Jenkins  came  to  Stockholm,  where  ha 
spent  his  last  years.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church, 
in  which  Mr.  Jenkins  was  class  leader  for  thirty  years.  Mrs.  Jenkins  died  in  June, 
1853,  and  in  1854  he  married  second,  Mrs.  Taylor,  of  Malone,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Jenkins  died 
October  19,  1870.  Jotham,  our  subject,  came  to  Stockholm  at  the  age  of  twelve, 
where  he  was  educated  and  has  always  followed  farming,  being  the  owner  of  360  acres. 
He  is  a  Prohibitionist  and  attends  the  "Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  In  1848  he  mar- 
mied  Sophronia  French,  of  Stockholm,  by  whom  he  has  had  seven  children  :  Warren, 
who  died  young;  Orpha  E.,  who  married  a  Mr.  Maynard,  of  Dakota,  where  she  died, 
leaving  four  children ;  Silas  D.,  who  married  Electa  Gray,  and  has  had  two  children, 
Ivers  and  Theron;  Janson,  who  married  Martha  Winters  and  has  four  children, 
resides  in  Dakota;  Henry  I.,  of  Winthrop,  married  first,  Martha  Smith,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Gladys,  and  second,  Mary  O'Brien ;  Elias  L ,  died  in  infancy ; 
and  Gertie  L.,  who  resides  at  home.  Mrs.  Jenkins  was  a  daughter  of  Levi  S.  French, 
who  was  a  son  of  John,  of  Vermont,  one  of  the  first  to  settle  in  Stockholm  (1810)  where 
he  died  in  1832.  He  married  Sybil  Dewey,  who  died  in  1841,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren. Levi  French  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1799,  and  married  Elmina  Fisk,  of  Bangor, 
jST.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  He  died  in  1887,  and  his  wife  October  6,  1890, 
aged  eigVity-five. 

Jones,  Harvey  L.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  May  23,  1840.  Re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Ogdensburg,  1852.  He  is  a  descendant  from  one  branch 
of  the  family  (on  his  father's  side)  that  gave  "Paul  Jones"  of  Revolutionary  fame 
to  the  country;  can  trace  his  ancestry  on  his  mother's  side  to  the  '''Mayflower^"' 
his  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  (William  Baldwin)  was  a  soldier  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  was  one  of  twelve  drawn  by  lot  to  shoot  Major  Andre  to  death,  but 
whose  sentence  was  changed  to  hanging,  which  took  place  October  2,  1780.  Mr. 
Jones  has  been  closely  identified  with  public  affairs ;  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervirors  many  years  and  chairman  1880;  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  village  (now  city)  of  Ogdensburg,  at  present  is  treasurer  of  the 
commissioners  of  Cranberry  Lake  Reservoir,  and  clerk  of  the  city  and  board  of  educa- 
tion. He  was  married  in  1870,  to  Miss  Ella  Denison,  of  Minnesota,  and  has  three 
children;  one  son  and  two  daughters.     In  politics  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Idler,  John  G.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Oswego,  March  15,  1848.  His  parents 
moved  from  there  to  Ogdensburg  wben  the  subject  was  one  year  old.  They  were  of 
German  parentage.     John  G.  Idler  entered  the  employ  of  the  Proctor  lumber  business 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  79 

as  tally  boy  in  1864  and  is  now  a  foreman  of  the  business.  Mr.  Idler  married  in  1S75, 
Miss  Josephine  E.  Manley  and  has  three  children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ogdensburg 
club,  Royal  Arcanum,  etc. 

Jewett,  Proctor,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  April  21,  1842.  He  left 
his  father's  farm  at  seventeen  and  took  up  milling  and  followed  it  for  many  years,  being 
for  some  time  a  member  of  the  firm  of  La  Salle  &  Jewitt  of  Canton.  Mr.  Jewett  is 
now  overseer  of  the  poor  for  Gouverneur  and  also  conducts  a  livery  stable.  In  1863 
he  married  Lucy  a  Rutherford,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year  enlisted  in  the  14th 
N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery  and  passed  through  the  Wilderness,  participating  in  the  battles 
of  Cold  Harbor,  Spottsylvania  and  Petersburg.  Mr.  Jewett's  grandfather,  Ezekiel 
Jewett,  was  a  captain  at  Sackett's  Harbor  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  1802,  where  the  city  of  Watertown  now  stands.  There  being  at  that 
time  only  three  framed  houses  there,  the  rise  on  the  same  made  him  forehanded.  The 
father  of  the  subject  was  a  lad  at  that  time  and  well  remembers  seemg  wolves  and  hear- 
ing them  around  the  house  at  night.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Proctor  Jewett  now  enjoy  all  the 
blessings  of  a  happy  life  in  the  flourishing  village  of  Gouverneur. 

Ives,  Martin  V.  B.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Dickerson,  Franklin  county,  November  20, 
1840,  a  son  of  Warren  Ives,  who  came  from  Connecticut  about  1830.  He  was  a  law- 
yer and  for  thirteen  years  he  was  supervisor  of  Dickerson  and  a  man  whose  advice  was 
sought  on  many  questions  of  public  affairs.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
married  Louisa  B.  Ladd.  who  came  from  Newbury,  Yt.,  and  was  a  distant  relative  of 
Daniel  Webster.  Martin  received  an  education  in  the  common  amd  select  schools, 
and  when  he  was  twenty- one  years  of  age  started  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  the  same  year  was  elected  constable  of  Dickerson.  July  1,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  the  47th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry  and  served  two  years  and  ten  months. 
He  Avas  at  the  battles  of  Olustee,  Fla.,  Drury's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg  and  both 
attacks  on  Fort  Fisher.  When  his  term  expired,  his  mother  having  moved  to  Potsdam, 
Martin  located  there,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  conducting  a  book 
store  and  doing  quite  an  extensive  business  in  western  passenger  tickets  for  the  R.,  W. 
and  0.  Railroad  Company,  retiring  in  1886.  In  1882  he  and  his  brother  erected  one  of 
the  finest  business  blocks  on  Market  street,  Potsdam,  known  as  the  Ives  block,  and  in 
1890,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  H.  L.  Ives,  he  erected  the  new  Ives  block,  mar- 
ble, which  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  finest  business  blocks  in  St.  Lawrence  county. 
He  was  several  years  assessor  of  the  village  and  in  1893  was  elected  supervisor  by  a 
large  majority.  Mr.  Ives  married  in  1866,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Seth  Benson  of  Potsdam, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Hillie  S.  Mr.  Ives  was  appointed  by  Governor  Flower  in  1893 
trustee  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Station  of  Geneva.  He  is  also  .the  presi- 
dent of  the  Racquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  Valley  Horticultural  and  Agricultural 
Society. 

Jarvais,  Frank,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Aylmer,  Canada.  His  parents  moved  to 
this  city  when  he  was  a  child,  and  after  he  had  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion he  entered  the  meat  business  and  for  fourteen  and  a  half  ye.ars  was  employed 
in  a  leading  market  here.     About  eight  years  ago  he  established  business  for  him- 


80 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


self  and  has  since  been  very  successful  in  its  management,  having  the  leading  trade 
on  the  west  side.  Mr.  Jarvais  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss 
La  March,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  His  second  wife  was  a  Miss  Nellie  M. 
Latham  by  whom  he  has  one  son.  She  is  cashier  and  bookkeeper  and  a  very  valuable 
assistant  in  the  business.  Mr.  Jarvais  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  in  May,  1893,  was 
appointed  deputy  collector  of  customs  at  the  Ferry  dock.  He  was  the  first  in  the  dis- 
trict to  receive  an  appointment  under  Cleveland's  administration.  The  market  is  now 
conducted  under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  Jarvais. 

Kinney,  Hart  S.,  Massena,  was  born  October  22,  1800,  in  Bethel,  Vt.,  and  came  to 
this  town  in  1821,  where  he  was  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  married,  first,  Nancy  Lamper- 
tonof  Vermont,  and  they  had  four  children,  the  first  two  dying  in  infancy.  Wealthy, 
born  August  15,  1835,  married  Edward  Tracey.  She  died  in  April,  1889.  Elizabeth,  born 
January  20,  1839,  married  Albert  Rosebrook  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Kinney  died  January  10, 
1837,  and  Mr.  Kinney  married,  second.  Mary  Flint,  daughter  of  Ralph  Fhnt.  She  was 
born  September  13,  1813,  at  Shoreham,  Vt.  By  this  union  there  were  four  children  : 
Arvilla  R.,  born  September  12,  1842,  married  George  Washburn  February  19,  1874, 
died  April  30,  1883;  Edwin  W.,  born  April  22,  1844,  married  Alice,  daughter  of 
Daniel  E.  and  Clarisssa  (Carpenter)  Stearns  of  this  town,  September  4,  1866 ;  Albert 
T.,  born  October  18,  1847,  married  Frances  Barnett ;  George  F.,  born  March  14,  1850, 
married  Ella  Miller,  died  June  20,  1888.  Edwin  W.,  who  furnishes  this  sketch,  lives 
on  the  old  Inmestead,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate October  1,  1861,  in  Co.  A,  92d  Reg't,  and  served  with  his  regiment  till  he  was 
mustered  out  May  17,  1863.  He  then  re-enlisted  in  the  U.  S.  navy  at  the  Brook- 
lyn Navy  Yord,  September  1,  1864,  and  wa^  in  several  naval  engagements,  being 
at  Savannah  when  General  Sherman  arrived  after  his  famous  march  to  the  sea.  He 
received  his  final  discharge  June  27,  1865.  Mr.  Kinney  has  been  a  successful  farmer 
since  that  time.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor  of  the  town  of  Massena 
for  seven  successive  years.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Keene,  Col.  H.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  June  17,  1810.  His  parents,  Job  and 
Nancy  Keene,  settled  in  Jefferson  county  in  1822,  and  there  a  great  part  of  Colonel 
Keene's  life  was  spent.  For  many  years  he  was  largely  interested  in  farming,  and  still 
owns  1,500  acres  of  dairy  farm  lands,  with  200  cows.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of 
the  old  Watertown  and  Potsdam  railway,  being  one  of  its  first  directors.  He  was  also 
colonel  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Regiment  of  State  militia.  October  30,  1882,  Colonel 
Keene  married  Mrs.  Frances  Jacobs,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Florence  May  Keene. 
Colonel  Keene  has  lived  a  very  useful  life,  a  prominent  f^atui-e  of  which  has  been  the 
aid  and  encouragement  he  has  always  given  young  men.  He  lives  a  semi-retired  life  in 
Gouverneur,  interesting  himself  only  in  the  management  of  his  various  farms. 

Kirk,  Vernon  H.,  Pari-4ivilie,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  February  13,  1849.  His  father 
was  Olivet  Kirk,  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  a  son  of  Charles,  the  latter  a  native  of  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  died  in  Charleston,  Mass.,  aged 
fifty  years.  His  wife,  Abigail,  died  in  New  Hampshire  in  1836  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six.     Joseph  was  born  in  Weston,  Vt.,  March  2,  1781.     September  13,  1803,  he  mar- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  81 

ried  Susannah  Tenney,  born  June  9,  1783,  who  died  in  Danby,  Vt.,  in  1831.  Joseph 
Kirk  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was  a  major  in  the  State  mihtia,  and  served 
in  the  State  Legislature.  He  died  April  13, 1847,  and  his  wife  September  7  of  the  same 
year.  Olivet  Kirk  was  born  July  3,  1815,  in  Weston,  Vt.,  and  married  Sallie  C.  Har- 
rington, by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  our  subject  and  0.  R.  Kirk,  deceased.  About  1854 
Olivet  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  where  his  wife  died  February  G,  1857.  In  October, 
1860,  he  married  a  second  wife,  Lucy  A.  Eastman,  a  native  of  Parishville,  by  whom  he 
had  one  daughter,  Lucinda  S.  Mr.  Kirk  was  active  in  politics,  and  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Republican  party.  He  died  May  14,  1868.  Vernon  H.  Kirk  was  a 
child  when  his  parents  moved  to  Pennsylvania.  In  1859  he  returned  to  Parishville, 
where  he  has  since  followed  farming,  owning  111  acres  of  dairy  land.  January  1,  1873, 
he  married  Jennie  L.  Crouch,  daughter  of  0.  F.  Crouch,  and  they  have  one  adopted 
child.  Jay  Sanford.  Mr.  Kirk  is  independent  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Congregational  church  of  Parishville,  and  of  P.  of  H.  of  Potsdam. 

Kelsey,  Elias,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  February  19,  1826.  He  was 
engaged  in  cheesemaking  for  twenty  years,  and  followed  farming  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  In  1854  he  married  [Clarissa  A.  Hildreth.  They  have  had  six  children.  The 
tAvo  eldest  being  Evaiine  E.  and  Etha  M.  Both  have  passed  away ;  the  former  in  her 
twenty-third  year,  and  the  latter  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  her  age,  having  been  mar- 
ried to  James  H.  Wilson,  of  Morristown,  six  months  previous  to  her  death.  They  also 
have  three  sons :  Harmon  E.,  Earl  J.  and  Carlton  Ray,  and  one  daughter.  Bertha  Ruth. 
Mr.  Kelsey's  father  was  Oliver  Kelsey.  He  came  from  New  Hampshire  in  1803,  mov- 
ing his  family  to  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  with  an  ox  team.  Mrs.  Kelsey's  father,  Walter 
Hildreth,  came  from  Vermont.  Mr.  Kelsey  is  a  large  and  influential  farmer,  and  is  also 
interested  in  stock  raising. 

Kinney,  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  November  20,  1847,  and  except 
seven  years  in  Jefferson  county,  has  lived  here  all  his  life.  He  began  business  here  in 
1864,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  grocers  and  clothiers  of  the  place.  In  1868  he  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  Spence,  of  Watertown,  and  they  have  a  son,  R.  L.  Kinney, 
who  married  Jennie,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Miller,  and  a  daughter,  Floy  E.  Mr.  Kin- 
ney's father  was  Orren  Kinney,  a  descendant  of  the  Mohawk  Valley  Kinneys. 

Killmer,  John,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  August  5,  1824,  and 
came  to  Gouverneur  in  1834.  His  active  life  has  been  spent  in  chair-making,  painting 
and  mercantile  business,  but  is  now  living  retired.  January  7,  1852,  Mr.  Killmer  married 
Sarah  McKean,  and  they  have  two  children  :  John  P.,  and  Ellen  W.,  wife  of  A.  F. 
Coates.  Mr.  Killmer  was  trustee  of  the  village  seven  years,  and  excise  commissioner 
five  years. 

Kelsey,  Henry  G.,  Stockholm,  was  born  October  29,  1833,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns. 
His  father  was  Sidney  Kelsey,  son  of  Isaac,  a  native  of  Orville,  Vt.  In  1801  Isaac  and 
his  eldest  son,  Reuben,  came  to  Stockholm  and  built  the  first  house  in  the  place,  and 
they,  with  a  Mr.  Wright,  spent  the  winter  there,  being  the  first  settlers  of  the  town. 
The  following  spring  Mr.  Kelsey's  family,  in  company  with  six  others,  came  to  Stock- 
holm, and  here  Mr.  Kelsey  died  in  1831.     Sidney  Kelsey  was  born  March  2,  1787,  and 


go  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

took  up  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  He  married  first  Amanda 
Deveraux,  by  whom  he  liad  two  children.  She  died  in  1824,  and  he  married  second 
JuHa  Holcomb,  of  Shoreham,  Vt.,  born  February  5,  1797.  They  had  two  sons,  one 
who  died  young,  and  Henry  G.  He  was  a  Repubhcan,  and  was  supervisor  of  the 
town.  He  died  February  10,  1871,  and  his  wife  April  3,  of  the  same  year.  Henry  G. 
Kelsey  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  is  a  general 
farmer  and  dairyman,  snd  owns  170  acres  of  land.  August  23,  1860,  he  married  Har- 
riet Steenberge,  of  Stockholm,  who  was  born  in  1840,  a  daughter  of  Orrin  Steenberge, 
of  Vermont.  Mr.  Kelsey  and  wife  have  had  two  children  :  Sidney  E.,  born  August  17, 
1863,  who  graduated  from  Claverack  Military  school  in  1883  and  from  Cornell  Univer- 
sity in  1887.  He  is  now  a  civil  engineer,  and  resides  in  Kansas  City.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Governor  Francis'  staff  during  the  opening  of  the  World's  Fair,  and  is  at  present 
major  of  the  Third  Regiment  National  Guards.  Alberta,  the  second  child  of  Henry  G., 
was  born  July  17,  1870.  She  is  the  wife  of  E.  A.  Wilkinson,  manager  of  the  cream- 
eries for  Morce  &  Smith  of  Boston.  They  have  one  son,  Henry  J.  Mrs.  Wilkinson  is 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  choir  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Brasher  Falls, 
having  been  connected  with  the  choir  since  fourteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Kelsey  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  Brasher  Falls  Lodge,  No.  541,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in 
which  he  has  been  S.  D.,  S.  W.,  W.  M.,  being  now  treasurer.  He  attends  and  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Kelley,  James  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Leanark  county,  Canada,  January  25, 
1861.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  there,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  came 
to  Ogdensburg.  After  working  on  a  farm  and  at  the  lumber  business  for  some  time  he 
purchased  in  1888  from  the  Ogdensburg  Broom  Company  their  business  and  removed  it 
to  No.  22  North  Water  street,  and  has  since  successfully  carried  on  this  branch  of  man- 
ufacturing, giving  employment  to  several  hands  and  personally  supervisuig  all  opera- 
tions. He  manufactures  a  high  grade  of  brooms  for  the  jobbing  trade.  Mr.  Kelley  is 
energetic  and  pushing  and  will  no  doubt  build  up  a  large  industry  here. 

Kinsman,  John  M.,  Potsdam,  (deceased),  was  born  at  Shrewsbury,  Vt.,  June  9,  1816, 
son  of  John,  who  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  He  married  in  his  native  State, 
Eunice  Merritt  of  Massachusetts,  distant  relative  of  General  E.  A.  Merritt.  Soon  after 
marriage  they  moved  into  the  State  of  A'ermont,  where  ]\Irs.  Kinsman  died  in  1832, 
leaving  five  children,  of  whom  John  M.  was  the  youngest  son.  He  married  second  in 
1833,  Anna,  sister  to  General  Merritt's  father.  John  M.  was  reared  in  his  native  State, 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Brandon  Seminary.  He  taught  school  a  few 
years  and  married  August  23,  1841,  Nancy  B.  Kinsman,  a  cousin,  and  resident  of  the 
same  town.  Immediately  after  marriage  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  after 
one  year  spent  in  Canton,  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Potsdam,  which  is  still  owned 
by  his  family.  Mr.  Kinsman  always  made  his  home  on  this  farm.  He  was  three  years 
in  mercantile  business  in  company  with  Norman  Ashley  and  was  also  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  live  stock  and  produce,  in  connection  with  his  farming,  and  interested  with  Hub- 
bard Bradley  of  Norfolk  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  was  a  short  time  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  He  was  always  a  Republican.  In  1884  he 
moved  to  the  village  of  Norwood  and  two  years  later  built  a  beautiful  residence  on 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  83 

Prospect  street,  where  he  died  April  9,  1893.  His  first  wife  died  November  27,  1848, 
leaving  one  child,  Mr.s.  Henry  Morgan  of  Norwood,  who  died  in  1865.  The  widow 
that  survives  was  Delania  A.,  daughter  of  L.  Foote  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  one  son, 
Henry  M.,  born  on  the  homestead  farm,  AuE;ust  31,  1858.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  Oberlin  Seminary.  He  engaged  in  dealing  in  live  stock  and 
country  produce  and  conducted  the  farm  since  he  was  of  age.  In  1883,  in  partnership 
with  H.  G.  Pert,  of  Potsdam,  he  opened  a  hardware  store  in  Norwood,  which  they  con- 
ducted four  yeans,  then  sold  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  dealing  in  car- 
riages, agricultural  implements,  harnesses,  etc.  His  repository  is  a  large,  two  story 
warehouse,  70x30  feet,  and  besides  has  a  storehouse  near  the  station.  Mr.  Kinsman 
married,  June  13,  1883,  Sylvia  Balch,  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Gene- 
vieve D.,  and  Florence  May 

Laberdee,  W.  J.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  July  18,  1847.  He  followed 
farming  eighteen  years,  and  has  been  nine  years  in  the  mercantile  business,  having 
worked  for  some  time  for  Dean  &  Aldrich.  Mr.  Laberdee  married  Mary  Laquier,  and 
they  have  four  children.  He  has  resided  nine  years  at  Natural  Dam,  where  he  con- 
ducts a  general  store,  is  a  thorough  business  man,  and  very  popular.  His  father,  Mar- 
t'n  Laberdee,  is  a  native  of  Canada,  as  is  also  his  mother.  Martin  Laberdee  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  ten  living  children,  all  married,  and  the  family,  children  and  grand- 
children, number  ninety-six,  and  the  old  folks'  age,  father  84,  and  mother  82,  both 
living. 

Laberdee,  M.  L.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  March  7,  1851.  He  is  a 
blacksmith  by  trade  and  has  a  genius  for  inventing  He  has  been  a  successful  business 
man  and  is  much  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  He  came  to  Natural  Dam,  in  1878. 
He  married  Alphopina  La  Flare,  and  they  have  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Mr.  Laberdee  is  a  brother  of  W.  J.  Laberdee  and  their  parents  are  spoken 
of  in  the  sketch  of  the  former. 

Lenney,  William,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Massena,  January  9,  1839,  a  son  of  Henry 
Leimey,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  June,  1802,  who  was  there  educated  and  received 
a  liberal  education.  Coming  to  Massena  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  in  1839  settled 
on  the  farm  in  Stockholm,  now  owned  by  William  Lenney,  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  owned  nearly  300  acres  of  land  and  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  the  town.  He  married  in  Montreal,  Canada,  Sarah  Gorman,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
they  had  three  children  :  Dr.  James.  Gorman,  and  William,  who  is  the  only  survivor. 
Mr.  Lenney  was  one  of  the  first  to  assist  in  establishing  a  Catholic  church  at  Potsdam. 
He  died  October  30, 1892,  and  his  wife  May  6,  1874.  William  Lenney  was  educated  in 
the  Potsdam  Academy.  He  spent  nearly  two  years  as  clerk  for  D.  Turner  of  Potsdam, 
since  which  time  Vie  has  been  engaged  in  general  farming  and  dairying.  He  owns  some- 
thing over  200  acres  of  land  and  has  over  forty  cows.  His  wife  was  Mary  Hayes,  a 
native  of  Potsdam,  born  September  10,  1845.  To  Mr.  Lenney  and  wife  were  born 
eight  children :  Gorman  H.  and  James  C,  graduates  of  Potsdam  Normal  School,  are  in 
partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Empire  Book  Co.;  Tessie  M.,  a  graduate  of  Potsdam 
Normal  School,  class  of  '92,  is  a  teacher ;  Agnes  S.  died  July  22,  1883 ;  Lottie  A.  and 


S4  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Anna  M.,  students  at  the  Normal  School ;  Julia  J.,  at  home;  Stella  E.,  died  September 
28,  1893. 

Lane,  G-eorge  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  Potsdam,  July  31,  1866. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Benjamin,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  October 
5,  1796,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  country.  He  was  located 
with  his  brother  in  Canada  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812  and  was  drafted  into 
the  British  army.  In  1814  they  came  to  this  side  and  he  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres, 
where  he  made  his  home.  He  married  in  1820,  Mary  Parmalee  of  Potsdam,  and  they 
had  six  children.  Daniel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  oldest  son  and  was  born 
October  9,  1827,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  up  farming.  In  1832  he 
bought  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and  always  made  his  home  here.  Daniel  Lane 
was  a  Republican  and  held  the  office  of  excise  commissioner.  He  increased  the  size  of 
the  farm  to  172  acres,  devoted  to  dairying.  He  died  December  15,  1889.  He  married 
in  1852,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  Dayton  of  Potsdam,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  three  now  living  :  Henry,  a  telegraph  operator  of  West  Potsdam  ;  Eliza- 
beth, a  teacher  of  West  Potsdam,  graduate  of  Potsdam  State  Normal  School;  and 
George  E.  Mrs.  Lane  died  November  7,  1892.  George  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Potsdam  State  Normal  School  and  at  the  death  of  his  father  assumed 
control  of  the  farm,  which  he  now  conducts.  He  married  in  1887,  Estella,  daughter  of 
Isaiah  Shields  of  Potsdam. 

Louis,  Christopher,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Loraine,  France,  December  26,  1826. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  1851,  located  in  Utica,  and  engaged  in  locksmithing.  After 
two  years  and  a  half  he  removed  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  engaged  in  the  fruit  in- 
dustry, but  not  being  satisfied,  he  returned  to  Utica  and  engaged  in  his  old  business. 
In  1856  he  went  to  California  and  engaged  in  working  a  gold  mine  for  some  three 
years,  when  he  visited  British  Columbia,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  returned 
to  California  and  worked  the  mine  a  short  time  unsuccessfully.  Becoming  disgusted 
with  the  business  he  gave  up  the  claim  to  a  friend,  and  again  returned  to  Utica  and  en- 
tered the  locksmith  industry.  In  1860,  with  a  partner,  he  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  saws,  but  sold  out  to  his  partner  at  the  close  of  the  year.  In  the  meantime  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Delestre  of  Utica,  in  the  spring  of  1861.  They  made  a  tour  to  Illinois 
and  finally  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  April,  1862,  and  he  has  since  remained  here,  doing  a 
prosperous  locksmith  business  in  addition  to  working  a  small  farm  which  he  purchased 
just  outside  of  the  city  limits.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  have  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, five  boys  and  two  girls.  Mr.  Louis  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  esteemed  and  respected 
citizens. 

Bartlett,  Nathan  Willard,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Melbourne,  Quebec,  Canada,  March 
1,  1847.  He  was  a  son  of  Alden  Bartlett,  whose  father  was  Rev.  Willard  Bartlett,  and 
the  latter  a  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Bartlett,  son  of  Mathew  Bartlett,  who  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Bartlett.  Thomas  and  Mathew  Bartlett  were  each  natives  of  Brookfield,  Mass. 
Capt.  Joseph  Bartlett  was  born  in  Brookfield,  Mass.,  in  1758,  and  served  in  the  American 
army  during  the  Revolution,  and  was  afterwards  pensioned  for  injuries  received  in  the 
service.     He  married  Lucretia  Hamilton,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  they  had  eleven 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  85 

children.  In  1796  he  moved  from  Danville,  Vt.,  to  Barnston,  Quebec,  but  vfhen  he 
moved  from  Massachusetts  to  Vermont  is  unknown.  In  1805  he  was  appointed  captain 
of  a  company  of  militia  organized  in  Barnston,  but  resigned  rather  than  transfer  his 
allegiance  from  the  United  States  to  Great  Britain.  He  died  in  Melbourne,  P.  Q.,  March 
9,  18-40.  Rev.  Willard  Bartlett  was  born  September  8,  1783,  in  Brookfield,  Mass.,  and 
moved  to  Barnston  with  his  parents,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Stanstead  Wesleyan  College.  He  married  Louis  Mosier,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children. 
He  died  in  Melbourne,  Quebec.  Alden  Bartlett  was  born  June  23,  1815,  in  Wheelock, 
Vermont,  and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  married  JaneW.  Button,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  July  25,  1810,  and  they  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1854  Alden  Bartlett 
moved  to  Parishville,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  wife  died  April  18,  1868;  he 
afterwards  married  Mrs.  Susan  Sherwood,  whose  maiden  name  was  Britton.  She  died 
January  30,  1887.  Mr.  Bartlett  has  always  been  a  Republican.  Nathan  W.  Bartlett's 
school  advantages  were  very  limited.  His  parents  were  very  poor,  and  school  taxes 
were  raised  on  the  "  grand  list,"  and  as  soon  as  the  public  money  was  expended  he  had 
to  leave  school,  as  his  father  could  not  pay  the  tax  on  so  many.  In  February,  1865,  he 
enlisted  m  Co.  F,  193d  Regt.,  N.  Y.  Inf.,  and  was  discharged  June  29,  1865,  from  Mc- 
Kim's  Mansion  Ef  ospital,  Baltimore,  Md..  for  disability  ;  his  regiment  was  mustered  out 
in  January,  1866.  Mr.  Bartlett's  twin  brother,  William  Wallace,  served  in  Co.  A  of 
the  same  regiment,  and  was  accidentally  shot  March  20,  1869.  Mr.  Bartlett  has  been 
disabled  from  the  performance  of  manual  labor  ever  since  his  discharge  from  the  ser- 
vice. For  over  three  years  after  his  return  from  the  service  he  was  unable  to  lie  down, 
and  sitting  up  caused  a  curvature  of  the  spine  and  a  bad  physical  deformity.  The 
greater  portion  of  those  years,  Mr.  Bartlett's  physical  suffering  was  intense.  In  the  fall 
of  1869  he  attended  a  select  school  one-half  day  each  da)',  and  the  following  winter  at- 
tended district  school  most  of  the  time.  In  February,  1870,  he  entered  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Potsdam,  where  he  remained  nearly  three  years,  doing  only  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  regular  school  work  on  account  of  his  health ;  he  also  taught  two  terms 
district  school.  While  teaching  he  had  a  severe  relapse,  brought  on  by  over  work,  and 
was  obliged  not  only  to  leave  his  school  but  to  abandon  his  chosen  profession,  teaching. 
Mr.  Bartlett  often  referred  to  this  as  the  greatest  disappointment  of  his  life,  for  he 
greatly  loved  his  work.  In  September,  1873,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Theo.  H. 
Swift,  of  Potsdam,  "to  kill  time"  until  he  decided  what  next  to  attempt.  He  re- 
mained in  Mr.  Swift's  office  one  year,  during  which  time  his  health  improved  and  he 
became  very  much  interested  in  the  study  of  law.  He  then  entered  the  office  of  J.  A. 
Vance,  of  Potsdam,  and  remained  with  him  three  years,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
September.  1877.  While  reading  law  Mr.  Bartlett  taught  school  one  winter  at  Pierre- 
pont  Center,  and  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1875  was  principal  of  the  Union  Free  School 
of  Hermon,  N.  Y.  In  November,  1877,  Mr.  Bartlett  located  in  the  village  of  Parish- 
ville, where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profession.  June  27,  1881,  he  married  Jennie 
R.,  daughter  of  Robert  H.  and  Sarah  A.  Cooke,  of  Canton.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: Sarah  J.,  born  March  22,  1883,  died  March  27,  1883;  Willard  William,  born 
March  9,  1884 ;  Agnes  M.,  born  November  27,  1885.  died  January  23,  1887  ;  Katy  V., 
born  March  19,  1888.  Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  Republican  until  1890,  when  he  joined  the 
Prohibitionists.     He  is  now  serving  his  first  term  as  justice  of  the  peace.     He  belongs 


86 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


to  Rockwell  Post,  No.  328,  Gr.  A.  R.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  trustee  for  nine  years.  During  that  time  the 
church  prospered  financially,  having  purchased  a  large  brick  parsonage,  moved  the 
church  on  to  the  parsonage  lot  and  built  a  basement  for  prayer-meeting  and  Sunday- 
school  purposes,  also  adding  a  tower  to  the  church  and  other  improvements  at  a  total 
expense  of  about  $4,000.  In  this  work,  as  in  all  other  of  a  public  or  charitable  nature, 
Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  prime  mover.  Mr.  Bartlett  has  always  been  an  ardent,  zealous  tem- 
perance man,  and  m  1892  was  his  party's  nominee  for  surrogate,  and  in  1893  was  their 
choice  for  district  attorney.  On  account  of  declining  health  Mr.  Bartlett  has  given  up 
all  his  law  practice,  except  a  little  office  work.  He  has  drawn  since  his  discharge  a 
liberal  pension,  without  which  he  could  not  have  gone  to  school  or  read  law.  Mr. 
Bartlett  saw  but  little  army  service,  yet  few  have  suffered  as  much  on  account  thereof, 
or  been  placed  at  so  great  a  disadvantage  in  the  ''  battle  of  life." 

Laquier,  A.  J.,  Grouverneur,  was  born  at  The  Cedars  in  Canada  and  was  reared  in 
Ogdensburg.  He  has  been  in  Gouverneur  twenty-four  years  and  has  conducted  a  suc- 
cessful general  store  at  Natural  Dam  nine  years.  In  1873  he  married  and  has  four 
children,  the  oldest  son.  Urban  A.,  assisting  his  father  in  the  business. 

Lytle,  Andrew,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon  in  1818.  His  father,  James  J.  Lytle,  and 
his  grandfather,  William  Lytle,  came  from  Salem,  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  settled 
near  Lisbon  Centre  in  1801,  and  followed  argricultural  pursuits.  His  brother,  David, 
purchased  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  which  has  been  kept  intact,  as  neither  he  nor  his 
brother,  David,  have  married.  They  have  most  materially  added  to  the  property  and 
are  now  counted  as  among  the  most  influential  and  substantial  property  owners  in  Lisbon. 

Lewis,  William  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Stockholm,  September  30,  1845, 
a  son  of  William  H.,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Addison,  September  6,  1799.  He 
came  to  S*".  Lawrence  county  when  about  forty  years  of  age  and  located  in  Stock- 
holm, where  he  conducted  a  farm.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  followed  the  trade  both  in 
St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin  counties.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Orisa 
Seeley,  a  native  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  his  second  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  he 
married  in  1843.  Her  maiden  name  was  Hannah  Turner,  and  they  had  nine  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  one  was  killed  in  the  war  and  six  are  still  living.  Will- 
iam A.  was  the  second  son.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Russell,  where 
his  parents  moved  when  he  was  only  a  year  old.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  is  a  graduate  of  Eastman's  Business  College  of  Poughkeepsie.  He  was 
only  sixteen  years  old  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  with  the  enthusiasm  of  youth 
he  enlisted  December  8,  1863,  in  the  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  and  was  in  service  with 
them  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  was  with  Sherman  and  was  in  a  part  of  the 
Red  River  expedition.  After  the  war  closed  he  returned  to  Canton,  where  he  at- 
tended school  for  a  short  time  and  then  went  to  Poughkeepsie.  In  186G  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  Russell.  In  1870  he  went  west,  filling  a  position  in 
the  county  clerk's  office  of  Buchanan  county,  Iowa,  four  years.  Returning  to  Rus- 
sell in  1874  he,  in  company  with  Hiry  Derby,  established  a  general  store,  which  he 
conducted  for  nearly  three  years.     In  1877  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  87 

supervisor  for  one  year.  In  1878  he  moved  to  West  Potsdam,  where  he  took  up 
the  manufacture  of  cheese  and  has  been  engaged  in  dairy  business  ever  since,  man- 
ufacturing, buying  and  selHng.  In  1893,  in  company  with  his  brother,  A.  P.  Lewis, 
he  turned  the  cheese  factory  into  a  creamCiy,  which  now  produces  125,000  pounds 
per  year.  Since  Mr.  Lewis  came  to  Potsdam  he  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  six  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  twenty- 
seven  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Potsdam  Grange  No.  39.  He  married  in  1874, 
Elizabeth  P.,  daughter  of  Cyrenus  Z.  and  Aurilla  ( King )  Bostsford  of  Canton,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Percy  Llewellyn,  now  in  his  ninth  year.  They  have  an  adopted 
daughter,  Lora  Bacon  Lewis. 

Larock,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  September  19,  1866.  He  re- 
ceived an  excellent  academic  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  and  after  serving  two 
years  as  clerk,  went  into  the  grocery  business,  which  two  years  later  he  sold  out  to  go 
west,  where  he  resided  for  three  years,  and  in  1890  he  purchased  a  grocery  business  on 
Lake  street  in  this  city  and  last  year's  sales  exceeded  .$25,000.  Mr.  Larock  keeps  six 
or  seven  assistants  and  two  delivery  wagons.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ogdensburg 
Grocery  Association  and  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  en- 
terprising and  progressive  business  men  and  citizens, 

La  Rock,  F.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  August  12,  1850.  He  received 
his  education  in  School  No.  I  of  this  town,  then  commenced,  in  1886,  to  learn  the 
butcher's  trade  with  Mr.  M.  C.  Bennett,  after  completing  which  he  opened  a  meat  mar- 
ket at  Ogdensburg,  about  seven  years  ago,  were  he  has  been  successful,  the  firm  name 
being  La  Rock  &  Carter.  Mr.  La  Rock  married  in  1871,  Hattie  Goult,  and  they  had 
one  child,  born  December  28,  1872,  who  died  July  21,  1881.  Mr.  La  Rock  has  occu- 
pied his  new  store,  187  State  street,  since  April  15,  1892. 

Lockie,  George,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Scotland,  October  9,  1810,  and  came  to 
America  in  1818.  His  parents  settled  in  Rossie.  In  1835  Mr.  Lockie  took  up  land 
where  he  now  resides.  April  24,  1840,  he  married  Catherine  McLaren,  also  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  they  have  five  children  living :  George  F,,  Colin  J.,  John  A.,  Mrs.  Churchill 
and  Mrs.  Herring.  Mr.  Lockie  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  citizens 
of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  his  long  life  has  always  been  governed  by  the  most  sterling 
principles. 

Loveland,  M.  E.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  De  Peyster,  July  31,  1864.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  hardware  business  in  Potsdam  eight  years.  In  the  spring  of  1893, 
he  removed  to  Gouverneur  and  bought  out  Charles  Bowne.  Mr.  Loveland  is  a 
Mason  of  the  thirty-second  degree  Scotish  rite,  and  a  most  enterprising  business 
man.  In  1887  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Chisholm,  of  Gouverneur,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Lyle  C,  now  in  his  fifth  year.  Mr.  Loveland's  father  was 
Dwight,  and  his  grandfather.  Remembrance  Loveland.  The  family  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1675. 

Laramee,  Rev.  E.  C,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Plattsburg  on  February  3,  1857,  and 
was  educated  for  the  priesthood  at  St.  Mary's  College  and  Le  Grand  Seminary, 
Montreal.     He  was  ordained  in  1882  by  the  late  Bishop  E.  P.  Wadhams  at  St.  Mary's 


88  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Cathedra],  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  and  sent  as  assistant  priest  to  St.  Ann's  church,  Mooer's 
Forks.  He  came  to  Gouverneur  in  1883,  and  the  Church  of  St.  James  has  experienced 
a  marked  advance  in  every  way  since  his  incumbency.  The  church  has  been  completely 
remodeled  and  renewed,  and  provided  with  a  bell.  A  parochial  residence  and  a  ceme- 
tery have  been  purchased,  and  the  congregation  has  increased  so  much  that  a  school  has 
been  established.  A  beautiful  school  building  in  now  in  way  of  erection  and  will  be 
inaugurated  in  November.  Father  Laramee  also  attends  the  missions  at  Keene,  Fine, 
and  Taleville,  where  he  is  presently  providing  these  people  with  churches. 

Lockwood,  Aldis  L.,  jr.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Parishville  in  1860,  a  son  of  A.  L.  Lock- 
wood,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  country  when  only  four  years  old.  He 
has  been  engagad  in  farming  and  manufacturing  business.  He  conducted  starch 
factories  in  Parishville  and  Crary's  Mills,  and  for  fifteen  years  was  engaged  with 
the  Montgomery  Insurance  Company.  The  last  five  years  as  adjuster.  He  is  now 
retired  from  active  business.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  lived  in  Ohio 
until  her  marriage.  Her  maiden  name  was  Gratia  Durant,  and  they  had  one  son,  our 
subject.  The  boyhood  of  Aldis  L.  was  spent  in  Parishville.  In  1870  his  parents 
moved  to  Potsdam  and  Aldis  was  educated  in  the  Normal  there,  Syracuse  University, 
and  at  the  New  England  Conservatory  of  Music  in  Boston.  Being  obliged  to  leave 
the  latter  school  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  went  to  Wisconsin  where  he  taught  music 
a  short  time,  and  after  that  spent  two  winters  in  Florida.  In  1887,  he  established  a 
bazaar  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise,  carrying  a  line  of  almost  everything  useful 
in  the  library  or  kitchen.  Mr.  Lockwood  is  a  partner  in  the  Potsdam  Woolen  Mill  of 
Potsdam,  for  the  manufacture  of  cloths,  flannels,  sheeting  and  hosiery.  Mr.  Lockwood 
married  February  14,  1893,  Kathryn  Fuller,  of  Stevens  Point,  Wis. 

La  Rose,  Rev.  P.  0.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  September  9,  1846.  He  was 
liberally  educated  in  La  Assumption  College,  and  in  Montreal  Seminary,  and  was 
ordained  priest  in  that  city  in  1872.  In  1873,  Father  La  Rose  was  appointed  to 
the  church  in  Ogdensburg,  and  since  his  inauguration  to  the  pastorate  has  been 
eminently  successful  in  building  up  the  church,  in  both  spiritual  and  material  matters. 
He  has  charge  of  820  families,  containing  4,013  members,  among  whom  there  are  2,339 
communicants,  and  1,G74  non-communicants,  also  two  schools  containing  776  pupils, 
over  which  are  ten  teachers  under  Father  La  Rose's  direction.  The  latter  is  very 
energetic  and  zealous  and  enjoys  the  respect,  esteem,  and  confidence  of  this  entire 
community. 

The  Lockwood  Family — J.  Almeron  Lockwood,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  June  9, 
1817.  The  earliest  ancestor  of  this  family  we  can  trace  was  William  Lockwood,  a 
native  of  England,  who  came  to  this  country  when  a  young  man.  He  settled  in  Ver- 
mont where  he  married,  and  afterward  moved  into  Canada.  There  he  was  awarded  a 
contract  of  land  for  his  loyalty  to  the  British  cause  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
William  Lockwood  was  the  father  of  eight  children  of  whom  Joseph,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  the  oldest  son.  He  was  born  June  20,  1792,  and  was  only  a  lad  when  his 
parents  moved  to  St  Lawrence  county.  His  father  took  up  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in 
Madrid,  and  in  1806,  when  Joseph  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  bought  a  farm  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  89 

eighty  acres  adjoining  the  homestead,  where  he  always  made  his  home.  Joseph  mar- 
ried, May  25,  1815,  Azubah  Newton  of  this  town,  and  they  had  three  children:  Lucy 
A.,  who  married  Thomas  Howe,  of  Potsdam,  and  died  April  14,  1873  ;  Cynthia  Alvira, 
who  died  in  1841,  at  twenty-one  years  of  age;  and  Joseph  Almeron.  The  early  life 
of  the  latter  was  spent  on  this  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
Canton  Academy.  At  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  married  and  after  one  year  moved  to 
Canada,  where  he  conducted  a  photographic  gallery,  being  engaged  in  this  business 
for  about  eleven  years.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Ottawa,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
1859.  He  died  on  the  old  homestead  July  1,  1859.  He  married,  November  10,  1841, 
Melinda,  daughter  of  John  Pierce,  of  Williamsburg,  Canada,  and  they  had  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  still  living:  Alvira,  an  artist  of  note  and  teacher  of  painting, 
who  has  now  a  studio  at  Ottawa,  Canada ;  Jasper,  a  train  dispatcher  at  Los  Angeles, 
Cal;  Eugene,  of  Los  Angeles;  Maria,  who  is  now  at  Chicago;  Eliza,  who  conducts  the 
homestead  farm ;  Almira,  who  died  in  1879  at  twenty-six  years  of  age ;  Florence,  who 
lives  at  home,  and  Joseph  of  Los  Angeles. 

Lockwood,  the  late  Homer  R.,  Madrid,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Madrid,  October  20, 
1851.  Charles  S.  Lockwood,  his  father,  was  also  a  native  of  this  county  and  was  a 
farmer.  Homer  R.  was  his  only  son.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
withheld  from  a  collegiate  course  on  account  of  delicate  health.  He  assisted  on  his 
father's  farm  until  thirty  years  of  age,  then  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  part- 
nership with  his  uncle,  Edward  Lockwood.  This  partnership  existed  until  1890,  when 
Mr.  Lockwood  bought  his  partner's  interest,  and  continued  the  business  alone  until 
April,  1891.  He  then  left  the  store  in  hopes  of  recruiting  his  health.  But  these  hopes 
were  false,  as  he  gradually  declined  and  while  in  Burlington,  Vt.,  where  he  had  gone 
to  be  under  the  care  of  a  specialist,  he  died,  May  7,  1892.  Mr.  Lockwood  was  a  man 
of  considerable  influence  in  this  town  and  always  took  an  active  interest  in  school  and 
church  work.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  for  three  years,  an  officer 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  its  Sunday  school  superintendent  a  number  of  years.  By 
his  death  the  church  lost  one  of  its  most  active  workers,  the  town  an  admirable  cifizen, 
and  his  family  a  loving  husband  and  father.  He  married  in  1878,  Minnie,  daughter  of 
John  Sullivan,  of  Louisville,  who,  with  five  children,  survives  him.  The  children  are: 
Jessie  Anna,  Howard  Charles,  Frank  Homer,  Ruth  Elizabeth  and  Harold  Rollin. 

McCarrier,  James,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1823,  and  is  therefore  in  his 
seventieth  year.  He  came  to  this  country  when  only  twelve  years  of  age  with  his 
parents,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  commenced  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  and 
has  passed  his  whole  life  in  worthy  industry,  and  through  thrift  has  accumulated  con- 
siderable property.  He  now  owns  one  store  on  Ford  street,  a  residence  on  Park 
street,  together  with  several  lots  in  the  city  and  some  property  outside,  and  is  just  com- 
pleting a  new  store  in  which  he  proposes  establishing  a  grocery  business.  Mr.  McCar- 
rier married  in  1843  Ella  Cavanaugh  and  they  have  four  children  living.  Mr.  McCar- 
rier is  of  stalwart  and  robust  frame,  and  has  lived  a  life  of  great  industry,  honesty  and 
sobriety,  much  respected  and  esteemed  by  all. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Merriraan,  C.  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  February  26,  185L 
He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  this  county,  including  Gouverneur  Seminary, 
and  for  some  time  afterward  was  engaged  in  bookkeeping,  and  eventually  taking  up 
insurance,  which  he  has  most  successfully  prosecuted,  representing  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company,  as  general  agent,  for  ten  years,  and  a  number  of  first-class  fire 
insurance  companies,  which  he  continues  to  represent.  Mr.  Merriman  became  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Edgar  A.  Newell  Company,  and  received  the  appointment  of  treas- 
urer, which  position  he  still  holds.  In  1881  Mr.  Merriman  married  Cora  A.,  daughter 
of  Gates  Curtis,  and  they  have  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  Merriman  has  served  as 
supervisor  of  the  First  Ward,  is  a  member  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  of  all  Masonic 
bodies.  He  comes  from  New  England  stock,  and  his  ancestors  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Rossie. 

Manley,  Gilbert  B.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Fulton  county,  December  1, 
1829.  His  parents  moved  to  Brick  Chapel,  then  to  De  Kalb,  where  both  died  when 
Gilbert  was  seven  years  old.  His  father,  Rev.  George  Manley,  and  his  mother,  Esther 
(Smith)  Manley,  were  both  natives  of  Berkshire  county,  Mass.  Our  subject  was 
adopted  by  Moses  Huntley,  of  Potsdam,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood,  and  there  was 
fitted  for  college  at  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He  entered  Williams  College  in 
1853,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1857,  and  then  taught  school  for  sixteen  years. 
In  1873  he  bought  the  St.  Lawrence  Plaindealer,  of  Canton,  from  Colonel  Remington, 
and  has  continued  it  as  editor  and  proprietor  ever  since.  Mr.  Manley  married  in  1856 
Martha  L.  Hyde,  of  Massena,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Hyde,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Ada  L.,  now  Mrs.  R.  E.  Sumner,  of  Potsdam,  Williston  and  Mark,  the  latter  a  student 
in  medicine  at  Brooklyn.  Williston  Manley  is  associate  editor  of  the  Plaindealer.  He 
married  in  1891,  Mary,  daughter  of  Dr.  I.  M.  Atwood,  president  of  the  Canton  Theo- 
logical School.  They  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  G.  B.  Manley 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  town,  president  of  its  board  of 
trustees,  and  an  elder. 

McVean,  John  C,  Ogdensburg,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  is  the  grandson  of  Duncan 
McVean,  who  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh  College.  He 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  soon  after  the  Revolutionary 
war,  where  he  married  Grace  Fraser  and  raised  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  His 
son  Charles  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  also  Chancellor  Kent's  Law  School. 
He  was  a  member  of  Congress,  surrogate  of  city  and  county  of  New  York  and  district 
attorney  of  southern  district  of  New  York ;  James,  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Col- 
lege and  received  titles  D.  D.,  LL.D.  For  fifteen  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  teacher 
and  president  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  of  Georgetown,  D.  C. ;  John,  was  liberally 
educated  and  edited  the  Northern  Light.,  a  paper  published  in  New  York  city ; 
Peter,  Daniel  F.,  Duncan  and  Edward  were  all  farmers.  Daniel  F.,  father  to  John  C, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two  married,  Catharine  Carmichael,  of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  emi- 
grated to  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  settled  in  Oswegatchie,  near  Black  Lake  in  the 
woods.  He  took  up  100  acres  of  land  at  $4.00  per  acre  to  which  he  made  several 
additions.  He  became  a  wealthy  farmer  and  an  influential  citizen.  In  the  days  of 
"  general  trainmg  "  he  took  great  intefest  in   the  State  Militia  and  was  commissioned 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  91 

colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  died  in  1862.  His  family  consisted  of  five  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Helen,  Charles,  Grrace  A.,  James,  Frasier,  John  C,  and  William  H. 
Charles  resides  in  St.  Mark's,  Pa.,  where  he  is  well  and  favorably  known.  William 
H.  resides  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal,  and  is  a  prosperous  real  estate  broker.  Helen,  James 
and  Frasier  are  dead.  John  C.  was  born  November  12,  1838,  was  brought  up  on  his 
father's  farm,  attended  the  district  school  and  completed  his  education  in  Ogdensburg 
and  Gouverneur  Academies.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Wheater,  of  Scotch  and  English 
parentage.  He  followed  farming  a  few  years,  when  he  moved  to  Ogdensburg  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  where  he  now  resides.  He  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  which  he 
followed  some  eighteen  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  house  painting  and 
paper  hanging.  They  have  raised  two  children  :  Kittie  A.  and  Fred  J.  Mrs.  McVean 
died  in  1888.  Mr.  McYean  has  held  several  offices  of  trust  and  has  served  on  the 
board  of  health  several  terms,  ^Iso  alderman  of  the  city.  He  was  instrumental  in  the 
organization  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and  has  contin- 
uously served  as  its  secretary,  and  is  director  of  its  musical  department. 

Manning,  John,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  July,  4,  1843.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  when  he  came  to  this 
country  located  first  in  Canada,  where  he  had  lived  but  a  few  years  when  the  war  of 
1812  broke  out.  He  moved  to  this  side  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  on  the  side 
of  the  United  States.  After  the  war,  he  settled  on  a  farm  on  the  Hopkinton  road 
where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  married  in  the  old  country  and  was  the 
father  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Patrick  Manning,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  oldest  son.  He  was  born  in  Canada  in  1808.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  this  town 
and  when  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  with  Levinus  Clarkson  to  New  York, 
where  he  spent  two  years,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Young,  who  died  October  11, 
1886,  aged  sixty-four.  After  his  marriage  he  returned  to  this  town  and  settled  on  the 
homestead  farm.  After  the  death  of  his  father  the  farm  was  sold  and  Patrick  moved 
into  the  village,  where  he  hved  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  H,  92d  Regiment  N.  Y.  Yols.,  and  served  with  them  three  years  and  re-enlisted 
in  the  142d  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  his  return  he  lived  retired  until 
his  death,  May  9,  1883.  He  was  the  father  of  two  sons:  Thomas,  who  died  when 
about  seventeen  years  of  age ;  and  John ;  also  three  daughters :  Katherine,  born  Au- 
gust 15,  1844,  who  married  P.  J.  Barnett,  of  Potsdam ;  Mary,  born  in  1858,  who 
married  John  O'Neil ;  and  Margaret,  born  in  1861,  who  married  Thomas  Mullin,  of 
Potsdam.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in  this  town.  His  boyhood 
was  spent  at  home  and  when  he  was  fifteen  he  went  with  J.  L.  Simons  to  learn  the 
painter's  trade,  with  whom  he  remained  five  and  one-half  years,  and  was  for  fourteen 
years  with  George  B.  Swan.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres,  where 
he  has  ever  since  made  his  home,  conducting  a  dairy  farm.  The  beautiful  residence 
was  erected  here  by  Mr.  Manning  and  he  has  since  his  first  purchase  bought  sixty-three 
acres,  which  he  uses  for  pasture.  Mr.  Manning  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  married 
in  1862,  Nancy,  daughter  of  Dennis  Ryan,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  they  have  three 
sons:  Edward  P.,  born  January  5,  1863;  John,  born  April  29,  1869;  and  Michael 
William,  born  March  16,  1872.     Mr.  Manning  devotes  his  whole  time  to  farming. 


92  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Mann  Warren,  A.  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Varick,  Seneca  county,  December  10, 
1846  a  son  of  Matthias  T.,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  who  came  to  Seneca  county  when 
a  lad  and  died  in  1889,  at  ninety-one  years  of  age.  Warren  was  the  youngest  of  nine 
children  and  was  educated  at  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  and  at  Ovid  Sem- 
inary. In  1868  he  entered  Genesee  College  (now  Syracuse  University)  graduating  at 
Syracuse  in  June,  1872.  He  taught  all  of  his  spare  time  while  taking  his  course,  and 
after  his  graduation  accepted  the  position  of  teacher  of  Mathematics  in  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Potsdam  He  occupied  this  position  for  two  years  and  in  1874,  was  elected 
to  the  chair  of  Natural  Sciences,  a  position  he  has  ever  since  held.  Professor  Mann 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  village  board  of  health,  and  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
excise.  He  married,  July  7,  1874,  Helen  E.,  daughter  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Blakeslee,  of  the 
Wyoming  Methodist  Conference  (who  died  in  1876,  at  fifty-six  years  of  age),  and  they 
have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living  :  Paul  B.,  a  student  in  the  Normal 
School ;  and  Claire  L.,  who  is  in  the  training  department.  Professor  Mann  is  the 
president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Teachers  Association. 

Munro,  Donald  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Thurso,  Scotland,  June  1,  1864.  He 
studied  at  Harley  College,  London,  England,  New  College,  Edinburgh,  and  the  Bap- 
tist Theological  College,  Edinburgh.  He  was  ordained  in  Athens,  Canada,  in  May, 
1888,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  there  for  three  years.  He  was  called 
to  Gouverneur  in  January,  1891,  and  his  vigorous,  honest  religion  has  infused  new 
life  into  the  congregation,  all  the  societies  of  the  church  being  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition.    Mr.  Munro  is  a  talented  writer,  as  well  as  an  earnest  and  convincing  speaker. 

McDonald,  Edwin  F.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Parishville,  October  22, 
1862.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Charles  W.,  is  also  a  native  of  Parishville,  born 
in  1831.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  a  man  who  has  acquired  prominence 
in  politics,  holding  some  offices  in  his  town.  He  married  Julia  M.  Martin  of  Pierre- 
pont,  December  29,  1852,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edwin  F.  Mrs.  McDonald  died 
August  24,  1887.  Edwin  F.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam 
Normal  School,  graduating  in  the  classical  course  with  the  class  of  1884.  He  spent 
two  years  as  principal  of  the  graded  school  at  Spencerport,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1886  accepted  the  position  as  principal  of  Norwood  Union  School  and  Acad- 
emy, where  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged.  Mr.  McDonald  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican. He  married  July  2,  1885,  Emma  A.,  daughter  of  the  late  Isaiah  Shields  of 
Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lloyd  R.,  now  in  his  second  year.  Mr.  Mc- 
Donald is  also  a  student  of  the  law  and  a  member  of  several  secret  societies. 

McTavish  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Cornwall.  Canada.  His  parents  settled 
there  early  in  the  present  century.  They  were  originally  from  Scotland.  Mr.  Mc- 
Tavish was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  locality  and  came  to  Ogdensburg  in 
1853  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking  and  in  1869  established  himself  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business,  in  which  line  of  trade  he  has  since  been  successfully  engaged. 
Mr.  McTavish  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  respected  citizens.  He  has  never  married 
and  makes  his  home  principally  at  the  Seymour  House.  His  establishment  enjoys, 
probably  the  largest  patronage  in  this  city. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  93 

Miller,  S.  Harrison,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vt.,  December  9. 
1842.  His  ancestors  were  New  Hampshire  people,  and  bis  parents  settled  in  Vermont 
about  1838.  In  1852  his  father  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  and  after  young  Miller  ob- 
tained a  good  education  m  the  schools  here,  he  entered  the  Journal  office  and  learned 
the  printer's  trade,  remaining  with  the  establishment  for  fourteen  years.  In  1871 
he  left  and  since  than  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  holding  at  present 
the  position  of  accountant  and  manager  of  John  Hannan's  mills.  Mr.  Miller  mar- 
ried in  1865,  Miss  Theresa  M.  Sessions  of  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren. Durins  his  lono'  residence  Mr.  Miller  has  become  identified  in  a  marked  degree 
with  the  growth  of  Ogdensburg.  He  has  held  the  office  of  alderman,  is  a  high  degree 
Mason  and  is  master  of  Acacia  Lodge. 

Marceau,  C.  C,  Ogdensburg.  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  of  French  extraction,  May  31, 
1840.  He  received  an  excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city  and  became  an 
apprentice  in  his  father's  blacksmithnig  and  foundry  business,  succeeding,  in  1880,  upon 
his  father's  death,  to  the  entire  business.  His  father,  the  late  Charles  Marceau,  settled 
in  Ogdensburg  about  1838.  C.  C.  Marceau  married  Julia  Favreau,  and  they  have  six 
children.  Mr.  Marceau  has  served  as  supervisor  two  terms,  alderman  one  term,  presi- 
dent of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society,  and  in  many  other  positions  of  trust,  honor  and 
responsibility.     In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Mainville,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  February  15,  1847.  His  father 
moved  to  Ogdensburg  shortly  after  John  was  born.  When  quite  a  youth  the  latter 
learned  the  baker's  trade,  and  after  becoming  expert  at  his  trade  was  for  about  sixteen 
years  connected  with  some  of  the  leading  bakery  and  confectionery  establishments  of 
this  city.  A  few  years  ago  he  established  himself  in  this  business  here  and  has  been 
very  successful,  his  goods  reaching  all  parts  of  the  city.  Mr.  Mainville  married,  in 
1864,  Caroline  Scott,  and  they  have  seven  children  hving :  John  M.,  Julia,  Emma, 
George,  Henry,  Gertie  and  Ida.  His  son,  John  M.,  married  in  1888,  and  has  one 
daughter  and  one  son.  He  attends  to  the  outside  business  of  the  establishment,  and  is 
a  very  clever  young  business  man. 

Musgrave,  Benjamin,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Leeds,  England,  April  20,  1836.  In 
his  native  country  he  learned  thoroughly  the  art  of  dyeing  and  in  1867  came  to  this 
country,  and  engaged  in  this  business.  In  1872  he  started  his  dyeing  and  scouring 
house,  and  added  later  a  carpet  cleaning  department.  He  now  has  machiner}'  capable 
of  dyeing,  scouring  and  carpet  cleaning,  second  to  none  in  Northern  New  York. 
Branch  offices  have  been  located  at  Malone,  Canton,  Brockville,  Prescott,  Ont., 
Potsdam  and  many  other  points  on  railway  lines.  He  keeps  a  number  of  assistants  and 
his  dye  houses  extend  from  No.  9  Water  street  back  to  the  water,  a  distance  of  abou^ 
100  yards.     Mr.  Musgrave  married  in  England,  and  has  one  son. 

More,  J.  S.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  March  1,  1823,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  in  1830.  They  remained  one  and  a  half  years  in  Quebec,  and  then 
came  to  Hammond.  ^Ir.  More  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life  and  very  successful.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town  in  his  day,  and  was  supervisor  eight  consecu- 
tive years.     He  was  also  assessor  nine  years.     He  married   Elizabeth   Rodgers,  who 


94  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

came  from  Scotland  the  same  year  as  he  did.  Their  children  are:  Christian  S.,  David 
L.  Helen  V.  and  William  B.,  all  of  whom  are  married.  William  B.  is  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Mitchell,  William  H.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Morristown,  October  25,  1836. 
Farming  has  been  the  principal  occupation  of  his  life.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  106th  New  York  Volunteers-,  and  served  two  years  and  ten  months;  first  in  the 
Third  and  later  in  the  Sixth  corps.  In  1868  he  married  Helen  S.  Lamphear,  and  they 
have  two  children,  one  son  and  one  daughter :  Willie  L.  Mitchell,  aged  23,  and  Allie 
L.  Mitchell,  age  13. 

Millard,  W.  L.,  Heuvelton,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  April  25,  1865.  He  received 
an  education  in  the  schools  of  that  city,  after  which  he  entered  the  mercantile  estab- 
lishment of  J.  C.  Chaffee,  of  Heuvelton,  with  whom  he  remained  as  assistant  eight  years, 
until  in  1893,  he,  in  conjunction^  with  A.  D.  Giffin,  purchased  the  interests  of  J.  E. 
Chaffee,  who  now  is  carrying  on  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Millard  &  Gifiin, 
hardware  dealers.  Mr.  Millard  married,  in  1887.  Florence  A.  Chaffee,  and  they  have 
one  son.  Mr.  Millard  is  a  Master  Mason,  and  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  ener- 
getic of  Heuvelton's  business  men  and  citizens. 

Mason,  M.  C,  De  Peyster,  was  born  in  De  Peyster  July  5,  1850.  He  received  a  good 
education  in  the  schools  of  this  town  and  afterwards  clerked  for  a  number  of  years  in 
general  stores.  January  29,  1883,  he  purchased  a  corner  business  stand  in  De  Peyster 
and  has  conducted  a  general  mercantile  business  from  that  date,  carrying  about  $6,000 
in  stock.  Mr.  Mason  has  served  as  supervisor,  town  clerk,  member  of  the  board  of 
health,  etc.,  many  years.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Methodist  church  and  secretary 
of  De  Peyster  Masonic  Lodge  No.  573.  His  wife  was  Miss  C.  E.  Beach,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Burton. 

McGregor,  R.  B.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  June  16,  1834,  and  came  to 
America  in  1854.  He  is  a  practical  blacksmith  and  a  prosperous  farmer.  He  gives 
special  attention  to  breeding,  and  has  a  very  fine  herd  of  Holstein  cattle  and  also  of 
Shropshire  sheep.  In  1857  he  married  Christina  Moore,  and  they  have  four  sons  : 
David  Elmer,  James  AUister,  Frank  Smith  and  Alric  Capell. 

Martin,  Thomas,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Chrinside.  Berwickshire,  Scotland,  July 
10,  1820,  a  son  of  William  Martin,  a  woolen  manufacturer  of  Scotland.  William  Mar- 
tin was  twice  married,  and  the  father  of  sixteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
oldest  son.  The  latter  was  educated  in  Scotland,  where  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade. 
In  1844  he  came  to  Waddington,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  merchant 
tailoring  business.  Starting  with  but  little  capital,  Mr.  Martin  has  enlarged  his  busi- 
ness until  he  now  occupies  a  two-story  building,  fifty-seven  feet  deep,  and  carries  a 
very  heavy  stock  of  dry-goods,  cloths,  hats,  caps  and  men's  furnishing  goods.  In  1878 
he  took  his  youngest  son,  George  A.,  into  partnership  with  him.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  thorough  business  capabilities,  and  an  ardent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  two  years.  He  married  Ella  Shepherd  of  Heuvelton, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Carl.  Mr.  Martin  and  son  are  assisted  in  their  business  by  two 
other  members  of  the  family.     Henry,   who  has  charge   of  the  tailoring  department, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  95 

married  Effie  Harkness  of  Inkerman,  Ont.,  and  has  four  children :  Fred,  Nora,  Carrie 
and  Ernest.  He  is  a  member  of  Waddington  Lodge  No.  .393,  F.  &  A.  M.  John  clerks 
in  the  general  store.  William  Martin  is  a  mason  by  trade  and  resides  in  Watertown. 
He  married  Mar}'^  Quigley,  by  whom  he  has  two  children  :  Thomas  and  John  H.  Jen- 
nie, only  surviving  daughter  of  Thomas  Martin,  lives  at  home.  The  wife  of  Thomas 
Martin  was  a  Miss  Henry,  whom  he  married  in  Edmburgh,  Scotland,  m  April,  184:4, 
and  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Martin  was 
for  many  years  a  Republican,  but  is  now  a  Prohibitionist.  He  has  served  on  the  board 
of  excise,  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Wadding- 
ton. 

More,  James,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Scotland,  October  15,  1828,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1841.  He  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  for  twenty-three  years.  In  1858  he 
married  Catherine,  daughter  of  William  Smith,  and  they  have  a  family  of  four  sons : 
James  A.,  William  S.,  David  J.  and  Warren  R.;  and  two  daughters,  Agnes  M.,  and 
Catherine  Jeanette.  Mrs.  More's  father  was  James,  and  his  mother  Margaret  (Ander- 
son) More. 

McCarty,  Charles,  Gouverneur,  agent  for  the  American  Express  Company  at  Gou- 
verneur,  is  a  native  of  Hartford,  Washington  county,  born  April  13,  1852.  His  father. 
Patrick,  Avas  a  farmer,  and  Charles  spent  his  early  life  in  the  country.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  machinist,  and  spent  three  years  as  superintendent  of  the  Gouverneur  Machine 
Company,  which  he  organized.  Mr.  McCarty  has  been  agent  for  the  American 
Express  Company  twelve  years,  and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  its  most 
thorough  and  reliable  representatives.  Recently  he  formed  a  partnership  with  H. 
S.  Predmore  for  the  manufacture  of  brick  in  the  village  of  Gouverneur.  He  has 
lived  in  Gouverneur  since  1875,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  and  his  business 
record  is  of  the  highest  order.  He  is  also  well  and  favorably  known  in  social 
circles,  and  is  a  prominent  Mason,  having  passed  to  the  fourteenth  degree,  Scottish  Rite, 
is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  member  of  Ancient  Arabic  Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine. 

Marsh,  Morgan,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  September,  5,  1814.  He  is  a 
son  of  Isaac,  a  native  of  Sharon.  Yt.,  born  in  1775,  son  of  James  Marsh  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  Isaac  Marsh  was  twice  married,  first  to  Lucy  Percival,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  and  second  to  Mercy  Fellows,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  They  had 
one  child,  subject  of  sketch.  Mercy  Fellows  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Fellows,  a 
British  sea  captain.  Captain  Fellows  received  as  a  gift  for  his  faithful  services  900 
acres  of  land  in  New  Hampshire.  Here  he  made  his  home  in  later  life.  He  discov- 
ered Hanover  Island  near  Cape  Horn  and  named  it  after  his  New  Hampshire  home. 
In  1806  Isaac  Marsh  emigrated  to  Stockholm,  and  took  up  160  acres  of  land.  Here  he 
lived  and  died  in  1857,  and  his  wife  in  1840.  Morgan  Marsh  was  reared  on  the  farm 
he  now  owns.  May  30,  1837,  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  Pelsue.  They 
have  had  nine  children  :  Mercy  and  James,  who  died  in  infancy  ;  Hannah  S.,  Joel  N., 
who  enlisted  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  died  February  3,  1861,  at  Alexandria ; 
George,  who  died  in  infancy;  Lucy  I.,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Emma,  died  at 


96  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  ao-e  of  sixteen ;  Lois,  wife  of  Spencer  Sterns,  of  Winthrop  ;  and  James  M.,  M.  D., 
of  Potsdam.  Hannah  S.  married  S.  T.  Armstrong,  of  Lisbon,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
had  three  children  :  Bertha  A.,  wife  of  Frank  J.  Baird,  a  graduate  of  Cornell  class  of 
'9L  Mr.  Baird  is  at  present  a  teacher  in  Ogden,  Utah.  Lois  E.  died  in  Chicago,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1892;  Morgan  M.,  at  home.  Mr.  Armstrong  died  December  6,  1882.  Mr. 
Marsh  owns  ninety-six  acres  of  land,  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying.  He 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Universalist  church  of  Winthrop. 

Morrison,  Rev.  J.  D.,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Ogdensburg,  rector  of  St.  John's  church,  Og- 
densbnrg,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
river  in  the  year  of  1844.  His  father  was  the  Rev.  John  Morrison,  of  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  who  removed  to  this  country  in  1838.  Dr.  Morrison's  early  education  was 
received  in  a  grammer  school  in  Canada.  In  1861  he  entered  McGill  University,  Mon- 
treal, and  four  years  later  graduated  with  first-class  honors,  and  the  Logan  gold  medal 
for  natural  sciences.  In  1868  he  took  the  degree  of  M.  A.  He  was  ordamed  deacon 
in  the  diocese  of  Quebec  in  1369,  and  priest  in  the  diocese  of  Montreal  in  1870.  His 
first  charge  was  at  Lake  Memphramagog,  Canada,  to  which  he  was  appointed  February, 
1869,  and  in  the  following  summer  he  was  transferred  to  the  parish  of  Hemmingford, 
Canada.  In  1871  he  accepted  the  rectorship  of  Christ  church,  Herkimer,  in  the  dio- 
cese of  Albany.  Here  he  remained  until  he  entered  his  present  work  in  1875.  In  1873 
he  was  appointed  examining  chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Albany.  In  1879  he  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Union  College,  and  in  1880  he  took  the  degree  of 
LL.  D  from  McGill  University.  He  was  elected  Archdeacon  of  Ogden.sburg  in  1881, 
and  Deputy  to  the  General  Convention  in  1883.  To  both  of  these  offices  he  has  been 
continuously  re-elected. 

Merry,  Edward,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Keysville,  Essex  county,  January  7,  1840. 
After  receiving  a  common  school  education  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist  For  three 
years  he  was  with  W.  C.  Alden,  who  formerly  conducted  business  where  Gates  Curtis 
is  now.  He  then  went  as  engineer  on  a  steamer,  upon  which  he  remained  for  one  and 
a  half  years.  Mr.  Merry  then  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and  entered  the  employ  of  John 
Glass,  with  whom  he  has  remained  for  the  past  thirty  years  as  general  manager  of  the 
practical  departments  of  this  machine  shop,  having  under  his  direction  a  considerable 
force  of  skilled  workmen.  He  has  served  the  Second  ward  as  alderman  for  four  years, 
is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics  and  is  among  Ogdensburg's  most  respected  citizens. 
Mr.  Merry  married  in  1803,  Eleanor  Kelly,  and  has  nine  children.  He  is  a  member  of 
Ogdensburg  Lodge  of  Masons,  and  identified  with  other  social  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions. 

Miller,  Rev.  L.  Merrill,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Rochester,  October  13,  1819.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Rochester, 
and  prepared  for  college  in  the  old  High  School,  over  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chester  Dewey 
for  so  many  years  presided,  and  graduated  with  honors  at  Hamilton  College  in  the  no- 
table class  of  1840.  He  passed  the  examinations  of  one  year  and  attended  many  lectures 
of  the  second  year  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  When  compelled  by  want  of 
health  to  leave  the  seminary,  he  took  charge  of  a  small  school  in  the  family  of  the  Hon. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  97 

Dr.  Fitzhufh  of  Livingston  county,  and  putting  himself  under  the  direction  of  Steuben 
(0.  S  )  Presbytery  was  by  them  examined  and  licensed  to  preach,  in  November,  1843. 
In  May,  1844,  he  was  called  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Bath,  Steuben  county,  and 
was  ordained  in  October  of  the  same  year.  In  October  of  the  year  following  he  was 
installed  as  its  pastor.  In  October,  1846,  he  married  Lydia  R.,  daughter  of  Hon.  David 
Rumsey  of  Bath.  After  a  service  of  seven  years  with  that  church,  filling  the  offices 
of  stated  clerk  of  Steuben  Presbytery  and  permanent  clerk  of  the  Synod  of  Buffalo, 
preaching  and  lecturing  much  outside  of  his  own  church,  and  acting  as  trustee  to  Gen- 
eseo  Academy,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Ogdensburg  in  February,  1851.  While  en  route  via  stage  he  received  a  severe  injury, 
through  an  accident,  and  was  laid  up  with  a  broken  limb.  His  installation  took  place 
June  25,  1851.  Though  repeatedly  called  to  enter  other  desirable  fields  of  service,  he 
still  remains  and  is  now  completing  the  forty-third  year  of  his  pastorate  here.  His  in- 
cessant labors  in  the  field,  over  his  own  church  and  for  other  churches,  have  been  inter- 
rupted only  by  a  brief  illness  in  the  winter  of  185G,  and  travels  through  Europe,  Egypt 
and  Syria  in  1869-70.  Dr.  Miller  has  been  corresponding  secretary  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
County  Bible  Society  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  intimately  connected 
with  various  ecclesiastical  and  benevolent  associations  of  the  county.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  S.  L.  T.  D.,  from  his  alma  inaier  in  1865,  and  was  elected  a  trustee 
of  Hamilt'^in  College  in  1869.  After  the  union  of  the  old  and  new  school  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  Synod  of  Central  New  York  was  formed,  of  which  he  was 
elected  moderator  at  Utica  in  1873,  and  afterwards  when  the  several  synods  of  the 
State  were  combined,  he  was,  in  1885,  elected  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  New  York. 

Moulton,  George  A.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  September  10,  1853,  a  son 
of  Seth  Moulton.  who  was  a  son  of  Jonathan,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1797. 
The  latter  after  residing  in  various  towns,  finally  went  to  Wisconsin  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  where  Milwaukee  now  stands,  which  he  purchased  for  a  small 
sum.  He  then  went  to  Texas,  and  again  returned  to  Wisconsin  and  settled  at  Port- 
age Prairie,  forty  miles  south  of  Madison,  where  he  lived  uutil  a  few  years  of  his  death, 
then  went  to  Winnebago,  where  he  died  in  1888.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Fan- 
ny Taylor,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  six  children. 
Seth  Moulton  was  born  m  Stockholm  in  1825.  His  wife  was  Harriet  E.,  daughter 
of  Horace  Doud.  They  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Moulton  is  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  but  farming  has  been  his  principal  occupation.  He  bought  the 
farm  now  owned  by  his  son  in  1863,  and  there  resided  until  1880.  He  now  lives 
in  Sandfordville,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Moulton  died  in  1883.  Seth  Moulton  is  a  Republi- 
can, a  member  of  Evergreen  Lodge  No.  174,  P.  of  I.,  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  Except  about  three  years  in  Vermont  and  the  west,  he  has  resided  in 
Stockholm.  George  A.  was  reared  as  a  farmer  and  has  always  followed  that  call- 
ing. He  owns  133  acres  of  laud  and  directs  his  attention  largely  to  dairying,  keep- 
ing ten  cows.  He  married  Ellen  Rockwood,  widow  of  Luther  Hunt  (by  whom  she 
had  one  son,  Levi  L.  Hunt).  Mr.  Moulton  and  wife  have  four  children,  of  whom 
two  are  living :  Asa  G.  and  Ray  A.  Mr.  Moulton  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  P. 
of  H.  Stockholm  Depot  Lodge  No.  538.     He  is    a   member    of   the    Congregational 


98  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

church  of  New  Haven,  Yt.,  where  he  resided  from  1875  till  1880,  when  he  bought 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 

Merry,  I.  T.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Essex  county,  November  8,  1837,  where  his 
parents  settled  about  1836,  and  he  attended  the  district  schools  in  Essex  county  until 
twelve  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  after  which  he  was  able 
to  attend  school  for  but  a  little  over  a  year,  when  he  was  taken  into  the  foundry  of 
Chaney  &  Allen,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year,  then  for  a  year  he  clerked  in  the 
crockery  store  of  A.  M.  &  D.  S.  Herriman,  and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  commenced  to 
learn  the  trade  of  miller  with  0.  S.  Cummings.  He  remained  at  this  trade  until  the 
spring  of  1861,  when,  at  the  call  for  volunteers  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  he  enlisted, 
April  17,  1861,  and  was  the  first  volunteer  in  St.  Lawrence  county  to  enter  the  service. 
Mr.  Merry  had  joined  an  independent  company  and  went  to  Albany  where  the  com- 
pany was  assigned  to  the  16th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Co.  A.  He  served  as  first  sergeant,  first 
lieutenent  and  chaplain  of  the  company,  was  in  the  Second  and  Sixth  army  corps,  army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  participated  in  all  the  general  battles  and  skirmishes  of  that  time. 
After  the  war  he  went  west  and  worked  at  his  trade,  and  in  agricultural  shops  in  Wis- 
consin and  Illinois  until  1870,  when  he  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Skillings,  Whitney  &  Barnes  Lumber  Company  in  the  box  factory,  since  which  time 
Mr.  Merry  has  been  appomted  foreman  of  this  branch  of  the  business,  having  charge  of 
from  seventy  to  seventy-five  hands.  He  married  in  Bloomington,  111.,  in  1869,  Ella  A. 
Stackhouse.  Mr.  Merry  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  commander  of 
Ransom  Post  No.  354,  G.  A.  R. 

Martin,  Joseph  C,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  April  27,  1820.  His  life  has  been 
spent  as  a  farmer,  and  he  has  been  remarkably  successful.  His  father,  Joseph 
Martin,  came  from  Ireland  and  settled  in  Lisbon  in  1805,  being  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  town.  His  mother  was  Margaret  ( Armstrong )  Martin.  Mr.  Martin 
married  Alvira  Sheldon,  and  they  have  one  son.  Miles  R.,  who  is  in  business  in  Lis- 
bon Centre.  He  married  Laura  B.,  daughter  of  Garrett  P.  Flack,  of  Lisbon.  Mr. 
J.  C.  Martin  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of  the  town. 

McCrea,  A.  L.,  jr.,  Grouverneur,  was  born  in  Milwaukee, Wis.,  1852,  a  son  of  A.  L, 
McCrea,  of  New  York,  who  came  to  this  region  in  1875.  He  it  was  who  first  devel- 
oped the  talc  industry,  the  Wight  mine  at  Little  York,  producing  at  his  hands  the  first 
marketable  material";  the  material  being  prepared  in  a  little  mill  behind  a  sawmill  in 
Grouverneur.  One  year  later  he  built  a  steam  mill  at  the  mines  in  Fowler.  About  one 
year  later  he  rented  water  power  at  Hailesboro,  now  known  as  the  A.galite  property. 
Mr.  A.  L.  McCrea,  jr.,  has  been  interested  in  the  talc  industry  since  1876.  The  St.  Law- 
rence, Gardner,  Asbestos  and  Agalite  mills  were  built  under  his  supervision.  He  has 
for  many  years  been  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  horse  and  has  done  very  much  to  im- 
prove the  quality  and  value  of  horses  in  northern  New  York.  Among  the  horses 
owned  and  developed  by  him,  is  the  noted  trotting  horse  "Geneva,"  with  a  five-year- old 
record  of  2:14,  in  1892.  Stamina,  yearling  record  2:44  1-4;  Home  Rule,  two-year- 
old,  2:32;  Marcus,  2:29  1-2;  Malacca,  2:24  1-4;  Cora  B.,  2:36  etc.  The  Patron  Farm 
owned  by  him  is  located  three  and  one  half  miles  from  Gouverneur,  containig  300  acres 
where  he  breeds  both  runners  and  trotters. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  99 

Merritt,  S.  C,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Evans  Mills,  Jefferson  county,  January  1, 
1830  He  learned  his  trade  of  blacksmith  there,  where  he  also  began  the  study  of 
veterinary  surgery  with  Leonard  R.  Hines  and  Oliver  Nash,  a  veterinary  from  London, 
England.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  left  Evans  Mills,  and  about  thirty  years  ago  set- 
tled in  Gouverneur,  and  during  all  this  lime  has  carried  on  a  successful  veterinary  and 
blacksmith  business,  having  retained  a  high  reputation  for  honorable  business  methods 
and  sterling  integrity.  Mr.  Merritt  has  given  no  little  attention  to  the  study  of  miner- 
alogy, and  in  1873,  he  went  out  one  day  with  some  friends  looking  for  ore  beds,  and 
discovered  a  material  which  the  others  called  soapstone,  but  which  Mr.  Merritt  was 
satisfied  was  not  such.  He  submitted  the  specimen  to  J.  M.  Minden,  an  eminent  miner- 
alogist, who  took  it  to  New  York,  and,  after  some  delay  pronounced  it  to  be  talc. 
Soon  a  company  was  formed  by  Minden  &  McCraie,  and  a  lease  of  the  land  where  the 
talc  was  found  was  taken  by  Mr.  Merritt  from  Abner  White.  This  was[  the  first  talc 
lease  taken  in  this  country.  He  took  the  lease  in  his  own  name  and  allowed  the  com- 
pany to  use  it.  He  continued  his  search  and  found  talk  outcropped  in  various'^places, 
and  discovered  at  Freemansburg  the  first  talc  founds  in  Edwards.  This  is  now  the 
Palmer  mine,  the  best  bed  now  known  in  the  world.  It  was  at  first  pronounced 
inferior,  but,  when  Col.  Henry  Palmer  came  to  Gouverneur,  Mr.  Merritt  showed  hira 
specimens,  and  he  opened  up  the  mine,  making  a  fortune  out  of  it.  Mr.  Merritt  also 
found  the  talc  on  the  Nelson  Freeman  farm,  joining  the  Palmer  bed.  He  also  dis- 
covered it  on  the  Anthonj'  farm  and  by  his  industrious  searchiiTg  was  instrumental  in 
bringing  to  light  several  mines  of  valuable  mineral,  from  which  others  have  made  for- 
tunes, while,  strange  to  say,  Mr.  Merritt  is  grudgingly  accorded  the  credit  due  to  him 
for  his  important  discoveries.  He  married  Caroline  Lester,  of  Jefferson  county,  town 
of  La  Rae,  and  they  have  four  children:  William  H.  and  Charles  B.  Merritt,  both 
superior  mechanics,  who  are  known  all  over  this  part  of  the  country  for  their  mechan- 
ical skill ;  and  Mrs.  Lavar  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Quill.  One  daughter,  Pamelia,  married 
Rufus  Ball  and  died  in  1891.  William  Merritt  conducts  a  blacksmith  business  on  Clin- 
ton street,  and  Charles  B.  is  a  machinist  and  blacksmith  in  the  Webb  quarry.  Mr. 
Merritt's  father,  Gideon  H.,  of  Orange  county,  married  Mary  Drake,  of  Dutchess 
county,  the  former  being  of  English  descent,  and  the  latter  of  Mohawk  Dutch.  Both 
grandfathers  and  both  grandmothers  were  born  in  New  York  before  the  Revolutionary 
war,  in  which  both  grandfathers  participated,  with  their  fathers.  Great-grandfather 
Merritt  served  as  a  clerk  in  the  War  Department  at  Washington. 

Merriam,  E.  N.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Leyden,  Lewis  county.  May  15,  1822,  the 
eldest  of  seven  sons  of  the  late  Gen.  Ela  Merriam.  He  received  his  business  education 
at  Mr.  Charles  Brown's  Institute  in  Denmark,  Jefferson  county.  At  an  early  age  he 
entered  a  financial  mstitution,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  remained  in  the  busi- 
ness, with  few  interruptions  of  rest  or  change.  Mr.  Merriam  was  one  of  the  oldest 
bankers  in  the  State.  Always  a  close  student  of  banking  law  and  finance,  he  was 
thoroughly  educated  in  the  theory  and  science  of  banking,  f  As  a  sound  conservative 
cashier  and  manager,  he  had  no  superior,  and  in  financial  circles  was  recognized  as  an 
authority.  He  was  a  man  of  culture  and  refinement.  Although  filling  a  high  position 
in  the  world  of  finance,  he  was  devoted  to  every  interest  that  tended  to  improve  and 


100  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

elevate  the  place  and  people  among  whom  he  passed  the  best  years  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  strong  man  in  his  personality  and  convictions,  an  ardent  Republican,  loyal  to  his  party 
and  its  traditions.  In  1848  he  married  the  second  daughter  of  Hon.  Richard  Hulbert, 
of  Oneida  county,  and  they  have  one  accomplished  da'ighter.  In  1880,  with  prominent, 
wealthy  men,  Mr.  Merriam  organized  the  National  Bank  of  Ogdensburg,  becoming  one 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  as  well  as  cashier  and  general  manager,  which  position  he 
held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  May  22,  1893. 

McCall,  Harry  W.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Waddington,  June  17,  1859. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  moved,  with  his  parents,  to  the  village  of  Madrid,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  twenty  years  of 
age  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  which  he  followed  until  February,  1885,  when  he 
leased  the  Madrid  hotel,  conducting  it  under  lease  until  January  29,  1891,  when  he 
purchased  the  property  and  has  since  been  the  proprietor.  Since  his  purchase  of  the 
property,  Mr.  McCall  has  made  many  valuable  improvements,  including  water  system, 
drainage,  hot  water  heating,  and  the  erection  of  double  verandas  on  the  east  and  south 
sides  of  the  hotel.  Henry  McCall,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  this  country, 
born  in  Madrid  November  23,  1828.  He  was  always  a  resident  of  this  town,  with  the 
exception  of  four  years  he  spent  in  the  village  of  Waddington,  where  he  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade.  He  established  a  shoe  store  and  shop  in  Madrid,  in  1853, 
and  at  one  time  did  a  very  extensive  custom  trade,  employing  about  twelve  men. 
He  was  a  staunch  Democrat.  In  December,  1885,  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Madrid,  an  office  he  held  until  April,  1890.  Mr.  McCall  died  June  15,  1851, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  business  man  in  the  town.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  Mary  Bethune,  was  also  a  native  of  this  town.  They  were  mar- 
ried, June  19,  1853,  and  were  the  parents  of  nine  children.  Mrs.  McCall  died  January 
23,  1882. 

McGruer.  A.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Canada.  February  8,  1848. 
He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  in  1850.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered 
mercantile  life,  and  has  since  followed  it  with  success.  He  has  been  thirteen  years 
in  Hammond  and  conducted  a  large  general  store,  occupying  a  building  48x76  feet 
in  dimensions.  In  1880,  Mr.  McGruer  married  Harriet  E.,  daughter  of  John  Snyder, 
and  Sarah  Snyder,  of  Heuvelton,  N.  Y. 

Nicolson,  R.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  May  27,  1834,  and  came 
to  America  1837,  landing  at  Brockville,  Ont.  His  father  was  a  baker  and  the  son  re- 
mained at  home  for  sometime  in  assisting  in  the  business.  After  leaving  Brockville  in 
1866,  he  spent  two  years  in  Ogdensburg  and  then  came  to  Morristown  as  foreman  for 
Mr.  Comstock  in  the  pill  factory  where  he  is  now  general  manager  and  has  been  for 
sixteen  years.  In  1863  Mr.  Nicolson  married  Thomasin  Rowe,  and  they  have  five 
children  :  Robert,  William  K.,  John  H.,  Jennie  and  Annie  C.  Robert  and  Jennie  are 
married.  Mr.  Nicolson  was  clerk  of  the  village  from  1881  to  1891,  being  the  first  clerk 
of  the  corporation. 

Needham,  Fred  S.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Parishville,  September  30,  1861,  a  son  of 
H.  K.  Needham  who  was  a  son  of   Horace  M.,  a  native  of  Whiting  Vt.,  born  in  1804. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  101 

About  1824  the  latter  came  to  Stockholm  and  settled  on  a  farm.  He  afterwards 
returned  to  Vermont  and  married  Eliza  Kelsey  a  native  of  that  State,  and  had  two  sons, 
George  and  Henry  K.  Mr.  Needham  resided  in  Stockholm  about  forty  years,  and  then 
went  to  Wyoming  county,  N.  Y.  where  he  died  in  1874,  and  his  wife  in  1888.  Henry 
K.  was  born  in  Stockholm  in  1833.  He  was  educated  in  Potsdam  Academy  and 
Oberlin  College,  and  learned  civil  engineering,  but  preferred  farming.  He  owns  600 
acres  of  land,  being  one  of  the  largest  farmers  of  the  town.  He  was  a  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  Lodge.  He  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Potsdam,  of  which  Mr.  Needham  w-as  many  years  a  deacon. 
They  had  three  children :  Fred  S.,  Mary,  who  died  aged  eleven  years ;  and  Lizzie,  died 
aged  twenty-three  years.  Mr.  Needham  died  in  1882,  and  Mrs.  Needham  resides  on 
the  old  homestead.  Fred  S.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Potsdam  Normal 
School.  At  the  death  of  his  father  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  has  since  carried 
on  general  farmine  and  dairvin?.  He  and  his  mother  own  300  acres  of  land  in  Stock- 
holm,  300  acres  in  Parishville,  and  keep  a  dairy  of  thirty-five  cows.  September  20, 
1892,  he  married  Zulma  Hubbard  a  native  of  Whiting,  Vt..  and  a  daughter  of  A.  H. 
Hubbard,  of  that  State.  Mr.  Needham  is  a  Republican  and  is  at  present  assessor 
of  the  town.  He  is  a  member  of  the  L  0.  0.  F.  No.  548,  of  Potsdam,  and  of  P. 
of  H.  Lodge  No.  39,  of  Potsdam. 

Northrup,  Hiram  D..  Ogdensburg,  was  the  second  child  of  six  boys  and  four  girls, 
a  son  of  Lewis  and  Nancy  (Simons)  Northrup.  He  was  born  December  29,  1829, 
at  the  family  home  four  miles  east  of  Ogdensburg,  or  on  the  farm  his  grandfather 
Simons  settled  on  in  1806.  During  his  minority  Hiram  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  in  the  summer  seasons,  and  at  lumbering  in  the  winter.  In  1864,  he  with 
his  brother  Alvin  S.,  started  in  Ogdensburg,  making  shingles  and  heading.  After 
the  death  of  Alvin,  which  occurred  in  1867,  he  has  carried  on  the  business  alone, 
adding  to  it  the  manufacture  of  barrels.  His  plant  was  burned  on  June  17,  1891, 
which  was  rebuilt  on  a  more  modern  style,  and  also  coupled  with  his  business  a 
coal  and  wood  yard.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Norway  on  July  3,  1861. 
She  was  born  at  Lisborn,  May  12,  1834.  They  have  had  born  to  them  three  chil- 
dren :  Ella  L.,  born  April  15,  1862,  she  was  married  to  J.  H.  Graham,  October  22, 
1889;  Everet,  was  born  August  1,  1869,  and  died  June  15,  1870;  May  E.,  was  born 
April  7,  1871.  Mr.  Northrup  is  not  a  politician,  but  has  held  several  offices  of  trust, 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  which  place  he  has  filled  for  a  number 
of  years,  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Band,  of  which  he  is  a  stockholder.  • 
He  is  always  ready  to  assist  in  contributing  to  promote  the  public  wellfare,  in 
preaching  the  gospel,  and  in  home  or  foreign  missionary  work. 

Norman,  J.  H.,  second,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  December  15,  1866,  a 
son  of  James  E.,  and  Annie  (McMarra)  Norman.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  this  city  after  which  he  entered  the  Journal  establishment,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  printing  and  where  he  remained  five  years.  Subsequently  Mr.  Norman 
followed  sailing  for  seven  years,  holding  the  position  of  steward  on  a  line  of  steamers 
plying  between  Buffalo  and  Chicago.  In  1892  he  purchased  the  National  Hotel  in 
Ogdensburg,  which  he  has  since  most  successfully  conducted.     Mr.  Norman  is  a  mem- 


102  HISTOEY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ber  of  the  Catholic  church  here.     He  is  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  Society,  and  a  staunch 
and  influential  Democrat. 

Newton,  Charles  W..  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  September  26,   1836.     He 
is  a  son  of  Rev.  Orange  Newton,  whose  father,   Samuel  S.   Newton,    was   a  native  of 
Stafford,  Mass.,  born  in  1783.     In   1807  the  fatter  married   in  Jericho,  Vt.,  Patience 
Root,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.     He  spent  a  short  time  in   Canada  and  then  re- 
turned to  Vermont.     In  1815  he  went  to  Hopkinton  and   in   1821   to  Stockholm.     In 
1828  he  went  to  Michigan,  and  there  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.    Orange  Newton 
was  born  in  Jericho,  Vt.,  January  13,  1807,  and  came  to  Stockholm  with  his  parents  in 
1821,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1837,  and 
in  1839  was  ordained  an  elder.     He  was  a  thorough  Bible  scholar,  and  was  one  of  the 
leaders  in  organizing  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  of  Stockholm  in    1843,    of  which 
church  he  was  pastor  maiiy  years.     He  traveled  on  the  Parishville   circuit   and   also  in 
Franklin  county  many  years,  officiating  at  125  weddings  and  at  about  200  funerals.    In 
September,  1861,  Rev.  Newton  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  92d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  was  unanimously 
elected  captain.  October  15,  1862.     The  wife  of  Rev.  Newton  was  Almira  Schellinger, 
born  January  25,  1831.  with  whom  he  lived  fifty-one  years.     They  had  eleven  children, 
six  of  whom  survive.     The  death  of  Rev.  Newton  occurred  February  18,  1886,  and  that 
of  his  wife  March  20,  1882.     Charles   W.   resided  with  his  parents  until  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  working  on  the  farm  for  his  father,   and  then  started  out  for  himself  in 
the  world,  working  by  the  month  for  several  years,  after  which  he  went  to  Hopkinton 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  175  rcres.     Here  he  remained  eight  years  and  then  bought  the 
farm  of  108  acres  which  he  now  owns.     He  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman.     No- 
vember 29,  1860,  he  married  Emily  A.  Austin,  a  native  of  Stockholm  and  onl)'  child  of 
Stillman  and  Sally  (Pritchard)  Austin,  the  former  a  native  of  Potsdam,  born  in  1815, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Stockholm.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newton  have  had  one  child,  Lillie 
M.     She  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  at  Winthrop   Union  School, 
and  has  followed  teaching  for  several  years.     Mr.  Newton  is   a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  was  constable  of  Hopkinton  one  year,  and  has  been  inspector  of  elections  in  Stock- 
holm several  years.     He  and  famil}'  are  members  of  P.  of  H.  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  588, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  P.  of  I.  Buckton  No.  226.  The  family  attend  and  support  the 
M.  E.  church  of  Buckton. 

Nichols,  Calvin,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Crown  Point,  March  10,  1813.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  his  education  was  limited.  His  parents  died  when  he  was  but 
seven  years  of  age  and  he  was  bound  out  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1830  he  came  to 
Stockholm  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  100  acres,  and  there  lived  and  died.  He  married  in 
Crown  Point,  Fannie  A.  Lane,  a  native  of  that  place,  by  whom  he  had  five  children  : 
Marion,  wife  of  William  Smith  of  Dickenson  Centre,  has  two  children,  Belle  and  How- 
ard; Eunice  M.,  wife  of  William  McCumber  of  Parishville;  Lois  A.,  wife  of  R.  E. 
Reeve  of  Stockholm,  has  two  children.  Rose  and  Mary  ;  H.  W.,  born  February  6,  1851 ; 
and  Howard  M.,  born  October  30,  1855.  They  live  on  a  farm  of  150  acres  and  follow 
general  farming  and  dairying.  H.  W.  Nichols  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  is  a 
member  of  P.  of  I.  Buckton  Lodge  No.  226.  Howard  M.  married  Mary  M.  Weller,  a 
native  of  Lawrence,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Betsey  (Carpenter)  Weller,  natives 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  103 

of  Vermont.  They  had  twelve  children.  Mr.  Weller  died  February  20,  1882,  and  his 
wife  now  resides  in  Stockholm.  Howard  M.  has  one  son,  Arthur.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  a  member  of  Winthrop  Lodge,  P.  of  H.  Mrs.  Calvin  Nichols  died  July  5,  1879, 
and  he  married  July  13,  1880,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Knapp.  Mr.  Nichols  died  November  10, 
1881,  and  his  widow  resides  with  the  sons  on  the  farm. 

Olmstead,  Joel  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  in  LeRoy,  Genesee  county,  October 
19,  1826.  the  oldest  of  four  sons  of  David  Olmstead,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  Huldah  King,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  Joel  was  ten 
vears  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county.  They  located  on  a 
farm  in  Potsdam,  where  Joel  was  reared  and  educated,  and  after  he  was  of  age  he  con- 
ducted his  father's  farm.  The  old  homestead  is  still  held  as  the  estate  of  Eli  Olmstead, 
being  now  carried  on  by  a  son  of  the  latter.  In  1854  Joel  bought  a  farm  of  ninety 
acres,  which  he  worked  until  1888,  when  on  account  of  failing  health  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Potsdam  Village,  where  he  died  February  10,  1891.  His  widow,  Olive  A., 
daughter  of  Harry  Tanner  of  Hermon,  and  one  daughter  survive  him.  Mr.  Olmstead 
was  a  very  successful  farmer,  but  never  took  any  great  interest  in  public  affairs.  His 
widow  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Potsdam.  The  daughter,  Rhoda  C, 
married,  February  8,  1888,  Arthur  E.  Ames  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  child,  Harry 
Olmstead  Ames,  born  August  10,  1891. 

Owen,  Frank,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Oneida.  Madison  county,  September  24,  1839. 
His  parents  had  settled  there  in  1810,  and  were  originally  a  New  England  family  from 
Rutland,  Vt.  Frank  Owen  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  July,  1859,  being  then  in  his  twen- 
tieth year,  and  served  as  barkeeper  in  the  St,  Lawrence  Hotel,  now  called  the  Seymour 
House,  and  in  the  spring  of  1860  went  on  board  the  steamer  Bay  State  as  porter  and 
barkeeper.  He  remained  in  this  position  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  was  appointed 
purser  of  the  steamer  Lord  Elgin,  running  in  connection  with  the  lake  lines  between 
Ogdensburg  and  Montreal,  and  April  1,  1868,  commenced  work  for  the  0.  and  L.  C. 
railroad  as  tally  clerk,  since  which  time  he  has  been  through  the  various  positions  of 
billing  clerk,  accountant,  clerk  in  the  general  office,  and  in  November,  1878,  was  ap- 
pointed agent  at  Ogdensburg.  On  August  1,  1884,  he  was  made  general  freight  and 
passenger  agent,  and  in  the  spring  of  1886  was  made  general  freight  agent  of  the  Cen- 
tral Vermont  line  of  steamers,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Freight  Traffic  Association  of 
the  Middle  States  and  of  the  General  Freight  Agents'  Association  of  New  England 
and  Canada.  In  this  city  Mr.  Owen  is  interested  in  all  social  and  benevolent  in- 
stitutions, among  which  we  mention  the  Ogdensburg  Club,  Osseagatchie  Club,  etc. 
He  is  a  Sir  Knight  in  the  Masonic  order,  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  has 
served  as  supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  and  as  alderman  for  four  years.  Mr.  Owen 
married  in  1860,  Margaret  Richards,  and  they  have  one  son  hving,  William  H. 
Owen,  now  in  the  employ  of  the  0.  and  L.  C.  railroad,  who  was  born  July  18,  1863. 
He  is  married  and  has  one  daughter. 

Oswell,  George  B.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  May  18,  1836.  After 
receiving  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  Republican  with  which  paper  he  remained  from  eight  to  ten  years,  as  type 


104  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

setter,  and  then  went  south  and  entered  into  the  shoe  business  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and 
was  there  when  the  first  gun  was  fired  on  Fort  Sumter.  After  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Ogdensburg  Steam- 
boat Company,  and  about  thirty-two  years  ago  became  an  employee  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railroad,  gradually  being  promoted  for  efficient  service  from  a  clerkship  to  the 
responsible  position  of  District  Passenger  Agent,  his  jurisdiction  extending  over  Ver- 
mont and  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Mr.  Oswell's  father  was  an 
Englishman,  and  settled  m  Ogdensburg  about  1816.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  this 
county.  Mr.  Oswell  married  in  1860,  Mary  H.  Child,  of  Westborough,  Mass.  His 
only  daughter  was  married  to  Charles  G.  Porter,  son  of  Judge  Wilber  F.  Porter,  of 
Watertown,  N.  Y.  He  is  prominently  connected  with  all  Masonic  bodies  in  this  city, 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  all  things  pertaining  to  Masonry  and  the  good  and  welfare 
of  his  fellow  man.  His  mother  having  died  m  March,  1893,  leaves  him  the  only  living 
representative  of  a  large  family,  and  by  her  will,  was  appointed  executor  to  her 
estate,  which  he  will,  no  doubt,  administer  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

O'Brien,  Michael,  Waddington,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  October  6. 1884. 
His  father,  Thomas,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1806,  and  came  to  Waddington  when  about 
twenty -one  years  of  age,  where  he  engaged  as  coachman  for  Colonel  Ogden.  He  after- 
ward purchased  a  farm  in  Waddington,  on  which  he  lived  and  died.  His  wife  was 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  McArdle,  of  Ireland,  and  they  had  three  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Mr.  O'Brien  died  in  February,  1892,  and  his  wife  resides  with  her  son, 
Philip.  Our  subject  was  born  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  and  select  schools 
of  Waddington.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  hired  to  John  S.  Chipman,  looking  after 
his  horses  and  extensive  farming  interests  for  five  years.  He  then  went  to  Milwaukee, 
Wis.,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  then  returned  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  worked 
for  a  Mr.  Wagner  for  a  short  time.  Next  he  went  to  Potsdam,  and  with  Hutchins  & 
Brown,  learned  the  miller's  trade,  which  occupation  he  has  since  successfully  followed. 
For  the  last  twenty  j^ears  he  has  had  charge  of  the  Waddington  mills,  owned  by  L.  J. 
Proctor,  of  that  place.  June  6,  1871,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Daniel  Halli- 
gan,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  had  four  children  :  William  H.,  Mary  E.,  Sarah  E.  and 
Margaret  T.  Mr.  O'Brien  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  In  1892  Mr.  O'Brien  purchased  one-half  interest  in  the  firm  known 
as  Will  Harper's  Sons,  and  the  firm  is  now  William  Harper,  Son  &  Co, 

Oliver,  Thomas,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Northern  Scotland,  August  5,  1828,  and  was 
only  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this  country.  John,  the  father,  took 
up  a  tract  of  land  in  Potsdam  of  150  acres.  On  this  farm  he  reared  a  family  of  six 
children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days,  dying  June  15,  1858,  at  seventy-four  years 
of  age.  His  wife,  Isabelle  Murdie,  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  1788,  and 
died  May  4,  1872.  Our  subject  was  the  youngest  of  this  family.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
In  1850  he  bought  a  farm  of  ninety-two  acres  in  Madrid,  to  which  he  has  added  until 
he  now  has  in  this  one  farm  322  acres.  He  has  always  conducted  a  dairy  and  now 
has  over  fifty  head  of  cattle,  besides  other  stock.  He  has  added  many  very  valuable 
improvements.     All  of  the  outbuildings  are  of  his  erection.     He  has  always  been  a  sup- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  105 

porter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  married  in  1853,  Violet  Rutherford,  of  Madrid, 
who  bore  him  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  John  and  Violet  Jane.  Mrs. 
Ohver  died  June  4,  1866,  and  he  again  married  in  December,  1868,  Mary  A.,  daughter 
of  William  Rutherford,  of  Madrid.     They  had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Orm.=;ton,  Walter,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  October  6,  1830,  and  came  to 
America  in  1851.  He  has  followed  farming  ever  since.  In  1852  he  married  Mary 
Cunningham,  and  they  have  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Walter  D.,  William  George, 
James  C.  and  Mrs.  Amos  Rodger.  Mr.  Ormiston  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  church 
affairs,  and  has  been  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many  years,  has  been 
secretary  for  twenty  years  and  held  other  positions.  He  has  also  been  railroad  com- 
missioner and  excise  commissioner.  His  father  was  John  Ormiston,  and  his  mother 
Mary  (Davidson)  Ormiston. 

Overton,  John  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  May  24,  1865, 
and  when  five  years  old  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ogdensburg.  He  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  and  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  entered  the  employ  of 
Joseph  Pincus,  with  whom  he  remained  a  short  time,  when  he  accepted  a  position  with 
Charles  Pari.*;,  being  in  his  employ  for  six  years.  Mr.  Overton  has  been  identified 
with  leading  firms  on  Ford  street  since  severing  his  connection  with  Charles  Paris,  and 
in  1893,  purchased  the  hat  and  gents'  furnishing  goods  business  of  George  B.  Ralph, 
which  he  is  most  successfully  conducting.  He  is  identified  with  local  institutions,  is  a 
member  of  Acacian  Lodge,  Xo.  705,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Ogdensburg  Chapter,  No.  63,  R.  A. 
M.,  and  is  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Separate  Company,  National  Guards  of 
the  State  of  New  York.     Mr.  Overton  is  much  esteemed  in  this  city. 

Overacker,  William  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gouverneur,  January 
2,  1846,  and  lived  on  his  farm  until  September  1, 1892.  He  owns  230  acres  of  superior 
dair}'  land,  nearly  all  acquired  by  his  own  industry  and  ability.  In  1869  Mr.  Overacker 
married  Elizabeth  Moulhorp,  and  after  her  death  he  married,  in  1875,  Ellen  L  ,  daugh- 
ter of  Austin  Davenport,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Stella  E.,  their  daughter,  was  born 
November  13,  1878,  and  died  February  2,  1885.  Their  son,  Roy  D.,  was  born  April 
13,  1888.  Mr.  Overacker's  father,  John  W.,  a  native  of  Danube,  Herkimer  county, 
was  married  to  Susannah  Howes,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  them,  and  all  are  living  but  one.  His  wife  died  in  1849,  and  he  then  married  Debo- 
rah Ogsbury,  and  six  children  were  the  fruits  of  the  second  union.  Our  subject  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  an  adherent  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Perkins,  D.  F.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  May  13,  1821.  His  parents 
were  Leonard  and  Matilda  (Cook)  Perkins  of  Lyme,  who  had  eleven  children.  Leonard 
Perkins  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Parishville,  where  he  became  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  that  town.  He 
died  in  September,  1843.  D.  F.  Perkins  was  three  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Par- 
ishville with  his  parents,  and  he  started  in  life  by  working  on  a  farm  for  $11  a  month. 
He  has  made  his  own  property,  and  in  1878  owned  300  acres  of  land,  at  which  time 
Mr.  Perkins  took  his  son,  Edson  M.,   into  partnership  with  him,   and  they  now  own 


106  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

nearly  80u  acres  of  land  in  one  piece.  They  follow  general  farming  and  dairying, 
and  for  many  years  have  been  extensive  dealers  in  stock.  They  usually  winter  about 
eio'hty  or  ninety  cows  and  keep  about  forty  milch  cows.  Mr.  Perkins  married  in 
Parishville,  Thirza  A.  Mott,  a  native  of  Keene,  Essex  county,  born  August  13,  1827, 
and  they  had  four  children,  of  whom  one  son  is  living.  Their  daughter,  Fannie,  died 
aged  four  years.  Edson  M.  has  been  twice  married.  First,  on  January  24,  1868,  be 
married  Emogene  S.  Tichenor  of  this  town,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Fannie,  who 
died  aged  three  years  and  ten  months.  Mrs.  Perkins  died  June  25,  1877,  and  he  married 
second,  June  20,  1880,  Martha  A.  Long  of  this  town,  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Francis 
L.     Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Pinney,  H.  D.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  February  23,  1850.  His  father 
was  Horace  Pinney,  a  native  of  Granville,  Vt.,  born  October  4,  1816.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came  to  Stockholm 
when  a  young  man  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  married  in  Stock- 
holm July  7,  1842,  Percis  S.  Covey,  a  native  of  Londonderry,  Vt.,  born  November 
1,  1819,  and  daughter  of  Theodore  Covey,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Pinney  and  wife  had  four  children :  Meribeth,  wife  of  L. 
R.  Lewis  of  Stockholm  ;  Hattie,  wife  of  J.  B.  Palmer  of  West  Stockholm ;  H.  D. 
and  Charles  S.,  a  farmer  of  West  Stockholm.  He  died  March  13,  1883,  and  his 
wife  September  4,  1877.  H.  D.  Pinney  was  reared  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  engaged  as  clerk  for  Hosea  Bicknell  of  West  Stockholm,  and  continued  as 
clerk  for  twelve  years,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Bicknell  and  in  two 
years  afterward  purchased  Mr.  Bicknell's  interest.  Mr.  Pinney  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  He  married,  October  26,  1880,  Emma  L.  Burditt  of  Pittsford,  Vt.,  born 
August  1,  1851.  Her  father  was  Ransom  Burditt  of  Pittsford,  born  August  1,  1825. 
His  wife  was  Laurenza  Davis  of  Pittsford,  born  March  2,  1821,  whom  he  married 
March  12,  1843. 

Paterson,  J.  A.,  Ogdensburg,  wa§  born  in  Ogdensburg,  March  26,  1843.  He  received 
an  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  and  some  time  afterward,  with  J.  H.  Osborn, 
purchased  the  grocery  establishment  which  had  been  conducted  for  a  number  of  years 
by  C.  M.  Adams  at  12  Lake  street,  which  business  he  has  very  successfully  conducted 
alone  since  1886.  Mr.  Paterson  has  served  tvs'o  terms  as  alderman,  from  1886  to  1890, 
and  is  identified  with  the  social  and  benevolent  institutions  of  the  town.  He  is  also  an 
Odd  Fellow.  His  father  settled  in  this  city  about  1832  and  was  in  the  employ  of  Henry 
Van  Rensselaer  for  many  years.  Mr.  Paterson  married  in  1871  a  Miss  Plumsteel,  and 
they  have  one  daughter. 

Perkins,  Isaac  E.,  Parishville,  was  a  native  of  Lyme,  N.  H.,  born  October  24,  1824, 
a  son  of  Leonard,  also  a  native  of  Lj'me,  who  married  a  Miss  Cook,  b}^  whom  he  had 
ten  children.  In  1828  they  settled  in  Parishville,  and  there  lived  and  died.  Isaac  E. 
was  fourteen  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal  to  this  town,  and  here  he  was  edu- 
cated, taking  up  farming  for  a  living.  At  his  death  he  owned  252  acres.  He  married 
first,  Harriet  Robinson  of  Parishville,  who  died  in  1840,  and  second,  Sarah  A.  Webb  of 
Malone,  a  daughter  of  Oliver  Webb,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,   April   30,   1782,   and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  ^  107 

married  Sallie  Nichols,  born  in  Vermont  m  1783.  They  came  to  Malone  in  1809,  where 
Mr.  Webb  died  November  11,  1849,  and  his  wife  July  9^  1868.  Of  their  eight  children, 
five  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Perkins  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  died  July  8,  1881. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  had  no  children,  but  they  reared  one  boy,  Frank  P.  Schellenger, 
a  native  of  Parishville  and  a  son  of  Alvin  L.  Schellenger,  son  of  Reuben,  an  early  settler 
of  Stockholm.  Frank  P.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  in  Rochester  Busi- 
ness University.  In  1892  he  married  Ada  B.  Olmstead  of  Parishville,  daughter  of 
Moses  S.  Olmstead.  Mr.  Schellenger  is  a  farmer,  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  P.  of  H.,  Potsdam  No.  39. 

Paquette,  A.  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  October  IG,  1839,  in  Quebec.  There  our 
subject  received  his  education  and  learned  the  builder's  trade.  In  1866  he  came  to 
Ogdensburg  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  He  has 
during  this  period  erected  many  of  Ogdensburg's  finest  edifices,  among  which  are  the 
City  Hall  and  Opera  House  and  the  elegant  residence  of  ex-Recorder  Dorwin.  Mr. 
Paquette  married  Miss  M.  Fogerty  and  has  six  sons  and  a  daughter.  He  is  highly  re- 
garded, both  for  his  sterling  ability  and  courteous  manners. 

Paige,  A.  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  February  27,  1836.  His  father. 
Smith  Paige,  came  from  Thetford,  Vt.,  to  Canton,  in  1818,  and  in  1830  moved 
to  Ogdensburg  and  engaged  in  brickmaking,  estabhshing  the  yards  (which  con- 
tain about  eleven  acres)  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  sons,  A.  A.  &  J.  W. 
Paige,  who  have  successfully  continued  the  business.  A.  A.  Paige  married  in  1879, 
Susan  Hewett,  and  they  have  four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Paige 
is  a  Mason,  and  is  among  Ogdensburg's  most  esteemed  citizens  and  business  men. 
This  firm  turns  out  from  18,000,000  to  20,000,000  brick  per  year,  and  furnish  employ- 
ment to  a  considerable  number  of  hands,  this  being  an  important  factor  in  the  commer- 
cial life  of  Ogdensburg. 

Pearson.  Urias,  Ogdensburg,  son  of  John  Pearson,  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812, 
was  born  in  North  Troy,  Vt,  December  7,  1814.  He  came  to  this  State  with  his 
parents  in  1824,  and  settled  in  Depeyster.  In  1831  he  began  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  carpenter's  trade,  under  Byron  Kingsbury,  after  the  completion  of  which  he 
entered  actively  into  contracting  and  building,  erecting  the  greater  number  of  the  blocks 
and  residences  in  Ogdensburg,  during  those  early  days.  Among  others  we  mention 
the  Hon.  John  Fine  residence  and  the  Judson  Bank  building,  in  1851,  the  Mechanics 
block,  in  1853,  and  the  Gibbs  block,  in  1856.  He  also  built  the  Ogdensburg  Academy, 
which  was  converted  from  the  old  Town  Hall.  During  his  long  and  honorable  life  in 
this  city,  he  filled  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility;  as  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health,  in  1864,  during  the  cholera  epidemic,  as  member  of  the  volunteer  fire  depart- 
ment for  seven  years,  and  in  1868,  as  member  of  the  first  Common  Council,  being  elected 
Alderman  from  the  Third  Ward.  Mr.  Pearson  was  twice  married.  In  1837  to  Miss 
Charlotte  Perry,  of  Depeyster,  who  died  in  1840 ;  in  1841  to  Deborah,  daughter  of 
Kenneth  and  Elizabeth  Matheson,  of  this  city,  who  died  in  1872. 

Phippen,  Amasa  B.,  Stockholm,  son  of  Clark  Phippen,  was  born  at  Crown  Point, 
February  9,  1826.     He   married   Sarepta  Converse,  daughter   of   Elijah   Converse,  of 


108  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Stockholnj,  September  17,  1854.  She  was  born  January  21,  1826.  He  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  during  his  entire  life.  He  died  September  28,  1878.  His  wife 
is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead.  They  had  three  children :  Herbert,  Flora  and 
Homer.  Herbert  was  born  May  23,  1859.  He  also  lives  upon  the  old  homestead,  is 
quite  a  successful  farmer,  and  has  some  very  fine  stock.  He  married  May  Hall, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hall,  November  26,  1890.  They  have  two  children  :  Edith  May, 
born  September  23,  1891,  and  Edith  Augusta,  born  November  1,  1893.  Flora  was 
born  March  18,  1861.  For  a  number  of  years  she  taught  m  the  district  schools  ;  mar- 
ried Frank  VV.  Trask,  son  of  John  Trask,  April  14,  1886.  He  was  an  engineer,  was 
born  May  3,  1859,  died  May  24,  1886,  of  consumption.  Homer  was  born  April  23, 
1863.  He  is  a  farmer  and  owns  150  acres  of  land.  His  wife  is  Addie,  daughter  of  S. 
S.  Gary.  They  have  one  child  :  Earl  Gary,  born  November  25,  1891.  In  politics  they 
are  all  Republicans. 

Phippen,  Warren  T.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  December 
1,  1827.  His  father  was  Clark  Phippen,  a  native  of  Walpole,  Cheshire  county,  N.  H., 
born  January  24,  1789.  He  married  Betsey  Wright,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born 
July  17,  1791,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1811,  Clark  Phippin 
and  family  removed  to  Crown  Point,  where  he  resided  until  1830,  when  he  came  to 
Stockholm  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Samuel  Phippen,  brother  of  our 
subject.  In  1855  Mr.  Phippen  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  died  in  1859.  Mr.  Phippen 
was  a  Democrat,  and  a  prominent  man  in  Essex  county.  Mrs.  Phippen  died  in  Crown 
Point  in  August,  1870.  Warren  T.,  when  a  mere  child,  came  with  his  parents  to 
Stockholm,  and  as  soon  as  old  enough,  he  assisted  his  parents  in  clearing  their  new 
farm,  and  making  a  comfortable  home.  In  1854,  Mr.  Phippen  married  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  John  Floyd,  a  pioneer  of  Crown  Point,  and  they  had  six  children :  Mary 
P.,  born  April  10,  1855,  wife  of  J.  H.  Hayes,  a  liveryman  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.  They 
have  one  child:  Mildred  B.  Jennie,  born  January  16,  1859,  who  married  W.  S.  Wright, 
of  Mason  City,  Iowa.  He  went  to  Stockton,  Kas.,  and  afterward  to  El  Reno,  Ok.  T., 
and  engaged  in  thebankmg  business.  He  was  taken  sick  and  returned  to  Stockholm, 
where  he  died  May  28,  1892,  leaving  his  wife  and  one  daughter,  Edith  L.  Minnie  A., 
born  August  5,  1862,  and  died  December  16,  1865;  Minnette  S.,  born  November  30 
1864;  Floyd  W.,  born  September  8,  1870,  and  died  December  8,  1876.  September  8, 
1870,  Mrs.  Phippen  died,  having  been  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  a  true  helpmate  to  her 
husband,  and  a  loving  and  affectionate  mother  to  her  children.  Soon  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Phippen  moved  to  Norfolk,  and  in  1855  to  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  which  now 
contains  210  acres.  Mr.  Phippen  has  a  beautiful  home  and  is  one  of  the  progressive 
farmers  of  the  county.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Universalist 
Church.     Mr.  Phippen  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

Pickert,  Hiram  L.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Denmark,  Lewis  county, 
October  24,  1839,  a  son  of  Ephraim,  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  who  was  a  farmer, 
and  came  to  Lewis  county  in  1839.  where  he  lived  about  nine  years,  and  October,  1848, 
he  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  settling  in  the  town  of  Canton,  where  he  died 
January  7,  1885.     The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Catherine  Davis,  also  of  Herkimer 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  109 

county,  who  died  May  1,  1891,  in  Canton.  They  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Alexander,  farmer  of  Canton;  George,  a  farmer,  of  Canton  ;  Vina,  wife  of 
Dean  B.  Delance,  a  mason,  of  ilalone,  and  Hiram  L.  Mr.  Pickert  married  in  1866, 
Amelia  M.  Delance.  They  have  one  daughter,  Minnie  B.  Mr.  Pickert  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father,  until  he  was  twenty- two,  and  in  1867  he 
bought  a  farm  of  109  acres  in  Canton,  which  he  owned  seven  years.  He  lived  on  said 
farm  four  years,  and  then  moved  on  his  father-in-law's  farm,  in  Potsdam,  which  he 
lived  on  for  four  years.  March  1,  1875,  he  bought  and  moved  on  his  present  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  devoted  to  dairying.  The  South  Potsdam  cheese  factory  is  located  on 
this  farm,  which  Mr.  Pickert  owned  until  1888,  and  superintended  it  for  fourteen  years. 
The  old  factory  burned  October  12,  1888,  and  was  rebuilt  by  B.  F.  Leonard,  the  son- 
in-law  of  our  subject.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pickert  are  members  of  the  Potsdam  Grange. 
Chandler  Delance,  father-in-law  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  of  Potsdam  who  was  born 
and  reared  on  the  farm,  where  he  died  January  16,  1881.  He  married  Lucinda  Atwood 
and  they  had  three  children.  Mrs.  Pickert  is  the  only  one  living  of  the  family.  John 
Delance,  father  of  Chandler,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  He  came 
here  in  1803,  and  married  Nancy  Healy  in  1804.  It  is  said  to  be  the  first  marriage 
in  the  town.      He  died  in  1840. 

Proctor.  H.  I.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  East  Washington,  N.  H.,  April  6,  1847.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  vicinit}',  after  which  for'  ten  years  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  his  brother,  W.  L.  Proctor,  esq.,  of  this  city.  Then  in  1874,  he 
established  himself  in  his  present  business,  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  doors,  sash, 
blinds,  builders'  hardware,  etc.,  on  River  street,  west  side,  Ogdensburg,  making  ~a 
specialty  of  artistic  wood  working,  in  the  prosecution  of  which  he  gives  employment  to 
about  sixty  hands.  Mr.  Proctor  married  in  1870,  Fannie  E.  Persons,  and  they  had 
four  children  :  Mary  F.,  Grace  E..  Charles  E.  and  Harry  B.  Mr.  Proctor  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  is  identified  with  the  leading  social  and 
financial  interests  of  the  city. 

Peck,  Comer  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Parishville,  N.  T.,  March  18,  1822,  a  son  of 
Hiram,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  was  colonel  of  a  Vermont  Regiment  at  the  battle 
of  Plattsburg,  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  came  to  this  county  about  1820,  and  died 
in  1851,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  married  Wealthy  Kilburn,  who  died  in  1836. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  our  subject  left  his  native  town  and  went  to  Prescott, 
Canada,  where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  drug  store  for  three  years  and 
resided  there  at  the  time  of  the  "Patriot  war."  In  1839  he  went  to  Medina,  Orleans 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  in  a  drug  store  there  until  1844.  That  year  he  went  to  Mon- 
treal, acting  as  clerk  in  a  steamboat  office.  He  was  there  three  years  and  then 
spent  a  year  in  the  same  business  at  Kingston,  Canada.  In  1848  he  came  to  Pots- 
dam and  on  March  7,  established  a  drug  store  here  in  company  with  J.  C.  Gates. 
This  partnership  lasted  two  years  and  the  firm  become  Peck  &  Brother,  lasting 
until  1852.  Mr.  Peck  that  year  sold  out  to  his  brother,  Hiram  H.  He  then  became 
a  partner  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  with  Dr.  J.  B.  Nichols.  April  13,  1855, 
he  opened  his  present  drug  store.  Mr.  Peck  is  vice-president  and  director  of  the 
People's  Bank,  of  Potsdam.     For  the  last  fifteen  years  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the 


110  HISTORT  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

villao-e  and  for  many  years  chairman  of  the  Democratic  Town  and  Assembly  Dis- 
trict Committees,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Peck  married  in  1848,  Minerva  S.  Hoit,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  some  years  smce :  Fred  H.  is  now  engaged  in  business  in 
Potsdam,  and  Mary  E.,  his  daughter,  wife  of  Duncan  R.  Cameron,  of  Hanford,  Cal. 
Mrs.  Peck  died  in  1860  and  he  married  his  present  wife,  Mary  J.  Grieve,  of  Perry, 
N.  Y.,  in  1864,  and  they  have  one  son,  William  W.  G.,  who  recently  succeeded  to 
the  business  of  his  father,  and  will  henceforth  conduct  it. 

Peck,  Frank  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Sodus,  Wayne  county,  March  31,  1847. 
His  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  and  he  was  educated  in  St.  Law- 
rence Academy,  Fairfax  Seminary  and  Middlebury  College,  Vt.  After  leaving  school 
Mr.  Peck  was  for  a  few  months  night  editor  of  the  Burlington,  Vt.,  Free  Press, 
and  then  engaged  in  the  life  insurance  business  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  In  1876 
he  was  appointed  Assembl}'  Librarian  at  Albany,  an  office  he  held  one  term,  and 
m  18i7  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance  business  in  company  with  H.  S.  Perrigo.  At 
the  organization  of  the  People's  Bank  at  Potsdam  in  1889,  Mr.  Peck  was  made 
bookkeeper  and  assistant  cashier,  an  office  he  still  holds.  He  has  been  village  trustee 
two  years,  and  is  a  member  of  Racquette  River  Lodge,  No.  21.3,  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr. 
Peck  married  in  1875,  Addie  B.  Henderson,  of  Prescott,  Ont.  They  have  one  adopted 
daughter,  Ettie  M.  Peck,  now  in  her  fourteenth  year.  Mr.  Peck  was  for  fourteen 
years  connected  with  the  Racquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  Valley  Fair  Association,  and 
for  the  last  four  years  of  the  time  he  was  the  secretary.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
Potsdam  Building  and  Loan  Association  since  its  organization. 

Crane,  F.  M.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  March,  1855.  He  received  an 
excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  this  town,  after  which  he  learned  the  profession 
of  photography.  After  serving  eight  years  in  several  of  the  best  studios  in  the  country 
he  finally  in  1878,  establishei  himself  in  the  profession  here  in  Ogdensburg  and  enjoys 
a  large  and  most  mfluential  patronage.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is 
much  respected  and  esteemed  by  all. 

Davis,  Lorenzo,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  October  14,  1854,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Morristown.  In  1874,  he  married  Florilla  Petrie  of  the  same  town 
and  they  have  three  children :  Leon,  Owen  and  Gladdis  L.  Mr.  Davis's  father  was 
Jeremiah  Davis,  and  his  wife's  father  is  Henry  Petrie.  Mr.  Davis  now  resides  on  the 
farm  of  Jeremiah  Davis,  which  he  and  his  family  inherited  in  1891,  from  Jeremiah 
Davis,  deceased. 

Howard,  Maro  L.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  December  2,  1846,  a  son  of 
Appleton  C,  a  native  of  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  born  October  21,  1814,  whose  father  was 
Aaron  Howard.  Appleton  C.  was  a  sailor  and  followed  the  lakes  many  years,  being 
head  engineer  on  steamboats  on  Lake  Champlain  for  fifteen  years.  In  1835  he  came 
to  this  town,  and  in  1850,  with  his  brother,  Orrin,  bought  a  farm,  afterwards  selling  his 
share  to  his  brother.  He  then  bought  a  portion  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject, 
of  158  acres.  Mr.  Howard  married  in  1840,  Leonora  Loomis,  a  native  of  Milton,  Vt., 
born  November  18,  1815,  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Loomis,  native  of  Georgia,  Vt.    Mr. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  Ill 

Loomis  died  in  the  west,  September  21,  1838,  aged  fifty-two  year?;.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Howard  liad  three  children,  of  whom  two  survive.  Mr.  Howard  died  February  13, 
1861,  and  his  wife  survives  him.  Maro  L.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
has  always  followed  agriculture.  November  28,  1872,  he  married  Elsie  R.  Flint,  a 
native  of  Essex  county  and  daughter  of  B.  F.  and  Hannah  (Baldwin)  Flint,  who  set- 
tled in  Colton  county  in  1855  and  now  live  in  Potsdam.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  have 
had  three  children:  Myrtle  M.,  and  Mabel  V.,  twins,  the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  eight 
months;  and  A.  Stanley.  Mr.  Howard  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor  nine 
years.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  Crary's  Mills  Grange,  and  Mrs.  Howard  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Pierrepont  Baptist  church  at  the  Centre. 

Kellogg,  Fayette  N.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.,  December  11,  1849, 
a  sou  of  Franklin  E.  whose  father  was  Daniel  Kellogg.  Franklin  E.was  born  in  Shore- 
ham,  Vt.,  February  14,  1816  and  1833  settled  in  Rochester.  His  wife  was  Pamelia 
Sanford,  born  Ja^^uary  17,  1819,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children,  six  surviving.  In 
1840  Mr.  Kellogg  and  family  settled  in  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  Republican  and 
and  held  several  town  ofiSces.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  from  1851  to  1874,  super- 
visor two  years,  assessor,  commissioner  of  highways,  etc.  He  died  March  17,  1877. 
Fayette  N.  Kellogg  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  High  School  and  Fort  Edward 
Institute,  graduating  from  the  latter  November  29,  1866.  He  spent  fifteen  years  as 
clerk  in  his  father's  store,  and  two  and  a  half  years  in  a  gristmill  in  Vermont,  and 
Fort  Jackson,  N.  Y.  March  28,  1878,  he  married  Alice  E.  Phelps,  oy  whom  has  two 
children  :  Pearl  E.  and  Gladys  G.  Mr  Kellogg  is  a  Republican,  and  was  justice  of  the 
peace  five  years  in  Hopkinton.  He  is  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge  No.  577,  F.  &  A.  M.  at 
Nicholville;  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge,  No.  620";  and  of  the  P.  of  H.,  Fort 
Jackson  Lodge.  Mrs.  Kellogg  is  a  daughter  of  Edwin  O.  Phelps,  a  native  of  Orwell, 
Vt.,  born  April  23,  1813.  He  was  but  eight  years  old  when  he  went  to  Hopkinton, 
where  he  lived  until  1838,  then  came  to  the  farm  he  now  owns,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  In  1838  he  married  Priscilla  Dwinell,  a  native  of  Newport,  N.  H.,  born 
April  19,  1818,  and  they  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Phelps  held  the  office 
of  assessor  six  years.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church 
at  Fort  Jackson.  Mrs.  Phelps  was  a  daughter  of  Cyrus  and  Polly  (Gilman)  Dwinell, 
natives  of  Massachusetts,  who  moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  Mr.  Dwinell  died,  and  his 
widow  lived  with  her  son  in  Minnesota,  until  her  death.  The  Phelps  family  is  of 
Welsh  origin.  Two  brothers,  William  and  George,  went  to  England,  and  from  there 
emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass.  Edwin  0.,  father  of  Mr.  Kellogg, 
is  descended  from  William,  who  removed  to  Connecticut  1635,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  In  1788  Elnathan  Phelps,  grandfather  of  E.  0.  settled  in  Orwell,  Vt.  He  was 
a  Baptist  minister,  and  the  first  clergyman  in  that  place.  He  was  born  in  1734  and 
died  in  Orwell,  Vt.,  in  1813.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  Jacob, 
father  of  E.  0.  Phelps,  was  the  youngest  son.  Jacob  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Mass,  July 
12,  1780,  and  when  a  child  went  to  Orwell,  Vt.  with  his  father.  He  married  Lucy 
Webster  of  Orwell,  May  1803,  and  they  had  seven  children.  Mr.  Phelps  came  to 
Hopkinton  in  1821.  He  was  a  Republican  and  held  various  offices  of  trust  and  honor 
in  his  town.     He  died  April  2,  1864. 


112  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

McMonagle,  N.  D.,  M.  D.,  Canton,  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  April  4,  1844,  and 
was  educated  in  his  native  Province  at  St.  Johns,  N.  B.  He  took  two  medical  courses, 
in  Bowdoin  College,  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  graduated  from  an  Iowa  College;  after  which 
he  stood  successfully  a  very  rigid  examination  before  the  State  Medical  Board  of  Ex- 
aminers at  Albany.  In  1870  he  came  to  Rensselaer  Falls,  where  he  has  practiced 
successfully  ever  since.  He  is  a  specialist  of  diphtheria,  the  preparations  used  by  him 
effecting  a  high  percentage  of  cures  and  being  a  perfect  destroyer  of  all  bacteria.  He 
also  has  a  high  reputation  for  his  successful  treatment  of  cancers  by  the  McMonagle 
Plaster.  In  1872  our  subject  married  Emma  Sharp  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren. His  wife  died  and  in  1890  he  married  Annie  Graham,  by  whom  he  has  one 
son. 

McCabe,  James  B.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Ireland  December  14,  1838,  a  son  of 
John  and  Margaret  (Bingham)  McCabe  of  that  country,  who  reared  three  children. 
In  1845  the  family  came  to  Essex  county  and  three  years  later  removed  to  Pierre- 
pont where  they  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  James.  Here  the  mother  died 
July  12,  1881, 'the  father  still  living  there  with  his  son.  James  B.  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  was  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Santa 
Clare  Lumber  Company  of  Franklin  county,  but  his  principal  occupation  has  been  farm- 
ing and  dairying.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Go.  D,  92d  N.  Y.  Infantry,  serving  till  July, 
1863,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  the  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  and  served  until  October,  1865. 
In  December,  1867,  he  married  Martha  M.  Bloss,  a  native  of  Canada  and  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Pattie  (Jones)  Bloss,  who  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1866  and  died 
in  Parishville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCabe  have  had  eleven  children :  John  H.  (deceased), 
Ida  J.,  Henrietta,  John  (deceased),  Samuel  W.,  Mabel  M.  (deceased),  Albert  J.,  Lena 
G.,  Margaret  A.,  Helen  B.  and  Martha  L.  Mr.McCabe  is  a  Republican  and  a  member 
of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Colton,  N.  Y.  He  took  the  State  census  in 
1875  and  the  United  States  census  in  1880.  He  is  a  member  also  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Wait 
Post. 

Noble,  E.,  Hailesborough,  was  born  in  Edwards,  February  It),  1854.  He  followed 
farming  until  1870,  when  he  opened  his  present  store  in  Hailesborough.  January  14, 
1870,  Mr.  Noble  married  Etta  Starin,  and  they  have  three  sons.  His  father,  Alexan- 
der, was  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  his  mother  was  Margaret  Clelland,  also  a 
native  of  Edinburgh.  Mr.  Noble  still  owns  his  farm  and  is  interested  in  agriculture  as 
well  as  in  mercantile  business.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  the 
town. 

Parker,  M.  Sabin,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur.  His  father,  James  Parker, 
was  born  in  Canterbury,  Conn.,  April  1,  1782,  came  to  Gouverneur  April  19,  1808,  and 
settled  on  the  Parker  homestead,  where  he  died  in  1875  In  1826  he  built  the  present 
residence  of  his  son.  The  Parker  ancestry  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Reading, 
Mass.,  about  1646.  Here  the  family  resided  for  several  generations,  and  Mr.  M.  Sabin 
Parker  has  some  relics  of  those  early  days.  One  of  the  ten  children  of  James  Parker 
wasOrigen  D.,  who  enlisted  in  1862  in  Battery  D,  1st  N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  who  was 
killed  at  Petersburg,  Va,  in  1864,  being  forty-one  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  Ii3 

Peet,  Charles  W.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Monkton,  Addison  county,  Vt,  Septembar 
22,  1834.  His  father  was  Harry  Peet,  a  native  of  Stockborough,  Vt.,  who  married  Sal- 
lie  Page,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Charles  W.  and  Mabel,  the  latter  the  wife  of  M. 
W.  Alden  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Peet  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  In  1835  he  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Stockholm  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  as  a  farmer.  He  helped 
to  make  the  spikes  used  in  building  one  of  the  vessels  on  Lake  Champlain  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  died  in  1362,  and  his  wife  survives  him  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
Charles  W.  Peet  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  which  consists  of  225  acres. 
He  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirteen  cows.  The  wife  of  our  subject  is  Harr'et  Osgood,  sanative 
of  Stockholm,  and  their  children  are  :  Sallie  M.,  wife  of  Herman  Lewis  of  Stockholm  ; 
Harrj-  E.  and  William  W.  Mr.  Peet  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  In  1864  he  enlisted 
in  the  6th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  but  by  mistake  was  put  in  the  92d  N.  Y.  Infantry, 
Co.  I,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Gravelly  Run 
and  Five  Forks.  Mr.  Peet  is  a  member  of  the  0.  A.  R.  Gibson  Post  No,  421  of  Bick- 
nellville. 

Parsons,  George  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  June  10,  1843. 
He  has  resided  in  the  village  seven  years  and  has  been  deputy  sheriff  two  years. 
He  has  also  held  the  office  of  assessor  ten  years.  In  1872  he  married  Martha  A., 
daughter  of  Andrew  Dodds,  and  they  have  five  children :  Millicent  A.,  Ella  M., 
Amanda  H.,  Jessie  R.  and  James  Otis.  Mr.  Parsons's  father  was  Myron  Parsons 
of  Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  and  his  mother  was  Amanda  Barnes.  Mr.  Parsons  enlisted 
in  Scott's  Nine  Hundred  in  August,  1862,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  has 
been  commander  and  quartermaster  of  Barnes  Post  No.  156.  Farming  is  his  principal 
business  and  he  always  resided  on  his  farm  of  220  acres,  three  miles  from  Gouverneur 
village  on  Johnson  street,  except  during  the  time  he  has  lived  in  the  village  and  his 
three  years'  service  in  the  rebellion. 

Perrigo,  Harlan  S.,  Postsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  June  22,  1843,  a  son 
of  Sylvester  F.,  who  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  Vt.,  who  moved  to  this  town  March  31, 
1836.  Sylvester  F.  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  but  bought  a  farm  near  Crary's  Mills, 
because  it  would  be  a  better  place  to  rear  his  boys.  He  died  December  30, 1883,  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year.  The  grandfather,  David  Perrigo,  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of 
Swanton,  Vt.,  her  maiden  name  being  Laura  Brooks.  They  had  nine  children,  only 
two  now  living  :  Elbert  M.,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska,  and  Harlan  S.  Harlan  S.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam  and  at  Middlebury  { Vt.  )  College, 
graduating  August  11,  1870.  He  taught  for  seven  years,  and  in  1877  he  came  to  Pots- 
dam, where  he  bought  three  insurance  agencies  and  established  a  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  ever  since  been  interested.  In  the  fall  of  1881  Mr.  Perrigo  was 
elected  school  commissioner  of  the  third  district  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  After  serving 
three  years  he  was  re-elected  by  double  the  majority  received  the  first  time.  He  is 
now  a  trustee  of  school  district  No.  8  of  Potsdam.  Mr.  Perrigo  is  senior  warden  of 
Racket  River  Lodge  No  213,  and  king  and  past  high  priest  of  St.  Lawrence  Chapter 
No.  24,  R.  A.  M.,  also  worthy  patron  of  Vega  Chapter,  0.  B.  S.,  and  a  member  of  St. 


114  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Excelsior  Lodge  No. 
548  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  been  through  all  the  chairs,  being  now  a  past  grand. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Perrigo  married  November  27,  1870, 
Josephine  A.  Giffin  of  Edwardsville,  N.  Y.,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Alice  M.,  Harlan  S.,  jr.,  and  Louise  L. 

Pierce,  T.  W.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  April  12,  1854.  He  left  the 
farm  Avhen  eighteen  and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  Avhich  he  followed  for  nine 
years  when  he  went  into  mercantile  business.  He  came  to  Morristown  in  1879  and 
has  been  in  business  here  ever  since.  He  has  been  an  active  politician  and  was 
appointed  postmaster  by  President  Harrison,  February  29,  1892.  He  has  been  on 
the  school  board  nine  years,  was  treasurer  of  the  village  and  has  filled  other  local  offices. 
In  1879  he  married  Mary  E.  Soper,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  three  daughters :  Irene, 
Maude,  Harry,  Blanche  and  Wendell. 

Pearson,  John,  Madrid,  was  born  in  County  Wicklow,  Ireland,  March  17,  1820,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1847.  He  was  a  resident  of  Waddington  one  winter  and  then 
located  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  where  he  was  employed  with  Alfred  Teal.  He  was 
for  a  number  of  years  employed  with  different  farmers  and  in  1851  bought  a  farm 
of  fifty  acres,  which  by  his  perseverance  and  industry  has  now  increased  to  170 
acres.  Mr.  Pearson  has  made  many  valuable  improvements  since  he  first  bought  the 
property,  and  in  1865  he  built  a  very  good  residence  and  has,  besides,  erected  out- 
buildings and  barns.  He  conducts  it  as  a  dairy  farm,  with  eighteen  cows,  thirteen 
sheep  and  five  horses.  Mr.  Pearson  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
Republican  party  and  its  principles,  but  has  never  been  a  candidate  for  public  office. 
He  married  in  December,  1852,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hesselgrave,  a  farmer 
of  this  town,  and  they  have  had  nine  children,  eight  now  living:  Robert  Edward, 
a  farmer  of  Madrid ;  Richard  Thomas,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  Mary  M. 
Pearson  of  Madrid  ;  Sarah  F.,  wife  of  Robert  Marshall  of  Madrid ;  Lydia  A.  Pear- 
son ;  Charles  Orville ;  Harriet  Elizabeth ;  and  Clara  Mabel. 

Predmore.  H.  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rochester  October  21,  1869,  and  early 
embarked  in  business  in  dried  fruit.  After  three  years  he  began  the  manufacture 
of  brick  in  Virginia.  A  year  ago  he  came  to  Gouverneur  as  manager  of  the  As- 
bestos Pulp  Company.  This  company  has  two  mines  and  two  mills  and  employs 
seventy-five  men.  He  married  Mary,  daugther  of  A.  S.  Bigelow.  Recently  Mr.  Pred- 
more formed  two  partnerships,  that  of  Dodge  &  Predmore,  lumber  merchants,  and  Pred- 
more &  McCarthy,  brick  manufacturers,  both  of  which  promise  to  rank  among  the 
leading  houses  of  Gouverneur. 

Porteous,  John  S.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  August,  9,  1823.  He 
was  a  son  of  Samuel  Porteous,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1785.  There  he  married 
Euphemia  Brunton  and  had  four  children.  In  1820  they  came  to  Waddington,  where 
three  other  children  were  born.  Mr.  Porteous  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  worked  for 
Judge  Ogden  assisting  in  building  the  dam  and  stone  walls  on  the  island.  However, 
his  prmcipal  occupation  was  farming,  and  owned  a  small  farm  in  the  western  part  of 
Waddington.     He  and  his  wife  were  Presbyterians.     He  died  in   1868,  and  bis  wife  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  115 

1863.  John  S.  Porteous  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Waddington.  Farming  has  always  been  his  occupation.  In  1869  he  purchased  156 
acres  on  Ogden  Island,  which  he  still  owns.  His  son  John,  manages  the  farm  at 
present.  During  the  last  three  years  Mr.  Porteous  has  resided  in  th^  village.  In  De- 
cember, 1846,  he  married  Janett,  daughter  of  Andrew  Vietch,  of  Waddington,  and  they 
have  had  eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  six  sons  and  threeldaughters  survive. 
He  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  y the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Waddington.  ^ 

Plumb,  Captain  L.  R.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  September  28,  1828,  a 
son  of  Captain  Henry  Plumb,  whose  reminiscences  of  the  war  of  1812,  alid^ther 
hstorical  data  has  been  in  such  demand  by  local  writers.  This  family  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  ferry  over  sixty  years,  during  which  entire  period  not  a  single  accident 
has  occurred  either  under  the  capacity  of  L.  R.  Plumb,  or  before — under  that  of  his 
father,  Captain  Henry  Plumb.  L.  R.  Plumb  has  now  held  his  position  over  forty  years, 
and  anticipates  an  early  and  honorable  retirement.  He  has  been  three  times  married 
and  has  a  family  of  four  children  living.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  for  the  past  forty-six  years,  is  a  Mason,  and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most 
respected  citizens,  as  well  as  being  a  descendant  of  one  of  our  most  respected  families. 

Pearson,  Andrew  Monroe  Henry,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Gloversville,  Fulton  county, 
September  13,  1833,  a  son  of  William,  a  native  of  England,  born  in  1802,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1832.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  followed  that  in  connection  with 
manufacturing  in  this  country.  Andrew  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  children,  all  liv- 
ing: Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Smith,  of  Saratoga;  William,  a  furniture  finisher,  of  Glens  Falls; 
Noah,  a  painter,  of  Norwood;  Edwin,  a  mechanic  of  Fort  Edward;  and  Andrew. 
Subject  was  only  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  New  York  city,  where 
he  was  educated.  His  first  occupation  was  a  cooper,  which  he  followed  until  1869  in 
South  Glens  Falls,  and  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  broom  handles  and  chil- 
dren's toy  hoops.  In  1869  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  locating  at  Potsdam  Junc- 
tion, Norwood,  where  he  bought  the  broorahandle  shop  and  water  power  estabhshed  by 
George  Enos  on  the  Racquette  river.  Mr.  Pearson  has  retired  from  the  business.  He 
still  owns  the  water  power,  but  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire,  January  31,  1893.  The 
beautiful  residence  of  Mr.  Pearson  was  erecteJ  in  1888.  He  married,  September  6, 
1856,  Mary  A.  Whorf,  of  Glens  Palls,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  adopted  children: 
Henry  A.,  a  jeweler  of  CoflFeyville,  Kan.,  and  Sarah  Elnora  Rush,   of  Whitehall,  N.  Y. 

Rutherford,  Walter,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  England,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1831,  fifth  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Mindmarch)  Rutherford.  Walter  was 
only  a  year  old  when  his  parents  came  to  this  country.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Potsdam  and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  homestead  until  thirty  • 
three  years  of  age.  In  January,  1865,  he  bought  a  farm  of  155  acres  in  Potsdam, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  nearly  three  years,  then  sold,  and  for  four  years  was 
engaged  as  a  speculator  in  stock,  wool  and  farm  produce.  March  20,  1873,  he 
moved  to  Madrid  where  he  had  bought  the  Smith  farm  of  213  acres,  where  he  has 
since  resided.     Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the 


116  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Reformed  Presbyterian  church,  of  Potsdam.  Mr.  Rutherford  has  twice  married,  first, 
January  2,  1865,  Ellen  Ford,  who  died  May  29,  1889,  leaving  no  children.  He  married 
second,  March  5,  1872,  Jennie  D.,  daughter  of  Andrew  Rutherford,  of  Madrid  and 
widow  of  Benjamin  F.  Rolf.  They  have  one  child,  Mamie  M.,  now  in  her  six- 
teenth year.  A  son  of  Mrs.  Rutherford  forms  a  part  of  the  family  of  our  subject, 
Benjamin  F.  Rolfe. 

Remington,  W.  R.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county.  May  25,  1839.  He 
was  liberally  educated  and  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- three  was  appointed  by  Post- 
master-General Randall  under  President  Lincoln  to  the  position  of  postmaster  of 
Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county.  This  office  he  held  for  nineteen  years,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  period  he  resigned  voluntarily.  During  the  Rebellion  while  still  in  office, 
although  not  drafted,  postmaster  Remington  furnished  a  substitute,  and  has  his  dis- 
charge. In  1882  Mr.  Remington  was  elected  clerk  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  which 
office  he  held  for  six  years,  during  which  time  he  revised  the  entire  index  of  that  office 
from  the  period  of  1802  to  date,  for  which  achievement  great  credit  was  accorded  him. 
During  his  residence  in  Canton,  Mr.  Remington  served  upon  the  Board  of  Education 
for  many  years,  was  treasurer  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Agricultural  Society  two  years.  In 
1892  he  was  appointed  collector  of  customs  for  the  district  of  Oswegatchie,  including 
the  Port  of  Ogdensburg,  having  as  sub  offices  Massena,  Lewisville,  Waddington,  Lisbon, 
Morristown  and  Hammond.  He  married  Lavilla  J.  Everest  of  this  county,  and  they 
have  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

Robinson,  G.  W.,  Ogdensburg,  a  native  of  West  Chazy,  Clinton  county,  was  born 
May  22,  1854.  After  receiving  a  liberal  education  he  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  December, 
1876,  entered  the  establishment  of  H.  F.  Lawrence,  and  has  remained  connected  with 
this  business  ever  since,  although  there  have  been  several  changes  in  partnership  and  is 
now  known  as  the  Edgar  A.  Newell  Co.,  in  which  Mr  Robinson  is  a  stockholder  and 
assistant  manager.  Hi.«  ancestors  were  originally  from  Scotland,  and  settled  in  Clinton 
county  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Mr.  Robinson  married  in  1885,  Catherine  C. 
Cooley,  of  Canandaigua,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  He  is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg 
Lodge  No.  128,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Ogdensburg  Chapter  No.  63,  R.  A.  M.,  Ogdensburg 
Commandery  No.  54,  K.  T.,  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  of  Perfection,  Ogdensburg  Chapter 
Rose  Croix  H.  R.  D.  M.,  Central  City  Consistory  S.  P.  R.  S.  32°  and  Media  Temple  A. 
A.  0.  N.  M.  S.  Mr.  Robinson  through  upright  and  honorable  method  gained  the  respect 
of  the  entire  community. 

Robinson,  John  H.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Huntingdon,  Quebec,  August  10,  1841. 
The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  his  birth.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  Huntingdon  Academy.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  entered 
the  store  of  William  Hogle  at  Fort  Covington,  where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  four 
years  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  he  came  to  Madrid,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  the  generaKstore  of  L.  A  &  0.  C.  Robinson.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  bought  the 
store  and  after  conducting  it  one  year  alone  was  joined  by  0.  C.  Robinson  and  the  firm 
of  0.  C.  &  J.  H.  Robinson  existed  until  April  1,  1876,  when  the  former  withdrew  and 
J.   H.  Robinson  has  since  continued  it  alone.     He  now  conducts  a  general  store,  carry- 


PERSON'AL  SKETCHES.  117 

ing  a  complete  line  of  dry  goods,  carpets  and  house  furnishisg  goods.  Mr.  Robinson  is 
also  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Robinson  &  Hepburn,  coal  dealers,  with  yards  at  Madrid 
station.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  is  a  staunch  Republican. 
In  1874  he  was  elected  supervisor,  serving  for  seven  consecutive  terms,  and  declined  a 
renomination.  As  the  chief  officer  of  his  town  Mr.  Robinson  won  distinction  as  a  good 
manager  and  served  with  satisfaction  to  his  constituents  and  honor  and  credit  to  him- 
self. He  was  a  candidate  for  county  clerk  in  1879,  and  went  into  the  Republican 
county  convention  with  thirty-five  delegates,  but  was  defeated  by  a  combination  of  the 
opposing  candidates.  Not  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  Republican  Assembly  Con- 
vention of  1882  he  entered  the  field  as  an  independent  Republican  candidate  for  the 
assembly,  receiving  1,490  votes  as  against  2,286  cast  for  the  regular  Republican  nominee. 
He  has  served  as  delegate  to  numerous  district  and  county  conventions,  but  has  now 
retired  from  active  political  work.  Mr.  Robinson  married  in  1871.  Laura,  daughter 
of  Robert  Pierce,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  J.  Robinson,  a  student 
of  Keble  School,  Syracuse. 

Robinson,  Oliver  C,  Madrid,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  Massena,  July  24,  1831.  He  was  next  to  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  and  was  only  eight  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  He  was  given  a  good 
common  school  education  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age  began  teaching  in  the  schools  of 
Madrid  and  Stockholm.  This  work  he  followed  for  two  years.  At  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  went  with  a  drover  to  Boston,  where  for  years  he  was  employed  by  a 
milk  dealer  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  bought  a  milk  route,  which  he 
conducted  very  successfully  and  profitably  for  four  years.  In  1855  he  sold  the  busi- 
ness and  removed  to  Madrid,  where  he  bought  a  partnership  in  the  store  of  his 
brother,  the  firm  name  being  H.  T.  and  0.  C.  Robinson,  which  did  a  general  mercantile 
business  for  about  four  years,  and  then  was  joined  by  another  brother,  L.  A.  Robinson. 
They  were  six  years  together  and  April  1,  1864,  the  firm  became  0.  C.  &  J.  H. 
Robinson,  and  existed  as  such  for  twelve  years.  April  1,  1876,  they  dissolved  and  Mr. 
Robinson  moved  to  the  store  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  taking  as  a  partner  A.  TV. 
Abernethy,  0.  C.  Robinson  &  Co.  conducted  a  general  store  and  were  dealers  in  all 
kinds  of  farm  produce  as  well  as  live  stock.  March  1,  1890,  he  retired  from  the  mer- 
cantile business  and  March  26,  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
^[adrid,  a  position  he  held  till  his  death,  October  20, 1892.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  was  for  thirty-.^even  years  a  Mason,  first  with  Madrid  Lodge  and  after 
their  demise  with  Canton  Lodge.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Universalist 
church  of  Madrid.  He  married  September  14,  1856,  Adeline  Yiles,  of  Lexington, 
Mass.,  who  still  survives  him.  They  have  had  three  children,  all  living :  Lucius  A., 
Frederick  W.,  and  Edith  F.,  wife  of  F.  J.  Merriman.  F.  W.  Robinson  has  always 
made  his  home  in  this  town.  He  was  edu^-aied  in  Madrid  Union  Free  School,  and  has 
always  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  with  his  father  and  speculating  in 
cattle  and  produce.  After  his  father's  death  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Mad- 
drid,  a  position  he  still  holds.     He  is  a  Republican. 

Robinson,  R.  T.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  West  Chazy,  December  1.  1845.  After 
leaving  school  he  served  an  apprenticeship  with  his  father  in  the  harness  and  tannery 


118  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

business  and  after  its  completion  followed  photography  for  five  years.  He  then  came 
to  Oo'densburg  and  entered  the  employ  of  H.  F.  Lawrence  as  traveling  salesman,  and 
has  continued  with  this  establishment  through  its  various  changes  for  the  past  seventeen 
years.  He  is  now  vice-president  of  the  concern,  which  has  finally  merged  into  the 
Edgar  A.  Newell  Company.  Mr.  Robinson  married  May  21,  1866,  Roxana  Watson, 
and  they  have  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  Robinson  is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg  Lodge 
No.  128,  Ogdensburg  Chapter  No.  63,  Ogdensburg  Commandery  No.  54,  St.  Lawrence 
Lodge  of  Perfection  of  Canton,  Ogdensburg  Chapter  Princes  of  Jerusalem,  Ogdensburg 
Chapter  Rose  Croix,  Central  City  Consistory  of  Syracuse  32°,  Media  Temple  Mystic 
Shrine  of  Watertown,  etc.  His  son,  Martin  L.,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Edgar  A. 
Newell  Company,  is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg  Lodge  No.  128,  Ogdensburg  Chapter  No. 
63,  and  Ogdensburg  Commandery  No.  54. 

Robinson,  C.  M.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  West  Chazy,  September  7,  1856.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  entered  the  employ  of  H.  F.  Lawrence 
of  Ogdensburg  in  1877,  with  which  house  he  has  since  been  identified  through  its  dif- 
erent  changes  into  its  present  corporation  as  the  Edgar  A.  Newell  Company.  Mr.  Rob- 
inson has  traveled  for  the  concern  during  the  past  two  years.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  Lizzie  H.  Briggs,  and  some  time  after  her  decease  to  Katherine  T.  Utton, 
by  whom  he  has  had  two  children :  James  M.  (deceased),  and  Grace  C.  ■  Mr.  Robinson 
is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg  Lodge  No.  128,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Ogdensburg  Chapter  No.  63, 
R.  A.  M.,  Ogdensburg  Commandery  No.  54,  K.  T.;  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  of  Perfection, 
Canton,  N.  Y.;  Ogdensburg  Council  of  Princes  of  Jerusalem  and  Chapter  of  Rose  Croix; 
Central  City  Consistory,  A.  A.  S.  R.,  of  Syracuse;  Media  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  Wa- 
tertown ;  Maple  City  Chapter,  0.  E.  S.,  of  Ogdensburg.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Elijah 
White  Lodge  No.  590,  L  0.  0.  F. 

Russell,  Edwin  F.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm  Depot,  November  19,  1857,  a 
son  of  Henry  E.  Russell  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  was  born  March  24,  1819.  He  mar- 
ried in  Franklin  county,  Elizabeth  Howard  of  Vermont,  born  July  18,  1820.  Mr.  Russell 
and  wife  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  In  1853  Mr.  Russell  came  to  Stockholm 
and  engaged  as  a  trackman,  assisting  in  laying  the  connecting  rail  on  the  Ogdensburg 
and  Lake  Champlain  road,  and  was  on  the  first  train  from  Malone  to  Ogdensburg.  Mr. 
Russell  afterwards  became  track  foreman  and  held  that  position  for  twenty-five  years, 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  Brasher  Falls  Lodge  No.  541, 
F.  &L  A.  M.  He  died  October  16,  1881,  and  his  wife  resides  in  Winthrop.  Edwin  F. 
Russell  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Stockholm.  He  worked  on  the  railroad  with  his 
father  when  a  young  man,  and  has  followed  railroading  in  the  west,  doing  office  work 
the  most  of  the  time.  Mr.  Russell  afterwards  engaged  in  milling  and  after  three  years 
engaged  as  clerk  in  Minneapolis;  also  as  traveling  salesman.  He  returned  to  Stock- 
holm and  engaged  as  clerk  for  his  brother,  George  H.  Russell,  about  eight  years.  In 
February,  1892,  Mr.  Russell  resigned  his  position  as  clerk,  and  in  March  of  the  same 
year  engaged  in  general  merchandise  business  in  Winthrop,  and  has  since  been  very 
successful.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  Brasher  Falls  Lodge  No. 
541,  F.  &  A.  M.     He  married,  April  18,   1891,  Eflie  A.  Douglass,  a  native  of  Chateau- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  119 

gay,  and  a  daughter  of  William  A.  Douglass,    one    of    the    most  prominent  men  of 
that  place. 

Rice,  Harvey,  Stockholm,  Avas  born  June  13,  1843,  in  Stockholm,  on  the  farm  he 
now  owns.  His  father,  Cornelius,  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Rice,  who  was  a  native  of 
Essex  county.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  three  brothers  emigrating  from  Scot- 
land to  America  in  an  early  day.  Daniel  w^as  a  farmer  and  blacksmith,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  in  Stockholm  now  owned  by  subject.  His  wife  was  Phoebe  Barrett, 
by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  death  occurred  at  Cape  Vin- 
cent, Jefferson  county.  Cornelius  Rice  was  born  in  Essex,  Lewis  county,  in  1798. 
and  he,  like  his  father,  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith..  Mr.  Rice  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Chuly  Cook,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  second  to 
Addie  Locke,  a  native  of  Lawrence,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
He  was  a  member  of  Brasher  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  died  February  25,  1888.  Harvey 
Rice  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman,  keep- 
ing about  fourteen  cows.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  No.  620  of 
Winthrop  and  P.  of  L  of  Winthrop.  He  married  in  Stockholm,  Angeline  Parks,  a  na- 
tive of  Stockholm,  born  November  3,  1842.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Aaron,  born  Septem- 
ber 26,  1817,  and  Abigail  (Lyon)  Parks,  born  January  21,  1816,  natives  of  Vermont. 
Mr.  Parks  and  family  came  to  Stockholm,  where  his  wife  died  August  6,  1863,  and  he 
went  to  Iowa,  where  his  death  occurred  May  10,  1866.  Mr.  Rice  and  wife  have  three 
children:  J.  L.,  Freddie  R.  and  Nina  B.  The  family  attend  and  support  the  Congre- 
gational church  of  Winthrop. 

Rodee,  John  Victor,  Norwood,  was  born  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  June  29,  1859,  a  son 
of  Henry,  a  native  of  Clinton  county,  born  in  Peru,  September  25,  1829.  He  learned 
the  miller's  trade  when  a  young  man,  and  conducted  mills  in  Canton,  Morley  and 
Plattsburg.  He  is  now  conducting  a  mill  in  Ogdensburg.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Elvira  McArthur,  was  a  native  of  Vergennes.  John  V.  was  the  second  child,  the  other 
being  a  sister,  Jennie  M.  The  subject  was  seven  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Ogdensburg.  He  was  educated  in  Ogdensburg  High  School,  and  on  leaving  school  his 
first  position  was  as  a  bookkeeper  with  his  uncle,  Hiram  Rodee,  at  his  mill  in  Norwood, 
where  he  was  employed  until  September,  1880,  when  he  became  proprietor  of  the  mill 
and  storehouse.  In  1886  Mr.  Rodee  retired  from  the  mill  and  started  a  feed  store  on 
Mechanic  street,  Norwood.  In  1889  he  bought  the  old  storehouse  on  the  north  side  of 
the  railroad,  which  he  improved  by  the  building  of  additions,  and  has  since  used  it  as  a 
market  for  the  sale  of  flour,  feed,  coal  and  w'ood,  groceries  and  provisions,  employing 
three  clerks,  with  two  delivery  carts,  and  does  a  business  of  $40,000  a  year.  Mr.  Rodee 
is  a  member  of  Norwood  Lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F.  He  married  in  1884,  Lillie  M.  Inman  of 
Norwood,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ruth  Inman  Rodee,  in  her  sixth  year. 

Richards,  George  Washington,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Georgia,  Vt.,  April  28,  1836. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  William,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to  this  country 
when  a  young  man  and  settled  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  conducting  a  woolen  mill  at 
Georgia,  a  business  he  always  followed  until  his  death  in  1873.  The  maiden  name  of 
the  mother  of  our  subject  was   Stafford,  and  she  was  a  widow  when  she  married 


120  HISTOKY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Richards.  They  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living.  George  W.  was 
the  third  son.  He  was  only  ten  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  into  this  county. 
They  first  settled  at  Brasher  Falls,  where  George  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Potsdam,  engaging  in  the  general 
store  of  W.  A.  Sanford,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years.  In  1855  he  established 
a  store  in  Brasher  Falls,  which  he  conducted  until  1858,  and  for  four  years  was  out  of 
business.  In  18G2  he  went  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  acted  as  agent  for  I.  W.  Skinner 
&  Co.  of  Brasher  until  1 867.  In  1868  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  A.  Sanford  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Potsdam,  which  lasted  until  1873.  That  year  he  came  to 
Norwood  and  was  employed  in  Loveless,  Cool  &  Co.'s  lumber  office  one  year.  In  1875 
he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  store  of  G.  W.  Adams  &  Co.,  and  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Adams  in  1882,  assumed  the  sole  proprietorship  and  has  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Richards  handles  hardware  exclusively  and  carries  a  complete  line  of  shelf 
and  heavy  hardware,  iron  and  steel,  paints,  oils,  etc.  He  has  been  trustee  and  presi- 
dent of  the  village  a  num'^er  of  years,  is  a  director  of  the  State  Bank  of  Norwood,  and 
president  of  the  Norwood  Savings,  Loan  and  Building  Association.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  church,  and  also  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  married  in  1868, 
Amaretta  Estelle  Freeman  of  Ogdensburg,  and  they  had  three  child; en,  two  now  liv- 
ing: George  Carl,  of  the  railroad  office  of  Norwood;  and  Blanche  C,  who  lives  at 
home.     Mrs.  Richards  died  April  20,  1885. 

Ralph,  L.  D.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Whitestown,  Oneida  county,  March  18,  1833, 
and  was  of  Welsh  extraction.  His  great-grandfather,  Captain  Ralph,  followed  the  sea 
for  many  years.  Mr.  Ralph's  family  removed  to  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  during 
his  infancy,  there  he  received  a  commom  school  education  and  in  1851  came  to  Og- 
densburg, and  entered  the  establishment  of  W.  H.  Young  &  Co.,  with  whom  he 
remained  nine  years,  then  for  nine  years  he  was  with  Skinner  in  his  mercantile  estab- 
ment.  In  1869  he  established  himself  in  the  clothing  and  gent's  furnishing  business 
here,  in  which  he  has  since  that  period  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Raljih  married  in  1856, 
Catherine  O'Connor,  and  they  have  five  children  :  George  B.,  Mrs.  Thomas  Ouellette, 
Mrs.  John  J.  Austin,  Mrs.  John  T.  Sadler,  and  Miss  Lucy  Ralph.  Mr.  Ralph  has  served 
as  member  of  the  Ogdensburg  Common  Council  for  seven  years,  for  two  of  which  he 
was  mayor  pro  tern.  In  1883  he  was  defeated  by  W.  J.  Averill  for  the  mayoralty  by 
thirty-six  votes. 

Richards,  Alfred,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  May  18,  1854.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  here  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  learning  the  ship  carpenter's 
trade.  This  trade  he  has  since  worked  at,  gradually  accumulating  property  and 
building  pleasure  boats  for  himself,  until  now  he  owns  one  of  the  best  equipped 
boat  livery  establishments  in  this  city.  He  married  in  1884,  Miss  Amelia  St.  Ger- 
main, and  they  have  four  children.  Alfred  Richards  is  a  good  workman,  and  is 
much  liked  by  all  with  whom  he  has  business  relations. 

Reuter,  J.  E.,  Ogdensburg.  was  born  in  Germany  in  1824.  He  came  to  this  country 
first  in  1847,  and  after  a  residence  of  two  years  here,  returned  to  the  old  country.  In 
1875  he  settled  permanently   in  Ogdensburg  and  entered  into  the  wholesale  and  retail 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  121 

liquor  business,  handling  also  a  large  line  of  cigars,  which  business  he  has  since  success- 
fully conducted.  Mr.  Renter  married  in  1850  in  Gernaany,  and  has  three  children.  He 
has  visited  Gernoany  a  number  of  times  since  his  residence  in  Ogdensburg,  and  has  a 
large  circle  of  friends  in  both  that  country  and  his  adopted  home. 

Riggs,  Ashley  S.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  March  8,  1831,  a  son  of  Aaron, 
son  of  John  G.,  who  came  to  Stockholm  in  1820  and  settled  near  Buckton.  He  had 
eight  children.  Aaron  was  born  in  Cornish,  N.  H.,  March  1,  1807  and  came  to  Stock- 
holm two  years  after  with  his  parents.  His  wife  was  Arvilla  Schellenger,  a  native  of 
Tunbridge,  Yt.,  born  August  12,  1806,  and  they  had  eight  children.  Mr.  Riggs  was 
a  strong  abolitionist.  He  died  December  6,  1881,  and  his  wife  July  15,  of  the  same 
year.  Ashley  Riggs  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  has  followed  that  occupation  for 
many  years.  He  has  also  worked  at  saw  milling  and  at  the  cooper's  and  carpen- 
ter's trades.  He  married  in  Stockholm,  November  1.  1853,  Isabel  Bolton,  a  native  of 
England,  born  October  19,  1827,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Harrison)  Bolton, 
natives  of  England  who  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Waddington  in  an  early 
day,  and  afterwards  went  to  Stockholm  where  he  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riggs  have  had 
four  children :  Chauncy  L.,  Jane  E.,  Francis  A.  (deceased),  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Riggs  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist^church, 
as  is  also  his  wife.  He  has  been  clerk  of  that  church  for  some  years,  and  is  also  secre- 
tary of  the  Union  Cemetery  Association.  Hiram  M.  a  brother  of  subject,  served  as 
private  in  Co.  D,  13th  Reg.  N.  T.  Vol.  Cavalry,  and  was  taken  prisoner  while  on  picket 
duty  November  6,  1863,  Mosby's  guerrillas,  taken  to  Richmond  prison,  where  he  died 
February  13,  1864. 

Rule,  George,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Scotland,  October  21,  1825.  His  father, 
John,  a  native  of  Hall  Rule,  Rulewater,  Scotland,  was  there  reared  and  educated.  He 
married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Mathew  Stewart,  who  descended  from  the  royal  family  of 
Stewarts  of  Scotland.  John  Rule  and  wife  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1830 
Mr.  Rule  came  to  '^Yaddington  and  engaged  in  farming,  which  was  his  life  occupation. 
In  early  life  Mr.  Rule  was  a  Democrat,  but  joined  the  Republican  party  after  its  organ- 
ization. He  was  assessor  for  a  number  of  years.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  Mrs.  Rule's  father  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Scotland.  Mr.  Rule  died  January  16,  1872,  and  his  wife  July  16,  1841.  George 
Rule  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddinston. 
Farming  has  been  his  life  occupation.  In  1868  he  purchased  the  farm  he  now  owns  of 
112  acres,  of  John  Brodie,  his  father-in-law.  In  1852  Mr.  Rule  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  John  Brodie  of  Scotland,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Waddington.  Mr. 
Rule  and  wife  had  three  daughters :  Agnes,  widow  of  Silas  Parlon,  resides  in  Denver, 
Col.,  at  present  is  employed  as  a  professional  nurse.  Her  son,  George  has  been  reared 
by  the  subject  of  sketch.  Mary  and  Janette  are  at  home,  and  the  latter  is  engaged  as 
a  teacher  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  Mr.  Rule  is  a  Republican  and  has  never 
missed  an  election  since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  and  family  have  always 
been  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington. 
I' 


122  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Rodger  Rutherford,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Scotland,  July  18,  1821,  and  came  to 
America  in  1831.  In  1853  he  married  Ellen  Taylor,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Amos, 
John.  David,  Helen  E.  and  Nancy.  Mr.  Rodger  has  been  a  most  successful  man  and 
has  accumulated  considerable  wealth.  He  has  always  been  active  in  public  affairs.  He 
has  been  highway  commissioner  and  excise  commissioner,  and  trustee  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  many  years. 

Russell,  George  H.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  September  19, 
1854,  a  son  of  Henry  E.  Russell.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  he  worked  on  a  farm,  and 
at  twelve  years  of  age  commenced  working  with  his  father  on  the  railroad,  remaining 
with  him  for  five  years.  He  then  engaged  with  E.  S.  Crapser  as  clerk  at  Stockholm, 
and  remained  with  him  about  five  years,  when  he  and  a  brother  of  Mr.  Crapser  ( C.  A. 
Crapser),  bought  out  the  stock  of  E.  S.  Crapser,  and  leased  the  store  one  year.  The 
firm  was  known  as  Crapser  &  Russell,  and  the  next  year  they  built  a  store,  part  of 
which  is  now  carried  on  by  George  H.,  and  carried  on  a  successful  business  for  about 
two  years,  when  Mr.  Russell  sold  his  half  interest.  He  then  made  a  trip  to  Minneapo- 
lis, Minn.,  and  spent  nearly  two  years  carrying  on  a  commission  business  in  meat,  game, 
fish,  oysters,  etc.  After  two  years  successful  business  he  returned  to  Stockholm  and 
repurchased  his  half  interest  in  the  concern  of  Crapser  &  Russell,  and  continued  about 
four  years,  when  Mr.  Russell  purchased  Mr.  Crapser's  half  interest  and  has  since  carried 
on  a  very  successful  business.  He  carries  an  average  stock  of  $20,000.  The  wife  of 
Mr.  Russell  is  Emma  L.,  sister  of  E.  S.  and  C.  A.  Crapser,  and  they  have  four  children : 
Bernice  H.,  Gladys  E.,  Corrinne  E.  and  Avis  M.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars  of  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  419,  and  he  and  wife  and 
Bernice  H.  are  members  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of  Stockholm. 

Rodger,  H.  W.,  Hammond,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Hammond,  was  born  in 
this  town,  April  10,  1849.  He  is  second  son  of  Robert  and  Ann  (Waddell)  Rodger.  He 
has  three  brothers  and  two  sisters :  William  R.,  a  farmer  of  Chippewa  Bay,  St.  Law- 
rence county;  James  G.,  a  clergyman  of  Ogdensburg;  David  R.,  a  physician  of  Wood- 
bury, Conn.;  Elizabeth  F.,  wife  of  David  Moor  of  North  Hammond ;  and  Agnes  H., 
wife  of  A.  H.  Bickford  of  Ogdensburg.  H.  W.  spent  one  year  in  Middletown  College. 
He  is  now  a  successful  business  man,  carrying  on  large  farming  operations  and  dealing 
extensively  in  hay.  J.  G.,  after  graduating  from  Yale,  studied  theology  one  year  in 
Harvard,  Cambridge,  the  second  hi  Leipsic,  Germany,  and  graduated  from  Union  Sem- 
inary. D.  R.  is  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College  and  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons of  New  York  city.  The  others  had  the  advantage  of  a  good  academic  education. 
Robert  Rodger  (deceased  October  20,  1892,)  was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  eight  boys  and 
four  girls.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  from  St.  Boswells,  Scotland,  in  1831, 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  and  the  rest  of  the  family  finally  settled  in 
Hammond  and  Gouverneur.  Ann  Waddell  Rodger  was  the  tenth  child  of  a  family  of 
four  sons  and  eight  daughters,  who  came  to  America  in  1821  from  Jedborough,  Scot- 
land, and  settled  in  Waddington,  St.  Lawrence  county.  Mrs.  Rodger  was  three  years 
of  age  when  the  family  arrived,  and  is  still  living.  Both  the  Rodger  and  Waddell 
family  trees  are  large.     The  branches  of  the  fifth  generation   are  beginning  to  appear 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  123 

in  various  parts  of  St.  Lawrence  county  and  in  Illinois.  In  1885  H.  W.  Rodger  mar- 
ried Lottie  G-regor.  They  have  one  daughter,  Vera  May.  In  1885  J.  G.  married  Mary 
A.  Waddell.  They  have  three  children  :  Sarah  Churchill,  Theodora  Ann  and  Hewitt 
Douglas.  In  1886  D.  R.  married  Clara  May  Aldrich.  They  have  two  boys :  John  Al- 
drich  and  Robert  Wray.     William  R.  married  Margaret  Rodger  in  1873. 

Raymond,  George  B.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  October  23,  1824.  His  father, 
Sewall  Raymond,  was  born  in  Tyringham,  Mass.,  August  30,  1786,  and  came  to  this 
town  April  5,  1805,  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  with  his  cousin  Benjamin  Raymond. 
Sewall  accepted  the  position  of  clerk  in  Benjamin  Raymond's  land  office,  and  while  in 
his  employ  learned  surveying.  He  made  the  original  survey  of  the  "  Russell  turnpike," 
and  also  the  first  "  mile  square  "  survey  of  the  towns  of  Hammond  and  Louisville.  As 
surveyor  he  took  an  active  part  in  laying  out  the  village  of  Potsdam,  and  in  the  survey 
of  most  of  the  main  roads  which  to-day  lead  out  to  the  surrounding  towns.  On  the 
completion  of  these  roads,  it  was  noticed  by  all  that  they  centered  as  the  spokes  of  a 
wheel  to  the  common  hub — Potsdam,  and  many  were  the  queries  made  of  Benjamin 
Raymond  regarding  this  (to  most  people)  peculiar  system.  His  reply  was  that  a  half 
a  century  hence,  when  a  man  ''faced  his  horse"  on  any  of  these  roads,  he  was  sure  to 
find  Potsdam  his  objective  point.  Sewall  was  one  of  the  first  to  see  the  advantage  of 
a  corporation  of  the  village,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees. 
He  was  also  a  highway  commissioner  of  the  town.  Early  joining  the  Congregational 
(now  Presbyterian)  church  he  was  always  an  earnest  worker  in  its  interests,  and  was 
trustee  and  clerk  for  many  years.  He  conducted  a  general  store  at  the  corner  of  Mar- 
ket and  Elm  streets,  erecting  the  first  stone  building  of  this  town  in  1822.  The 
residence  on  Elm  street  was  built  in  1814.  Sewall  married,  July  1,  J814,  Sally, 
daughter  of  Judge  Roswell  Hopkins,  of  Hopkinton,  a  native  of  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Hopkinton,  and  they  had  seven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
living:  George  B.  and  James  Sewall  Raymond.  M.  D.,  a  druggist  of  Ogdensburg. 
Sewall  Raymond  died  July  30,  1866,  his  wife  having  died  previously,  on  December  27, 
1841.  George  B.  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and 
after  leaving  the  latter,  he  for  a  time  was  in  business  with  his  father,  and  later  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  gypsum  (land  plaster)  in  a  mill  located  where  the  electric  plant 
now  is.  He  continued  in  its  manufacture  until  1877.  when  he  retired  from  active 
business.  For  seven  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  water  commissioners. 
He  married,  September  28,  1848,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  and  Millie  (Hubbard) 
Goulding,  natives  of  Holden,  Mass.,  who  came  to  Potsdam  in  1819.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Raymond  have  had  two  children  :  Charles  B.,  who  died  at  seven  years  of  age,  in 
1856,  and  William  Sewall,  who  lives  at  home  with  his  parents^. 

Rutherford,  Robert,  Madrid,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Waddington,  January  27,  1836, 
a  son  of  John,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  Roxburyshire  in  September,  1797.  The 
boyhood  of  the  latter  was  spent  in  his  native  land  with  the  flocks  as  a  shepherd.  In 
1818  he  came  to  this  country,  and  for  two  years  after  landing  was  employed  on  the 
canal  at  Fort  Edward,  and  during  the  Avinler  seasons  chopped  timber  and  cleared  the 
land,  which  they  afterwards  made  their  farms.     John  Rutherford  took  up  a  tract  of 


124  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

land  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  to  which  he  added  until  he  became  owner  of  about 
200  acres.  He  was  among  the  first  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  and 
the  whole  of  his  life  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters.  He  married  soon  after  settling 
in  this  country,  Mary  Elliot,  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  Jane  E.  Sutherford,  of  Waddington ;  John,  of  the  old  homestead; 
Walter,  of  Waddington  ;  Nancy  Walker,  of  Canton  ;  Janette  Elliot,  of  Waddington ; 
Robert,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  John  Rutherford  died  May  30,  1893,  and  his 
wife  in  1843.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Waddington.  He 
was  educated  at  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam,  and  taught  school  for  six 
winters,  working  in  summer  on  his  father's  farm.  After  his  marriage  he  rented  a  farm 
for  years,  and  in  1869  bought  144  acres  of  William  Vietch  in  Madrid,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  The  beautiful  residence  and  good  buildings  were  erected  by 
him.  He  has  also  cleared  eighteen  acres  on  the  farm  which  he  conducts  as  a  dairy, 
with  thirty-five  head  of  full  blood  Jersey  cattle.  Mr.  Rutherford  has  never  taken  an 
active  interest  in  politics.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church 
for  twenty-five  years.  He  married,  March  12,  1867,  Christianna,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Rutherford,  a  brother  of  our  subject's  father. 

Rutherford,  W.  L.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington  April  6,  1828.  His  father 
was  Thomas  Rutherford,  born  in  Roxburyshire,  Scotland,  May  12,  1794.  He  studied 
for  the  Pre.sbyterian  ministr}',  but  abandoned  his  profession  after  coming  to  theL'nited 
States.  In  1818  Thomas  Rutherford,  his  brother  John,  a  cousin,  Thomas  Fife,  and 
Adam  Oliver  came  to  Washington  county  and  finally  to  Madrid,  now  Waddington,  and 
purchased  farms  adjoining  in  the  then  wilderness.  Later  his  father,  John  Rutherford, 
with  his  oldest  son,  Wilham,  came,  as  did  two  brothers-in-law  of  Thomas  Rutherford, 
and  all  settled  on  adjoining  farms.  The  grandfather  of  W.  L  Rutherford  lived  with  his 
daughter,  Janet,  in  the  same  house  with  his  son,  William.  Thomas  Rutherford  married 
in  Washington  eountj',  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Fenton  of  that  county,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  they  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  now  living :  James 
died  in  California,  and  Janet  in  Waddington,  both  unmarried.  Agnes,  wife  of  Walter 
Rutherford  died  in  Waddington.  Capt.  John  T.  is  a  resident  of  Canton,  N.  Y.  W.  L., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  George  F.,  and  Jane,  wife  of  James  S.  Fife,  live  in  Wadding- 
ton. Christiana,  wife  of  Robert  Rutherford,  lives  in  Madrid.  They  are  all  well-to-do 
farmers.  By  occupation  Thomas  Rutherford  was  a  farmer,  but  from  1841  to  1856  he 
was  a  general  merchant  in  Waddington.  After  retiiing  from  business  he  spent  a  few 
years  on  his  farm  and  then  resided  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Walter  Rutherford,  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  October,  1878.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  afterwards  a 
Republican.  He  was  an  assessor  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  an  elder  and  active 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  and  his  brother  John  assisted  in  organizing 
the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  which  to-day  is  one  of  the  strong  churches  of  St.  Law- 
rence county.  W.  L.  Rutherford  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  clerked  for  his  father, 
succeeding  him  in  business  in  1856.  This  he  carried  on  successfully  till  1869,  since 
which  time  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Walter  Rutherford,  have  been  engaged  in  breed- 
ing Jersey  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep.  They  were  the  pioneer  breeders  of  Northern 
New  York  and  have  one  of  the  finest  herds  in  the  country,  and  also  the  finest  flock  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  125 

Shropshire  sheep.  Mr.  Rutherford'.s  farm  of  eighty  acres,  inside  the  corporation  of 
Waddington,  is  capable  of  maintaining  thirty-five  head  of  cattle  and  as  many  sheep. 
In  politics  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  which  he  has  been  a  Sabbath  school  teacher  for  forty  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society  and  has  lectured  on  the  subject  of  breeding  and  management 
of  cattle  at  the  Farmers'  Institute  and  before  the  State  Dairyman's  Association,  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  and  was  president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Dairymen's  Associa- 
tion, which  he  assisted  in  organizing.  He  has  always  been  actively  interested  in 
the  temperance  cause,  and  is  a  member  of  varions  organizations  for  the  promotion  of 
temperance.  Mr.  Rutherford  married  in  Waddington,  October  14.  1850,  Miss  Ellen 
Pratt,  daughter  of  Amasa  Pratt,  mentioned  elsewliere  in  this  work. 

Rutherford,  Jerome,  Waddington,  born  in  Waddington,  April  28,  1836,  is  a  son  of 
George  Rutherford.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
Early  in  life  he  engaged  in  farming.  By  industry  our  subject  is  to-day  classed  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  his  town,  and  at  present  owns  207  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a 
dairy  of  twenty-two  cows.  October  26,  1864,  Mr.  Rutherford  married  Margaret  G. 
McRostie,  who  is  one  of  the  most  industrious  women  of  the  town.  She  was  born  in 
Waddington,  October  26,  1842,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  McRostie,  who  was  born  at 
Perth,  Scotland,  August  18,  1814.  When  four  years  of  age  he  came  to  Waddington 
with  his  parents,  James  and  Margaret  McRostie.  Here  his  parents  lived  and  died. 
Daniel  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington  and  married  Jennett  Henry,  who  was 
born  in  Scotland,  November  23,  1823,  and  came  to  Waddington  with  her  parents  when 
seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  McRostie  and  wife  had  one  daughter,  the  wife  of  our  subject. 
He  died  April  20,  1842,  and  Mrs.  McRostie  married  Lemuel  B.  Randall,  born  December 
6,  1813,  and  they  had  ten  children.  Jerome  Rutherford  and  wife  have  had  five  children  : 
Effie  A.,  who  died  December  18,  1871 ;  Jennie  I.,  Daniel  H.,  Lucius  F.  and  Clarence  R. 
In  politics  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Waddington. 

Rutherford,  William  Madrid,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  December  29,  1836, 
the  third  son  of  William  and  Violet  (Amos)  Rutherford.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  lived  with  his  pa- 
rents until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  then  married  and  moved  on  a  farm 
his  father  had  purchased  in  Madrid,  consisting  of  145  acres.  In  1871  he  sold  this  farm 
and  bought  the  Captain  Clark  farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
conducting  this  as  a  dairy  farm  with  twenty-eight  head  of  cattle,  twelve  sheep  and  four 
horses.  He  married,  April  12,  1865,  Sabrina  Bennett,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sabrina 
(Baxter)  Bennett,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Violet,  a  student  from  Potsdam  State 
Normal  School,  now  a  teacher  in  the  Institute,  North  Dakota;  Jennie  S.,  who  lives  at 
home ;  William  Wallace,  who  assists  his  father  on  the  farm ;  Anna  May  and  Thomas 
Leslie. 

Rutherford,  Nelson,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  June  6,  1827.  Hisfather, 
George,  was  born  in  Scotland,  December  30,  1798,  and  was  two  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Waddmgton  with  his  parents,  George  and  Isabella  Rutherford,  who  were  among 


126  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

the  first  settlers  of  the  town.     They  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  family  of 

William  Rutherford,  and  here  spent  the  remainder   of   their  days.     Their  son,   George, 

was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  He  married 

Margaret  Finley,  who  came  from  Scotland  with  her  parents  to  Canada,  where  her  father 

soon  died.     George  Rutherford  and  wife  had  seven  sons  and  two   daughters.     He  was 

an  extensive  land  owner,  having  .500  acres  in  Louisville  and  Waddington.     He  was  a 

Whig  in  early  life  and  afterwards  a  Republican.     He  died  June  10,  1872,  and  his  wife, 

November  19,  1869,  aged  sixty-five  years.     Nelson  Rutherford   married  Agnes  Fisher 

of  Madrid,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children  :  Frederick  F.,  born  April  18,  1857, 

a  farmer  of  Waddington,  who  married  Sarepta  Brown,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter 

and  one  son;  Lewis  F.,  born  March  10,  1860,  a  farmer  of  Waddington,  who  married 

Charlotte  Young;  George,  born  February  19,  1866,  and  Alexander,  born  September  7, 

1869,  who  live  at  home.     Mr.  Rutherford  is  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of   the  town, 

and  has  360  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty- five  cows,  one  of  the  largest  in 

town.     He  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Scotch 

Presbyterian  church. 

Rutherford,  Thomas  F.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Waddington,  May  16,  1857.  His 
father,  George  F.,  was  born  in  the  same  town  October  10,  1829.  He  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Rutherford,  second  son  of  John  Rutherford.  Thomas  Rutherford  was  born 
in  Scotland  in  1793,  and  came  to  Waddington  in  1819.  He  had  resided  a  short 
time  in  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  married  Jane  Fenton  also  a  native  of 
Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  George  F.  Rutherford  was 
reared  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Farm- 
ing has  always  been  his  occupation.  He  has  added  170  acres  to  his  father's  farm 
of  189  acres,  and  he  and  his  son,  Adam  E.  now  own  359  acres.  Mr.  Rutherford  has 
been  twice  married,  first  Christy,  daughter  of  Adam  Elliott,  of  Waddington,  by  whom 
he  had  five  sons :  Thomas  F.,  Adam  E.,  Maurice  E.,  J.  William,  and  one  deceased.  He 
is  a  Prohibitionist  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 
Mrs.  Rutherford  died  in  1872,  and  Mr.  Rutherford  married  Jane,  daughter  of  David 
Porteous,  of  Waddington.  Thomas  F.  Rutherford  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated 
in  the  Union  Free  Schools  of  Madrid.  In  connection  with  farming  he  followed  teach- 
ing for  several  years.  In  1882  he  built  a  butter  factory  near  his  father's  farm,  and  has 
since  carried  on  a  very  successful  business,  making  an  average  of  55,000  pounds  yearly. 
Mr.  Rutherford  married,  December  2,  1885,  Minnie  H.,  daughter  of  John  M.  Ruther- 
ford, of  Waddington.  Mr.  Rutherford  and  wife  have  had  three  children  :  G.  Stanley, 
Stella  C,  and  Lloyd  M.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 

Ellsworth,  E.  S.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Macomb,  this  county,  a  son  of  Lucian,  a 
native  of  Essex  county,  Vt,  born  in  1805  who  came  to  Morristown  and  thence  to 
Macomb,  and  in  1852  to  Pierrepont.  He  died  in  Wisconsin  in  1878.  His  wife  was 
Charlotte  Tyler,  of  Morristown,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  seven  daughters.  She 
died  in  1891.  Mr.  E.  S.  Ellsworth  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  for  some 
time  followed  brick-making,  but  is  now  a  farmer,  owning  247  acres,  and  keeping  about 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  127 

twenty  cows  and  forty  sheep.  December  18,  1855,  he  married  Louisa  Severance,  a 
native  of  Pierrepont,  and  a  daughter  of  Zacheus  and  Bernice  (Bradway)  Severance, 
natives  of  Vermont,  who  settled  early  in  'his  town.  They  had  eleven  children.  Mr. 
Severance  died  in  1874  and  his  wife  in  1891.  Mr.  and  ^Frs.  Ellsworth  have  had  eight 
children:  George  W.,  Charles  H.,  Herbert  E.  (deceased),  Clara  A.,  Lucia,  Lucy  and 
Lucian  (deceased)  were  triplets,  Lucian  E.  Mr.  Ellsworth  is  a  Republican  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics.  He  and  family  attend  the  M.  E.  church 
of  Beech  Plains.  Edmund  and  Edwin,  brothers  of  our  subject,  were  in  the  16th  N. 
T.  Inf.,  under  General  Curtis,  and  were  killed  at  Gaines'  Mill,  while  acting  as  color 
bearers.     Mrs.  E.  S.  Ellsworth  had  five  brothers  in  the  war;  two  were  killed. 

Rutherford.  John,  Waddington,  son  of  John,  and  grandson  of  John  Rutherford, 
was  born  on  the  farm,  his  father  settled  in  Waddington,  June  1,  1828.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  Farming 
has  been  his  life  occupation  and  at  present  he  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Wad- 
dington, having  200  acres  of  land  in  that  town  and  sixty  acres  in  Potsdam.  His 
principal  business  is  dairying,  and  he  keeps  twenty-two  cows.  He  also  follows  general 
farming.  He  has  always  been  an  ardent  Republican,  but  has  never  aspired  to  public 
oflSce.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church.  His  sister  Jane,  who  is  at 
present  his  housekeeper,  is  also  a  member  of  that  church.  He  has  always  been  inter- 
ested in  temperance,  and  is  a  member  of  the  White  Ribbon  Society  of  Waddington. 

Rutherford,  Walter,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  May  5,  1830.  His  father. 
John  Rutherford,  was  a  son  of  John  and  Xancy  Z.  Rutherford,  who  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Waddington.  They  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mrs. 
Rutherford  died  soon  after  coming  from  Scotland  and  Mr.  Rutherford  died  about  1845. 
John  Rutherford  was  born  in  Scotland,  September  1,  1797,  and  came  to  Waddington  in 
1819.  He  married  May  Elliott,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
now  living.  Mr.  Rutherford  and  wife  were  among  the  first  members  of  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  church.  He  died  May  29,  1893,  and  his  wife  July  16,  1843.  Walter 
Rutherford  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam 
Academy.  He  taught  school  for  a  number  of  years  and  clerked  in  the  store  for  one 
year.  His  principal  occupation  is  farming.  He  owns  119  acres  and  with  his  brother-in- 
law  and  is  engaged  in  breeding  Jersey  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep.  He  married  in  1859, 
Agnes,  daughter  of  Thomas  Rutherford,  and  they  have  had  two  daughters,  Jane  and 
Edith.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church,  and  has  been  an  elder  for  over  twenty  years.  Mrs.  Rutherford  died  June  29, 
1893. 

Rutherford,  John  W.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Roxburyshire,  Scotland,  February  21, 1820, 
and  was  only  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  this  county.  William,  his 
father,  located  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Waddington.  He  was  a  son  of  John,  who 
came  to  this  town  and  owned  at  the  time  a  farm  of  fifty  acres.  William  bought  sixty 
acres  adjoining,  and  they  conducted  this  together,  and  at  the  death  of  John  at  eighty- 
five  years  of  age,  he  became  the  owner  of  the  whole  farm,  and  here  he  reared  a  family 
of  ten  children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.     He  died  February  28,  1873,  aged  89 


128  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

years.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Christie  Forsythe,  was  also  of  Scotch  origin.  She 
died  September  13,  1881,  aged  eighty-five  years.  Five  of  the  family  of  William  Ruth- 
erford are  still  living,  of  whom  John  W.  is  the  oldest.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Waddington,  and  being  the  oldest  son  he  began  early  in  the 
field.  At  twenty-five  years  of  age  he  started  out  for  himself  by  the  purchase  of  130 
acres  in  Madrid,  buymg  part  of  the  Ogden  tract  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home.  Mr.  Rutherford  has  by  hard  work  and  perseverance  increased  the  size  of  the 
farm,  until  now  it  contains  about  200  acres,  and  has  made  many  valuable  improve- 
ments to  the  property.  In  1892  he  bought  back  the  old  homestead  in  Wadding- 
son,  where  his  daughter  now  lives.  He  was  first  a  Whig  and  became  a  Republican 
on  the  formation  of  that  party,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  his  party's 
welfare.  Mr.  Rutherford  married  in  1844  Jannet  Brodie,  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  at 
that  time  of  Waddington,  and  they  had  six  children  :  William,  John,  Charles,  Thomas, 
Katie  and  James.  Four  survive.  Mrs.  Rutherford  died  in  1857  and  he  married,  sec- 
ond, in  1858.  Janet  Cranston,  a  native  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  five  children:  Mrs. 
William  Rutherford  of  Madrid  ;  Mrs.  Fred  Beasaw  of  Waddington  ;  Janie  Rutherford  ; 
Cranston  and  Christie,  who  live  at  home.     Mrs.  Rutherford  died  in  1878. 

Rutherford,  Richard  M.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  March  24,  1827,  a 
son  of  John  Rutherford  second,  who  was  a  native  of  England  (Northumberland),  born 
in  1786,  and  came  to  Waddington  in  .1818,  settling  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  subject. 
Here  he  lived  and  died.  His  wife  was  Dorothy,  daughter  of  William  Millburn,  of 
Northumberland,  England,  who  came  to  Waddington  in  1818,  where  he  died.  Mr. 
Rutherford  and  wife  had  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living:  Rich- 
ard M.,  John  M.,  and  Betsey,  wife  of  Thomas  Marshall  of  Waddington.  Mr. 
Rutherford  died  January  29,  1863,  and  his  wife  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 
Richard  M.  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  and  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Waddington.  He  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  always  followed  that  occupation. 
He  now  owns  230  acres  in  Waddington.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  was  assessor  for 
three  years.  He  attends  and  supports  the  Scotch  Prerbyterian  church.  John  M.,  only 
brother  of  our  subject  now  Hving,  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  31,  1824.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  town.  He  married  Isabelle  Hobkirk,  a  native  of 
Jedborough,  Scotland,  born  November  29,  1827,  and  a  daughter  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Furgeson)  Hobkirk  who  in  1830  came  to  this  country  and  settled  on  a  farm,  and  here 
lived  and  died.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living.  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford and  wife  have  had  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living:  Emma  E.,  Margaret  J., 
Mary,  William  K.,  and  Edward.  Mr.  Rutherford  owns  a  farm  of  120  acres  of  land  and 
his  principal  business  is  dairying.  He  is  a  Repulican  in  politics,  and  he  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 

Rutherford,  Major  John  T.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Madrid  (now  Waddington),  August 
23,  1823,  attended  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy  two  years,  and  graduated  at  the  Ogdens- 
burg  Academy.     He  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854  at  the  Supreme 
court.     He  contracted  for  and  built  the   St.  Lawrence  County  University  at  Canton 
In  April,  1861,  he  entered  the  service  as  a  private  in  the  9th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,   and  after 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  129 

one  year  as  private  and  sergeant  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  February  22, 
1862,  for  gallantry  at  Bull  Run.  For  brave  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Berryville,  Va.,  he 
was  promoted  first  lieutenant.  He  received  a  captain's  commission  June  1,  1864,  and 
at  ihe  close  of  the  war  he  received  his  brevet  as  major.  He  then  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  until  September  29,  1866,  when  he  was  appointed  collector  of  customs  at  the  port  of 
Waddington.  He  held  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Madrid  four  years,  and  was  also 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Waddington.  October  14,  1850,  he  married  Belinda  Eveline 
Castleman,  and  their  children  are:  Winfield  Scott,  Clarendon,  Martin  C,  Eugene  F.,W. 
H.  S.,  and  James  De  Forest,  who  died  May  19,  1870.  W.  H.  S.  died  May  11,  1887.  He 
graduated  at  the  St.  Lawrence  University,  and  read  law  with  the  late  Judge  Sawyer. 
Major  Rutherford  carries  the  marks  of  seven  bullet  and  sabre  wounds  received  in  the 
army,  and  has  a  medal  of  honor  voted  to  him  by  Congress  for  gallant  and  meritorious  / 
conduct  in  actions  at  Yellow  Tavern  and  Hanover  Town,  Va.,  May  11-27,  1864.  He 
has  also  a  medal  presented  to  the  veterans  of  the  New  York  troops  who  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  in  1863,  presented  to  him  in  1893  ;  also  a  badge  presented 
to  him  by  the  New  York  State  Monument  Association.  He  has  a  regimental  badge 
presented  by  the  regimental  organization  at  the  reunion  of  the  9th  N.  Y.  Cavalry  at  the 
national  encampment,  Gr.  A.  R.,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  September  20.  1892;  also  a 
badge  of  Co.  B,  9th  N.  Y.  Regiment. 

Rutherford,  Deacon  Thomas,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Northumberland,  England,  near 
the  Scottish  line,  May  18,  1821,  and  was  only  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  this  country.  James,  his  father,  bought  a  farm  of  110  acres  in  Potsdam,  now 
owned  by  a  brother  of  our  subject,  Adam.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Elizabeth  Hind- 
marsh,  was  also  a  native  of  England.  They  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Margaret,  wife  of  Robert  Thomson  of  Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  county;  John, 
a  farmer  on  the  homestead  ;  James,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam ;  Walter,  a  farmer  of 
Madrid;  Andrew,  a  farmer  of  Madrid;  Adam  of  the  old  homestead,  and  Thomas. 
James,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  July  23,  1867,  aged  eighty  years,  and  his  wife 
died  November  21,  1885,  aged  ninety  years.  James  Rutherford  was  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Madrid.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics. 
Our  subject  lived  on  the  homestead  until  twenty -two  years  of  age.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  took  up  farming.  In  1844  he  bought  a  farm  of 
sixty- eight  acres  in  Potsdam.  He  has  increased  the  acreage  of  this  place  to  350 
acres.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  church  work,  and  for  thirty  years  lias  been  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Potsdam.  He  married  in  1849,  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Isabella 
(Murdy)  Oliver  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  had  seven  children.  Three  died  in 
infancy,  the  others  are:  Isabella  J.,  who  lives  at  home;  James,  who  died  June  11, 
1877,  at  twenty  one  years  of  age;  John  Oliver  conducts  the  farm  of  our  subject; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  also  lives  at  home.  Mrs.  Rutherford  died  August  17,  1878,  aged 
fifty-nine  years,  dying  as  she  had  lived,  a  true  Christian  woman.  John  0.  Ruther- 
ford was  married  in  January,  1885,  to  Etta  Brosius,  and  they  have  four  children, 
three  boys  and  one  girl, 
q 


130  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Rutherford,  J.  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  July  9,  1837,  and  has  lived 
here  all  bis  life.  He  first  began  mercantile  business  in  1868,  in  the  firm  of  Howard  & 
Rutherford.  After  two  years  the  firm  changed  to  Smson  &  Rutherford,  and  four  years 
later  to  Wood  &  Rutherford.  Since  1882  ^Ir.  Rutherford  has  conducted  the  business 
alone.  In  1889  he  married  Miss  M.  R.  Brodie.  His  father  was  James  Rutherford,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to  America  in  1832. 

Rose,  Parker  W.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Stockholm.  March  29,  1812.  His  father 
was  Daniel  P..  a  native  of  Coventry,  Conn.,  born  in  1785.  He  went  to  Vermont  at  the 
age  of  nine  years,  and  was  reared  by  his  sister.  In  1808  he  married  Hannah  Webster, 
a  native  of  Newbury,  N.  H.,  born  in  1782.  and  they  had  five  children.  In  1809  they 
came  to  Stockholm  and  settled  on  a  farm,  and  seven  years  later  they  removed  to  Ver- 
mont, where  they  lived  two  years.  In  1819  they  came  to  Parishville  and  took  up  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our 'subject.  Daniel  P.  died  in  1858  and  his  wife  in  1874.  Parker 
W.  Rose  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  began  teaching  at  seventeen  years 
of  age,  which  in  connection  with  farming,  he  followed  several  years.  He  has  followed 
farming  chiefly  for  many  years,  and  for  twenty  years  manufactured  starch  on  his  farm. 
For  the  last  eighteen  years  Mr.  Rose  has  lived  in  the  village,  retired.  He  owns  175 
acres  of  land,  the  old  homestead,  and  other  real  estate.  He  has  been  three  times  mar- 
ried, first  to  Cynthia  Putnam,  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  born  February  4, 1814.  She  died 
February  20,  1852,  and  he  married,  second,  Julina  Beecher,  a  native  of  Essex  county, 
born  May  12,  1827.  She  died  August  25,  1877,  and  he  married,  April  16,  1878,  Cyn- 
thia A.  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  born  September  26,  1837,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
L.  and  Betsey  (Hobart)  Mitchell.  They  were  natives  of  Lyme,  N.  H.,  and  came  to 
Hopkinton  in  18;^,  and  finally  to  Parishville,  where  they  died,  Mr.  Mitchell,  October  2, 
1886,  and  his  wife,  November  24,  1889.  Mr,  Rose  was  a  Democrat  in  early  life,  and 
was  member  of  assembly  in  1852-53,  He  joined  the  Republican  party  on  its  organi- 
zation, and  for  the  past  three  years  has  been  a  Prohibitionist.  He  was  again  member 
of  assembly  in  1872-73.  He  was  supervisor  of  Parishville  eight  years  and  served  as 
assessor.  He  has  been  prominent  in  the  Baptist  church  for  sixty-seven  years,  and  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  fifty-two  years. 

Shiell,  George,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  March  24,  1834,  and  has  been  a 
farmer  all  his  life.  July  5,  1861,  he  married  Leticia  Anderson,  and  they  have  three 
daughters :  Mrs.  R.  R.  Nilson,  Mrs.  N.  S.  Cuthbert  and  Mrs.  D.  L,  More.  Mrs.  Shieil 
died  November  5,  1887.  Robert,  the  father  of  our  subject,  married  Agnes  Ormiston  of 
Hammond.  Robert  was  a  Scotchman  and  came  to  this  country  in  1818,  being  one  of 
the  early  settlers  in  this  part.     He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade. 

Stoutenger,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  April  27,  1840.  He 
has  been  identified  with  different  business  operations  in  this  State  for  the  past  thirty 
years,  and  in  April  1892  purchased  the  interests  of  Mrs.  Loucks  in  the  steam  laundry 
of  Ogdensburg,  which  Mr.  Stoutenger  has  since  most  successfully  conducted,  giving 
employment  to  about  fifteen  hands.  His  work  reaches  many  miles  in  diflerent  direc- 
tions and  in  all  towns  of  importance  within  a  radius  of  seventy-five  miles  he  has 
established  agencies.     Mr.  Stoutenger  married  Catherine  Wells  in  November,   1865, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  131 

and  they  have  two  children.     Mr.  Stoutenger  is  also  at  present  financially  interested  in 
other  commerial  enterprises  in  this  city. 

Stockwin,  C.  H..  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  England,  October  13,  1842,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  April,  1862.  Prior  to  this  he  had  learned  the  silversmith's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  for  a  short  time.  He  was  only  nineteen  years  of  age  when  landing  in 
America  and  immediately  hired  out  to  a  blacksmith  in  Niles,  Ohio.  He  remained  with 
him  but  two  months,  as  just  at  this  period  the  war  broke  out  and  Mr.  Stockwin  was 
among  the  first  to  go  to  the  front.  He  served  one  year  in  the  105th  Ohio  Regiment 
and  on  account  of  physical  disability  received  his  discharge  at  Murfresboro,  Tennessee. 
Returning  home  he  recuperated  and  re-enlisted  in  the  oth  New  Hampshire  Vols.,  in 
which  regiment  he  served  two  years  and  participated  in  all  the  battles,  from  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  until  the  close  of  the  war,  coming  out  with  the  commission  of 
second  lieutenant.  His  regiment  was  in  the  1st  Brigade,  1st  Division  of  the  2d  Army  . 
Corps.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Stockwin  was  returning  to  Niles  via  Ogdens- 
burg. Upon  arriving  here  he  was  much  pleased  with  this  city, where  he  decided  to  settle. 
In  186.5  he  married  Louisa  Munro  who  died  in  1868,  leaving  two  children,  both  of 
whom  are  living.  Sometime  afterwards  he  married  Fidelia  Munro,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife,  and  they  have  three  children.  Mr.  Stockwin  has  held  the  position  of  superinten- 
dent of  S.  G.  Pope's  business  in  Ogdensburg  for  the  past  seven  years.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  a  Knight  of  Templar. 

The  Seely  family,  Ogdensburg,  dates  back  to  early  in  the  sixteenth  century  in  this 
country,  at  which  pe.iod  Robert  Seely  was  one  of  a  party  of  about  900,  who  in  1630 
with  Gov.  John  Winthrop,  came  over  from  England  and  established  the  corporation  of 
the  "  Governor  and  company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England."  Robert 
Seely,  whose  family  in  England  were  very  influential,  was  appointed  by  the  crown 
surveyor  to  Governor  Winthrop,  and  in  this  capacity  surveyed  and  laid  out  the  old  city 
of  Watertown,  and  afterwards  the  city  of  New  Haven,  Conj.  For  these  and  other 
valuable  services  of  like  nature  he  was  rewarded  by  the  English  crown  with  the  grant 
of  a  very  large  tract  of  land  upon  part  of  which  the  city  of  Stamford,  Conn.,  was  after- 
wards laid  out  and  founded,  becoming  the  ancestral  home  of  the  family,  members  of 
which  are  still  in  possession  of  the  old  homestead.  Over  five  generations  are  buried  in 
the  old  Stamford  cemetery  connected  with  the  ancient  Episcopal  church  of  St.  Johns, 
of  which  they  were  founders  and  prominent  churchmen.  The  town  records  from  their 
first  inception,  contain  numerous  mentions  of  the  financial  and  other  transactions  of  the 
family.  About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  a  branch  of  the  family  moved  to 
Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  a  descendant,  Steven  Bishop  Seely,  born  there  in  1766,  about 
twenty -three  years  later  left  home  and  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  New  York  State 
at  Waddington,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he  married  Eveline  Redington,  sister  of 
the  Hon.  George  Redington.  His  son,  Joab  Seely,  moved  to  Ogdensburg  in  1820,  where 
the  family  have  since  continuously  resided.  John  F.  Seely,  eldest  son  of  Joab  Seely, 
by  his  energy  and  sterling  honesty,  successfully  organized  and  built  up  the  large 
jewelry  house  now  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Seely  &  Son,  and  which  for 
fifty  years  has  been  one  of  the  interesting  sights  of  the  city.  For  the  past  twenty  years 
his  eldest  son,  John  A.  Seely,  has  managed   and  conducted  the  business  of  this  house. 


132  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

In  1890  he  organized  and  incorporated  the  J.  A.  Seely  Manufacturing  Co.,  becoming 
its  president  and  manager.  Through  his  fertihty  of  mind  and  inventive  genius,  the 
product  of  this  factory  sprang  at  once  into  favor  and  is  now  being  shipped  to  all  parts 
of  this  country  and  Canada.  John  A.  Seely  married  in  1890,  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard B.  Chapman,  for  fifty  years  a  banker  in  Ogdensburg.  John  F.  Seely  has  one  other 
son,  Hermon  B.  Seely,  a  prominent  architect  of  Chicago,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Sears 
H.  Grant,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

Stone.  B.  R.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fowler.  December  15,  1855,  and  his  first  busi- 
ness was  in  mercantile  lines  in  Hermon  and  Potsdam.  Six  years  ago  he  began  rail- 
roading, and  was  recently  agent  at  De  Kalb.  In  April,  1893,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  agent  at  Gouverneur.  In  1876  he  married  Estelle  M.  Hamlin,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Frank  Wesley  Stone,  now  thirteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Stone's  father  was 
Israel  Stone,  and  his  mother,  Eunice  (Ames)  Stone. 

The  Hillview  Farm,  Potsdam,  George  W.  Sisson,  jr.,  proprietor.  Mr.  Sisson's  first 
purchase  was  made  in  1886,  fifty  acres  known  as  the  original  John  Chandler  farm.  He 
has  added  to  this  from  time  to  time  until  now  the  acreage  is  170,  the  growing  capacity 
of  which  has  been  largely  increased  by  raising  large  quantities  of  corn  and  the  use  of 
the  silo.  Upon  this  farm  there  are  now  kept  sixty  head  of  registered  Jerseys  of  purest 
blood  and  individual  excellence,  which  under  the  name  of  "The  Sisson  Herd,"  have 
acquired  a  wide  reputation  in  this  and  other  States.  Careful  milk  and  butter  records 
are  kept  of  individual  cows  and  also  of  the  entire  herd,  which  show  an  average  yield 
per  cow  of  nearly  400  pounds  of  butter  per  year — more  than  double  the  average  of 
cows  in  New  York  State.  The  dairy  is  equipped  with  separators  and  churns,  operated 
by  steam,  for  the  manufacture  of  fine  Jersey  butter.  George  W.  Sisson,  jr.,  third  son  of 
George  W.,  was  born  September  12,  1862,  educated  in  Potsdam  Normal  School,  gradu- 
ated in  188],  taught  school  two  years  and  then  took  up  agriculture.  He  married  in 
1887,  Mary  Howes  of  Gouverneur,  and  they  have  had  three  children  :  Emma  Howes, 
Marion  Grace  and  George. 

Seaver,  Robert  R.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Crown  Point,  August  5,  1825.  His  father 
was  Robert  R.,  son  of  Parley  and  Polly  (Cram)  Seaver,  and  was  born  in  Stoddard,  N. 
H.,  October  9,  1802.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Essex  county,  and  in  1831  they 
came  to  Stockholm.  The  death  of  Parley  Seaver  occurred  in  1842.  Robert  R.  married 
in  Essex  county,  Maria  Chellis,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1800.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Chellis,  an  early  settler  of  Essex  county,  who  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
died  in  Stockholm,  aged  104  years.  Robert  R.  Seaver  and  wife  had  eleven  children,  of 
whom  five  sous  and  three  daughters  survive.  Mr.  Seaver  died  in  1876  and  his  wife  in 
1882,  the  latter  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  coming  to  Stockholm  when  five  years  of  age.  He  has 
always  been  a  farmer,  owns  122  acres  of  land  and  keeps  twelve  cows.  For  several 
years  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  breedmg  Hambletonian  horses.  In  1849  Mr.  Seaver 
married  Candice  Kingsbury,  by  whom  he  has  six  children  :  Samantha  M.,  married  A. 
C.  Munson  of  Stockholm,  and  has  one  child,  Jessie  D.;  Emily  S.,  married  L.  S.  New- 
ton, and  they  have  three  sons,   RoUa,  Herbert  and  Raymond  R.;  Ada,  wife  of  L.  D. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  133 

Hohner  of  Stockholm,  has  two  children,  Ira  and  Oscar  R.;  Chaylon  T.,  married  in 
Michigan  and  has  one  child,  Reabelle ;  he  is  now  in  Alaska ;  Lyndon  R.,  married  Lillian 
Button,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Mildred  L.  and  Herold  I.;  he  is  a  member  of 
L  0.  0.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  620.;  Elma,  wife  of  Eddie  Gaddis  of  Grouverneur,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Raymond,  Ruth  and  Fred.  In  early  life  Mr.  Seaver  was  a 
Whig,  but  later  became  a  Republican.  He  has  always  declined  public  office.  He  is  a 
member  of  P.  of  I.  Eureka  Lodge  No.  162,  and  P.  of  H.  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  538. 

Sweet,  George  Hazelton,  Potsdam,  son  of  Beriah,  was  born  in  Nicholville,  November 
17,  1837.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Hannah  T.  Stevens,  and  he  is  descended  on 
both  sides  from  Vermont  people.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Nicholville.  He 
spent  1857-58  at  Franklin  Academy  at  Malone,  preparmg  for  college.  He  entered 
Middlebury  College,  Vermont,  and  spent  four  years,  graduating  with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.,  June  1862.  Three  years  later  lie  was  granted  the  degree  of  A.  M.  On  leav- 
ing school  Mr.  Sweet  came  to  Potsdam.  He  taught  Latin  and  Greek  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  Academy  part  of  the  time,  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Dart  &  Tappan. 
He  spent  one  year  at  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  in  1865,  but  did  not  follow 
the  profession.  In  1866  he  became  principal  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  which 
position  he  held  until  it  was  supplanted  by  the  State  Normal  School.  He  was  then 
employed  as  vice-principal  and  teacher  of  Latin  and  Greek,  and  remained  in  the  Normal 
in  that  position  until  the  fall  of  1872.  He  then  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Courier 
and  Freeman,  acting  as  editor  of  that  journal  until  1880.  He  had  been  admitted  to  the 
bar  upon  his  graduation  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1865.  In  1881  he  was  the 
private  secretary  of  Gen.  E.  A.  Merritt,  while  he  was  collector  of  the  port  of  New 
York.  Mr.  Sweet  married,  August  30,  1870.  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  H.  B.  Gilbert  of 
East  Troy,  Wisconsin,  Mrs.  Sweet  at  that  time  being  a  teacher  in  the  State  Normal 
School.     They  have  one  son,  George  Gilbert,  a  student  in  the  Normal  School. 

Senter,  Alphens  A.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  December  28,  1851,  a  son  of 
Orlando  P.,  also  a  native  of  the  county,  who  has  always  made  his  home  on  a  farm  in 
Potsdam.  He  has  three  children :  Orrin  J.,  a  farmer ;  Mrs.  A.  G.  Hoard  of  Canton; 
and  Alpheus  A.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the  old  academy  and  Potsdam  Normal 
School,  and  after  leaving  school  he  engaged  as  clerk  m  the  general  store  of  Seely  & 
Brown  in  Potsdam,  where  he  remained  until  October  20,  1876.  Then  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  in  partnership  with  A.  G.  Hoard,  who  was  a  member  of  the  firm 
but  a  year,  when  Mr.  Senter  formed  a  partnership  with  S.  A.  Felton,  conducting  the 
business  until  1882.  In  1883  he  engaged  in  the  millinery  business,  and  from  1884  to 
1887  he  was  interested  in  both  stores,  and  now  does  a  general  dry  goods  and  milhnery 
business.  Mr.  Senter  is  past  master  of  Racquette  River  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  thir- 
ty-second degree  member  of  the  fraternity.  He  married  September  5,  1877,  Louise  S. 
Henry  of  Fort  Covington,  who  died  October  14,  1891. 

Stone,  Nathan  L.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  March  28, 
1836.  The  grandfather,  Nathan,  was  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  had  five  children 
of  whom  Israel  G.,  father  of  Nathan  L.,  was  the  youngest  son.  He  was  born  in  Louis- 
ville in  March,  1807,  and  married  Amanda  Miller,  a  native  of  the  same  town.    The  boy- 


134  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

hood  of  Nathan  L.  was  spent  in  Louisville.  When  seventeen  he  entered  the  old  St. 
Lawrence  Academy,  where  he  finished  his  education.  He  taught  for  two  years  and  in 
1860  went  to  Ogdensburg  to  learn  the  photographer's  profession.  He  was  a  partner  of 
James  McDow  one  year.  In  1862  he  went  to  New  York  where  he  studied  with  Abram 
Bogardus.  He  had  galleries  at  various  times  at  Carthage,  Antwerp  and  Canton  and  in 
1870,located  in  Potsdam.  In  1872  he  opened  the  photograph  establishment  which  has 
developed  into  the  extensive  business  of  N.  L.  Sf.one  &  Son.  Mr.  Stone  married  in 
1860,  Betsey  S.  Clark  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  five  sos  and  three  daughters.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Republican  county  committee  in  the  campaign  of  1888.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church  and  has  held  dififerent  offices.  He  is  now  district  steward 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Conference  in  1888.  He  is  now  president  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  County  Bible  Society. 

Shields,  Isaiah  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  10,  1828,  and  came 
to  this  country  in  1854.  He  first  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fort  Covington,  Franklin  county, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  about  three  years  and  then  sold  and  bought  a  farm  in 
Bombay.  Mr.  Shields  sold  his  right  in  this  farm  after  a  year  to  his  brother  and  moved 
to  Chateaugay,  where  he  lived  for  nine  years,  and  after  spending  one  year  on  a  farm  in 
Norwood  bought  215  acres  in  Potsdam,  where  he  erected  a  beautiful  brick  residence. 
The  farm  is  used  for  dairying,  with  thirty-seven  head  of  cattle  and  eleven  horses. 
Mr.  Shields  was  a  Republican,  and  was  for  four  years  commissioner  of  highways. 
He  was  a  member  of  Potsdam  Grange  No.  39.  Mr.  Shields  married  in  1855, 
Electa,  daughter  of  John  and  Electa  (Colson)  Willis  of  Windsor,  Yt.,  and  have  had 
eight  children :  Sarah  Augusta,  wife  of  Frank  Burnham,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam  ; 
Ella  Jane,  wife  of  Fred  Roach  a  speculator  of  Canton ;  Emma,  wife  of  Edwin  Mc- 
Donald, principal  of  Norwood  Academy ;  Estella,  wife  of  George  Lane,  of  Potsdam, 
a  farmer;  Willis  J.,  of  the  firm  of  Prosser  &  Shields,  real  estate,  insurance  and 
loan  brokers,  of  Pasadena,  Cal.  ;  C.  Wilbur,  who  assists  on  the  homestead  farm  ; 
and  Jessie  a  student  of  Norwood  Academy.  The  fourth  daughter,  Minnie  L.,  died 
January  2,  1882,  aged  seventeen  years.     Mr.  Shields  died  March  31,   1893. 

Sanford,  Joseph  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  at  West  Stockholm,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
May  2,  1831.  The  father  of  our  subject,  also  Joseph  H.,  was  a  native  of  New 
Haven,  Vt.,  where  he  was  born  in  1799.  He  was  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  he  moved  to  this  county  and  settled  in  West  Stockholm,  where  he 
was  a  land  agent  for  Henry  Pierrepont  and  was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
iness.  In  politics  he  was  a  Loco  Foco  Democrat,  and  held  the  office  of  supervisor 
of  his  town  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  influential  man  in  his  town  and  an 
honest,  upright  business  man.  He  removed  to  Potsdam  in  1842  and  conducted  a 
general  store  here.  He  built  the  block  now  occupied  by  W.  H.  Walling,  and  was 
interested  in  the  woolen  mill  that  burned  in  1839,  also  one  of  the  leading  spirits 
in  the  bringing  of  the  Potsdam  &  Watertown  railroad,  of  which  at  one  time  h"? 
was  treasurer.  He  was  a  strong  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  married 
in  1825,  Elmira,  daughter  of  Joseph  Goulding,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  seven 
children,  our  subject  the  only    one    living.      J.  H.  Sanford,  sr.,  died    in    1865.     Our 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  135 

subject  was  only  eleven  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  town,  and  he  has  ever 
since  lived  here.  He  was  educated  in  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  his  first  busi- 
ness venture  was  in  the  livery  business,  which  he  followed  about  five  years  and 
then  engaged  in  the  dealing  in  live  stock,  which  he  has  been  interested  in  nearly 
all  his  life.  He  now  occupies  the  office  of  street  commissioner  of  Potsdam  village, 
and  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Racquette  Valley  and  St.  Regis  Valley  Society 
Fair.  He  married  in  1854,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  of  Potsdam, 
and  of  seven  children,  but  four  are  living  :  George  H.,  in  mercantile  business  in 
Portland,  Oregon;  Mary  E.,  of  Portland;  Sarah  E.,  and  Charlotte  A.,  who  live  at 
home. 

Sargeant,  Harvey  Amos,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  October  5,  1850, 
son  of  Amos  Sargeant,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Mount  Holly,  August  16,  1803, 
and  came  to  this  country  in  1824.  He  was  located  in  Parishville  two  years,  and  was 
in  Canton  about  four  years.  In  1830  he  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  where  he  lived 
until  he  died,  October  26,  1872.  Mr.  Sargeant  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church 
of  Potsdam.  He  married  in  Canton  in  1830,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacob  Earl,  of 
Canada,  and  they  had  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Orpha,  who  lives  in 
Potsdam;  and  Harvey  Amos.  Mrs.  Sargeant  died  October  30,  1885,  aged  seventy-six 
years.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in  this  town.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  assisted  on  the  farm  until 
the  death  of  his  father.  Amos  Sargeant  had  increased  the  size  of  the  farm  to  150 
acres,  which  our  subject  conducts  as  a  dairy  farm  with  twenty  cows,  the  milk  being 
sent  to  the  cheese  factory.  Mr.  Sargeant  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  Rac- 
quette River  Lodge  No.  213.  and  has  been  a  member  thirteen  years,  also  St.  Lawrence 
Chapter  No.  24.  He  married  January  28,  1880,  Isabella,  daughter  of  Simon  Barkley, 
of  Winchester,  Canada,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Wilburn  H.,  twelve  years  of  age  ; 
and  Wesley,  now  in  his  sixth  year. 

Sholette,.Leo,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  December  31,  1859.  He  came  to 
this  city  in  1882,  clerked  awhile  in  different  business  places  until  seven  years  ago,  when 
he  started  his  present  grocery  business,  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  married 
Minnie  Doe,  and  has  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  He  is  secretary  and  collector 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society,  and  a  member  of  the  St.  Mary's  church. 

Schrier,  John,  Dgdensburg,  was  born  in  Schenectady,  February  8,  1824.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  there,  and  in  April  following  his  seventeenth  year 
accepted  a  position  on  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  as  fireman,  which  position  he 
held  for  two  years.  He  then  changed  to  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  road  as  con- 
ductor of  freight  train,  and  also  worked  in  the  machine  shops  of  this  company.  In 
1850  (April  20),  he  received  an  offer  and  accepted  the  position  of  engineer  with  the 
then  new  road  called  the  Northern,  now  known  as  the  0.  &  L.  C.  railroad. 
He  therefore  was  the  first  engineer  to  take  a  train  over  this  road.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  position  for  seven  years,  after  which  he  served  as  passenger  conductor 
for  about  thirteen  years.  He  then  received  the  appointment  of  division  superin- 
tendent,  which   he   held  for  six  years  and  then  left  the  employ   of  the  0.  &  L.  C. 


136  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWKENCB  COUNTY, 

railroad,  and  accepted  the  position  of  station  agent  for  the  Black  River  Railroad  here. 
This  office  he  most  acceptably  filled  for  seven  years.  Mr.  Schrier  then  retired  from 
the  railroad,  and  has  since  conducted  a  coal  business  in  Ogdensburg.  He  married  in 
1850  Nancy  C.  Collamer,  and  they  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  living.  Mr. 
Sehrier's  father,  Peter  was  a  native  of  Holland,  who  came  to  this  country  when  eight 
years  of  age  and  settled  near  A.lbany  where  so  many  of  the  Mohawk  Dutch  settled 
£rst,  and  where  so  many  of  the  first  families  of  this  and  adjoining  counties  date 
their  ancestry  from.  Mr.  Schrier  is  an  able,  conscientious  and  stalwart  gentleman 
who  has  seen  all  sides  and  phases  of  life. 

Smith,  B.  Howard,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vt.,  June  17,  1800, 
being  the  eldest  man  now  living  in  G-ouverneur.  He  learned  the  tanner's  trade 
when  young,  but  subsequently  engaged  successfully  in  farming,  and  now  has  been 
a  farmer  for  nearly  fifty  years.  In  1826  he  married  Caroline  Jackson,  who  is 
eighty-seven  years  of  age.  They  have  four  sons  :  Avery  J.,  William  H.,  and 
Harvey  L.  and  Albert  M.  They  have  one  grandson,  Harvey  Douglas  Smith,  a 
student  in  Ithaca  at  Cornell  University. 

Shattuck,  E.  A.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Castleton,  Yt.,  April  10,  1830,  asonofLoren 
and  Arrilla  (Partridge)  Shattuck,  the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of 
Massachusetts.  They  reared  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  When  a  young  man, 
Loren  came  to  Massachusetts  with  his  parents,  afterwards  removing  to  Vermont,  where 
he  died  in  1857,  and  his  wife  February  17,  1889.  E.  A.  Shattuck  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  had  a  common  school  education.  In  1848  he  went  to  Russell  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  also  bought  a  sawmill.  In  1869  he  sold  the  sawmill  and  came  to  Parishville, 
vfhere  he  bought  the  St.  Regis  hotel,  built  by  Mr.  Parish.  He  was  proprietor  here  for 
four  years,  when  the  hotel  was  burned  (1875).  He  then  bought  the  Shattuck  House,  of 
which  he  was  proprietor  many  years,  when  he  again  nearly  burned  out  in  1884,  losing 
considerable.  Mr.  Shattuck  owns  twenty-nine  acres  of  land  m  Parishville  and  115  in 
Hopkinton.  In  1857  he  married  Nancy  M.  Yan  Brocklin,  a  native  of  Johnstown,  Ful- 
ton county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Loren  J.,  who  is  a  mechanic  and  lives  in  Parishville. 
His  wife  is  Melvina  Dewey  of  Hopkinton,  and  they  have  two  children :  Carlos  L.  and 
Anna  S.  Mr.  Shattuck  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  The  father  of  Mrs.  E.  A.  Shattuck 
was  M.  C.  Yan  Brocklin,  son  of  Gilbert,  a  native  of  New  York,  the  family  having  orig- 
inally come  from  Holland.  Mr.  Yan  Brocklin  was  born  in  Denmark,  N.  Y.,  October 
19,  1804,  he  married  Ann  Yeeder,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mrs. 
Van  Brocklin  passed  to  her  heavenly  rest  December  19,  1890,  and  Mr.  Yan  Brocklin 
March  24,  1892,  both  at  the  home  of  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Shattuck. 

Seaman,  R.  L.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Heuvelton,  December  4,  1838.  His  family 
came  originally  from  New  England,  and  settled  in  Heuvelton  early  in  the  present  cen- 
tury. R.  L.  Seaman  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality  and  the  Wes- 
leyan  Seminary  at  Gouverneur,  and  in  1852  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  Bronner  & 
Kraft,  with  whom  he  remained  about  five  years.  He  then  was  a  valued  assistant  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Franks  for  sixteen  years,  and  in  1876  formed  a  co-partnership 
with  C.  W.  McClair,  under  the  firm  name  of  Seaman  &  McClair,   dealers  in   dry  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  /  137 

fancy  goods.  This  firm  continued  until  1889,  when  it  dissolved,  each  member  inaugur- 
ating separate  establishments  in  Ogdensburg,  both  of  which  have  been  very  successful. 
Mr.  Seaman  married  in  1866,  Harriet  E.,  daughter  of  the  late  Alfred  Havvley.  Mr.  Sea- 
man is  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  past  commander  of  Ogdensburg 
Coramandery  No.  54,  K.  T.,  and  past  master  of  Ogdensburg  Lodge  No.  128,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  and  a  member  of  Media  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  courteous  and 
genial  and  possesses  a  host  of  friends  in  this  city.  His  business  is  an  important  faetoi^ 
in  the  commercial  life  of  the  city  and  furnishes  employment  to  a  considerable  number 
of  assistants. 

Story,  Harvey  M.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Fairfax,  Franklin  county,  Vt, 
June  20,  1831,  a  son  of  Asahel  Story,  a  native  of  Vermont,  Avho  married  Chloe  Digin- 
son,  also  a  native  of  Vermont.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
the  youngest.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Bakerfield  Academy,  Vt., 
and  after  leaving  school  worked  on  a  farm  and  taught  for  three  years.  In  September, 
1852,  he  came  to  Potsdam  where  he  for  four  years  was  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  and 
then  went  into  the  dry  goods  store  of  Theodore  Clark  &  Son,  which  firm  afterward  be- 
came Clark  &  Forbes.  He  was  with  them  only  one  year  and  then  went  into  the 
store  of  Charles  Cox,  becoming  a  partner  with  him  in  March,  1856.  This  partner- 
ship existed  eight  years.  In  1866  he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  D.  Brooks  in 
the  dry  goods  trade,  which  lasted  three  years,  and  then  bought  Mr.  Brooks's  inter- 
est and  has  since  continued  alone.  Since  1874  he  has  occupied  the  present  store. 
Mr.  Story  carries  a  general  line  of  dry  goods,  wall  paper  and  sewing  machines,  em- 
ploying four  clerks.  He  married  in  1856,  Maria,  daughter  of  Samuel  Sherman  of 
this  town,  and  they  have  two  children :  Helen  M.,  and  Harvey  M.,  jr.,  who  is  the 
stock  manager. 

Scott,  Robert,  Lisbon  Centre,  was  born  in  Quebec  in  1829,  and  removed  to  Lisbon 
when  one  year  old.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  early  learned 
the  cooper's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  over  twenty  years,  successfully  conducting 
»shop  devoted  to  this  branch  of  trade.  He  married  in  1852,  Margaret  Gray,  and  they  had 
three  children,  only  one  now  living.  During  the  past  fifteen  years  Mr.  Scott  has  con- 
ducted a  produce  business  at  Lisbon  Centre,  buying  farmer's  produce  for  the  jobbing 
trade.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican,  has  served  as  town  clerk  of  Lisbon  for  twenty-five 
years,  has  been  notary  public  since  the  year  1869  to  the  present  time,  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  has  also  been  clerk  for  a  number  of  years,  and  is 
now  president  of  the  Lisbon  branch  of  the  Genesee  Loan  and  Building  Association.  Mr. 
Scott  is  a  veteran  hunter  and  sportsman  with  the  gun  and  rod,  and  is  a  gentleman  of 
of  stalwart  frame,  genial  manners  and  excellent  business  abilities.  He  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  entire  county. 

Simonet,  Eugene  J.,  Spragueville,  was  born  in  Jefierson  county,  January  6',  1848,  and 
was  a  butter  and  cheese  maker  in  his  earlier  days.  He  followed  the  latter  occupation  for 
fourteen  years,  and  founded  a  large  butter  and  cheese  business  in  Iowa.  In  1886  he 
went  to  Gouverneur  and  conducted  a  saloon  for  three  years.  For  four  years  he  has 
been  owner  of  the  Simonet  House  at  Spragueville,  a  first-class  hostelry  and  summer  re- 


% 

138  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

sort,  6ne]y  equipped.  He  also  carries  on  a  livery.  Mr.  Simonet  married  Jennie,  daugh- 
ter of  Hugh  Cameron.  Mr.  Simonet's  father  was  a  native  of  Paris  and  a  noted  man  of 
Jefferson  county. 

"Sudds,  W.  F.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Londo.i,  Eng.,  in  1843,  and  at  the  age  of 
seven  years  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  near  Gouver- 
neur. His  fondness  for  music  was  evinced  very  early  in  life  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  was  a  self-instructed  performer  on  the  violin,  guitar,  flute,  cornet  and  violoncello. 
The  purity  of  his  musical  taste  was  remarkable,  as  was  also  his  insight  into  the  princi- 
ples of  harmony,  and  his  deep  interest  in  church  music,  although  at  that  time  possess- 
ing neither  piano  nor  organ.  A  year  or  two  later,  through  the  kindness  of  a  friend,  he 
was  permitted  to  practice  the  piano  and  eagerly  walked  three  miles  after  his  day's 
work  on  the  farm,  in  order  to  avail  himself  of  the  privilege.  His  first  regular  piano 
lessons  were  from  a  Freach  professor  in  New  Orleans,  while  a  convalescent  soldier  in  an 
army  hospital  in  1864.  In  1873  he  was  a  pupil  at  the  Boston  Conservatory  of  Music, 
studying  the  organ  with  Eugene  Thayer,  and  the  violin  and  composition  under  Julius 
Eichburg,  who  gave  him  much  encouragement  and  foresaw  liis  future  success.  It  was 
not  until  six  years  ago  that  he  fairly  entered  the  field  as  a  composer,  since  which  time 
his  progress  has  been  as  rapid  as  it  has  been  well  merited,  furnishing  a  practical  refuta- 
tion to  the  fallacy  that  good  music  cannot  become  popular.  He  is  not  only  a  composer 
but  a  music  dealer  and  teacher,  keeping  a  well-appointed  music  store  with  studio  ad- 
joining, is  organist  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Gouverneur,  and  was,  until  recently, 
in  charge  of  the  musical  department  of  the  Gouverneur  Seminary.  He  still  teaches, 
but  cannot  accept  ail  his  applications  owing  to  the  growing  demands  from  his  publishers. 
Mr.  Sudds  is  located  at  Gouverneur."  The  above  is  taken  from  the  Philadelphia  Mu- 
sical Journal  of  1881.  Since  that  date  his  success  has  been  marked ;  his  compositions, 
more  and  more  eagerly  sought  for  by  American  and  foreign  publishers,  now  include 
works  in  nearly  all  fields  of  musical  composition,  viz. :  piano  solos,  piano  duets,  piano 
trios,  violin  and  piano,  'cello  and  piano,  and  orchestra,  a  few  songs,  five  or  six  volumes 
of  anthems  well-known  to  nearly  every  church  choir  in  the  United  States,  instruction 
books  for  piano,  violin  and  organ.  Mr.  Sudds  no  longer  desires  to  teach,  but  is  still 
prevailed  upon  to  accept  a  few  advanced  pupils.  Unlike  the  average  prominent  musi- 
cian, he  is  also  a  business  man  of  conservative  and  reliable  judgment. 

Storie,  T.  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  March  8,  1853,  and  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
has  followed  it  for  many  years.  He  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  several  times,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1893  he  entered  into  partnership  with  J.  H.  Lalore  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Gouverneur.  In  1881  he  married  Ettie  Fox,  daughter  of  Daniel  Fox,  and  they 
had  three  children  :  Lilly,  Herbert  and  Nina.  Mr.  Storie's  father  was  James  Storie  and 
his  mother  was  Juliette  (Smith)  Storie.  His  father  was  Jason  Smith,  a  pioneer  of  this 
part. 

Shaw,  William,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  February  27,  1854.  and  John  Young 
Shaw  was  born  on  the  same  farm,  June  14,  1857.  The  father,  William,  was  a  native 
of  Scotland  and  came  to  this  country  about  1847,  locating  in  the  town  of  Potsdam. 
He  married  in  1853  Elizabeth  Young,  widow  of  Thomas  Oliver,  and  they  had  four  chil- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  139 

dren,  only  two  of  whom  survive:  William  and  John.  Thej'  have  always  been  residents 
of  the  town.  In  1872  they  bought  the  farm  of  201  acres  on  the  town  line  of  Madrid, 
where  they  have  since  conducted  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows  and  other  stock.  In  1888 
they  added  improvements  to  their  residence  and  now  they  have  one  of  the  prettiest 
homes  in  this  end  of  the  town.  John  Y.,  the  younger  brother,  married  in  1885,  Delia, 
daughter  of  Robert  Murray  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  three  children  :  Truman  Jay, 
Lila  and  Robert  Mason. 

Sudds,  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  England,  March  25,  1839.  His  parents,  WilHam 
and  Susan  (Adams)  Sudds,  came  to  this  country  with  their  family  in  1850,  locating  at 
Smith's  Mills,  where  the  son  lived  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  Gouverneur  as  book- 
keeper for  W  E.  Sterling,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In  1860  the  first  banking 
house  was  established  here  by  Charles  Anthony  &  Co.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1861  Mr. 
Sudds  became  cashier  of  that  institution,  where  he  remained  until  1871.  He  then  went 
to  Ogdensburg  and  became  a  partner  in  a  new  banking  house,  where  he  remained  until 
1874,  when  he  returned  to  Gouverneur  to  the  Anthony  &  Co.  bank,  where  he  has  since 
remamed  as  cashier.  In  1879  the  corapan}'  went  out  of  business  and  the  concern  was 
incorporated  into  the  Bank  of  Gouverneur,  one  of  the  prominent  financial  institutions 
of  this  region.  Mr.  Sudds  married,  October  1,  1863,  Louisa  N.,  daughter  of  Abram  and 
Deborah  (Griffin)  Thompson  of  Gouverneur.  Deborn  Griffin  was  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Wolcott  Griffin,  the  first  physician  of  Gouverneur. 

Sprague,  Daniel  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  June  27,  1830, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking  with  his  father,  Seth  Sprague.  This  he  followed 
for  twelve  years,  then  entered  the  mercantile  business,  and  has  conducted  a  general 
store  in  Spragueville  for  twenty-five  years.  He  has  been  postmaster  four  years  and 
assistant  sixteen  years.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Penniman,  and  they  have  two  sons: 
Charles  S.  and  Fred  A.  He  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  past  twenty-four 
years  and  is  now  serving  a  second  four-year  term. 

St.  Denny,  Charles,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Malone,  N.  Y.,  February  7,  1861. 
After  leaving  school  he  followed  for  four  years  the  occupation  of  foreman  on  the 
Central  Vermont  railroad,  and  April  19,  1892,  he,  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
established  a  liquor  business  in  Ogdensburg,  of  which  Mr.  St.  Denny  is  now  the 
sole  proprietor.  He  married  in  1888,  Emma  Myers,  and  they  have  two  children,  a 
son  and  a  daughter. 

Sauve,  Emory,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  Cato  Landing,  Canada,  in  1836.  His  earlier 
years  were  passed  in  Canada,  and  in  1862  he  came  to  Ogdensburg,  after  which  he 
worked  at  different  things  until  he  accumulated  some  money,  when  he  purchased  prop- 
erty on  Ford  street,  and  later  on  more  real  estate  on  State  street.  On  both  he  erected 
excellent  buildings,  in  one  of  which  he  conducts  a  saloon  and  billiard  room.  Mr.  Sauve 
married  in  1858,  Adaline  Lacour,  and  they  have  three  children,  ilr.  Sauve  is  one  of 
Ogdensburg's  esteemed  citizens  of  French  origin,  of  which  there  is  a  large  contingent 
here,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  f'ountrymen  to  a  marked  degree. 

Smith,  S.  W.,  Ogdensburg,  is  a  native  of  this  country.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  bus- 


140  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

iness  on  the  west  side  for  the  past  few  years.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  and  identified 
in  a  marked  degree  with  the  commercial  hfe  of  this  city.  He  occupies  his  large  stores 
and  furnishes  employment  to  several  assistants.  Mr.  Smith  married  in  1888,  Julia 
Leahy,  and  has  two  children.     He  is  looked  upon  as  among  our  most  substantial  citizens. 

St.  Germain,  Louis,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Montreal  in  1822.  He  has  lived  in 
Ogdensburg  for  the  past  sixty  years,  and  has  followed  the  occupation  of  tinsmith.  His 
wife  was  Emma  Gilbert,  and  they  have  had  thirteen  children.  Mr.  St.  Germain  was 
for  many  years  in  the  employ  of  Waters  &  Lawrence  and  E.  B.  Allen.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  Society,  and  is  at  present  conducting  a  tobacco 
and  cigar  establishment  here. 

Stevenson,  M.  L.,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Morristown,  November  29,  1865,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1887  when  he  established  in  mercantile  business  at  Brier  Hill.  He 
conducts  a  general  store  and  does  a  thriving  business.  He  married  Adelia  Maxson  in 
1885.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Maxson  of  Hammond.  Mr.  Stevenson's  father  is 
Aaron  Stevenson,  a  native  of  Morristown. 

Shepard,  George  W.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  De- 
cember 15,  1833.  His  father,  Chauncy  L.,  was  a  son  of  Bohan  Shepard,  a  native  of 
Vermont.  The  wife  of  Bohan  Shepard  was  Charlotte  Stannard,  by  whom  he  had  five 
sons  and  four  daughters.  He  and  his  wife,  in  1828,  came  to  Norfolk  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  Chauncy  L.  was  born  in  Vermont,  March  28,  1803,  and  there 
reared  and  educated.  In  1823  he  came  to  Norfolk  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  subject.  In  1827  he  married  Rachael,  daughter  of  Jonas  Ball  of  Madrid,  who  died 
in  1834.  Mr.  Shepard  and  wife  had  three  daughters  and  one  son.  He  was  a  carpenter 
and  stone  mason  and  was  at  one  time  superintendent  of  the  building  of  the  wood  work 
for  river  and  canal  locks  at  Montreal  and  Beauharnois.  He  was  also  superintendent  of 
the  grading  and  mason  work  on  the  Ogdensburg  and  Champlain  railroad.  In  1851  he 
went  to  California  and  remained  two  years.  With  his  own  hands  he  took  out  a  nugget 
of  gold  worth  $950.  He  returned  in  1853  and  engaged  in  farming  and  commenced 
building,  and  had  at  his  death  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Norfolk,  containing  250  acres  of 
land.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  start  a  stage  line  in  this  section,  and  drove  the  first 
stage  from  Norfolk  to  St.  Regis,  and  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  route.  He 
was  a  drover  and  drove  cattle  to  Montreal  and  Quebec.  He  was  highway  commis- 
sioner fifteen  years,  and  built  two  iron  bridges  over  the  Racquette  river  at  Norfolk. 
He  died  November  7,  1881.  George  W.  Shepard,  our  subject,  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Ogdensburg  Academy.  Farming  has 
always  been  his  occupation  and  he  owns  at  present  256  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a 
dairy  of  twenty-five  cows.  He  breeds  Ayrshire  cattle  and  Berkshire  swine.  Mr. 
Shepard  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Clara  Yale  in  1860.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Lloyd  Yale  of  Norfolk.  Mr.  Shepard  and  wife  had  two  children:  Chauncy  L., 
and  Laura  L.,  deceased.  Mrs.  Shepard  died  July  22,  1866,  and  January  5,  1872,  he 
married  Ellen  T.  Bartlett,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  daughter  of  Lester  Bartlett,  who  was 
born  in  Vermont  in  1816.  He  came  to  Bangor,  Franklin  county,  vrhen  a  young 
man  and  in  1831  came  to  Norfolk,  and  here  died  in  1850.     His  wife  was  Theodosia 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  141 

McDowell  of  Waddington,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mrs. 
Bartlett  married  for  her  second  husband,  Joseph  Bartlett,  a  brother  of  her  first  husband, 
and  they  now  reside  in  Norfolk.  Mr.  Shepard  and  wife  have  had  six  children  :  Leroy 
B.,  William  H.,  Clara  T.,  Fannie  M.,  George  L.,  and  Ellen  E.,  deceased.  In  politics  Mr. 
Shepard  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge  No.  689  of  Norwood, 
also  of  the  Norfolk  Grange  No.  541. 

Smith,  Bela  B.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  De  Peyster,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
February  23,  1835.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Pittsford,  July  14, 
1805,  and  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  when  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  in  De  Peyster,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  three  children  and  spent  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  life.  He  died  April  4,  1S87,  in  the  village  of  Heuvelton,  to  which  he 
and  his  wife  retired  in  Sepember,  1881.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Eliza  Bell,  was  a 
native  of  Canada,  born  in  1804,  and  she  died  March  28,  1888.  John  W.  Smith,  the 
oldest  son,  is  a  resident  of  Heuvelton.  The  sister,  Priscilla,  married  Charles  P.  Ander- 
son of  Oswegatchie,  and  they  are  now  residents  of  Heuvelton.  The  early  life  qf^  our 
subject  was  spent  in  De  Peyster.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  school  and  hved 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  in  1886  he  sold  the  farm  and  went  to  Heuvelton  to 
take  care  of  his  parents.  In  May,  1888,  after  their  death,  he  came  to  Madrid,  where  he 
bought  a  half  interest  in  partnership  with  W.  B.  Maloney  in  the  grist  mill,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  three  years  he  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Maloney.  After  two  years  he. 
in  company  with  W.  H.  Hall  of  Madrid,  bought  back  the  mill,  which  they  now  con- 
duct. Mr.  Smith  was  a  Republican  until  1885,  when  he  believed  it  his  duty  to  work 
for  temperance,  and  he  has  since  been  an  avowed  Prohibitionist.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  he  is  treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Madrid 
church.  He  married,  December  26,  1855,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Anderson  of 
Oswegatchie,  and  they  have  one  child,  Cynthia  S.,  married  October  28,  1890,  James  R. 
Fisher  of  Madrid,  who  forms  part  of  the  family  of  our  subject,  he  being  employed  in 
the  mill. 

Smith,  James,  Madrid,  was  born  in  County  Manahan,  Ireland,  May  1,  1840,  and  was 
only  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  this  country,  landing  in 
New  York  in  July,  1854.  In  August  of  that  year  he  came  to  Madrid,  and  began  an 
apprenticeship  at  shoemaking  with  Smith  &  McCall.  He  was  with  his  cousin.  Captain 
Smith,  until  1857,  when  he  went  to  Potsdam  and  was  employed  with  Clark,  Walker  & 
Co.,  and  afterward  with  Zenas  Clark,  and  later  with  Theo.  Clark  and  N.  S.  Elderkin. 
In  1860  he  returned  to  Madrid  where  he  was  employed  by  Henry  McCall  until  1868. 
That  year  he  established  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  the  same  year  put 
in  a  stock  of  ready-made  goods.  During  the  years  of  Mr.  Smith's  venture  for  himself 
he  usually  employed  two  or  three  men  besides  himself.  He  is  now  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  street.  His  stock  is  composed  of  the  finest  as  well  as  the  most  serviceable 
of  goods.  Mr.  Smith  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  was  a  support- 
er of  the  Republican  party  until  1872,  when  he  joined  the  liberal  Democrats.  In  1893 
he  was  elected  excise  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  he  has  at  various  times  been  a  trustee.  He  married,  May  13,  1875,  Dora, 
daughter  of  Rather  Hargrave  of  Waddington. 


142  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Simmons,  Philander,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  November  24,  1832. 
Stillman  Sitrmons,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Wood- 
stock. August  16,  1800.  He  was  reared  iu  his  native  State  and  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade.  About  1825  he  emigrated  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  living  one  season  at  Morley. 
He  then  came  to  Potsdam  and  located  at  Yaleville,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  a 
few  3'ears,  and  then  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed  a  short  time,  when  he  re- 
sumed his  trade.  He  died  in  July,  1877.  He  married  in  Vermont,  Sophronia  Walker, 
a  native  of  Bridgewater,  Vt.,  and  they  had  ten  children,  three  now  living:  Mrs.  Fidelia 
Harris  of  Potsdam  ;  Volney,  working  in  lumber  mills  at  Antigo,  Langlade  county.  Wis.; 
and  Philander.  Mrs.  Simmons  is  still  living  at  ninety-two  years  of  age.  The  whole 
life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in  this  town.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  when  of  age  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  About  thirty  years  ago 
Mr.  Simmons  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busmess  in  West  Potsdam,  where  he  has  ever 
since  conducted  a  store.  Under  Lincoln's  administration  Mr.  Simmons  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  held  the  office  of  constable  two  years,  also  justice  of  the  peace  eight 
years.  He  married  in  1857,  Margaret,  daughter  of  William  Benson,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, whose  daughter  was  born  in  Norfolk.  Mr.  Simmons  has  one  son  and  a  daughter: 
Frank  LesHe,  a  partner  in  the  store ;  and  Clara  L.,  wife  of  William  Wilcox,  a  farmer 
of  Potsdam.  His  beautiful  residence  was  erected  by  him  in  1882,  after  the  old  home- 
stead was  burned.  Frank  L.  is  a  cheesemaker  by  trade,  but  is  now  in  partnership  with 
his  father.     He  is  justice  of  the  peace  of  West  Potsdam. 

Skinner,  Rev.  W.  F.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Kingsbridge,  N.  Y.,  April  13,  1856. 
He  received  his  college  education  at  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  and  his  theological 
education  at  Princeton  Seminary.  He  graduated  from  college  in  1881,  and  was  or- 
dained in  1887.  In  this  year  he  came  to  Gouverneur  as  pastor  of  thff  First  Presby- 
terian church,  and  since  he  took  charge  the  congregation  has  built  a  magnificent  church 
on  Main  street  of  the  village.  Mr.  Skinner's  father,  Cortland  Skinner,  was  a  farmer. 
His  mother  was  Rhoda  (Sherman)  Skinner. 

Shaw,  Eli  M.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Williston,  Vt.,  June  7,  1838,  a  son  of  Hon. 
Daniel  Shaw  of  that  town,  born  in  1811.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Williston, 
and  engaged  as  clerk  at  sixteen  years  of  age.  After  four  years  he  went  to  Enosburg 
Centre,  Vt.,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  four  years.  In  1846  he  came  to 
Stockholm  and  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years,  and  then  acted  as  clerk  for  Curtis 
Holmes  at  Stockholm  Centre.  After  two  years  he  came  to  Stockholm  Depot,  and  had 
charge  of  the  Union  store  for  two  years,  when  he  and  J.  W.  Sterns  bought  out 
the  store  and  continued  until  18f)5.  They  then  sold  to  our  subject  and  Frank  Hulbuid, 
who,  the  next  year,  closed  out  the  stock  to  H.  M.  Hubbard.  In  February,  1866,  Daniel 
Shaw,  J.  W.  Sterns  and  B.  M.  Shaw  formed  the  new  company  of  Shaw,  Sterns  &  Co., 
and  were  in  business  for  three  years  when  Mr.  Sterns  died  and  his  wife  took  his  place 
until  1873.  The  stock  was  then  sold  to  0.  P.  and  S.  H.  Sterns,  and  then  Daniel  and 
and  his  two  sons,  Eli  M.  and  John  B.  Shaw,  engaged  in  business  in  the  building 
now  occupied  by  E.  M.  Shaw.  Daniel  Shaw,  the  father,  died  in  1884,  John  B. 
died  in  1875,  and  E.  M.  Shaw  has  since  carried  on  the  business  alone.     Daniel  Shaw 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  143 

was  twice  married,  first  in  1836  to  Sarah  Murray  of  Williston,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  our  subject.  Mrs.  Shaw  died  in  1838,  and  he  married,  second.  Eunice  B.  Bar- 
num,  a  distant  relative  of  P.  T.  Barnum,  and  they  had  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Mrs.  Shaw  died  in  1888.  Mr.  Shaw  was  a  Democrat  in  early  Jife,  but  lattr  was  a 
Republican.  He  was  supervisor  for  a  number  of  years,  'justice  of  the  peace  for 
about  twelve  years  and  collector  for  one  year.  He  represented  St.  Lawrence  county 
in  the  Assembly  in  1866,  served  two  years  and  was  reelected.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  at  Stockholm  Depot.  Eli  M.  was  eight  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Stockholm  with  his  parents.  He  was  educated  in  the  com.mon  schools  of  the 
town,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  as  mentioned  above,  having  first  served 
as  clerk.  He  is  now  the  oldest  merchant  in  Stockholm.  Mr.  Shaw  has  been  twice 
married,  first  to  Abbie  Eldridge,  a  native  of  Brasher,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
John  E.  Mrs.  Shaw  died  in  April,  1884,  and  in  1885  he  married  Florence  Wheeler 
of  Madrid.  Mr,  Shaw  is  a  Republican,  and  was  clerk  in  the  postoffice  during  the 
Buchanan  administration.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  assistant  postmaster  under  J. 
W.  Sterns,  and  held  that  position  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Sterns,  when  he  became 
postmaster  until  1874,  and  then  his  father  held  the  office  until  his  death  and  our 
subject  was  assistant.  Mr.  Shaw  was  then  appointed  postmaster  and  held  until 
Cleveland's  administration,  when  he  again  became  assistant  under  H.  H.  Mullarney, 
and  at  the  close  of  his  administration  Mr.  Shaw  was  appointed  postmaster  and  has 
since  held  that  office. 

Selleck,  Truman  M.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Parishville.  June  18,  1836.  He  is  a 
son  of  Josiah  Selleck,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Pari.shville  when  a  young 
man.  He  drove  the  stage  route  from  Parishville  to  Ogdensburg  and  to  Plattsburg, 
for  a  Mr.  Thompson  for  sixteen  years.  Mr.  Selleck  ma-ried  Sophia  Hogle,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  resided  in  Parishville,  and  then 
went  to  Brandon,  where  he  lived  about  twenty-three  years,  and  then  went  to 
Chateaugay,  Franklin  county,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was 
killed  by  a  horse  in  May,  1891,  and  his  wife  died  September  3,  1877.  Truman  M. 
Selleck  was  reared  in  Parishville  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  married 
Ellen  Berdrow,  December  11,  1861.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Francis  Berdrow  and 
Adalaide  Love  of  Canada.  Mr.  Selleck  and  wife  have  had  eight  children  :  Herbert 
F.,  Fred  L.,  Hattie  E.  (deceased),  Lottie  S.,  George  J.,  Albert  H.,  Warren  W.,  and 
Emma  E.  Mr.  Selleck  has  always  followed  farming,  and  except  three  years  in 
Franklin  county,  has  always  resided  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  purchased  the 
farm  he  now  owns  of  138  acres  in  1888,  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  member  of  the  G.  A.  R,  No.  421,  Capt.  Gibson  Post,  Bick- 
nellville;  also  a  member  of  P.  of  H.  No.  638  of  Winthrop.  Mr.  Selleck  enlisted  in 
the  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  Co.  M,  August  28,  1862,  and  was  discharged  June  12,  1865, 
at  Memphis,  Tenn.  Mrs.  Selleck  is  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational  church  at 
Winthrop. 

Stephens,  David,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  December  14,  1843.  His 
parents  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county  when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.    They  settled 


141  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

at  Black  Lakeland  engaged  in  farming.  David  when  seventeen  years  of  age  began  learn- 
ino-  the  painting  industry,  and  prior  to  becoming  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bowen  & 
Stephens,  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Bowen  twenty-three  years.  David  Stephens  mar- 
ried in  1871,  Emily  Jane  Collins  of  Black  Lake,  and  they  have  a  son  and  one  daughter. 
Mr.  Stephens  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church,  and 
one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  highly  regarded  and  substantial  citizens.  The  firm  of  Bowen 
&  Stephens  of  which  he  is  a  member,  is  the  leading  one  engaged  in  this  branch  of  in- 
dustry in  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  has  executed  most  all  of  the  fine  work  done  in 
Ogdensburg  and  vicinity.  They  furnish  employment  to  a  considerable  force  of  work- 
men. 

Spencer,  Capt.  James  M.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Grouverneur,  January  23,  1845. 
He  studied  with  Dr.  A.  J.  Wade  and  graduated  D.  D.  S.  in  1872  in  the  Philadelphia 
Dental  College.  Captain  Spencer  is  one  of  the  best  known  veterans  of  the  war  in 
St.  LaAvrence  county,  and  has  a  record  as  one  of  the  bravest.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
16th  New  York  Infantry,  and  subsequently  became  captain  of  Co.  H,  20th  New  York 
Cavalry,  which  gained  renown  for  its  fighting  qualities.  Captain  Spencer  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  is  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  belonging  to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and 
Commandery,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters. 

Smead,  Oscar  H.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Lawrenceville,  December  4,  1826.  His  father, 
Walter,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  June  1,  1801,  and  came  to  this  country  when  a 
young  man  just  after  his  marriage,  and  with  a  very  small  start.  He  brought  all  his 
goods  and  his  wife  on  a  pair  of  bob-sleds  from  his  native  State,  and  took  up  a  tract  of 
land  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  becoming  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  that  town, 
of  which  he  was  a  great  many  years  justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  in  Vermont, 
December  21,  1825,  Mary  M.  Osgood,  and  they  had  four  sons:  Nelson  of  Washington  ; 
Darwin  D.  of  Leeds,  Dakota;  David  M.,  a  carpenter  of  Madrid;  and  Oscar,  the  oldest 
son  and  our  subject.  Walter  Smead  died  December  22,  1874,  and  his  wife  October  31, 
1872.  The  early  life  of  Oscar  was  speat  in  the  town  of  his  birth.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  remained  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  about  thirty-two 
years  of  age.  In  1858  he,  with  his  parents,  moved  into  Potsdam,  where  they  remained 
but  a  year.  In  1859  Mr.  Smead  bought  a  farm  of  144  acres,  where  they  spent  the  bal- 
ance of  their  days.  Madrid  Springs  twenty  years  ago  was  very  popular,  but  a  lack  of 
development  lias  weakened  their  use.  In  1887  Mr.  Smead  bought  the  forty  acre  farm 
on  which  the  springs  were  located,  and  here  he  died  January  20,  1892.  Mr.  Smead  was 
always  interested  in  church  work  and  was  connected  with  the  Baptist  society.  He  mar- 
ried in  1885,  Maggie,  daughter  of  John  White,  a  farmer  of  Lisbon,  who  still  survives 
him. 

Tracy,  Family,  Massena.  Samuel  Tracy  Avas  born  January  30,  1789,  in  Windham, 
Conn.  He  came  to  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  in  1815,  and  a  year  later  to  Massena,  where  he 
bought  seventy-three  acres  of  land.  He  then  returned  to  Connecticut  and  brought  his 
wife  and  three  children,  traveling  with  a  span  of  horses  and  wagon,  which  latter  was 
said  to  be  the  only  one  in  the  town  at  the  time.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and  to  his 
original  purchase  he  added  300  acres.     Mr.  Tracy  married  Theda,  daughter  of  Levi  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  145 

Lydia  Snow  of  Becket,  Mass.  She  was  born  December  3,  1788.  Their  children  were  : 
Eunice  C,  Eliza,  S3'bel,  Diah,  Lydia  L.,  Samuel,  Kingsley,  Daniel,  Edward  and  Flavia 
C.  Daniel  was  born  October  3,  1824,  in  Massena,  was  educated  at  Potsdam  and 
Ogdensburg,  and  taught  school  for  several  years.  After  this  he  removed  to  Boston 
and  entered  the  wholesale  milk  trade,  remaining  there  about  four  years.  From  there 
he  went  to  Australia  in  search  of  a  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  the  country,  remaililng 
eighteen  years,  and  was  successful  in  the  mining  business  but  lost  the  most  of  his  money 
in  other  business  enterprises.  He  returned  to  his  native  town  in  1870.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  the  old  homestead,  and  remained  there  till  his  death,  June  6,  1892. 
He  was  supervisor  of  Massena  in  1880-81,  in  politics  was  a  Republican,  and  was  deacon 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Eleanor,  daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  (Doran)  Carton  of  this  town.  Mrs.  Tracy  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Tracey,  James  D.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Ont..  January  29,  1834,  and  came 
to  Potsdam  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  where  he  entered  a  printing  ofiSce  and  completed  his 
apprenticeship,  after  which  he  went  to  Canton  and  for  a  brief  period  published  the 
St  Lawrence  Democrat.  He  subsequently  worked  in  various  printing  offices  in  New 
York  and  other  States,  and  was  one  time  foreman  of  the  Chicago  Republican,  now  the 
Chicago  Inter-  Ocean.  In  1873  he  established  the  Commercial  Advertiser  at  Norwood, 
and  in  1877  removed  the  office  to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  conducted  it.  Charles  E. 
Hall  was  associated  with  him  from  1873  to  1886.  In  1871  Mr.  Tracey  married  Lida 
Conrad  of  Berlin,  Pa.  The  father  of  James  D.  was  James  Tracey,  also  a  native  of 
Canada,  who  married  Catharine  Smith  of  Cornwall,  Ont.,  in  1830.  Mr.  Tracey  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  also  vestryman,  and  is  one  of  the  man- 
agers of  the  St.  Lawrence  State  Hospital  located  at  Point  Airy. 

Tate,  Thomas  B.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  England  in  1814,  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  three  years  of  age  with  his  father,  Robert  Tate,  0.  E.  Robert  Tate  purchased 
a  farm  in  Madrid,  on  which  he  hved  some  years,  although  he  followed  his  profession. 
He  afterwards  located  permanently  m  Lisbon.  Thomas  B.  received  his  education  in 
schools  of  Madrid  and  Ogdensburg  High  School,  and  studied  civil  engineering  with  his 
father.  When  a  young  man  he  bought  an  interest  in  an  iron  mine  in  Hermon,  which 
he  conducted  eight  years  in  company  with  others,  manufacturing  bar  iron.  He  ran  the 
first  line  of  railroad  through  Canada,  called  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Huron  railroad. 
He  also  constructed  the  Brighton  and  Marman  line  in  1854,  was  chief  engineer  of  the 
railroad  from  Potsdam  Junction  to  Potsdam,  of  the  railroad  from  Tardins  Junction  to 
Ogdensburg,  and  many  others.  In  1834  he  raised  a  uniformed  company  of  light  artil- 
lery, of  which  he  was  elected  captain  by  the  company  and  commissioned  by  Gov.  W. 
L.  Marcy.  He  was  major  one  year  and  two  years  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  153d  N.  Y. 
Regiment,  49th  Brigade,  29th  Division,  Infantry.  He  was  president  of  the  court- 
martial  of  the  153d  Regiment  when  only  twenty-two  years  of  age.  His  company  was 
first  known  as  the  Grass  River  Company  and  was  organized  May  22,  1834.  His  com- 
mission of  lieutenant-colonel  is  signed  by  Gov.  William  H.  Seward.  Colonel  Tate  has 
been  twice  married,  and  has  two  children  by  his  first  wife.     He  is  a  most  profound  civil 


14^5  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWEENCE  COUNTY. 

eno-ineer  a  brilliant  mathematician,  and  a  gentleman  of  unbounded  energy  and  perse- 
verance, whose  skill,  ing'^nnity  and  thoroughness  will  long  be  remembered  in  this 
vicinity,  where  he  has  so  long  lived,  esteemed  and  respected  by  all. 

Thompson,  John  S.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  county,  May  28, 
1821.  His  father  was  Anthony  Thompson,  son  of  Samnel  Thompson.  The  latter  was 
many  years  a  resident  of  Dutchess  county,  but  spent  his  last  days  in  Rensselaer  county. 
His  wife  was  Rebecca  Thompson,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  Anthony  Thompson 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county  in  1792.  He  was  thrice  married,  first  to  Miss  Warren, 
second  to  Sallie  Lampson,  born  in  1800,  died  in  1833,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  : 
John  S.,  and  Esther,  born  in  1819.  The  third  wife  of  Mr.  Thompson  was  Mrs.  Bickneli 
of  Stockholm.  In  1821  Mr.  Thompson  came  to  Stockholm,  and  settled  on  a  farm  now 
owned  by  Elisha  Bradley.  Here  he  lived  eieht  years,  and  then  took  up  the  farm  now 
owned  by  subject,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1880.  Mr.  Thompson  was  early  in 
life  a  Whig,  but  afterwards  a  Republican.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  assessor  a  number  of  years.  Esther,  daughter  of  Anthony  Thompson,  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Philander  Sarvin,  by  whom  she  had  two  children ;  and  second  to  A.  B. 
Andrews,  by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Charles.  John  S.  Thompson  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy  at  Potsdam.  He  is  a 
general  farmer  and  dairyman,  owns  450  acres  of  land  and  keeps  thirty-five  cows.  He 
has  been  salesman  for  the  Riverside  butter  factory  since  its  organization.  In  1851  Mr. 
Thompson  married  Eliza  M.  Welch,  a  native  of  Rensselaer  county,  born  in  1828.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca  Welch,  he  of  Vermont  and  she  of  Rensselaer 
county.  Mr.  Welch  died  in  Rensselaer  county,  and  Mrs.  Welch  in  Stockholm  in  1876. 
They  had  three  children,  of  whom  only  Mrs.  Thompson  survives.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson  are :  Howard  E.,  who  married  Gertrude,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Culver 
of  Bicknellville,  is  practicing  law  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Montana,  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Jeane.  Florence  E.  married  David  McCharles  and  resides  at  Tustin  City,  Cal. 
They  have  one  son,  Carl,  and  a  daughter,  Edith  C,  who  married  James  McNaughton,  a 
journalist  of  Manistique,  Mich.,  and  has  one  son,  John  E.  Mr.  Thompson  is  rf Republi- 
can, and  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town  two  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  two  terms. 
He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  H.  Potsdam  Lodge  No.  .^9. 

Tallman,  William  H.,  Canton,  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  was 
born  in  Oswegatchie,  a  son  of  John  E.  Tallman,  a  native  of  Troy,  who  settled  in 
this  county  in  1820.  William  H.  came  to  Canton  in  1876,  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  His  great  uncle  was  Major-General  John  E.  Wool,  who  ranked 
next  to  G-eneral  Scott  in  the  Rebellion.  John  E.  Tallman  married  Elizabeth  Rose- 
grant,  a  native  of  Herkimer.  She  was  a  niece  of  General  Herkimer,  also  of  General 
Rosegrant.  William  H.  Tallman  married  Margaret  Doran,  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  daughter  of  Jacob  T.  Doran  of  Morristown.  They  have  nine  children  :  Charles 
F.  is  a  hardware  man.  He  learned  the  trade  with  R.  H.  Sackrider  of  this  place, 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Spohnenberg  &  Sterling  of  Watertown,  also  with 
E.  F.  Tupper.  He  was  for  five  years  of  the  firm  of  Tallman  &  Howe  of  this  place. 
Jacob   I.  graduated  at  the  St.  Lawrence  University  and  commenced  teaching,    read 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  147 

law  with  Nelson  Robinson,  then  with  Beck  &  Botsford  of  Plattsburg.  William  J. 
was  educated  a  Canton  Union  School  and  Eastman's  Business  College  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  Frederick  T.,  who  was  also  educated  at  Canton  Union  School,  is  at  home. 
Harriet  E.  married  Carlos  Gulley  of  the  firm  of  Conkey  &  Gulley.  Hannah  M. 
married  Merton  H.  Farmer  of  Canton.  Fanny  M.  married  Frank  E.  Everett  of 
Potsdam.  Ida  Elnora  is  at  home.  Katie  May  is  attending  the  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity. 

Tait,  6.  P.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rossie,  March  9,  1839,  and  has  been  in 
the  dry  goods  business  since  seventeen  years  of  age.  In  1858  he  came  to  Gouverneur^ 
and  now  has  one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the  place.  In  1864  he  married  Lucre- 
tia  Barnes,  and  they  had  three  children  :  Mrs.  J.  0.  Sheldon  of  Gouverneur,  Mildred 
and  E.  D.  Tait,  who  has  Been  a  partner  with  his  father  since  1890.  His  first  wife  died 
in  1887,  and  in  1S89  Mr.  Tait  married  Helen  Mosher.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbv- 
terian  church,  and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Gouverneur.  He  enlisted  in  July,  1862, 
in  Co.  B,  142d  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol.,  was  elected  first  lieutenant  and  served  with  the 
company  until  he  was  taken  with  a  severe  attack  of  inflammatory  rheumatism  which 
compelled  him  to  resign  his  commission. 

Taitt,  James  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rossie,  August  5,  1848.  His  father,  James 
Taitt,  was  a  farmer,  and  James  D.  worked  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  then  for  two  years  a  colporteur  for  the  Presbyterian  Church,  after  vrhich  he 
entered  mercantile  business  in  Stanley,  and  afterward  at  Spencer,  Mass.  He  also 
.spent  some  years  out  west,  being  located  m  Cherokee  county,  la.,  where  he  was 
quite  active  in  politics.  Two  years  ago  he  came  to  Gouverneur.  In  1874  he  married 
Mary  E.  Bryant,  of  Paxton,  Mass.  He  is  superintendent  of  the  Presbyterian  Sunday- 
school,  and  an  elder  in  the  church.  In  1819,  John  Tait  the  projenitor  of  this  family, 
came  from  Scotland,  but  the  famil}'  date  their  lineage  back  to  one  Normand  Tait,  of 
of  the  twelfth  century. 

Timerman,  M.  W.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Orleans,  Jefferson  county,  September 
14,  L853,  and  has  followed  farming  most  of  his  life.  In  1879  he  married  Lizzie  W. 
Cooper,  of  Theresa.  Mr.  Timerman  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  on  the 
Democratic  side,  and  May  22,  1893,  he  was  appointed  deputy  collector  and  inspector 
of  customs  at  Oak  Point.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Foresters  and  was  past  chief  ranger 
two  j'^ears.  His  father  was  William  H.  Timerman,  of  Jefferson  county.  The  family  is 
of  Mohawk  Dutch  descent. 

Thompson,  Robert,  Waddington,  was  born  at  Brockville,  Canada,  March  8,  1845. 
His  father,  John  Thompson,  was  born  in  Paisley,  Scotland,  of  Irish  parents.  In  1833 
he  emigrated  to  Brockville,  Canada,  and  in  1846  removed  to  Dundas  county,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was  by  occupation  a  farmer.  He  married  in 
Brockville  in  1841,  Mary  Ross,  of  Highland  Scotch  parentage,  and  they  had  ten  sons, 
nine  of  whom  are  now  living:  John,  George,  Edward,  Sidney  and  James,  farmers  in 
Dundas  county,  Canada:  Hugh,  who  resides  in  Princeton,  Cal.,  and  David  and  William, 
general  merchants  in  Black  River  Falls,  Wis.  John  Thompson,  father  of  Robert,  died 
in  1881.     Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common,  school  education. 


148  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Beoinning  at  sixteen  years  of  age  as  a  clerk,  he  in  early  life  gained  a  good  knoAvledge 
of  his  business.  He  "was  at  one  time  clerk  for  Morris  RosendorfF,  also  Lord  &  Taylor, 
of  New  York.  In  1869  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  one  year,  afterward 
coming  to  Waddington,  where  he  engaged  as  salesman  with  the  late  Robert  Dezell, 
April  1,  1870,  and  after  six  months  as  salesman  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  the  firm 
name  being  Dezell  &  Thompson,  and  continued  until  the  death  of  Robert  Dezell  in  1874. 
At  this  time  Mr.  Thompson  engaged  in  business  by  himself,  his  trade  having  grown 
until  he  now  occupies  a  two-story  building  eighty-six  feet  deep,  carrying  a  stock  of 
about  $20,000.  In  1890  he  became  proprietor  of  the  Clark  House,  and  his  reputation 
for  hotel  keeping  has  grown  rapidly.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  served  as  village 
president  three  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  eleven  years,  being  re-elected  in  1893. 
He  has  also  been  notary  public  for  a  number  of  year?,  and  a  warm  friend  of  the  soldiers, 
assisting  many  of  them  in  receiving  pensions.  Mr.  Thompson  married  Charlotte  J. 
Parlow,  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  Parlow,  of  Waddington,  in  September,  1873,  and 
they  have  two  sons,  Raymond  W.,  a  graduate  of  Union  Free  School,  of  Waddington, 
class  of  '93,  and  Ross  H.,  both  of  whom  assist  their  father  in  his  business.  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son.died  October  18,  1881. 

Tuck,  Andrew,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  November  9,  1833.  He  was  educated  at 
the  public  schools,  and  has  been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life.  In  1865  he  married 
Maria  Lynch,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Andrew  E.,  Charles  H.,  William  F.,  John 
B..  and  Mary  Agnes,  wife  of  Mr.  Lucy,  a  lawyer,  of  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  Tuck  is  promi- 
nent in  Lisbon  in  every  way,  was  supervisor  of  the  town  for  years  and  held  a  seat  in 
the  Assembly  in  1885  and  '86,  and  was  loan  commissioner  from  1882  to  1893.  His 
father  was  John  Tuck,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in  1832. 

Taylor,  P.  R.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Granville,  Quebec,  December  25,  1832.  At 
three  weeks  of  age  he  came  to  Hammond.  His  father  was  John  Taylor,  and  his 
mother  Helen  (Smith)  Taylor.  July  8,  1858,  he  married  Janet  B.,  daughter  of  Andrew 
Shiell,  and  they  have  five  children:  Helen  Smith,  Henry  P.,  Greorge  R.,  Mary  C,  and 
Lotta  B.     Mr.  Taylor  was  a  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  twenty-six  years. 

Usher,  Luke,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  April  22,  1830,  a  son  of 
Bloomfield  Usher,  a  manufacturer  of  Herkimer.  Luke  was  the  youngest  of  nine  chil- 
dren, and  was  educated  at  Little  Falls  Academy.  His  first  position  was  as  civil  engineer 
on  the  enlargement  of  the  Erie  canal.  In  1851  he  came  to  Potsdam  where  he  became 
the  cashier  of  the  old  Frontier  Bank  and  continued  as  such  until  in  1866,  when  that  in- 
stitution was  succeeded  by  the  National  Bank  of  Potsdam,  and  he  became  its  cashier. 
January,  1890,  he  was  elected  president  by  the  board  of  directors,  a  position  which  he 
now  holds.  During  all  this  time  he  has  been  prominent  in  forming  the  policy  of  the 
bank  and  in  the  general  management  of  its  business.  He  is  a  manufacturer  as  well  as 
a  banker,  being  the  head  of  the  Potsdam  Lumber  Company,  located  at  Hewittville,  in 
connection  with  which  he  owns  large  interests  in  the  forest  lands  of  the  Adirondacks. 
He  married  in  1856,  Hannah  E.  Small  of  Little  Falls,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Frank  L.,  superintendent  of  the  lumber  company  ;  Mrs.  N.  R.,  wife  of  Lieut.  N.  R.  Usher 
of  the  I'.  S.  N. ;  and  Miss  Susan  S.  Usher. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  149 

Volans,  Thomas,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  May,  1828,  in  England.  His  parents  came 
to  this  country  when  he  was  a  child  four  years  old,  and  settled  in  Oswegatchie.  Mr. 
Volans  owns  a  fine  farm  of  270  acres,  with  good  buildings  thereon.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  and  had  seven  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Volans  attends 
regularly  to  all  the  duties  of  the  farm  and  all  that  demands  his  attention. 

Valley,  Mab,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Montreal,  November  7,  1816.  The  early  ances- 
try of  the  family  were  French.  Mr.  Valley  was  only  a  child  when  his  father  died  and 
his  mother  moved  from  Montreal  to  Ottawa,  where  the  family  lived  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  In  1838  he  came  to  New  York  State,  locating  for  a  short  time  in 
Madrid,  and  then  settled  in  Potsdam,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  carpenter  and 
joiner.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Norwood,  where  he  was  employed  by  B.  Gr.  Baldwin  on 
the  erection  of  the  first  hotel  of  this  village.  In  1860  he  established  a  dry  goods  store, 
which  he  conducted  two  years,  when  he  sold  his  stock  to  the  Ashleys  and  conducted  a  gen- 
eral grocery  and  provision  store.  In  1880  the  block  where  Mr.  Ashley's  store  was  located 
was  destroyed  by  fire  and  he  immediately  built  a  two-story  brick  block  which  is  now  leased 
to  other  parties  for  stores  and  offices.  In  1888  Mr.  Valley,  in  partnership  with  Ira  C. 
Russell,  bought  the  adjoining  block,  of  which  he  became  the  sole  owner  in  1889.  In 
1888  he  was  employed  to  conduct  the  general  store  of  the  manufacturing  company, 
which  store  he  bought  in  1891  and  conducted  until  1893,  when  he  transferred  the  store 
to  his  son,  Joseph  A.  Mr.  Valley  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  fifteen 
years,  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  of  Norwood,  has  been  the  treasurer  since 
its  establishment,  and  was  the  leading  one  in  its  founding.  Mr.  Valley  married  in  1840, 
Angeline  Barnhardt  of  Potsdam.  Two  children  are  left  of  this  union  :  Mrs.  L.  R.  Ash- 
ley of  Norwood  and  Joseph  A.  Valley,  a  merchant  of  Norwood.  Mrs.  Valley  died  in 
1855  and  he  married  second,  Miss  Lucetta  Drake  of  Middlebury,  Vt. 

Vilas,  Erastus,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  October  13,  1824. 
His  ancestors,  originally  from  England,  settled  in  this  country  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  His  father,  Nathaniel  Vilas,  jr.,  was  born  in  Alstead,  N.  H.,  June  19,  1795, 
and  died  in  Wisconsin,  August  19,  1880.  Erastus  Vilas  first  married  Emma  Lake  of 
Sterling,  Cayuga  county,  May  22,  1853,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Calvin  E.  and 
George  B.  His  second  wife  is  Sarah  P.  Ballard.  Mr.  Vilas  has  been  for  forty-three 
years  engaged  in  the  tanning  business,  during  forty  of  which  he  has  conducted  the 
business  either  as  owner  or  as  manager.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education,  as  water  commissioner,  as  superintendent  of  the  joor,  and  in  various  other 
capacities,  but  of  late  years  his  business  interests  have  required  his  entire  attention. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  His  uncle,  Erastus  Vilas,  built  the  tannery  in  1828. 
The  eldest  son,  Calvin  E.,  is  in  Seattle,  general  manager  of  the  Washington  National 
Loan  Association ;  and  George  B.  has  been  connected  with  the  Northwestern  Railway 
Company  for  five  years,  being  now  agent  at  Kenosha,  Wis. 

Willis,  Austin,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  in  1808,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
came  with  his  parents  to  Parishville,  where  he  married  Emily  Brown,  daughter  of 
Varnum  Brown  of  this  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  had  seven  children,  three  of  whom 
reached  maturity.     Mr.  Willis  was  a  farmer,  and  a  Republican  in  politics,  having  been 


150  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

supervisor,  justice  of  the  peace,  etc.  He  was  also  captain  of  militia  and  deacon  in  the 
church  many  years.  Mrs.  Willis  died  in  April,  1849,  and  Mr.  Willis  married,  second, 
Mrs.  Amarilla  (Ford)  Christy,  whose  first  husband  was  Nathan  Christy,  who  came 
from  Vermont  to  Parishville  in  1825,  and  took  up  the  farm  now  owned  by  Emma  J. 
Willis,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  Republican  and  twice  supervisor  of  his  town.  He 
was  born  October  1,  1797,  and  died  February  29,  1852.  His  parents  were  Asa  and 
Sally  Christy,  early  settlers  of  Vermont,  where  Mr.  Christy  died  January  5,  1848,  and 
his  wife  July  17,  1850.  Austin  Willis  died  May  15,  1861,  and  his  wife  September  9, 
1889. 

Wilson,  Myron,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  February  16,  1826. 
Reuben,  father  of  Myron  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Colchester  in  Mav,  1786. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  wounded  at  Lundy's  Lane.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  located.  In  1835  he  moved  into  the  town  of 
Pierrepont,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  June  8,  1842.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  Roxanna  Church,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Dorset, 
Februrary  22,  1790.  She  died  January  4,  1874.  Myron  is  the  only  one  living  of  eight 
children.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  lived  on  his  parents'  farm  until 
he  reached  his  majority.  He  took  up  farming,  the  first  farm  was  one  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  the  town  of  Pierrepont,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1880,  and  that  year 
came  to  Potsdam.  Retaining  the  one  in  Pierrepont  he  also  bought  one  hundred  and 
nine  acres  on  which  he  has  erected  a  beautiful  residence  and  conducts  a  dairy  farm. 
Mr.  Wilson  is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  this  town  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  married  in  1852,  Malvina  D., 
daughter  of  Frederick  R.  and  Betsey  (Potter)  Pierce,  of  Paris,  Oneida  county,  and  they 
have  two  living  children:  Archie  L.,  a  graduate  of  Rochester  Business  University,  now 
conducting  his  father's  farm.  He  married  December  21,  1892,  Edith  M.,  daughter  of 
Norman  L.  Benson,  of  Potsdam;  and  Reuben  C,  now  employed  as  a  book  and  time 
keeper  in  mines  in  Colorado.  He  graduated  at  the  Eastman  Business  College,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1887. 

Williams,  Isaac  B.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Massena,  April  19,  1849,  a  son  of  James,  a 
native  of  Canada.  Isaac  was  the  second  son  of  seven  children,  and  was  only  one  year 
old  when  his  parents  returned  to  Canada,  where  he  was  reared  until  he  was  thirteen, 
when  he  went  to  the  west,  remaining  two  years,  and  after  his  return  located  in  Pots- 
dam (in  1866.)  His  first  occupatiou  here  was  in  Swan's  livery,  where  he  spent  about 
eighteen  years.  In  1884,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Swan,  Mr.  Williams  bought  part  of 
the  stock  and  engaged  in  the  business  for  himself,  and  has  ever  since  conducted  the 
Albion  House  livery.  He  has  twenty-seven  horses  and  carriages,  also  hacks,  sleighs 
and  everything  needed  in  the  conducting  of  a  first-class  livery.  He  is  a  Mason  of  both 
Blue  Lodge  and  Lodge  of  Perfection.  Mr.  Williams  married  in  1875,  Nellie  Halligan, 
of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  a  beautiful  resideuce  on  Main  street. 

Weed,  William  W.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Leray,  Jefferson  county,  June 
21,  1824.  His  father,  Seneca,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county  m  1797.  He  was  quite  a 
politician,  but  never  held  other  than  town  offices.     He  lived  to  be   ninety-one  years  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  151 

age,  and  died  in  Greenfield,  Saratoga  county.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Catherine 
Proctor  Drake,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county  in  1794.  Our  subject  was  educated  in 
Glens  Falls  Academy,  and  when  sixteen  began  teaching,  spending  four  years  at  this. 
He  then  went  into  a  dry  goods  store  where  he  sold  goods.  In  1864  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  at  Glens  Falls.  In  1886  he  came  to  Potsdam,  where  he  has  ever  since 
been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and  in  1SS9  established  the  Piacquette  Valley 
stock  farm.  He  married  in  1849,  Anner  D.,  daughter  of  Augustus  Sherman,  of  Glens 
Falls,  and  they  have  three  sons  and  a  daughter.     Mrs.  Weed  died  March  28,  1889. 

Williams,  William  G.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Canada,  December  5,  1850. 
James,  father  of  our  subject,  is  a  native  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  having  always  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  is  still  living  in  Lancaster,  now  about  seventy-six  years  of  age. 
Our  subject  was  only  about  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Potsdam,  and  for  six 
years  worked  for  George  E.  Swan,  and  was  four  years  with  W.  W.  Morgan,  stock 
dealer  in  Potsdam.  He  then  went  to  Connecticut,  following  various  employments, 
until  1877,  when  he  returned  to  Potsdam.  In  1878  he  established  a  livery  busine/^s, 
which  he  conducted  six  years.  He  was  four  years  stock  dealing,  and  in  1888  bought 
the  Empire  Exchange  Hotel  in  Colton,  which  he  conducted  three  years,  'sold  it,  and 
bought  the  Parrishville  Hotel,  which  he  owaied  but  a  year  when  he  exchanged  it  for  the 
livery  business  he  now  conducts.  His  stable  contains  about  eighteen  horses  and  car- 
riages, hacks,  hearse,  sleighs,  and  all  things  that  go  to  make  a  first-class  livery  stable. 
He  married  in  1880,  Charlotte  Charters,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  two  children.  Mar- 
garet and  Marion. 

Westurn,  Thomas,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns, 
March  10,  1839.  His  father.  Freeman,  was  a  son  of  James  Westurn,  the  latter  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  March  30,  1760,  and  died  January  25,  1834,  aged  seventy-four. 
He  served  seven  years  in  the  wars  in  the  old  country,  and  seven  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  was  a  weaver,  and  married  Ann  Hayford,  a  native  of  Pembroke,  Mass.,  born 
June  3,  1760,  who  died  January  4,  1839,  aged  seventy-nine.  They  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Freeman  Westurn  was  born  in  Orwell,  Vt.,  November  25,  1795,  and 
came  to  Stockholm  with  his  parents  in  1824.  His  wife  was  Omira  Rowley,  born 
January  6,  1829,  and  they  had  eight  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  born  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  our  subject.  Five  sons  were  in  the  late  war,  and  two  died  in  the 
service.  Mr.  Westurn  died  March  29,  1874.  Thomas  Westurn  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  is  a  farmer.  His  wife  holds  the  deed  of  their  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  they  keep  twenty-four  cows,  fourteen  horses  and 
twelve  sheep  and  a  flock  of  one  hundred  fowls.  January  9,  1862,  he  married  Martha 
M.  Eastman,  a  native  of  Parishville,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Eastman.  The  latter 
was  born  November  6,  1796,  a  son  of  Samuel  Eastman.  Samuel,  jr.,  married  Phoebe 
Orvis,  born  October  21,  1801,  and  they  had  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  Mr.  Eastman 
died  July  22,  18(39,  and  his  wife  September  24,  1868.  Mr.  Westurn  and  wife  have  had 
three  children:  Henry  E..  aged  twenty-two;  Mary  E.,  who  died  July  25,  1870,  and  M. 
Alice,  aged  fourteen.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge,  No.  395, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  P.  of  H.,  Depot  Lodge,  No.  538,  of  Stockholm.     His  wife  and  son  are 


152  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

also  members  of  the  latter.  Mrs.  Westura  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Parish- 
ville  and  with  Henry  and  Alice  is  also  a  member  of  P.  of  I.  Henry  Westurn  is  a 
member  of  I.  0.  O.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge. 

Whitney,  D.  J.,  Gouverneur,  one  of  five  children  of  Nathan  E.  and  Esther  (Stephen- 
son) Whitney,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Canton,  February  L5,  1848.  In  1859  the  family 
moved  to  Ogdensburg  and  he  was  educated  in  the  Ogdensburg  Academy.  In  October, 
1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  24th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  in  the  engagements  of  Tolopotomy  and  Bethesda  Church,  was  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  was  at  Poplar  Springs  Church,  where  he  was  wounded  and  lay  three  months  in 
the  hospital,  was  at  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  assault  on  Petersburg 
and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Five  Forks,  March  31,  1865,  by  General  Lee's  army.  The 
regiment  lost  672  men  in  eleven  months,  117  of  whom  were  killed  in  action.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  went  into  business  with  his  father,  in  marble  cutting,  etc.,  until  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1868.  In  1871  he  was  engaged  as  foreman  of  stone  cutters  on 
the  Capitol  at  Albany.  In  the  spring  of  1876  Mr.  Whitney,  his  brother.  T.  J.,  and  Mr. 
Honeycomb,  operated  a  quarry  in  Gouverneur,  he  continuing  in  that  business  to  the 
present  time  in  the  town,  with  the  exception  of  one  and  one-half  years  spent  in  devel- 
oping quarries  in  Canada.  In  1889  he  took  the  management  of  the  Gouverneur  quarry, 
which  position  he  now  occupies.  This  company  produces  monumental  stock  principally 
and  is  the  leading  producer  of  the  section  in  that  direction.  Mr.  Whitney  married 
December  2,  1866,  Augusta  D.  Ayres,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Laura  (Smith)  Ayres, 
early  settlers  of  Gouverneur.  They  have  four  children  :  De  Witt  C,  Bertha  A.,  Everett 
A.  and  Mildred  E.  Mr.  Whitney  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  thirty-second  degree 
Mason. 

Wilson,  Loren  H.,  Canton,  sheriff  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  was  born  in  De  Peyster, 
March  15,  1844,  and  was  elected  sheriff  in  1891.  He  married  Sarna,  daughter  of  John 
S.  Snyder,  for  many  years  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Macomb.  He  was  also  school 
superintendent  of  that  town  for  a  number  of  years.  Loren  H.  Wilson  is  a  son  of  Loren 
Wilson,  who  died  September  17,  1880,  and  his  wife,  Polly  (Austin)  Wilson,  died  April 
24,  1880.  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Loren  H.  was  the  seventh.  Loren  H. 
Wilson  enlisted  in  1862  in  Company  C,  106th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol.,  and  served  until 
discharged  in  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  has  three  living  children  :  Laura  K., 
Lou  and  Loren  Leslie  Wilson. 

Walling,  Col.  William  H.,  Potsdam,  w^as  born  in  Hartford,  Washington  county, 
September  3,  1830,  and  was  the  only  son  of  Joshua  and  Mary  Walling.  The  former  was 
born  in  1796  and  died  in  1842.  The  latter  was  born  in  1799  and  died  in  1835.  To  them 
were  born  one  son  and  four  daughters.  Joshua  married  for  his  second  wife,  Eveline 
Atwood,  who  died  in  1835,  leaving  one  daughter.  For  a  third  wife  he  married  Elmira 
Inglesbee,  who  had  one  daughter.  In  the  year  1834  Joshua  moved  his  family  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Gouverneur.  Four  of  his  sisters  are  now  living  :  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Gillett  of  Glens  Falls,  Misses  Aleriba  and  Elizabeth  of  Gouverneur,  and  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Jameson  of  Alton,  111.  Tlie  latter  has  been  for  fifteen  years  a  missionary  to  Burmah. 
William  H.  received  his   education  in   the  district  schools  and  Gouverneur  Wesleyan 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  153 

Seminary.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and  in  the  following  year  to 
Hastings,  Minn.,  and  was  there  appointed  deputy  cojnty  surveyor  of  Dakota  county, 
which  office  he  held  until  he  left  the  State  in  1859.  Late  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he 
went  to  St.  Louis  and  engaged  in  the  produce  business,  and  not  meeting  with  very  good 
success  he  went  to  Belleville,  111.,  and  there  received  the  appointment  of  deputy  county 
surveyor  of  St.  Clair  county.  This  office  he  held  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Eebellion. 
The  day  before  the  rebels  opened  fire  on  Sumter  he  started  for  his  old  home  in  New 
York.  On  his  arrival  in  Gouverneur  the  war  excitement  was  at  fever  heat.  A  meeting 
of  citizens  was  called  and  enlistments  made.  Gen.  A.  M.  Barney  and  Colonel  Walling 
were  the  first  to  enlist.  Active  measures  were  taken  by  George  Parker,  A.  M.Barney, 
R.  P.  Willson  and  W.  H.  Walling  to  raise  a  company.  At  the  formation  of  the  com- 
pany the  first  three  were  selected  for  commissioned  officers  and  the  latter  for  orderly 
sergeant.  This  company  became  later  Co.  D  of  the  16th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 
Sergeant  Walling  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  September  10,  1861,  and  first 
lieutenant  June  26,  1862.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  last  year  of  service  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  Co.  D.  Captain  Parker  was  on  the  staff  of  General  Sedgwick,  Lieutenant 
Barney  was  promoted  captain  of  Co.  E,  and  Lieutenant  Willson  was  captain  on  the 
staff  of  General  Bartlett.  The  regiment  served  in  all  the  battles  of  McClellan's  Pen- 
insular campaign,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  first  and  second  Fredericks- 
burg, and  after  its  two  years'  service  was  mustered  out  and  disbanded  at  Albany,  June 
1863.  On  reaching  Gouverneur  Lieutenant  Walling  found  a  letter  from  General  Curtis, 
then  colonel  in  command  of  the  142d  Regiment,  N.  Y.  YoL,  soliciting  him  to  accept  a 
commission  as  first  lieutenant  in  Co.  G  of  his  regiment.  On  account  of  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Salem  Church,  he  was  prevented  from  joining  the  army  again  until  the  last 
of  August.  In  December,  1864,  he  received  a  captain's  commission  and  was  assigned 
to  Co.  C.  In  the  assault  on  Fort  Gilmor,  Va.,  known  as  the  battle  of  Chapin's  Farm, 
he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  rebel  bullet  passing  through  his  right  lung,  and  it  came 
near  terminating  his  life  on  that  bloody  field.  General  Grant  in  his  final  report  of  the 
war  refers  to  this  assault  on  Fort  Gilmor  by  the  division  of  General  Foster  as 
"gallant,"  but  "unsuccessful."  Nearly  all  of  the  line  officers  of  the  142d  were  wounded 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barney  was  the  senior  officer  in  command  of  the  brigade.  Gen- 
eral Dagget,  its  commander,  was  among  the  wounded.  In  December  of  that  year. 
Captain  Walling  had  so  far  recovered  from  his  wounds  that  he  joined  his  regiment  just 
as  the  troops  under  General  Terry  were  embarking  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  Ya.,  on 
the  first  expedition  to  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.  The  142d  Regiment  was  among  the 
first  to  disembark  and  Co.  G  was  immediately  sent  forward  as  skirmishers  with  the 
remaining  companies  as  its  support.  When  the  skirmish  line  was  about  150  yards 
from  the  fort,  the  rebel  flag  floating  over  Stephen's  battery  had  its  staff  cut  off  by 
a  shot  from  the  navy.  Captain  Walling  passed  through  a  hole  in  the  stockade 
went  upon  the  parapet  of  the  fort  and  captured  the  rebel  flag.  For  this  act  of 
gallantry  President  Johnson  brevetted  him  major  and  lieutenant-colonel.  At  the 
taking  of  the  fort  he  had  received  his  commission  as  captain  and  had  been  assigned 
to  Co.  C.  In  March.  1892,  he  received  the  following  communication  : 
t 


154  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

*  War  Department,  Washington  City,  March  28,  1892. 

Captain  Williain  H.  Walling,  Late  \\id  Regiment,  New  York  P'ols.: 

Sir  :  I  aave  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  have  this  day  forwarded  to  j'ou  by  registered  mail  a 
Medal  of  Honor  awarded  you  by  the  Secretary  of  War  for  gallantry  in  action  at  Fort  Fisher,  North 
Carolina,  December,  25  1864,  in  accordance  with  the  Act  of  Congress  approved  March  3,  1863,  pro- 
viding for  the  presentation  of  Medals  of  Honor  to  such  officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  as  have  most  distinguished  themselves  in  action. 

Veiy   Respectfully, 

F.  E.  AINSWORTH, 

Major  and  Surgeon,  U.  S.  Army. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  June  7,  1865,  and  was  dis- 
banded at  Ogdensburg.  July  3,  1865,  he  returned  to  Gouverneur  and  for  the  next 
five  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  clothing  trade  with  James  Brodie.  In  the  winter 
ter  of  1867-68  he  was  inspector  of  customs  under  Gen.  N.  M.  Curtis  at  Ogdensburg, 
and  in  1868-70  he  was  assistaut  assessor  in  the  internal  revenue  service.  In  No- 
vember. 1870,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  office,  in  1874,  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Potsdam,  Avhere  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  conducting  the  hardware  trade,  carrying  a  general  line  of  hardware 
and  builder's  materials.  Mr.  Walling  is  a  trustee  of  school  district  No.  8,  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  one  of  its  trustees.  He  has  served  two  terms  on  the 
board  ot  village  trustees,  six  years  on  the  board  of  water  commissioners,  and  is  now 
chairman  of  the  board.  Colonel  Walling  married,  May  20,  1868,  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of 
the  late  Abram  Thompson  of  Grouverneur,  and  they  have  four  children  :  William  W., 
Julia  T.,  Mary  Louise  anu  Ruth  E.  The  three  oldest  are  graduates  of  the  Postsdam 
Normal  and  Training  School. 

Waldron,  T.  F.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Belleville,  Ont.,  April  23,  1872.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  town  and  in  Ogdensburg,  to  which  city  his  mother 
removed  when  he  was  about  twelve  years  of  age.  She  purchased  the  New  York 
Hotel,  and  Mr.  Waldron  has  supervised  all  details  and  virtually  conducted  the  house  for 
some  years.  His  mother,  Mrs.  Joseph  Martin,  lives  in  this  hotel.  Her  husband  is  a 
prominent  horse  dealer  and  at  their  stables  may  be  seen  some  of  the  finest  breeds  of 
Kentucky  stock. 

Wright,  Melville  S.,  Oswegatchie,  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  S.  Wright,  was 
born  in  Oswegatchie,  March  17,  1836.  He  was  educated  at  Lowville  Academy,  and  at 
sixteen  years  of  age  went  to  live  on  a  farm  situated  six  miles  above  Ogdensburg,  on  • 
the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  the  purchase  of  his  great-grandfather,  Samuel 
Wright,  A.  D.  1815.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Duy,  January  4,  1855,  and  they  have  a 
son  and  daughter  :  Levings  L.,  and  Florence.  Mr.  Wright's  ancestors  were  famous 
people  in  the  olden  days  in  this  part  of  the  country,  being  closely  connected  to  Gover- 
nor Silas  Wright. 

Whitney,  A.  S.,  Gouverneur,  one  of  the  four  sons  of  Nathan  E.,  and  Esther 
(Stephenson)  Whitney,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Morley,  May  13,  1854.  The  family 
moved  to  Ogdensburg  when  he  was  five  years  of  age,  where  he  lived  until  the  spring 
of  1867.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Central  Railroad  at 
Albany,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.       He  then  returned  to   Gouverneur,  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  155 

learned  the  trade  of  marble  cutter.  He  was  for  several  years  in  the  employ  of  D.  J. 
&  T.  J.  Whitney,  and  in  1877  bought  the  business  and  continued  it  until  January,  1889, 
when  he  sold  out  and  weni  into  the  coal  business,  in  which  he  is  now  engaged  doing  a 
large  business.  He  married  December  28,  1870,  Ella  McKean,  of  Gouverneur, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Hudson)  McKean,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the 
first  settlers  here.  They  have  two  children :  Clara  (Mrs.  W.  P.  Legate,  of  Gouver- 
neur) and  Nathan  W. 

Stewart,  Wiley,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Fiussell,  November  7,  1828,  a  son  of  Russell 
Stewart,  a  native  of  Blandford,  Hampden  county,  Mass.,  born  in  1793.  His  wife  was 
Sophia  Bruce,  a  native  of  Washington  county,  born  November  17,  1791,  by  whom  he 
had  ten  children.  They  came  to  Russell  in  1817  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  they 
lived  until  1839,  then  came  to  Edwards,  this  county,  where  Mr.  Stewart  died  in  1880, 
(May  1)  and  his  wife,  November  1,  1877.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Wiley 
Stewart  has  always  been  engaged  in  agriculture,  and  owns  at  present  one  hundred  and 
thirty  seven  acres  which  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and  dairying,  with  ten  cows/ 
and  young  stock.  January  5,  1863,  Mr.  Stewart  married  Mary  Sabin,  a  native  of  Ver-j 
mont,  born  March  22,  1833,  and  a  daughter  of  Dexter  and  Hannah  (Liscomb)  Sabinl 
natives  of  Vermont,  both  born  in  ISOO,  who  came  to  Pierrepont  in  1839,  and  settled  on\ 
a  farm  near  where  Mr.  Stewart  resides,  and  there  lived  and  died  ;  he  in  1876,  July  31, 
and  she  in  1882.  They  had  six  children.  To  Mr.  Stewart  and  "wife  was  born  one 
son,  Elmer  A.,  born  September  30,  1863.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools.  He  has  always  resided  at  home,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  attends  the  Episcopal  church,  of  Colton.  Wiley  Stewart 
is  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been  since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church.  W.  A.  Stewart,  a  brother  of  our 
subject,  came  to  Pierrepont  in  1S48,  and  has  here  since  resided.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  first  to  Eunice  Hosraer,  who  died  April  31,  1876,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  His 
second  wife  was  Sarah  Oglesby,  who  died  October  11,  1889,  aged  fifty-four  years. 

Crampton,  L.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  March  7,  1825,  one  of  seven 
children  of  Andrew  A.,  and  Lucy  (Leonard)  Crampton,  the  former  a  native  of  Pittsford, 
Vt.,  born  October  13,  1795.  His  wife  died  in  1835,  and  he  married  second  Galista 
Tupper.  Mr.  Crampton  came  to  Pierrepont  in  1815,  and  was  appointed  to  two  offices 
when  the  town  was  organized  in  1818.  He  subsequently  held  all  the  town  offices, 
being  postmaster  seventeen  years  and  magistrate  twenty-five  years.  He  died  Septem- 
ber 16,  1866,  and  his  wife  died  in  1867.  L.  Crampton  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  In  1846  he  married  Sallie  Brown,  of  Parishville,  who 
died  in  1849,  and  in  1850  he  married  Amanda  Chamberlain,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children  ;  Marion,  M.  Minnie,  Guy  A.,  and  Fritz  B.,  who  died  aged  nineteen.  Mr. 
Crampton  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  was  assessor  nine  years,  supervisor  two 
years  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  one  year.  He  and  his  wife  attend  the  M.  E. 
Church.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Crampton  were  Anson  and  Betsey  (McKnight)  Chamber- 
lain, who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Parishville.  They  had  seven  children.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  died  in  1851  and  his  wife  in  1890.  Moses  Leonard,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Springfield,  Mass. 


156  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Whitney  Milton  A..  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  June  30,  1845.  The  earliest 
ancestor  recorded  of  this  family  is  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Daniel,  who 
was  a  resident  of  Shrewsbury,  Mass.  He  married  Catherine  Stone  of  Oxford, 
Mass.  and  they  had  seven  sons:  Jonah,  John,  Daniel,  Luther,  Isaac,  William  and 
Orange-  and  two  daughters.  Jonah,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  in  Old  Shrewsbury, 
Mass.,  September  3,  1772.  He  married  in  1802,  Sarah  Wilder  of  Wilmington,  Vr., 
and  came  to  St  Lawrence  county  in  1808,  where  his  father  had  settled  about  three 
years  previous.  Daniel  Whitney  died  December  29,  1809,  at  Madrid,  aged  sixty- 
five  years.  Catherine,  his  wife,  died  May  10,  1817,  aged  sixty-five  years.  Jonah 
Whitney  was  the  father  of  seven  children :  Harriet,  married  Lyman  Moss  in 
December,  1822,  and  died  in  1830:  Elisha,  died  in  July,  1879;  Olive,  married 
Leonard  Doran  in  1823,  and  died  in  July,  1860 ;  Phcjebe,  married  Valentine 
Simons  in  1836,  and  died  in  February,  1883;  Orris,  died  March  6,  1876;  Mary 
Ann,  married  Denison  G.  Wilmarth  in  1839,  and  died  April  19,  1889;  Daniel, 
the  fifth  child  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Madrid,  May  10,  1811.  He 
was  a  farmer  in  early  life,  and  was  afterward  in  a  hotel  and  later  in  trade.  He 
was  a  staunch  Democrat,  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  his  town,  and  was  a  man 
who  commanded  the  respect  of  his  townspeople.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  this  place.  He  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Universalist  church 
and  his  death  occurred  September  6,  1876,  a  severe  loss  to  the  community.  He 
married  January  11.  1844,  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of  Abner  Hall  of  Potsdam,  and  they 
had  three  children:  George  A.,  died  August  11,  1866,  aged  nineteen  years;  Abner 
D.,  is  a  manufacturer  and  farmer  of  Madrid ;  and  the  oldest  son  is  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Whitney  is  still  living  in  her  seventy-third  year.  Milton  A.  has  always  made 
his  home  in  this  town  and  has  devoted  himself  to  the  management  of  the  farms,  of 
which  he  and  his  brother  are  the  owners  of  GOO  acres  and  large  village  property. 
For  the  last  ten  years  he  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and 
is  one  of  the  trustees.  He  married  in  1870,  Emiline  Currier  of  Madrid,  who  died 
October  20,  1875,  and  left  one  child,  Emiline  L.,  a  student  of  Potsdam  State  Normal 
School.  Mr.  Whitney  again  married,  January  15,  1880,  Ida  M.,  daughter  of  Elizah 
M.  Stearns  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mabel  Caroline. 

Whitney,  Abner  D.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  March  2,  1842,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  has  always  been  a  resident  of  this  town.  His  early  life 
was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  on  March  20,1893,  he  became  mterested  in  the  Madrid  Woolen 
Mills,  of  which  he  is  the  president  and  manager,  a  stock  company  having  been  formed 
in  1893,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  manufacture  of  cloth  and  converting  the 
product  into  clothing.  The  board  of  directors  is  composed  of  A.  D.  Whitney,  president 
and  treasurer ;  Dr.  E.  C.  Walsh,  vice-president ;  F.  C.  Merriman,  secretary ;  with  M. 
A.  Whitney,  R.  N.  Walsh,  and  D.  D.  Bryson,  foreman  of  the  mill.  Mr.  Whitney  is  also 
president  of  the  Madrid  branch  of  the  Genesee  Building  and  Loan  Association.  He  is 
held  in  esteem  by  his  townsmen,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  has  been  honored 
by  many  local  offices.  He  has  been  assessor  three  years,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education.  Mr.  Whitney  married,  January  31,  1877,  Lucy  M.  Robinson  of 
this  town,  and  they  have  one  child,  Florence  M.,  a  student  at  Madrid  School. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  157 

Worden,  H.  E.,  Brier  Hill,  v^as  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  August  3, 
1848.  He  received  a  liberal  education  and  taught  school  six  years  before  taking  up 
farming.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  coal  and  wood  business  at  Morristown.  Mr.  Wor- 
den  married  Florida,  daughter  of  Ethan  R.  Hammond,  June  22,  1875.  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Lula  B.  Mr.  Worden's  father  was  Nathaniel,  and  his  mother  Anna 
(Eraser)  Worden,  who  still  survives  him. 

Williamson,  William  C,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  December  17,  1847,  and 
he  has  lived  in  the  town  all  his  life.  He  is  an  intelligent  farmer,  highly  respected  by 
all.  He  married,  April  9,  1878.  Jennette  A.,  daughter  of  Robert  Wilson  of  Hammond, 
who  died  September  19,  1881.  He  married,  second,  June  24,  1891,  Ruth  E.,  daughter 
of  Andrus  Hicks  of  Hammond.  The  father  of  William  C.  was  Thomas  Williamson,  a 
native  of  England,  and  his  mother  was  Jane  B.  Tyler  of  Hammond. 

Welch.  David  M.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  November  12,  1844,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  that  town.  In  January,  1872,  he  married  Alice  ZoUer  of 
Hammond,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Zoller.  They  have  four  children  :  Lucy,  Bertha,  Ruby 
and  Newell.  Mr.  Welch's  father  was  Robert  Welch,  a  native  of  England,  who  came 
to  America  in  infancy.     His  mother  was  Mary  (Moore)  Welch,  a  native  of  Scotland, 

Wilson,  G-eorge  E.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  January  2,  1851.  He  was 
engaged  in  business  in  the  village  for  fifteen  years  and  in  1886  gave  up  mercantile  lines 
for  farming,  which  he  has  successfully  pursued.  In  1876  he  married  Frances  A.  Brooks, 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Brooks.  His  father,  Hercules  W.  Wilson,  was  the  first  white 
male  child  born  in  the  town  of  Morristown,  being  born  October  22,  1818. 

West,  Harvey  C,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Washtenaw  county,  Mich.,  January  16,  1834. 
His  father,  Samuel  J.,  was  a  native  of  Clinton  county,  born  in  1804,  and  was  thirty 
years  of  age  when  he  went  west,  locating  in  Michigan,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
his  death  in  1835.  His  wife,  Nancy  Chaffin,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in 
1804,  and  they  had  four  children:  James  M.,  died  in  Clinton  county  at  nineteen  years 
of  age ;  Hiram  J.  and  Horace  T.,  died  in  boyhood  ;  and  Harvey  C.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  died  in  1879.  Harvey  being  only  an  infant  when  his  father  died,  his  mother 
married  again,  and  a  year  and  a  half  later  returned  to  Clinton  county.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  a  select  school  in  Peru,  Clinton  county.  His  first  occupa- 
tion was  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1860  bought  a  farm  of  150  acres,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  Since 
coming  here  Mr.  West  has  made  many  valuable  improvements  and  has  reclaimed  a  por- 
tion of  the  land.  He  conducts  it  as  a  dairy  farm  with  twenty-three  head  of  Durham 
and  Holstein  cattle.  He  is  a  firm  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been 
delegate  to  numerous  State  and  county  conventions.  For  five  years  he  held  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  highways.  He  is  a  member  of  Silas  Wright  (xrange  of  Canton_ 
Mr.  West  married  in  1866,  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Peter  White,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam, 
and  they  have  two  children :  Anna  L..  a  graduate  of  Canton  University ;  and  James 
Arthur,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Madrid  School,  now  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm. 


158  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Watt  G-eorge  T.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Toronto,  Ontario,  February  7,  1845.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  but  a  child,  and  his  mother  removed  from  Brockville  to  Ogdens- 
buro-  where  George  T.  received  his  education.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  he  war  he 
enhsted  in  the  1 1th  U.  S.  Regulars,  under  Lieutenant  Greeley,  and  served  three  years.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  was  confined  in  Andersonville, 
Milne  and  Savannah  prisons  for  a  period  of  six  months.  Mr.  Watt  received  his  discharge 
at  Richmond,  immediately  after  the  surrender  of  Lee.  He  then  returned  to  Ogdens- 
burof  and  attended  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College,  after  which  he  went  west, 
remaining  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  some  time.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and  en- 
gaged in  the  meat  business  on  State  street.  He  sold  this  business  after  two  years  and 
went  to  Dakota  on  a  prospecting  tour.  Returning,  he  again  opened  a  meat  business  on 
Ford  street,  which  he  gradually  merged  into  a  grocery,  and  which  he  has  successfully 
conducted  for  the  past  sixteen  years.  Mr.  Watt  also  conducted  a  drug  business  in 
connection  with  his  grocery  for  many  years,  which  department  he  lately  sold,  substitu- 
ting crockery.  During  his  identification  with  the  drug  business,  he  became  proprietor 
of  a  few  celebrated  staple  medicines,  among  which  we  mention  Watt's  Extracts,  Hore- 
hound  and  Tar  Remedy,  Headache  and  Liver  Pills,  plasters  and  other  articles  which  are 
in  demand  throughout  the  State.  He  is  an  influential  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  the 
Methodist  church  and  the  board  of  education,  besides  being  a  Mason.  He  married  in 
1872,  Libbie  Green,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.* 

Zellar,  Henry  F.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  Otsego  county, 
November  23,  1823;  at  the  age  of  nine  years  moved  with  his  father's  family  to  the 
town  of  Pameha,  Jefferson  county,  and  lived  there  five  years;  and  moved  from  there 
to  Hammond,  arriving  on  March  17,  1837,  and  has  since  been  a  resident  here.  He  has 
always  been  a  farmer.  February  22,  1849,  he  married  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
N.  Demick,  who  died  April  28,  1884.  H.  F.  Zellar's  father  was  Henry  Zoller  of  Min- 
den,  Montgomery  county,  and  his  mother  was  Nancy  Fralick  of  the  same  place,  both  of 
German  descent.  H.  F.  Zellar  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve  years,  and 
overseer  of  the  poor  for  two  years.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  1857,  has  been 
active  in  politics,  and  steadfast  to  the  principles  laid  down  by  his  party,  believing  them 
to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  country.  He  has  voted  at  every  general  election  to 
date. 

Young,  W.  H,,  Ogdensburg,  is  a  native  of  Steuben  county,  where  he  was  born  Jan- 
uary 19,  1821.  He  started  business  in  Ogdensburg  in  1851,  next  door  to  his  present 
stand  on  Ford  street,  and  ever  since  that  period  has  remained  in  close  proximity  to  the 
old  stand.  In  1852  he  was  burned  out,  and  ten  days  thereafter  was  doing  business  in 
a  shanty  improvised  for  the  occasion.  Mr.  W.  H.  Young  represented  the  third  ward 
of  Ogdensburg  for  some  time  as  alderman.  He  married  in  1852,  Miss  Bacon,  of  this 
city,  and  has  had  four  children,  one  of  whom,  C.  F.  Young,  the  junior  member  of  the 
firm,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  July  13,  1850.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
here  and  eventually  graduated  from  the  Hungerford  Collegiate  Institute.  Some  time 
after  leaving  school  he  represented  for  eight  years  a  prominent  clothing  firm  on  the 
road,  and  five  years  ago  returned  to  Ogdensburg,  and  in  connection  with  his  father 
inaugurated  the  present  firm.     C.  F.  Young  married  Miss  J.  Durfee,  and   they  have  a 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  159 

son  and  a  daughter.  Mr  Young  U  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow,  having  passed  through  all 
the  degrees  from  past  grand.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Elijah  White 
lodge.  This  firm  is  among  oar  representative  establishments,  and  its  members  are 
much  respected  and  esteemed  by  all. 

Vilas,  Alden,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  July  13,  1806,  in  Derby,  Orleans  county,  Vt., 
and  came  to  Ogdensburg  early  in  1822,  travelling  most  of  the  way  from  the  head  of 
Lake  Mempliramagog,  to  the  foot,  on  the  ice,  and  thence  made  his  way  from  Derby, 
Vt.,  to  Montreal  on  foot  through  the  wilderness,  when  the  route  was  followed  by 
blazed  trees.  From  that  city  he  made  his  way  slowly  on  through  Prescott,  Ontario, 
and  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  river  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he  had  a  cousin  who  was 
engaged  in  the  tanning  business,  with  whom  he  remained  in  an  important  capacity 
until  1831.  He  became  a  partner  for  three  years  in  1844,  and  then  purchased  the 
entire  interests  of  the  concern  and  conducted  it  most  successfully  the  following  ten 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  centered  all  his  interests  in  his  present  boot 
and  shoe  business  on  Ford  street,  which  he  had  been  conducting  along  with  his  tanning 
business.  In  1837  he  married  Ella  Baldwin,  by  whom  he  had  six  daughters  and  four 
sons;  one  daughter  being  deceased.  His  daughters  are  Mrs.  Dr.  Southwick,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Sprague,  of  Ogdensburg;  Mrs.  M.  Halcomb,  of  New  York  City,  and  one  daughter  un- 
married. During  his  long  and  eventful  career  in  this  city  Mr.  Vilas  has  always  been 
found  strictly  conscientious  and  rigidly  upright  in  all  business  transactions.  He  has 
been  the  friend  of  all  good  and  proper  measures  tending  to  the  prosperity  of  Ogdens- 
burg, and  has,  through  his  kindly,  genial  and  cheerful  nature,  made  a  host  of  friends, 
many  dating  back  to  his  earlier  days,  as  well  as  among  the  younger  generation.  He  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  city,  still  hale  and  hearty  and  attends  strictly  to  business. 

Nyhan,  Rev.  William  B.,  Brasher,  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Brasher  Falls, 
was  born  in  Cork,  Ireland,  September  22,  1846,  and  came  to  America  when  tw^o  years 
old.  His  family  resided  in  Syracuse,  where  his  education  began.  In  Niagara  College 
he  made  his  classics  and  philosophy,  studied  theology  in  St.  Joseph's  Provincial  Semi- 
nary, Troy,  wrag  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  October  of  1869,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Conroy  and  appointed  to  the  curacy  of  St.  John's  church,  Albany.  His  first  parish 
was  Lowville,  Lewis  county,  where  he  remained  for  fourteen  years,  and  which  he  left 
to  take  charge  of  his  present  mission.  Since  his  arrival  in  Brasher  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing parochial  school  has  been  established  by  the  "Sisters  of  Mercy,"  a  new  pastoral 
residence  has  been  erected  and  various  repairs  have  been  made  on  the  church  property. 
During  his  administration  Eev.  Father  Nyhan  has  removed  the  entire  debt  of  the 
parish. 

McMillan,  Angus,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Ontario,  August  3,  1842.  He 
began  to  learn  the  harness  trade  a  the  age  of  fifteen  and  at  eighteen  went  to  Canton, 
where  he  remained  a  year.  He  then  spent  a  short  time  in  Gouverneur,  and  after 
working  about  a  year  in  Waddington,  he  came  to  this  town.  In  1866  he  went  to 
Russell,  where  he  carried  on  his  business  till  1382,  then  returned  here,  and  has  since 
conducted  his  harness  business.  He  is  town  clerk  at  the  present  time.  January  5, 
1862,  Mr.  McMillan  married  Rua  R.  Hill  and  they  have  three  sons:  Edson,  William  and 


160  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Pliny.     Our  subjecfs  father,  Alexander  McMillan,  was  a  Scotchman,  and  his  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Crites,  of  Mohawk  Dutch  descent. 

The  Richardson  Family,  Brasher  Falls.  This  family  is  descended  from  English  stock, 
and  the  members  thereof  trace  their  lineage  back  to  1600,  from  Nicholas  Richardson, 
of  Durham  county,  who  was  granted  arms  by  the  king  in  1615,  and  it  is  believed  that 
one  of  his  sons  came  to  America  about  1630.  Lemuel  Richardson,  son  of  Thomas,  was 
born  in  Woburn,  Mass.,  July  31,  1734,  and  was  the  great-grandfather  of  David,  of 
Brasher  Falls.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  David,  his  third  son,  was 
born  in  Sutton,  Mass.,  July  25,  1766,  and  was  a  farmer  at  Alstead,  N.  H.,  and  later  at 
Barre,  Vt.,  where  he  died  April  26,  1845.  In  178S  he  married  Rhoda  Gale,  of  Al- 
stead, by  whom  he  had  these  children :  Rhoda,  David,  Rhoda  2d,  Roxanna,  Mary, 
Lemuel,  Susan,  Polly  0.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  third  child,  David,  was 
born  at  Alstead,  N.  H.,  May  7,  1792,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
married,  September  30,  1819,  Hortensia  Richards,  of  his  native  town.  In  1823,  he 
came  from  Barre,  Vt.,  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  settled  in  Brasher,  then  a  dense 
wilderness.  He  was  a  prominent  and  influential  man  in  his  town,  and  a  man  of  great 
industry  and  perseverance.  He  died  August  9,  1866,  aged  seventy-four.  He  had 
twelve  children,  the  fourth  of  whom,  David  Nathaniel,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
where  he  now  lives,  August  2,  1831.  December  27,  1859,  he  married  Harriet  Burget, 
who  died  March  8,  1874.  Their  three  children  were:  Frank,  born  December  8,  1800; 
W.  Warren,  born  June  24,  1863,  and  Anna  B.,  born  September  27,  1869.  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson married  second,  March  17,  1875,  Sarah  Capell.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  overseer  of  the  poor  nine  years,  and  attends  the  Presbyterian  church.  Among 
his  ancestors  have  been  many  noted  men,  both  in  England  and  America. 

Colton,  Carlos,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  April  5,  1834.  His  father 
was  Zebina,  a  native  of  Johnson,  Vt.,  born  March  27,  1802.  He  married  Lois  Buck, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  survive.  In  1838  Mr.  Colton  and  wife 
came  to  Parishville,  and  in  1840  to  this  town,  Pierrepont,  where  he  located  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  our  subject.  Here  he  died  November  6,  1855,  and  his  wife  May  1, 
1859.  Carlos  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  grad- 
uating from  the  Albany  Normal  School  in  1857.  He  followed  teaching  for  a  number 
of  years,  but  his  principal  occupation  has  been  farming,  and  he  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred acres,  keepmg  twenty  cows.  Mr.  Colton  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Hannah  Smith,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  died  February  22,  1890.  In  1892  he 
married  Ella  H.  Leach,  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  and  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
Leach,  of  Hopkinton.  Mr.  Colton  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics.  Carlos  was  a  mere 
child  when  he  came  to  this  town  and  has  witnessed  over  half  a  century  of  its  growth 
and  prosperity  :  has  seen  the  forests  cleared  away  and  the  rude  dwellings  of  the  early 
settlers  removed  and  more  elegant  ones  erected  in  their  places  ;  has  seen  those  sturdy 
pioneers  and  their  companions  carried  to  their  last  resting  places  in  the  rural  cemeteries, 
and  how  appropriate  that  their  descendants  who  enjoy  happy  homes  and  till  fertile 
fields,  the  result  of  their  self  denial,  privations  and  toil,  should  pay  a  tribute  of  respect 
to  their  memory  ; 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  161 

He  has  plowed  his  last  furrow 

She  has  spun  her  last  skein; 

No  sound  shall  awake  them  to  labor  again. 

But  happiness  springeth  wherever  they  trod; 

How  noble  their  mission,  how  great  their  reward. 

For  whose  deeds  are  more  worthy  to  be  rewarded  in  history,  or  whose  simple 
virtues  better  fitted  to  enrich  the  poet's  verse,  than  those  of  the  noble  pioneer  and  his 
wife? 

Potter,  Henry,  Colton,  was  born  in  Essex  county,  July  13,  1847.  His  father  was 
Philip  Potter,  a  native  of  Pultney,  Vt.,  born  December  18,  1813.  The  mother  of 
Philip  died  when  he  was  young  and  he  was  obliged  to  make  his  own  way  in  life. 
He  worked  on  the  canal  when  young  and  afterwards  ran  a  saw  mill.  In  1848  he 
came  to  Colton,  and  here  for  many  years  he  owned  a  gristmill,  also  dealing  in 
Inmber  and  real  estate  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge 
No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  His  wife  was  Miranda  Squires  of  Essex  county,  by  whom  he 
had  two  sons.  Mr.  Potter  died  September  12,  1887,  and  his  widow  resides  in 
Colton  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Henry  Potter  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  village  of  Colton,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  until  1892.  In  that 
year  the  Racquette  River  Pulp  Company  was  organized,  consisting  of  Charles  Clark 
of  Rochester,  Charles  Fuller  and  Fred  H.  Hall  of  Grouverneur,  Simeon  Austin  of 
Fowler,  James  Speard  of  Canton  and  Henry  Potter.  They  occupy  the  building 
originally  built  for  a  chair  factory,  and  employ  about  twenty  hands,  with  A.  Searcey 
as  manager.  July  2,  1884,  Mr.  Potter  married  Hattie,  daughter  of  Edmund  and 
Harriet  Sanborn  of  Colton.  Mr.  Potter  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  wife  attend  the 
Episcopal  church. 

Harvey,  Orson,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canton,  October  15,  1822,  a  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Polly  (Kingsbury)  Harvey,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in 
1788,  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  They  early  came  to  Canton  and  here  Mr.  Har- 
vey died  in  1832,  and  his  wife  in  1842.  They  had  six  children  who  grew  to  maturity. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Harvey  was  Thomas  Kingsbury,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  Orson 
Harvey  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  went  to  work  in  a  woolen  factory  and  has  been  engaged  most  of  his  life  in 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  first  at  Norfolk  and  then  at  Potsdam.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  wool  carding  at  Colton.  He  was  burned  out  in  1871,  when  the  firm  was 
known  as  Butler,  Beckwith  &  Harvey.  Since  this  Mr.  Harvey  has  been  engaged  in 
business  alone.  He  has  been  three  times  married,  first  in  1847  to  Phoebe  Spink,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children  :  Henrietta  and  Phosbe.  He  married,  second,  Lavona  Cope- 
land  of  Potsdam,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  :  Arvilla  J.  and  Ellen  V.  His  third  wife 
was  Mary  A.  EIHs,  widow  of  George  Ellis  of  Potsdam,  who  died  in  1864.  He  left 
three  children  :  Kate  E.,  wife  of  Daniel  J.  Avery,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Chicago^ 
also  president  of  the  Northwestern  Masonic  Aid  of  that  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery 
have  had  four  children :  Louise,  who  died  aged  twelve  years,  Mary  M.,  Kate  L.  and 
Daniel  E.  The  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  is  Mary  L.,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Colburn, 
eye  and  ear  specialist  of  Chicago,   who  has  three  sons :  George  A.,  Avery  and  Joe 


162  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Elliot.  The  third  child  is  George  A.  Ellis  of  New  York  city,  who  has  one  daughter, 
Grace  Ellis.  Mrs.  Harvey  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Swift,  son  of  Thomas  Swift,  and 
brother  of  the  late  Thomas  Swift  of  Potsdam.  Mrs.  Harvey's  father  died  in  1842  and 
her  mother  in  1881.  Mr.  Harvey  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  has  served  as  deputy 
sheriff  nine  years,  constable  seven  years  and  overseer  of  the  poor  three  years. 

Hawley,  Morris  B.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Colton.  September  12,  1845.  His  father. 
Silas  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  went  to  Washington  county  with  his  parents,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated.  He  married  Henrietta  Morris,  a  native  of  Hampton, 
N.  Y.  born  in  1812,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  of  whom  Morris  B.  is  the  only  one 
Uving.  Silas  and  family  came  to  Colton  in  the  year  1832,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
of  blacksmith,  taking  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  holding  several  town  offices.  He 
was  also  land  agent  for  A.  B.  James  of  Ogden^burg.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers and  also  the  first  master  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  died  in 
Colton,  October  15,  1877,  and  his  widow  now  lives  with  Morris  B.  The  latter  was 
reared  in  Colton  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Canton  University.  When 
nineteen  years  old  he  formed  a  partnership  with  James  Cook  in  the  furniture  and  un- 
dertaking business,  continuing  until  March  1,  1890,  since  which  Mr.  Hawley  has  carried 
on  the  business  alone.  He  has  been  twice  married,  first,  February  22,  1866,  to  Julia 
Felton  of  Colton,  a  daughter  of  C.  C.  Felton  of  Norwood.  They  had  two  children, 
Alice  M.  and  Asa  W.  He  married,  second,  Lucia  P.  Hodgkin,  daughter  of  George  R. 
Hod<^kin  of  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  one  son,  Jean  H.  Mr.  Hawley  is  a  Re- 
publican and  is  now  serving  his  fifth  term  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  High 
Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  served  as  master  six  years. 

Chaney,  John  H.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Orange,  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  August  16, 
1832,  a  son  of  John,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  who  married  Harriet  Thurston,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children.  In  1848  Mr.  Chaney  and  family  came  to  Potsdam,  and 
there  they  Hved  and  died,  the  former  July  23,  1873,  aged  seventy-one  years,  and  the 
latter  May  17,  1869,  aged  sixty-three.  John  H.  Chaney  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  came  to  Potsdam,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  and  also  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  In  1863  he  came  to  Colton, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1856  he  married  Almira  W.  Howard  of  Potsdam,  a 
daughter  of  Elisha  Howard,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  one  of  Potsdam's  early  settlers. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chaney  had  seven  children:  Nettie,  Levi,  Maria,  Julia,  Philip  (deceased), 
Hattie  and  Lena.  He  is  a  RepubHcan  in  politics  and  has  been  highway  commissioner 
two  years,  and  is  also  serving  his  second  term  as  poormaster.  He  is  a  member  of  High 
Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.,  being  treasurer  of  same.  Mr.  Chaney  owns  about 
1,000  acres  of  wild  land  in  Colton,  150  acres  in  Clare  and  a  house  and  lot  in  Colton 
with  one  and  a  half  acres  of  land  and  two  tenant  houses.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  150 
acres  in  Colton. 

Jennings,  John  (deceased).  Brasher,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  America 
when  a  young  man.  In  1847  he  settled  on  the  farm  in  Brasher,  where  his  widow  now 
lives.  He  cleared  the  land  and  made  many  other  improvements.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  energy  of  character,  and  just  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings.     He  was  a  con- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  1G3 

sistent  member  of  the  M.  E.  church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  died  in  his 
seventy-fourth  year,  in  1886.  March  9,  1847,  he  married  Margaret  Kingston  of  Brasher, 
born  March  1.  1828,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ursula  (Chambers)  Kingston,  both  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  America  when  A^oung.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jennings  had  five  children, 
four  of  whom  survive :  George  E.,  born  August  24,  1849,  married  in  1887.  Carrie  Mc- 
Kerson,  and  is  a  grocer  in  Bismarck,  N.  D..  where  he  went  in  1880 ;  Thomas  E.,  born 
November  29,  1851,  an  architect  and  builder;  Almeda  M.,  born  June  22,  1853,  a  suc- 
cessful teacher  in  our  public  schools  from  1874  to  1888,  when  she  married  John 
Yandoh,  a  cheese  and  butter  maker,  who  at  present  lives  on  the  homestead.  The 
youngest,  EHza  N.,  was  born  December  19,  1866.  Mrs.  Jennings  had  two  brothers  in 
the  late  war :  John  Kingston,  who  enlisted  in  the  106th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol.,  was 
lieutenant  of  his  company  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Monocacy  Junction,  Md.  ; 
and  Samuel,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  army  and  served  from  the  autumn  of  1862  to 
the  close  of  the  war. 

Howard,  Ansel  T.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  June  6,  1845,  a  son  of  Orrin 
Howard.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  school  and  follows 
general  farming  and  dairying,  owning  143  acres  of  land  and  keeping  about  twenty-five 
cows.  Mr.  Howard  has  been  twice  married,  first  on  February  23,  1869,  to  Cynthia 
Hubbard,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  daughter  of  Ira  Hubbard.  Mrs.  Howard  died  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1873,  and  September  8,  1875,  Mr.  Howard  married  Lucretia  Malaney,  a  native 
of  Canada,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  :  De  Forest  M.  and  Orrin  A.  Mr.  Howard 
is  a  Republican  and  has  been  overseer  of  the  poor  and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  at 
present  holds  the  latter  office.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  Crary's  Mills  Grange  No, 
54.  The  parents  of  Lucretia  Howard  were  James  and  Lucretia  (Loomis)  Malaney,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  They  reared  six  children. 
Mr.  Malaney  died  in  Canada  in  1852,  after  which  Mrs.  Malany  came  to  Clinton  county. 
She  died  in  Vermont  in  1882. 

Walker,  Charles  R.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Richville,  October  28,  1844,  a  son  of  Ho- 
ratio Walker,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  town.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
Charles  R.  left  the  farm  and  began  a  mercantile  career.  He  is  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  the  county.  He  was  the  first  in  his  town  to  carry  to  successful 
use  the  feeding  of  ensilage.  His  principal  business  is  dealing  in  cheese  and  produce. 
In  1870  Mr.  Walker  married  Louisa  E.  Rich,  only  daughter  of  William  B.  Rich,  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  of  De  Kalb.  Her  great-grandfather, 
Salmon  Rich,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  In  1804  he  took  up  a  tract 
of  11,000  acres  of  land,  including  the  tract  where  Richville  now  stands,  and  the  village 
was  named  for  him.  Mr.  Walker  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  progress  of 
this  town,  of  which  he  was  supervisor  three  years.  He  is  a  Mason  of  high  standing 
and  a  man  much  esteemed  for  his  upright  character. 

Crary,  Ezra,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  January  18,  1825,  a  son  of  Appleton, 
son  of  Nathan  Crary,  whose  father  was  Ezra,  a  descendant  of  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  to  America  from  Scotland.  Ezra  lived  and  died  in  Vermont.  Nathan  was  born 
in  Wallingford,  Vt.,  in  1762  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.     His  wife  was  Lydia 


IG4  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Arnold  of  Rhode  Island,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children,  one  now  living,  John  Wes- 
ley Crary  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  In  1804  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Potsdam,  where  he  was 
a  farmer  and  local  preacher.  Later  he  came  to  Pierrepont  where  he  died  in  1852,  his 
wife  dying  a  year  later.  His  son.  Appleton,  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Yt.,  in  1789,  and 
he  was  also  a  farmer  and  local  preacher.  In  1808  he  married  Roby  Hopkins,  a  native 
of  Pittsford,  Yt.,  born  in  1791,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Mead)  Hopkins.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Crary  had  fourteen  children,  four  now  living.  He  was  a  Whig  and  a  strong 
Abolitionist,  and  died  in  1867.  His  wife  died  in  1882.  Ezra  Crary,  our  subject,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  nineteen  and  taught 
seventeen  terms,  though  his  chief  occupation  has  been  farming.  He  now  owns  324 
acres  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-eight  cows.  May  8,  1850,  he  married  Julia  A. 
Brown,  a  native  of  Addison,  Yt.,  and  daughter  of  Isaac  S.  and  Anna  A.  (Lewis)  Brown 
who  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crary  had  two  children,  who 
died  young.  Mrs.  Crary  died  December,  1853.  and  he  married,  second,  Margaret  Bell, 
a  native  of  Yaughn,  Ontario,  born  in  1834,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Currier) 
Bell,  natives  of  Argyleshire,  Scotland.  By  his  second  wife  Mr.  Crary  has  had  these 
children:  John  H..  born  May  22,  1856:  William  A.,  born  July  4,  1858;  Merrill  M., 
born  April  28,  1860,  died  December  17,  1885;  Edward  B.,  born  February  21,  1862; 
Philip  S.,  born  November  11,  1864,  died  May  22,  1889  ;  Francis  C,  born  July  11, 1866; 
EzraM.,  born  September  30,  1868  ;  Albert  M.,  born  October  22,  1870;  Clayton  B.,  born 
September  17,  1872;  Lydia  L.,  born  September  16,  1875.  Mr.  Crary  is  a  Republican 
and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  eight  years  and  assessor  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
He  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  Eldorado.  Wis.,  for  four  years. 

Shattuck,  Henry  B.,  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  Brasher,  November  1,  1836,  a  son  of 
Elisha  and  Angeline  (Walker)  Shattuck,  both  natives. of  Yermont.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter and  farmer,  and  came  to  Brasher  in  early  life.  They  had  eight  children  :  George, 
a  mechanic,  of  Brushton ;  Henry  B.,  Horace  C,  a  farmer  of  this  town;  David,  who 
died  aged  ten  years;  Willis,  a  farmer  of  this  town;  Orilla,  wife  of  George  Hammond: 
Cordelia,  wife  of  G.  B.  Herriman,  and  Justin.  Mr.  Shattuck  was  for  eighteen  months 
a  soldier  in  the  civil  war,  and  was  wounded  in  the  left  hand  at  the  battle  of  Bethesda 
Church,  Yirginia.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a  sawyer  in  mills  and  a  farmer,  owning 
now  a  fine  farm  near  Brasher  Center.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  assessor  of  the 
town  six  years,  and  has  also  held  other  offices.  March  13,  1866,  he  married  Maria 
Dudley,  born  in  Potsdam  September  1,  1841 ,  daughter  of  David  and  Harriet  C.  (Mon- 
tague) Dudley,  descendants  of  Puritan  families  of  the  early  days  of  this  country.  Of 
this  family  there  have  been  many  noted  people,  among  them  being  the  mother  of  George 
Washington,  who  was  a  Miss  Ball.  The  earliest  ancestor  claimed  by  the  family  of  Mrs. 
Shattuck  is  one  Richard  Montague,  whose  first  home  is  still  standing  at  Hadley,  Mass., 
where,  in  1882,  the  family  held  the  282d  anniversary  of  the  family  in  America,  there 
being  600  members  present. 

Sturtevant,  De  Witt  C,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Sandy  Hill,  Washington  county, 
October  16,  1838,  a  son  of  Peter,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  in  1803.  Peter 
Sturtevant  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools,  lived  and  died  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  165 

his  native  place.  November  14,  1832,  he  married  Laura  A.  Howard,  a  native  of  Fort 
Ann,  born  September  11,  1812,  who  is  one  of  the  sixth  generation  from  John  Howard, 
who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower  with  his  brother  James.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sturtevant 
had  five  children.  Mr.  Sturtevant  was  a  prominent  military  man,  having  held  all  the 
positions,  from  corporal  to  colonel.  He  was  also  a  prominent  politician.  He  died  July 
24,  1849,  and  his  wife  October  12,  1893.  De  Witt  C.  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  following  teaching  eight  years.  His  mother 
married  William  M.  Robeson,  and  came  to  Colton  in  1850,  where  they  remained  two 
years,  then  removed  to  this  town  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject. 
Mr.  Sturtevant  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  aud  follows  general  farming 
and  dairying,  keeping  about  twenty-three  cows,  besides  young  stock,  amounting  to 
thirty  head.  February  4,  1890,  he  married  Alda  B.  Schwartz,  a  native  of  Pillar  Point, 
Jefferson  county,  born  January  22,  1865,  daughter  of  Adolphus  P.  Schwartz  and  Mary 
A  Baker.  Mr.  Sturtevant  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  attend  the 
M.  E.  Church,  of  which  his  parents  were  members  also,  his  mother  having  belonged  to 
it  for  sixty- six  years. 

Yebber,  William,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  De  Kalb,  July  14,  1835.  a  son  of  Larra 
Vebber,  a  native  of  Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.  He  came  to  Jefferson  county  when  a 
young  man,  his  parents  having  died  when  he  was  ten  years  old.  He  married  Salinda 
Wood,  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Polly  Wood.  Of 
their  five  children  three  survive.  Mr.  Vebber  and  wife  came  to  De  Kalb  in  1833, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Mr.  Vebber  was  an  influential  man  in  De 
Kalb,  having  been  assessor  for  two  years,  aud  the  owner  of  a  great  deal  of  land. 
William  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  has  always  followed  farming,  owning 
one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land.  He  has  a  dairy  of  twelve  cows,  and  also  owns  the 
Cook's  Corners  cheese  factory,  with  an  annual  output  of  60,000  pounds.  Mr.  Vebber 
has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Elmira,  daughter  of  John  and  Zilpha  Harvey.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vebber  had  two  daughters ;  Minnie,  wife  of  Irwin  Hamilton,  of  Pierrepont,  who 
have^two  children,  Lila  and  Hazel ;  and  Lillie,  wife  of  Pierce  Beswick,  of  this  toAvn, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Elmira.  Mrs.  Vebber  died  in  August,  1887,  and  November  23, 
1892,  Mr.  Vebber  married  Lavora  Bancroft,  daughter  of  Morris  and  Laura  Macdonald, 
natives  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  country  when  youcg.  Mrs.  Vebber  was  the 
widow  of  Burton  Bancroft,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  Ernest  E.,  and  Laura  I. 
Mr.  Bancroft  died  in  January,  1882.  Mr.  Vebber  has  served  as  highway  commissioner 
seven  years,  and  is  a  Republican. 

Willis,  Eben,  Colton,  was  born  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  December  1,  1823,  a  son  of  Roswell 
O.  and  Lydia  (Stark)  Willis,  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  who  came  to  Parishville  in 
1826,  and  finally  settled  in  Colton.  He  died  in  Massachusetts  in  1851  and  his  wife  in 
1849.  They  had  seven  children.  Eben  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he  went  to  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  worked  as  a  farmer,  then  became  overseer  in  a  match  factory  for 
two  years.  In  1849  he  married  Sophronia  Stoddard,  born  in  that  State,  July  17,  1833, 
a  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Anna  (Wilder)  Stoddard,  natives  of  Cohassett,  Massachuetts. 
Mr.  Stoddard  died  in  1843  and  his  wife  in  1864.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  came  to  Colton 


166  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  1852,  and  after  seven  years  ren^oved  to  a  farm  in  Pierrepont,  and  here  lived  until 
1872,  then  returned  to  Colton,  where  they  have  since  resided.  For  the  past  sixteen 
years  Mr.  Willis  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sap  spouts,  his  ovsm  patent, 
of  the  year  1866,  also  of  the  year  1891,  also  patented  in  Canada.  Mr.  Willis  is  also  the 
inventor  of  an  arch  for  boiling  sap,  sorghum,  etc.,  of  which  he  has  patents  of  1886,  and 
is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  these  also.  He  has  also  dealt  in  lumber  and  real  estate. 
He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor  six  years  and  highway  commissioner  two 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  They  have  had  three 
children:  E.  Almeron,  born  September  20,  1850,  who  married  Milllie  C,  daughter  of 
Orrin  Howard  of  Pierrepont,  and  has  three  children,  Howard  0.,  Allie  B.  and  Susie  S.; 
Althea  I.,  born  November  12,  1851,  in  Massachusetts,  who  married  Herbert  M.  Hep- 
burn, March  16,  1872,  and  has  one  daughter,  Cordelia  L,  who  has  been  reared  by  her 
grandparents,  Mrs.'  Hepburn  dying  March  27,  1875.  The  third  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Willis,  Olcott  A.,  died  in  infancy. 

Brogan,  Henry,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1837,  a  son  of  Robert  Brogan  and 
Mary  Smith,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  who  had  four  children.  Of  these  three  sons  grew 
to  manhood.  Both  parents  died  in  their  native  country.  Henry  was  reared  in  Navan, 
County  Meath,  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  coming  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  seventeen,  and  locating  in  Canton.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  83d  N.  Y. 
Infantry,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  November  27,  1863,  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  Mine  Run,  and  was  held  until  the  end  of  the  strife.  Returning  to  Canton 
he  married,  September  30,  1872,  Catherine  Welch,  a  native  of  Winchester,  Canada, 
by  Avhom  he  has  had  two  children :  Patrick  and  Mary.  Mr.  Brogan  is  a  farmer, 
and  oAvns  133  acres  of  land.  He  follows  general  farming  and  dairying,  and  keeps 
about  twelve  cows.  He  is  a  Republican  and  was  an  assessor  in  Clare  for  one  year, 
and  poormaster  two  years.     He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Martin  Post  No.  346. 

Lynde,  D.  S.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  July  1,  1833.  After  some  experi- 
ence as  a  bookkeeper  and  later  as  a  clerk,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
for  himself  in  Hermon,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  thirty  years.  He  has  been  six 
years  in  Canton,  and  has  been  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Canton,  which  he 
organized  in  1877,  for  six  years.  He  is  also  treasurer  of  the  South  Edwards  Pulp 
Company.  In  1853  Mr.  Lynde  married  Esther  S.  Caul,  and  they  have  one  adopted 
daughter,  Grace  P.  Lynde.  Our  subject  was  supervisor  of  Hermon  seven  years, 
was  member  of  assembly  four  years,  and  for  six  years  was  a  member  of  the  Senate 
of  New  York. 

Babcock,  Z.  W.,  Hermon,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Russell,  February  15,  1830, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  cabinet  maker  with  his  father. 
In  1852  he  left  home  and  sailed  for  California,  called  at  Rio  de  Janiero,  went 
through  the  Straits  of  Magellan  and  visited  nearly  all  the  principal  seaport  towns 
on  the  western  coast  of  North  and  South  America.  He  left  California  for  Australia, 
touching  the  Society  Islands  on  his  way.  He  remained  in  Australia  until  1859, 
and  came  home  by  way  of  England.  In  1807  he  married  Nellie  Acres  and  their 
living  issue  is  two  children :    Juan    A.  and    Murray  A.     Mr.  Babcock  is  regarded  as 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  167 

one  of  Herraon's  representative  men.  He  was  supervisor  six  years,  member  of  the 
board  of  education  nine  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  six  years,  and  is  now  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Hermon  Cemetery  Association  and  is  interested  in  every  project 
that  helps  to  build  up  and  benefit  the  town. 

Wells,  Wallace  H.,  Brasher  Falls,  postmaster  and  telegraph  operator  at  Brasher  Falls, 
was  born  December  23,  1849,  a  son  of  Thomas  W.  Wells  and  Susan  S.  Morse,  the 
former  born  August  9.  1815,  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  and  the  latter  born  in  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  February  1,  1814,  a  relative  of  Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  the  inventor  of  the  telegraph. 
The  parents  were  married  May  7,  1840,  the  father  being  a  clock  maker,  who,  in  con-- 
nection  with  his  brother  Joseph  and  a  Mr.  Boardman,  were  among  the  first  clock 
makers  in  the  country.  Thomas  W.  continued  in  the  business  here  about  thirty  years, 
dying  in  1876.  He  was  also  postmaster,  and  at  his  death  was  succeeded  by  his  son. 
our  subject,  who  has  held  the  office  since,  wi  tli  the  exception  of  one  and  a  half  vears 
under  President  Cleveland.  His  mother  died  July  27.  1872.  aged  fifty-eight  years. 
He  has  been  telegraph  operator  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and  was  also  for  several 
years  in  the  mercantile  trade.  He  married  June  27,  1872,  Carrie  E.  Boynton,  born 
April  28,  1852,  and  they  have  one  child,  N.  Anna,  born  September  3.  1874. 

Taylor,  Randolph,  Brasher  Falls,  was  a  native  of  Alstead,  N.  H.,  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  of  English  and  Scotch  descent.  About  1800  he  came  with  his  family  to  Jay, 
Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  few  years  later  to  Parish ville,  where  he  died,  aged  about 
ninety.  Pardon  R.  Taylor,  his  oldest  son,  was  born  about  1780,  at  Alstead,  N.  H.,  and 
came  with  his  father  to  this  county,  where  they  worked  at  their  trade.  The  son  was 
also  a  contractor  and  built  the  turnpike  in  Essex  county,  to  the  iron  ore  regions.  He 
married  Polly  Ames,  a  relative  of  the  celebrated  family  of  that  name  in  Massachusetts. 
He  d'ed  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  and  his  wife  aged  eighty-two.  Their  seven 
children  were  as  follows:  Thomas  R.,  John  A.,  Mary,  Dorcas  L.,  Pamelia  S.,  Alice. 
Henry  F.,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Jay,  Essex  county,  October  22,  1824,  educated  in 
Clintonville,  and  in  1840  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  forks  and  hoes,  and  in  1846  he 
removed  to  Brasher  Falls,  where  he  continued  in  the  same  line,  doing  a  prosperous 
business  for  some  years.  In  1852  he  discontinued  the  business  and  engaged  in  insur- 
ance, both  fire  and  life,  at  which  he  has  continued  since.  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  has  been  an  elder  there  many  years.  August 
8,  1848,  he  married  Harriet  L.  Taft,  born  March  18,  1830,  daughter  of  Silas  and  Tri- 
phena  (Clinton)  Taft,  the  former  a  relative  of  Judge  Taft,  of  Ohio,  also  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Taft,  of  Vermont.  The  Tafts  are  of  English  ancestry  and  trace  their  lineage 
back  to  1680,  to  one  Robert  Taft,  of  Massachusetts.  The  mother  was  a  relative  of  the 
celebrated  De  Witt  Clinton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  three  children  :  Bell  H.,  born 
June  16,  1853;  Carrie  G-.,  born  August  29,  1855;  and  Theodore  R.,  born  November  8 
1862,  who  is  in  life  insurance  business. 

McCarthy,  John  H.,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Brasher,  May  1,  1850,  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Lorden)  McCarthy,  natives  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in 
1846,  and  settled  in  this  town.  The  father  died  December  15,  1883,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three,  and  the  mother,  July  6,   1892,  also  aged  seventy-three.      Their  seven 


1G8  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

children  were  :  Eugene,  a  farmer  in  Kansas ;  Michael,  merchant,  of  Chicago  ;  Thomas, 
a  farmer  of  Stockholm  ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Edward  Rockford,  of  Stockholm  ;  John  H., 
merchant;  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  SuUivan,  of  Chicago;  and  Daniel  D.,  a  policeman,  of 
Chicago.  John  H.  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Brasher  and  followed  farming  till 
the  ao^e  of  thirty-six,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Brasher  Falls,  where 
he  has  a  general  store.  He  is  also  town  clerk.  The  last  thirteen  years  of  his  farm  life 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  Hon.  C.  T.  Hulburd,  having  charge  of  his  farm  and  dairy. 
February  4,  1875,  Mr.  McCarthy  married  Mary  McCuin,  born  December  6,  1845,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Isabella  (Hart)  McCuin,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to 
America  when  young.  Our  subject  has  three  children  :  Bertha  B.,  born  June  17,  1876  ; 
Walter  H.,  born  March  8,  1879;  and  Charles  J.,  born  January  3,  1881.  Mr.  McCarthy 
is  a  Republican,  and  one  of  the  leading  merchants  in  this  section. 

Gardner,  Clark  A.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Rodman,  Jeflferson  county,  June  20,  1839. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and  he  has  been  interested  in  that  occupation  all  his  life.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Tenth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  two  years 
and  four  months.  Aftar  the  war  he  resumed  farming,  and  came  to  De  Kalb  in  1868. 
The  same  year  he  married  Amorett  Doane,  and  ihey  have  two  children  :  Jennie  J.,  and 
Jay  William.  Mr.  Grardner's  father,  Peleg  Gardner,  was  a  son  of  William,  who  settled 
in  Lewis  county  in  1812.  Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather  was  Reuben  Waite,  a 
captain  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Hulburd.  Luther  (deceased).  Brasher  Falls,  was  a  native  of  Orwell,  Vt.,  born  May  1, 
1785,  a  son  of  Ebenezer  Hulburd  of  Puritan  ancestry,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this 
country  having  come  from  Wales  in  the  early  part  of  1600.  Hon.  Calvin  T.  Hulburd  is  a 
nephew  of  Luther,  who  came  from  Vermont  about  1803  and  settled  in  Stockholm,  this 
county,  where  he  spent  most  of  his  life  on  a  farm.  He  married  Lydia  Tilden,  a  sister 
of  Calvin's  mother,  and  a  relative  of  the  late  Hon.  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  Luther  had  eight 
children  :  Melissa,  Clarinda,  Lucius,  Oliver,  Hiland,  Luther,  Henry  M.  and  Wesley. 
He  died  February  6.  1874,  aged  eighty-nine.  Henry  M.  Avas  born  in  Stockholm  on  the 
farm,  March  19,  1824,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam  Academy,  and 
was  for  some  years  a  clerk  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  1852  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  himself  at  Brasher  Falls,  where  he  has  since  continued  a  successful  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  married.  May 
1,  1853,  Margaret  W.  Foster  of  Andover,  Mass.,  born  November  15,  1830,  a  daughter 
of  Timothy  and  Lydia  Foster,  descendants  of  the  Forsters  of  Bamborough  Castle, 
Northumberland,  Engla  ;d.  Mrs.  Hulburd  died  April  19,  1887.  Of  their  five  children, 
two  survive:  Alice  L.  and  Harry  F.  Mr.  Hulburd  married  for  his  second  wife.  May  16, 
1889,  Mary  B.  Chittenden  of  Hopkinton.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Hulburd,  Sandford  W.,  Brasher  Falls,  manufacturer  of  potato  starch  and  broom 
handles  at  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  Lawrence ville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  June  12, 
1845,  a  son  of  Lucius  and  Cordelia  (Whittemore)  Hulburd,  the  father  a  native  of  Stock- 
holm, and  the  mother  of  St.  Albans,  Vt,  Sanford  W.  was  reared  in  Lawrenceville  and 
was  in  business  with  his  father  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  in  1872  he  engaged 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  1G9 

in  his  present  business  in  Brasher  Falls.  August  17,  1870,  he  married  J.  Amanda  Chit- 
tenden, born  August  23,  1849,  daughter  of  Asahel  Chittenden  of  Hopkinton,  and  sister 
of  Mrs.  Henry  M.  Bulburd.  Her  grandfather  Chittenden  was  in  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution at  the  age  of  sixteen,  serving  seven  years.  He  was  born  in  Connecticut  and 
died  in  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulburd  have  had  four  children:  Leroy  C, 
born  May  6,  1873,  a  student  at  the  Norwich  University,  Vermont ;  Annabel  A.,  born 
October  19,  1876;  Lucius  S.,  born  June  2,  1879;  and  Ethel  0.,  born  July  16,  1882. 
Mr.  Hulburd  is  a  Republican  and  one  of  the  representative  business  men  of  the  place. 

Crouch,  C.  F.,  Stockholm,  was  born  June  24,  1816,  in  Shelburne,  Vt.  His  father  was 
Aaron  Crouch,  a  native  of  Paulett,  Vt.,  who  married  Lxiey  Blair,  a  native  of  Williams- 
town,  Mass.  They  have  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  Mr.  Crouch  died  Majr  22,  1848, 
and  his  wife  January  27,  1837.  0.  F.  Crouch  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  at  the  early  age  of  eight  years  started  in  life  for  himself  by 
working  on  a  farm.  In  1850  he  came  to  Stockholm  and  married  Emma  Chandler,  a 
native  of  Fairfield,  \t.  He  then  returned  to  Vermont,  and  after  remaining  two  years 
went  to  Bombay,  Franklin  county,  N.  Y.,  and  purchased  a  small  farm  on  which  he  re- 
sided for  nine  years.  He  then  sold  his  farm  and  in  1861  again  came  to  Stockholm  and 
located  on  the  farm  of  175  acres  which  he  now  owns.  He  is  a  general  farmer  and 
dairyman,  keeping  an  average  of  twenty  cows.  Mr.  Crouch  is  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  liberal  in  religion.  He  is  a  member  of  the  P.  of  I.,  Eureka  Lodge  No.  162.  He  has 
two  daughters,  Jennie  L.,  wife  of  Verne  A.  Kirk,  a  farmer  of  Parishville;  and  E.  Myra, 
wife  of  Charles  H.  Flannigan,  a  native  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Flannigan  at  present  has  charge 
of  the  farm  owned  by  Mr.  Crouch.  Miss  Blair,  wife  of  Aaron  Crouch,  was  a  daughter 
of  Ezekiel  Blair,  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  who  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  The  latter  married  Elizabeth  Deming,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  She  was  one 
of  the  girls  who  raised  onions  and  sold  them  in  England  to  build  a  church  in  Wethers- 
field.  Conn.     She  died  in  Shelburne,  Vt.,  in  1836. 

Crossrnan,  Marcus,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  October  26,  1843,  a  son  of 
Abner  Crossman,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  February  12,  1809.  The  latter  was  a  son 
of  Carmi,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Pierrepont,  where  he  died,  aged  ninety-one.  Abner 
Crossman  came  to  Pierrepont  when  a  young  man.  He  married  Hily  A.  Doolittle  of 
Vermont  who  also  came  to  this  town  with  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crossman  had 
six  children.  They  settled  on  a  farm  in  Pierrepont,  where  the  father  died  October  29, 
1865.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  Clarinda  Pryor.  Marcus  Cross- 
man  lost  his  mother  at  the  age  of  six  years.  He  had  his  own  way  to  make  and  fol- 
lowed farming  until  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in 
Co.  I,  142d  N.  Y.  Infantry,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  September  29,  1864,  he 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Chapin's  Farm,  Va.,  where  he  was  also  wounded  badly,  and 
at  the  end  of  ten  days  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  thence  to  Balti- 
more, and  was  discharged  from  the  Camden  Street  Hospital  at  the  close  of  the  ser- 
vice. Returning  home  he  married,  January  17,  1867,  Charlotte  C,  daughter  of 
Loren  and  Eliza  J.  Couch  of  Lewis  county,  who  came  to  Canton  and  settled.  Mrs. 
Crossman  was  educated  at  Canton  College  and  taught  for  several  terms.     They  have 


170  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

had  five  children  :  Merton  L.,  who  died  aged  four  years ;  Gertrude,  who  died  aged 
three  years;  Orra  W.,  who  lives  at  home  ;  Gilfred  A.,  who  died  November  12,  1893, 
ao'ed  seveoteen  years ;  James  E.,  and  Maude  A.,  an  adopted  daughter.  Mr.  Cross- 
man  is  a  farmer  and  owns  175  acres  of  land,  keeping  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  taking  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs.  For  five 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  life  insurance,  representing  the  Connecticut  General 
Life  In-?arance  Company  of  Hartford,  Conn.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge 
No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Martin  Post  No.  346,  G.  A.  R.,  Department  of  New 
York,  and  also  of  P.  of  H.  No.  54  of  Crary's  Mills. 

Bell,  Oliver  (deceased).  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  his  sons  and 
and  widow  now  live,  March  15,  1830,  and  died  January  7,  1878.  He  was  a  son  of  J. 
Bell,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  locality  when  the  place  was  a  wilderness, 
and  bought  200  acres  of  land,  which  he  converted  into  a  fine  farm.  He  was  a  great 
hunter,  and  killed  many  deer,  bear,  etc.  He  was  murdered  while  in  his  camp  in  the 
woods,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  Oliver  Bell  and  his  brothers  added  to  the  farm  from 
time  to  time  until  the  family  owned  nearly  600  acres.  Oliver  married,  November  4, 
1863,  Eliza  A.  Wood,  who  was  born  March  5,  1833,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Phoebe 
(Corbin)  Wood,  Quakers,  as  were  also  the  maternal  grandparents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell 
had  two  sons,  Warren  E.  and  William  J.  The  farm,  which  now  comprises  about  210 
acres,  is  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  brothers  have  recently  erected  a  cream- 
ery with  all  modern  machinery,  and  have  a  fine  dairy  of  their  own.  Warren  E.  mar- 
ried, February  15,  1893,  Ella,  daughter  of  David  Floyd  of  Crown  Point. 

Squires,  John  B.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  m  Canton,  February  26,  1846,  a  son  of 
Isaac  A.,  son  of  Salmon  W.  and  Anna  (Wells)  Squires,  who  came  from  Dorset,  Vt.,  in 
1806.  Mr.  Squires  had  previously,  in  1799,  visited  Canton  and  assisted  in  surveying 
the  town.  Here  he  selected  a  site  on  which  he  afterwards  located,  building  a  log  house 
on  Grannis'  Brook.  Frederick,  brother  of  Samuel  W.,  was  one  of  Captain  Forsyth's 
men  in  Rifle  Company,  and  was  wounded  at  Ogdensburg.  Isaac  A.  Squires  was  born 
in  the  log  house  previously  mentioned,  March  8,  1810,  and  was  twice  married.  First, 
July  19,  1836,  to  Candis  (Dimick)  Kingsbury,  born  in  1803,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, who  died  young.  Mrs.  Squires  died  July  6,  1844,  and  December  31,  1844,  he 
married,  second,  Sarah  Hull,  of  Potsdam,  born  April  28,  1815,  and  by  her  he  had  a  son 
and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Squires  was  an  extensive  real  estate  owner,  having  land  in 
Canton,  Potsdam,  etc.  He  died  August  14,  1887,  while  residing  with  John  B.  Mrs. 
Squires  died  in  June,  1886.  John  B.  was  educated  in  St.  Lawrence  University,  and  in 
1870  came  to  Pierrepont  from  Potsdam,  where  he  had  lived  since  two  years  of  age,  and 
located  on  the  farm  of  260  acres  which  he  now  owns.  He  follows  general  farming 
and  dairying.  In  1867  Mr.  Squires  married  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of  George  Crandall,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1812,  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pierrepont.  His  wife 
was  Maria  Bicknell,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Squires  have  five  children:  Nellie  K.,  Martha  A.,  Mabel  E.,  Grace  M. 
and  Elizabeth  M.  Mr.  Squires  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  four 
years,  assessor  eight  years,  and  is  how  serving  his  fifth  term  as  supervisor.     He   is  a 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  171 

member  of  Raquette    River  Lodge  Xo.  213,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Potsdam,  and  of  Crary's 
Mill  Grange  No.  54. 

Stafford,  Thomas,  Brasher  Falls,  was  a  native  of  Peru,  Clinton  county,  and  came  to 
Potsdam  in  1818.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  married  Lydia  Green,  a  native 
of  Clinton  county,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years,  and  his  wife  to  the  age  of  ninety.  Erastus,  the  second  child,  was  born  in 
1800,  and  came  with  his  father  to  thiS  county.  In  1843  moved  to  Stockholm,  where  he 
worked  at  wool  carding  and  dressing  cloth.  He  died  in  January,  1861.  His  wife  was 
Prudence  Perkins,  of  Potsdam,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children,  eight  now  living.  John 
P.,  the  third  child,  Avas  born  January  4,  1S2S,  at  Stafford's  Corners  (in  Potsdam),  and 
in  early  life  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth  in  Stockholm.  He 
came  to  Brasher  in  1866,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business,  which  he  still  continues. 
In  1853  he  married  Martha  Bieknell,  whose  grandfather,  Amos  B.,  was  the  original 
settler  of  Bicknellville,  in  Stockholm,  and  after  whom  the  place  was  named.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stafford  had  two  children :  Ella,  deceased,  and  Cassius.  Mr.  Stafford  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  his  wife  is  an  active  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Skinner,  John  F.,  Brasher  Center,  a  merchant  at  Brasher  Center,  was  born  in  Salona, 
Clinton  county.  Pa..  September  21,  1826,  a  son  of  John  Cotton  Skinner,  and  Deborah, 
Hanna.  This  family  trace  their  ancestry  from  the  year  1600,  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  America  having  been  Joseph  Skinner,  born  in  England  in  that  year,  who  came  to 
America  in  1620  with  the  Pilgrims.  His  son  Joseph  was  born  in  1668,  his  son  John 
was  born  in  1725,  the  son  of  John  being  Cotton,  born  in  1770,  and  his  son,  John  Cotton 
Skinner,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1800,  in  Cayuga  county.  John  F.  Skinner 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  and  Moravia  Institute.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  moulder,  serving  three  years,  and  for  several  years  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
Then  he  became  superintendent  for  his  uncle,  Isaac  W.  Skinner,  in  a  large  iron  foundry, 
at  Brasher  Iron  Works,  N.  Y..  where  he  remained  till  the  death  of  his  uncle  in  1874. 
Soon  after  this  he  bought  the  plant,  which  he  conducted  about  ten  years,  when  in  1887 
he  was  burned  out.  Since  that  he  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Brasher  Iron 
Works,  until  October,  1893,  when  he  moved  to  Brasher  Center.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  about  twenty- two  years,  justice  of  sessions  for 
two  years,  supervisor  of  the  town  two  years,  town  clerk  two  years,  also  overseer  of  the 
poor.  He  married  first,  January  24,  1847,  Mary  Ann  McCune,  born  in  1829.  They 
had  ten  children:  Leonidas  H.,  Deborah  C,  Margaret  L.,  John  C,  Isaac  W.,  Jacob  B., 
Franklin  R.,  Mary  E..  Joseph  H.,  and  Laura  E.  His  wife  died  April  9,  1882,  and  he 
married  second,  July  10,  1883,  Tryphena  Collamer,  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 

Kennehan,  Patrick  E.,  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  Asnabrook,  Ontario,  April  26, 
1848,  a  son  of  Patrick  and  Margaret  (Mahon)  Kennehan,  of  Kings  county.  Ireland, 
who  came  to  Quebec  and  went  to  Asnabrook,  where  they  remained  until  1850,  when 
they  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  the  father  followed  railroad  work  for  a  time, 
and  later  engaged  with  Hon.  C.  T.  Hulburd  as  gardener,  which  was  his  trade,  and 
which  he  followed  while  living  in  Asnabrook.  He  worked  as  gardener  for  Mr.  Hub- 
bard twenty-tive  years,  when  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself,   now  owning   a  fine 


172  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

tract  of  land  east  of  Brasher  Falls.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Brasher, 
and  served  three  years  as  a  machinist  in  the  shops  of  Davis  &  Co.,  which  he  now  owns, 
eno'ao'in"'  in  business  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  in  1873.  Soon  after  this, 
he  and  Joseph  Dishan  bought  the  whole  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Dishan  & 
Kennehan,  and  in  1883  he  bought  the  business  interest  of  his  partner.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  In  November,  1893  he  was  appointed  postmaster.  December  28,  1875, 
he  married  Anna  J.  Butler,  born  in  this  town  in  1852  (August  9),  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Eliza  (Hamil)  Butler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennehan  have  had  five  children  :  Oswald  J  , 
born  July  26,  1878,  who  was  drowned  August  14,  1891,  aged  thirteen  years;  George 
P.,  born  January  22,  1881;  Francis  Henry,  born  April  15,  1885,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  days ;  Marion  M.,  born  October  29,  1889  ;  Mabel  E.,  born  July  20,  1892.  Mr. 
Kennehan  manufactures  threshing  machines,  sawing  machines  and  all  kinds  of  agricul- 
tural implements.  He  also  has  a  good  repair  shop  and  manufactures  all  kinds  of 
creamery  fixtures.     His  shop  is  the  best  equipped  shop  in  northern  New  York. 

Goodale,  R.  P.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Vt.,  March  11,  1822,    a  son    of  F.  C. 
Goodale,  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  1793,  who  married   in   1815,  Ruth   St.    John,   of 
Hubbardton,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.     In  1825  he  came  to  Parishville  with 
his  family.     He  and  wife  were  prominent  members  of  the    Methodist  church,  and  as- 
sisted in  building  the  Parishville  edifice.       He    died  in   1842,    in   his  forty-ninth  year. 
His  wife  died  in  1840,  in  her  forty- third  year.     R.  P.  Goodale  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  went  to   Vermont  and 
worked  with  his  Uncle  St.  John,  with  whom  he  had  lived  since  nine  years  of  age  till 
the  time  he  was  fourteen.     Here  he  remained  one  year,   then  went   to  Framingham, 
Mass.,  and  worked  one  summer  at  his  trade,  then  went  to  Dedham  and  worked  a  short 
time.     Returning  to  Parishville,  he  worked  on  a  farm  two  years.     He  and  his  brother 
worked  at  the  blacksmith   trade  one  year.      He  married,   August   8,   1846,    Susan  L. 
McOmber,  a  native  of  Bristol,  Vt.,  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  Colton,  born 
September  3,  1829,  a  daughter  of  Harmon  McOmber  and  Lydia  E.  Wright,  the  former 
a  native  of  Vermont,    (died  December  29,   1869),   and  the  latter   of  New   Hampshire, 
(died  February  14,  1887),  who  came  to  Parishville  in  1837,  and  who  were  the  parents 
of  fifteen  children.     One  son,  Adolphus,  was  killed  in  the  war,  at  the  battle  of  Gaines 
Mill.      Eleven  children  lived  to  maturity,  and   were  married   before    another    death 
occurred.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodale  had  three  children:  Earl  D.,  of  Potsdam,  who  married 
Etta  Lyman,  and  has  three  children;  Grace  C,  Gertrude  B.,  and  Uel  Rolla.     The  sec- 
ond son,  Delmer  I.,  a  farmer,  of  Colton,  who  owns  a  half  interest  and  has  charge  of  his 
father's  farm,  married  Catherine  M.  Sullivan,  and  has  one  child,  Jessie  M.     The  third 
child,  Alice,  married  Jackson  Collins,  of  Colton,  and  died  November   22,    1882.     Soon 
after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Goodale  went  to  Rensselaer  Falls,  and  worked  at  his  trade.     In 
1847  he  bought  the  farm    he  now  owns,  to   which  he  has  since  added,  owning   now 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres.     His  first  house  was  a  log   cabin,  with   bark  roof. 
He  has  been  a  railroad  man  for  some  time,  having   been  connected  with  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad  Company.     He  then  went  to  Boundbrook,  N.   J.,  and  was  engaged  in 
lengthening  locks  on  the  canal  one  winter,  and   then  went  to  Connecticut  and  for  a 
year  was  foreman  of  the  grading  department  at  Waterville.     He   worked  at  blasting 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  173 

and  then  went  to  Fort  Deposit,  and  was  foreman  in  taking  dimensions  for  stone  in 
bridge  buildmg.  He  next  went  to  Dover  and  had  cliarge  of  surfacing  the  track.  Mr. 
Goodale  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  assessor,  but  resigned  after  serving  one  year. 
He  has  since  served  as  assessor  and  highway  commissioner.  December  12,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D.,  Scott's  Nine  Hundred,  but  changed  to  the  Eleventh  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  and  served  two  and  a  half  years,  He  was  orderly  sergeant  and  was  promoted 
second  lieutenant,  and  then  to  first  lieutenant.  He  is  a  member  of  the  High  Falls 
Lodge,  No.  428,   F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Wait  Post,  No.  581. 

O'Driscol],  Father  James,  Canton,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  17,  1842,  and  rp^ 
ceived  his  education  in  Dublin.  He  was  ordained  in  1867,  and  came  to  America  the 
same  year,  locating  in  Albany.  He  removed  to  Oswego  and  then  to  Lewis  county. 
Twenty-two  years  ago  he  came  to  Canton,  where  he  has  done  a  great  deal  for  the 
church  and  his  people.  He  has  built  one  of  the  finest  edifices  in  Northern  New  York, 
at  a  cost  of  $60,000,  and  his  congregation  numbers  1,000  souls. 

Howard,  Gilfred  E.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  Pierrepont, 
June  1,  1851.  His  father,  Orrin  A.,  was  a  son  of  Aaron,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, born  in  1780,  who  went  to  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and  there  married  Dolly  Crary, 
by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  1819  Mrs.  Howard  died  and  he 
married,  second,  Mrs.  Lucy  (Gates)  Brooks,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons.  In  1835 
Mr.  Howard  came  to  Pierrepont,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1865.  His  wife 
died  two  years  later.  Orrin  A.  was  born  in  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  September  16,  1816, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  came  to  Pierrepont,  where  he  was  reared  by  his  maternal 
grandfather,  his  mother  having  died  when  he  was  three  years  old.  He  was  educated 
in  Potsdam  Academy,  and  when  quite  young  began  teaching,  which  he  followed 
ten  years.  In  1850  he  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  politics,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town, 
holding  the  offices  of  town  clerk,  collector,  constable,  assessor,  supervisor,  highway 
commissioner  and  school  superintendent.  In  1843  he  married  Susan  Tupper,  born 
August  13,  1819,  a  daughter  of  Ansel  and  Callista  (Reynolds)  Tupper,  and  they  had 
four  children:  Ansel  T.,  Millie  C,  Gilfred  E.  and  Nellie  D.  Mr.  Howard  died  May 
13,  1883.  Gilfred  E.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman  and  owns  153  acres  of  land.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Flora  Moore  of  Potsdam,  who  died  in  1876  ;  and  second,  in  1878, 
he  married  Mamie  Madden  of  Morristown,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  :  Grace, 
who  died  aged  nine  months ;  Florence  C,  Horton  E.,  Wayne  P.,  Eldon  E.  and 
Ruth  E.  Mr.  Howard  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  Crary' 
Mills  Grange  No.  54. 

Russell,  Oscar,  Colton,  was  born  in  Colton,  August  20,  1851,  a  son  of  S.  K.  Rus- 
sell, elsewhere  mentioned  here.  Oscar  Avas  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  having  also  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  owns 
100  acres  of  land,  and  keeps  an  average  of  about  fourteen  cows  for  dairying.  Jan- 
uary 28,  1879,  Mr.  Ru5sell  married  Relief  Leonard,  a  native  of  Colton,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  Leonard  of  Vermont,  born  September  4,   1822,  who  came  to  this  town 


174  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

at  an  early  date.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have  had  one  son,  0.  Leonard.      Our  sub- 
ject is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor  one  term. 

Baker,  Alexander  W.,  Brasher,  a  veterinary  surgeon,  was  born  in  North  George- 
town, Quebec,  October  28,  1844.  His  was  George  W.  Baker  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  a 
farmer  and  justice  of  the  peace  who  died  there  June  7,  1863,  aged  sixty-two  years.  The 
wife  of  the  latter  was  Mary  Ann  De  Boovis,  a  native  of  France,  who  died  in  1872  aged 
sixty-eight  years.  Naham  Baker,  father  of  George,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  April 
9,  1762,  and  married  Rhoda  Adams,  born  in  Farmington,  Conn.,  February  19,  1769. 
They  were  married  October  29,  1792,  and  had  two  children  :  George  W.  and  Rhoda, 
Maria.  Naham  died  October  12,  1821,  and  his  wife  April  11,  1852.  Their  son 
George  W.,  was  born  November  11,  1801,  and  the  daughter,  Rhoda  M.,  was  born  No- 
vember 11,  1803.  Naham  served  in  Revolution  and  was  at  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  one 
of  the  sentry  guards  over  Major  Andre  the  night  before  he  was  executed.  The  Bakers 
and  Adams  were  from  Puritan  stock  and  can  trace  their  lineage  back  to  the  landing  of 
the  Mayflower.  The  grandmother  was  connected  to  both  Presidents  J.  Q.  and  John 
Adams.  Our  subject,  Alexander  W.,  was  reared  in  Canada  until  his  twentieth  year  and 
learned  blacksmithing  and  then  studied  veterinary  surgery  at  Ottawa.  He  located  at 
North  Lawrence,  this  county,  for  about  a  year,  then  came  to  Brasher  Falls  and  carried 
on  blacksmithing  in  connection  with  his  profession.  He  is  the  only  veterinary  surgeon 
in  this  section  of  the  county,  and  he  has  by  patience  and  industry  accumulated  a  nice 
property.  He  married  in  1863,  Eliza  March,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  in  Elgin,  Hunt- 
ington county,  June  22,  1846.  Her  father  was  from  Ireland,  and  her  mother  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  of  Irish  parentage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  had  six  children,  five 
surviving:  George  A.,  born  December  28,  1864,  who  is  also  a  blacksmith  and  veterinary 
surgeon  ;  Agnes  E.,  born  August  22,  1866;  Frank  J.,  born  June  2,  1872,  also  a  black- 
smith; Anna  E.,  born  February  22,  1875  ;  and  May  B.,  born  May  17,  1877.  Mr.  Baker 
and  his  sons  are  Republicans. 

Wrigglesworth,  Mrs.  Jane,  widow  of  Andrew  Wrigglesworth,  Russell,  who  was  born 
in  De  Kalb,  January  0,  1833,  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Taylor,  who  was  a  son  of  Nathan 
Taylor,  born  in  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  who  married  Deborah  Robinson,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  They  spent  their  last  days  in  Hammond,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  died  in  1838,  and  his  wife  in  1851.  Enoch  Taylor  came  to  Hammond  when  a 
young  man  and  followed  teaching  for  several  years,  being  also  a  farmer  and  mechanic. 
He  was  a  great  reader  and  a  well  informed  man.  He  married,  in  1837,  RuhamaDudy, 
born  in  Georgia,  Vt.,  in  1815,  a  daughter  of  Obediah  and  Zilpha  Dudy,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  had  three  children  :  George,  a  farmer  of  Russell;  Jane,  as 
above;  and  Mary,  who  lives  with  her  sister.  Mr.  Taylor  died  May  6,  1876,  and  his 
wife,  who  still  survives,  resides  with  our  subject.  Jane  began  teaching  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  which  vocation  she  followed  many  years.  She  married  Andrew  Wrigglesworth, 
by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  who  graduated  from  the  St.  Lawrence  University,  class 
of  1890,  and  is  now  a  teacher  in  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Wrigglesworth  was  a  farmer,  owning 
a  place  in  North  Russell.  He  died  August  25,  1868.  His  father,  Joseph,  was  a  native 
of  England,  who  came  to  De  Kalb  when  a  young  man.     He  married  Sarah,  widow  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  175 

James  Aastman,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Wriggleswortli  sold  the  farm  and  followed  teaching  uniil  1885,  when  she  bought  the 
cheese  factory  now  known  as  the  Palmersville  Factory,  of  which  she  has  since  been  pro- 
prietor, the  output  being  about  90,000  pounds  annually. 

Benham,  S.  R.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Shiek's  Island,  Canada,  December  2,  1829,  a  son 
of  Harvey  Benham,  a  native  of  Stansted,  Vt.,  born  June  25,  1802.  He  married  in 
Lower  Canada  Orrilla  Hackett,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  went  to  Canada  with 
her  parents  at  an  early  day.  They  went  to  Shiek's  Island,  which  was  owned  by  two 
of  his  uncles,  Solomon  and  William  Raymond.  After  a  short  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ben- 
ham came  to  Louisville,  N.  Y.,  where  they  resided  till  1842,  and  then  came  to  Colton 
where  he  died  in  1891,  and  his  wife  in  1885.  They  had  eight  children.  S.  R.  Benham 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  came  with  his  parents  to  Colton,  and 
has  there  spent  his  life  chiefly,  though  he  was  in  Michigan  about  two  years  and  in 
Hanawa  six  years.  He  has  acted  as  guide  in  the  woods  for  many  years,  and  spent  the 
winters  in  lumbering.  July  29,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  Avar,  being  honorably  discharo-ed 
in  July,  1865.  He  participated  in  the  following  battles:  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania 
Cold  Harbor,  Kelly's  Ford,  Manassas  Gap,  Locust  Grove,  Mine  Run,  ^Martinsburo',  Phil- 
lip!, Five  Forks,  Petersburg,  and  Sailor's  Creek.  He  was  also  at  Appomattox.  Sep- 
tember 9,  1854,  he  married  Augusta  Glid-'en,  of  Essex  count}^  daughter  of  James  and 
Emeline  (Hill)  Glidden,  she  being  the  widow  of  Mr.  Hill,  maiden  name  Hodgkin.  She 
died  in  1850  and  Mr.  Glidden  in  1859.  They  had  five  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ben- 
ham have  had  two  children :  James  D.,  who  married  Sylvia  Bicknell,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Grace ;  and  Nina  A.,  wife  of  Warren  Daniels,  of  Sing  Sing.  They  are  both 
graduates  of  Potsdam  Norman  School.  Mr.  Benham  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  Wait  Post  of  Colton,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Gates,  Arba,  Russell,  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  July  24, 1830.  His  father,  Arba,  sr., 
was  a  native  of  Windsor,  Yt.,  and  came  to  Champion,  Jefferson  county,  with  his  parents, 
who  later  went  to  Lewis  county,  where  they  died.  Arba,  sr.,  was  married  in  Lewis 
county  to  Susan  Clintsman,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children.  He  moved  to  Fowler  in 
1838,  and  about  twenty  years  later  went  west.  He  died  in  Wisconsin  in  1888,  and  his 
wife  in  1890.  Arba  Gates,  jr.,  came  with  his  parents  to  Fowler,  and  ha?  since  been  a 
resident  of  this  county.  He  has  always  followed  agriculture,  and  owns  seventy  acres 
in  one  place  and  sixty  in  another.  He  came  to  Russell  in  1868  and  bought  the  Palmer- 
ville  saw-mill,  which  he  still  owns.  In  1885  he  added  a  grist  mill,  and  does  a  success- 
ful business.  He  also  has  one  burr  and  two  metal  mills.  He  manufactures  from  500,- 
000  to  600.000  feet  of  lumber  yearly,  and  from  500,000  to  700,000  shingles  yearly. 
Mr.  Gates  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  two  terms.  He 
has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Minerva  Stone,  of  Fowler,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Emma  Ett,  Abram  F.,  Dora,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  His  second  wife  was 
Sarah  A.  Brown,  born  in  Wilna,  Jefferson  count}^  but  a  resident  of  Russell,  and  they 
have  had  eight  children:  John  F.,  Thomas  H.,  Susan.  George,  Mona,  Charles,  Harry, 
and  Carl,  who  died  aged  two  years.     Mr.  Gates  is  a  Universalist  in  religious  belief,  and 


176  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

his  family  attend  the  M.  E.  Church.     He  is  a  Mason  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  State  militia. 

Fletcher,  Calvin  T.,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  September  17,  1838,  a  son  of 
Chauncey  and  Orpha  S.  (Ketch)  Fletcher,  the  former  born  in  Mansfield,  Conn.,  June  2, 
1800  and  the  latter  born  in  Starkboro,  Vt.,  October  11,  1800.  They  came  to  this 
county  when  it  was  a  wilderness,  and  had  these  children:  Nancy,  Janet,  Julius  A., 
Cleora  A.,  Franklin  R.,  Charles  A.,  Olive  A.,  Clark,  Calvin  T.,  and  Martha  S.  Chauncey 
Fletcher  died  February  3,  1386,  and  his  wife  November  25,  1860.  The  family  trace 
their  ancestry  in  a  direct  line  back  to  William  the  Conqueror.  Rev.  Richard  Fletcher, 
chaplain  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  was  also  one  of  the  family.  He  afterwards  became  bishop 
of  London.  The  American  branch  of  the  family  have  many  of  them  followed  agricult- 
ure, and  descended  in  direct  line  from  Robert  Fletcher,  who  came  to  America  in  1630 
and  settled  near  Boston.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy, 
studied  law  at  Malone,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1864,  practicing  a  few  years,  and 
then  engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits  with  his  first  wife's  father,  J.  G.  Reynolds,  at 
Bombay.  In  1871  he  came  to  Helena,  where  he  engaged  in  trade.  October  12,  1865, 
he  married  Fredonia  A.,  daughter  of  J.  Gr.  Reynolds,  of  Bombay.  She  died  August  30, 
1870.  Their  children  were:  Gates  R.,  born  in  1866,  died  in  1868;  Ernest  T.,  born  No- 
vember 2,  1868  ;  Ormel,  born  and  died  in  1870.  He  married  second  Augusta  A., 
daughter  of  John  Sengfeld.  of  West  Chazy,  N.  Y.,  November  9,  1871,  and  their  chil- 
dren were :  Lura  F.,  born  November  29,  1875  ;  Clark  E.,  born  October  14,  1879 ; 
Charles  F.,  born  October  16,  1881.  Mr.  Fletcher  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  supervi- 
sor several  years,  also  notary  pubhc  for  many  years.  He  has  a  fine  trade,  and  owns 
several  farms.  His  oldest  son,  Ernest  T.,  is  a  successful  merchant  in  Tupper  Lake,  N. 
v.,  and  was  recently  appointed  postmaster. 

Burt,  G.  W.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Dickerson,  this  county.  May  15,  1848.  His  father, 
David,  was  a  son  of  Seaborn,  who  was  so  named  from  having  been  born  on  the  ocean 
while  coming  from  England  to  America.  His  parents  settled  in  Canada,  and  later  came 
to  Dickinson  in  Franklin  county,  and  to  Russell,  where  they  spent  their  days.  David 
Burt  was  born  in  Canada  and  came  with  his  parents  to  St.  Lawrence  county  when  a 
young  man.  He  was  a  carpenter.  He  married  Evaline  Wood,  of  Jefferson  county,  by 
whom  he  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  Three  of  the  sons,  John,  Silas,  and  Elmer, 
also  our  subject,  were  in  the  late  war,  where  all  were  killed  save  the  latter.  Mr.  Burt 
lived  in  Russell  about  fort}''-three  years.  G.  W.  Burt  was  reared  and  educated  in  Rus- 
sell, and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Ar- 
tillery, serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  River,  and  others.  He  was  taken  sick  at  North  Anna 
River  and  carried  to  the  First  Division  Hospital,  then  to  Mount  Pleasant  Hospital, 
Washington,  and  after  two  months  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  then 
sent  to  Indianapolis,  and  later  to  Cleveland,  0.,  most  of  the  time  on  detached  service. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Russell,  and  after  one  year  in  school  went  to 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  remaining  about  five  months,  when  he  married,  November  26, 
1866,  Anna  Hill,   a  native  of  Louisville,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of  William  Hill,  whose 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  177 

father,  William,  sr.,  came  from  England.  The  father  of  the  latter  fitted  out  a  ship  to 
send  him  to  the  West  Indies  to  settle  the  estate  of  his  two  brothers,  but  he  was  ship- 
wrecked, and  by  chance  brought  to  America,  and  settled  in  Vermont,  removed  to  Louis- 
ville, St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he  died  aged  ninety-three  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burt 
have  had  si.x  sons,  one  who  died  in  infancy ;  Mayon  E.,  who  died  aged  seven  ;  Rolla 
0.,  who  died  aged  twelve;  George  M.,  Wilton  D.,  and  Roy  D.,  now  living.  Mr.  Burt 
is  a  painter  by  trade,  which  he  followed  till  1882,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  where  he  carries  a  general  stock  of  millinery  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes, 
clothing,  patent  medicines,  etc.  Previous  to  this  Mr.  Burt  was  in  business  in  Rich-^ 
ville.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  town  clerk  one  year.  He/is 
a  member  of  Rice  Post  No.  169  G.  A.  R.,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M/E. 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  Sunday-school  superintendent  for  thirteen  or  fourteen 
years.  I 

Sheldon,  George  A.,  De  Kalb  Junction,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  December  22,  1860. 
At  the  age  of  five  years  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Rutland,  Vt.,  where  he  lived 
fourteen  years,  and  learned  the  tinner's  trade.  He  then  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in 
Gouverneur,  and  then,  on  account  of  ill  health,  went  to  Brooklyn  for  the  winter,  spend- 
ing the  following  summer  in  Rutland.  In  October  he  returned  to  Gouverneur,  but  after 
a  stay  of  only  a  week  he  came  to  De  Kalb  Junction,  and  at  once  took  a  position  with 
S.  T.  Walker,  October  30,  1882,  and  worked  for  him  five  and  a  half  years.  He  then 
entered  the  emp'oy  of  M.  D.  Alvison,  and  after  ten  months  with  that  house  embarked 
in  business  for  himself;  November  1,  1888,  he  took  the  stand  where  he  now  is.  The 
business  at  that  time  was  very  small,  but  by  excellent  work,  superior  business  methods 
and  close  attention  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  trade.  He  carries 
a  full  and  complete  stock  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  stoves,  crockery,  paints,  glass, 
etc.,  besides  doing  a  large  tinning  business,  requiring  the  services  of  three  skilled  work- 
men. In  1884  Mr.  Sheldon  married  Ida  Smith,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mabel. 
He  is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Horton,  W.  J.,  Colton,  was  born  in  London,  England,  July  30,  1848,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Emma  (Wetland)  Horton.  also  of  England,  who  reared  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 
In  1853  Mr.  Horton  and  family,  and  Mrs.  Horton's  mother  and  stepfather,  Mr.  Murry, 
with  an  uncle,  Robert  Wetland,  a  sailor  who  brought  the  family,  all  came  to  this  coun- 
try. The  sailor  returned  to  the  ocean  and  has  never  since  been  heard  of.  The  family 
lived  in  Boston  for  five  years,  and  in  1858  came  to  Colton,  where  the  father  died  in 
1885,  his  widow  now  residing  in  the  town.  Wm.  J.  Horton  was  about  five  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  America.  The  family  came  to  a  farm  in  Colton  when  he  was  ten 
years  old.  When  about  twenty-one  he  engaged  in  jobbing,  and  soon  bought  a  farm  of 
150  acres  improved  land  and  about  1,800  acres  of  wild  land.  In  1888  he  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  South  Colton,  buying  out  F.  F.  Flint  &  Co.,  and  has  a  fine  store, 
keeping  a  good  stock  of  general  merchandise.  Mr.  Horton  married  first,  January  ], 
1871,  Sarah  Til  ton,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:  Harriette,  Willie  Royal,  and 
Sarah.  Harriette  is  the  wife  of  James  Bump,  of  Parishville  ;  Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Hol- 
lenbeck,  an  inspector  of  car  wheels  at  Norwood  :  and  Willie  is  now  in  Colton.     Mrs. 


178  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Horton  died  Januar}^  28,  1875,  and  our  subject  married  second  Wealtha  E.,  daughter  of 
the  late  Edward  Spear,  of  Parishville,  and  they  have  had  four  children  :  Etta,  Mary, 
Myrtle,  and  Winifred.  Mr.  Horton  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  collector  and  con- 
stable eleven  years.  He  enlisted  in  the  late  war  under  Edward  Knapp,  of  Potsdam,  but 
the  company  being  full  he  was  returned. 

Libbey,  G-eorge  E.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Benton,  Me.,  February  20,  1836,  a  son  of 
Aaron,  a  native  of  Socco,  Me.,  and  of  the  seventh  generation  from  John  Libbey  who 
came  from  England.  Aaron  married  Emily  Woodsome,  of  Maine,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children.  He  was  a  prominent  man  of  affairs  in  the  town  and  held  many  public 
offices.  He  died  September  25,  1866,  and  his  wife  died  August  3,  1867.  George  E. 
Libbey  started  out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  nineteen  and  first  learned  the  carpen- 
ters trade,  following  this  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1863  he  went  to  California,  work- 
ing at  his  trade  and  also  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  and  in  1867  returned  to  Maine 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering  until  1879,  when  he  came  to  Colton  as  agent  for 
F.  Shaw  &  Bros.,  of  Boston,  who  owned  the  St.  Lawrence  Tannery  and  the  St.  Regis 
Tannery.  Mr.  Libbey  has  since  lived  here  continuously.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Canton,  is  a  Democrat,  and  held  several  town  offices  in 
Maine.  He  married  first  Rosella  Humphrey,  of  Maine,  by  whom  he  bad  no  children. 
She  died  in  1861,  and  he  married  second  Mahala  M.  Mills,  also  a  native  of  Maine,  and 
they  have  two  children:  George  W.,  a  student  in  medicine  at  the  university  of  Bur- 
lington ;  and  Rose  M.,  a  teacher  in  Minnesota.  Mr.  Libbey  is  a  member  of  High  Falls 
Lodge  No.  428  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of  Potsdam  Chapter  No.  39  and  St.  Lawrence  Com- 
mandery  No.  28.  K.  T.  of  Canton. 

Bullis,  Lewis,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Plattsburg.  Clinton  county,  June  16,  1837,  a 
son  of  John  W.,  a  native  of  that  place,  born  in  1804,  who  married  Mercy  R.  Fonda,  by 
whom  he  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1841  Mr.  Bullis  came  to  Pierrepont  and 
settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  ''  Waterman  Hill  Stock  Farm,"  owned  by  our  subject 
and  his  brother  Miad,  who  was  born  in  Pierrepont.  J.  W.  died  in  Canton  in  1884,  and 
his  wife  died  in  1887.  Lewis  Bullis  has  always  followed  farming  and  dairying,  and 
now  owns  200  acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  200  additional  in  Canton,  Russell  and 
Pierrepont,  and  also  keeps  about  thirty-five  cows.  In  1870  he  married  Susan  E. 
Lewis,  a  native  of  Hermon,  and  daughter  of  Roswell  and  Betsey  (Thompson)  Lewis, 
early  settlers  of  Hermon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bullis  have  had  two  children:  Jerm  and 
Mernie. 

Baker,  Lucius  B.,  M.D.,  Russell,  is  a  native  of  Russell,  born  February  17,  1846,  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  Lucius  S.  Baker,  the  oldest  Baptist  minister  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  who 
was  born  in  Chester,  Yt.,  August  8,  1810.  He  was  the  oldest  son,  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  of  Bezaleel  Baker,  born  in  New  Hampshire,  whose  father  was  a  native  of  Nova 
Scotia.  Rev.  L.  S.  Baker  came  to  this  county  in  1842,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He 
was  educated  in  Colgate  University,  formerly  Madison,  and  commenced  the  ministry  in 
1837,  which  he  has  continued  until  within  about  five  years,  since  which  time  he  has 
ceased  from  active  work.  January  27,  1837.  he  married  Hannah  G.  Walker,  a  native 
of  Yermont,   born  April  21,  1814,  died  August  8,  1887,  and  they  had  three  children : 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  I79 

Celestine  N.,  born  March  28,  1839,  died  October  6,  1890 ;  Lucius  B.,  as  above;  and 
Roger  J.,  born  November  17,  1854,  died  February  6,  1882.  Lucius  B.  was  educated  in 
St.  Lawrence  Academy,  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  and  the  medical  department  of  the  University 
of  Vermont,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1868.  He  began  practice  in  Clifton,  N.  Y., 
and  in  September,  1869,  was  appointed  house  physician  in  the  Rochester  City  Hospital, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  then  Avas  elected  city  physician,  practicing  six  years, 
and  then  came  to  Russell,  where  he  has  since  lived,  giving  his  lime  entirely  to  his 
chosen  profession.  He  married  in  Rochester,  in  1874,  Sarah  C.  Markley,  a  native  of 
Winchester,  Va.,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Kittie  H.,  born  June  28,  1875,  died  Sep- 
tember 3,  1893.  Dr.  Baker  is  a  charter  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Roches- 
ter Free  Dispensatory  and  the  Rochester  Pathological  Society ;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  and  for  several  years  health  officer  of  the 
towns  of  Russell,  Clifton  and  Clare.  He  is  liberal  in  religious  belief,  and  a  Republican 
in  politics. 

Brown,  Orson  L.,  Colion,  was  born  in  Colton,  June  5,  1847,  a  son  of  David  Brown, 
whose  father  came  from  Vermont  to  Colton  about  1825.  David  was  born  in  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  in  1805,  and  married  Eunice  Long,  born  in  Potsdam  in  1808,  a  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Long.  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Colton  about  1822  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Orson  L.  Here  he  died  February  9,  1881,  and  his  wife  March  23,  1890.  They  had 
one  son,  Orson  L.,  who  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  has  here  spent  his 
life.  He  was  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  has  always  been  a  farmer, 
owning  now  over  300  acres  and  keeping  a  dairy  of  twenty-eight  cows.  December  7, 
1869,  he  married  Alzina  Adams,  of  Parishville,  a  daughter  of  Ambrose  Adams,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  They  had  one  child,  Louisa  E.,  born  June  28,  1876. 
September  19,  1884,  Mrs.  Brown  died,  and  he  married,  September  29,  1885,  Edna  A. 
Howe,  of  Parishville,  daughter  of  Roderick  Howe.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Republican,  and 
one  of  the  assessors  of  the  town.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  & 
A.  M.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  Adirondack  Chapter  0.  E.  S.  of  Colton,  N.  Y. 

Bedal,  T.  W.,  Colton,  was  born  in  1815  at  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Joshua,  a  native 
of  Bath,  N.  H.,  born  January  25,  1782,  whose  father,  Joshua  Bedal,  was  a  native  of 
France,  born  in  1740,  who  came  to  America  with  two  brothers,  Jacob  and  Richard,  who 
were  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Joshua  fought  in  the  French  and  Indian  and 
the  Revolutionary  Wars,  and  was  under  Wolfe,  Washington,  and  Lafayette.  Joseph's 
children  were:  Joshua,  Jacob,  Ruth,  Louisa.  Of  these  children  Jacob  married  Nellie 
Carr,  of  Royalton,  N.  H.,  whose  father  was  taken  captive  by  the  Indians  at  the  mas- 
sacre at  Royalton  and  kept  in  captivity  seven  years.  Jacob  and  wife  had  seven  chil- 
dren :  Daniel,  William,  Henry,  Amasa,  George,  Albert  and  Hiram.  Timothy  Bedal,  our 
subject,  Avas  one  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  Louisa  died  in  1829 ;  George  died  aged 
eighteen,  being  shot  by  a  robber  ;  Angelina  died  in  Vermont  when  a  child ;  Isabel  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Patch,  of  Vermont;  Alonzo  is  a  farmer  of  Vermont;  Lafayette  was 
killed  in  the  late  war  ;  Cynthia  married  a  Mr.  Ellenwood,  and  died  in  Vermont  about 
1867;  Langdon  died  in  Sheldon,  Vt,  about  1887  ;  Harriet  married  a  Mr.  May,  son  of 
Judge  May,  of  Detroit ;  Maria  married  George  Mihill,  of  Essex  county,  N.  Y.  ;  Sarah, 


ISO  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

wife  of  Nathan  Wheeler,  of  Wisconsin;  Augusta,  married  Joseph  Petit  and  lives  in 
Wisconsin  ;  Jane  married  Frank  Carr,  of  Meridan,  Minn.  ;  and  Timothy,  who  came 
from  Yerniont  to  Cbateaugay  in  18-iO.  In  1846  he  came  to  Colton,  when  the  town  was 
but  a  wilderness,  and  here  he  cleared  a  home  for  himself  and  earned  a  living  by  making 
black  salts.  He  bought  100  acres  of  land,  later  disposing  of  fifty  acres.  He  married 
in  June,  1835,  Miss  Ann  Bean,  and  they  had  seven  children  :  one  who  died  in  infancy ; 
Mary,  born  November  25,  1836,  wife  of  James  Irish.  She  died  December  7,  1864,  and 
left  two  children,  Yiroqua  and  Elva,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Melvina,  born  June 
19,  1838,  died  December  10,  1841 ;  Jane,  born  May  20,  1841,  died  October  9,  1880,  the 
wife  of  Frank  Carr,  of  Minnesota,  and  had  seven  children  :  Ellen,  Allen,  Edson,  Clar- 
ence, Elsie,  Frank,  Mary,  Alva  S.  The  latter  was  born  March  1,  1843,  and  mariied  Lucy 
L.  Smith,  of  Colton,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  Bertha,  born  August  6,  1871,  mar- 
ried, August  30,  1890,  Lewis  R.  Crump,  now  of  Colton  ;  Arvilla,  born  September  4, 
1873  ;  Edson  A.,  born  March  21,  1876;  Lydia  L.,  born  December  13,  1878.  They  are 
all  musicians,  and  under  the  name  Crump's  Orchestra  furnish  music  for  many  of  the 
leading  balls.  Alvah  Bedal  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  N.  Y.  Cavalry  on  August  27, 
1864,  with  his  brother,  Allen  F.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war ;  Allan  F.  was  born 
April  19,  1845,  and  was  killed  at  what  was  known  as  the  hay  fight  in  1865  ;  Rose 
Augusta  was  born  February  4,  1847,  and  died  in  youth.  Alvah  Bedal  now  resides  at 
home  with  his  parents,  and  is  the  owner  of  157  acres  of  land.  He  and  his  father  are 
both  Republicans,  and  liberal  in  religious  views. 

Botsford,  Dr.  Llewellyn  T.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canton,  May  27,  1852,  a  son  of 
Cyrenus  Z.,  a  native  of  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1813,  who  settled  about  1830  in 
Canton  and  was  there  educated.  In  early  life  he  was  turnkey  of  the  jail  at  Canton  and 
attended  school,  later  he  followed  teaching.  He  was  thrice  married,  his  last  wife  being 
Aunlla  King,  of  Canton,  and  soon  after  his  marriage  he  moved  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives.  He  is  a  Repubhcan,  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Union  League. 
He  had  three  children  :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  H.  Lewis,  of  West  Potsdam  ;  Jen 
nie,  wife  of  Adelbert  C.  Clark,  of  North  Russell ;  and  Llewellyn  T.  The  latter  attended 
the  public  schools  and  Canton  Academy,  and  after  reaching  his  majority  he  worked  on 
a  farm  and  taught  school  to  earn  funds  to  continue  his  education.  He  then  entered 
St.  Lawrence  University,  remaining  two  years,  then  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Sanford  S.  Hoag,  of  Canton.  He  spent  one  year  in  the  medical  department  of  Bur- 
lington (Yt.)  University,  and  graduated  from  the  New  York  Homoeopathic  Medical 
College  in  1878.  Since  this,  with  the  exception  of  three  years  in  Canton,  he  has  had  a 
successful  practice  in  Colton.  In  1880  Dr.  Botsford  married  Jennie  Potter,  daughter  of 
Pelopides  Potter,  of  Colton,  and  they  had  three  children:  Lelon  P.,  Julia  G.,  and  Millie 
R.  Mrs.  Botsford  died  December  10,  1890.  Dr.  Botsford  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  several  years  as  health  officer,  coroner  for  sis  years,  and  was  one  of  the  Board 
of  Education  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  he  and  family  attend  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Ashton,  William  H.,   Brasher  Falls,  dealer  in  and  manufacturer  of  carriages,   also 
general  dealer  in  farm  implements.     Born  May  18,  1834.     A  son  of  Walker  and  Pris- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  181 

cilia  (Evans)  Ashton.  They  came  to  America  in  the  years  1819-1822  from  England. 
Walker,  the  father,  was  a  dealer  in  silks  and  jewelry,  dealing  between  New  York  and 
Montreal  until  1828;  in  the  years  from  1835  to  1838  was  high  sheriff  of  Yamaskia 
county,  P.  Q.  He  died  May  20,  1838,  aged  fifty-two  years.  Priscilla,  the  mother,  was 
married  first  to  Samuel  Goulding,  1815,  who  died  in  1821  in  Montreal,  Canada.  She 
again  was  married  to  Samuel  McCall,  1823,  who  died  in  1830.  She,  the  widow  McCall, 
married  Walker  Ashton  in  1 832,  who  died  May  20,  1838.  After  being  a  widow  for  forty- 
eight  years,  and  after  passing  through  many  of  the  hardships  and  trials  of  this  world,  she 
died  at  Waterloo,  Canada,  March  8,  1886,  in  her  ninetieth  year.  They  were  all  mem- 
bers of  the  church  of  England.  Walker  Ashton,  son  of  Mathew  Ashton,  had  four 
brothers  and  three  sisters:  John,  Robert,  William,  James,  Mary,  Salley  and  Eliza. 
John  died  in  Parishville,  N.  Y.,  in  1857,  aged  seventy-four  years  ;  Robert  died  in  Shef- 
ford,  Canada,  in  1874,  aged  eighty-four  years;  William  died  in  1882,  aged  eighty- eight 
years,  in  Shefford,  Canada;  James,  residence  unknown;  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Stone, 
died  in  Parishville  in  1880,  aged  ninety  years ;  Salley  died  in  Montreal,  aged  eighty- 
five  years ;  Eliza  died  in  Merryworth  Castle,  Kent,  England,  wife  of  Lord  Fallraouth,  in 
her  ninety- seventh  year.  Our  subject  began  to  learn  his  carriage  trade  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  with  E.  B.  Rounds,  of  Swanton,  Vt.,  and  in  the  year  1856  came  to  Brasher 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  where  he  has  always  been  in  business,  conducting  his  carriage  shop  and 
also  a  farmer.  He  has  been  a  constable  for  twenty  years  and  deputy  sheriff  for  six 
years ;  is  now  serving  his  ninth  year  as  a  township  assessor.  He  has  been  a  Re- 
publican ever  since  the  party  was  organized  in  1856.  August  14,  1859,  W.  H.  Ashton 
married  Julia  A.  Frary,  of  Stockholm,  N.  Y.  Her  parents  came  from  Lewis  county, 
N.  y.  She  died  May  24,  1884,  aged  forty-five  years,  leaving  three  children:  Arthur 
D.,  born  December  14,  1860,  who  is  in  business  with  his  father,  married  Jessie  Tripp,  of 
Stockholm,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  John  Tripp  ;  Agnes  P.,  a  twin  sister  of  Arthur  D.,  who 
lives  with  her  father ;  and  Charles  W.,  born  June,  1862,  who  is  also  in  business  with 
his  father  at  Brasher  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Close,  Henry  J.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canada,  March  22,  1867,  a  son  of  William,  a 
native  of  Chateaugay,  born  March  17,  1834,  and  the  latter  was  a  son  of  John  Close, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  shingles.  In  1868  Mr.  Close  came  to  Colton, 
where  he  and  his  brother  John  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  Close.  William 
sold  his  interest  in  this  and  bought  the  S.  D.  Buttles  farm  of  175  acres,  and  for  three 
years  resided  in  South  Colton,  having  erected  the  building  now  owned  by  our  sub- 
ject. He  was  postmaster  three  years  during  Cleveland's  first  administration.  He  died 
February  3,  1889,  and  his  son,  Henry  J.,  held  the  office  the  balance  of  the  term.  Will- 
iam and  wife  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  now  living  except  Gertrude,  who 
died  aged  two  years.  Mrs.  Close  died  January  19,  1893.  Henry  J.  was  raised  on  a 
farm,  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  engaged  m  fanning  until  November,  1893, 
when  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  South  Colton,  and  has  since  lived  there.  He  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  been  inspector  of  elections  three  years.  Mr.  Close  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Day,  Chester,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canton  in  1825.     He  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  Day, 
a  native  of  Cheshire,  Mass.,  born  in  1771,  who  married   at  Addison,  Vt.,  Rebecca  OHn, 


182  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

born  in  1782.  They  had  ten  children.  In  1801  Mr.  Day  came  to  Canton,  there  being 
but  four  famines  in  the  town  at  the  time.  Here  he  resided  on  a  farm  until  within  a 
few  years  of  his  death,  when  he  removed  to  another  farm,  and  died  in  1866  (February 
28),  his  wife  having  died  May  8,  1862.  He  had  charge  of  the  county  house,  the  first 
one  buih,  for  several  years.  Chester  Day  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  had  a  common 
school  education.  He  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and  is  also  a  carpenter,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  built  boats.  He  married  Sarah  L.  Ames,  of  Canton,  born  June  19,  1825, 
by  whom  he  has  had  seven  children  :  Sarah  L.,  born  November  18,  1845,  who  married 
William  Smith,  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have  one  son,  William  H.,  born  December  19, 
1847 ;  Frances  L.,  born  May  16,  1852,  who  died  in  1893,  and  who  was  the  wife  of 
Stillman  Loop.  She  had  two  children,  Harley  D.  and  Edith  M.  ;  Marion  A.,  who  lives 
at  home,  born  in  1854;  Eva  E.,  born  July  24,  1864,  died  in  infancy;  Mary  L.,  born 
April  18,  1863,  married  Wilbur  Page,  of  Potsdam;  Eva  M.,  born  June  2,  1865,  married 
Orin  Bradish,  of  Colton,  and  has  one  child.  Ha.  Mr.  Day  came  to  Colton  in  1852,  and 
has  lived  here  ever  .since.  He  has  been  a  guide  in  the  South  woods  for  the  Kildare 
and  Hollywood  clubs  for  fifteen  years,  and  has  been  employed  in  the  woods  for  thirty- 
five  years.  Mrs.  Day  died  May  4,  1879.  He  went  to  work  for  Pratt  &  Co.  in  the  spring 
of  1852,  and  worked  for  the  company  about  seven  years,  having  charge  of  the  lumber 
yard  five  years.  In  1882  he  went  to  Jourdon  Pond  with  Henry  Day  ;  he  had  charge 
ot  the  building  of  the  Kildare  club  house  which  was  built  that  year. 

Reynolds,  J.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canada,  February  8,  1820,  a  son  of  J.  C.  and  Polly 
(Mooney)  Reynolds,  both  of  New  Hampshire,  who  raised  eleven  children.  In  1835 
they  came  to  Pierrepont,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  they  died.  Joseph,  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  died  in  Canada.  His  wife  was  Mary 
Reynold.s,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children.  Our  subject  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  in 
1848  he  married  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mary  E.  (Reynolds)  Marden. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  she  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  twelve  children. . 
They  came  to  Parishville  about  1840,  and  now  reside  in  South  Colton  with  their  son. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  have  had  seven  children:  Milton  E.,  Charles,  Hector,  Ernest, 
Minnie,  Nellie  B.  and  William.  Mr.  Reynolds  came  to  Colton  in  1853,  and  has  lived 
here  ever  since.  He  built  the  hotel  which  burned  down  on  the  site  of  the  present  Em- 
pire Exchange  of  Colton  (also  built  by  him),  and  was  its  proprietor  three  years,  when 
he  sold  out  and  built  the  Reynolds  block,  opposite.  He  sold  this  and  removed  to  the 
Plains  in  1877,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  500  acres,  and  now  resides  thereon.  He  also 
built  a  hotel  at  Hollywood,  Stillwater,  in  1889.  of  which  his  son,  William  W.,  is  now 
proprietor.  This  summer  resort  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  west  side  of  Racket  River, 
has  good  conveniences  for  travelers,  and  its  rates  are  reasonable.  The  daily  stage  from 
Potsdam  connects  with  the  daily  at  South  Colton  for  the  Hollywood  House,  and  the 
hotel  has  a  livery  in  connection.  Mr.  Reynolds  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  assessor 
four  years,  pooi  master  many  years,  inspector  of  elections  two  years,  and  has  always 
been  a  worker  in  his  party.     He  has  been  postmaster  at  Hollywood  four  years. 

Aikens,  John,  Colton,  was  born  in  Barnard,  Vt.,  May  7,  1795,  a  son  of  Nathaniel, 
who  married  a  Miss  Mary  Tupper,  and  had   two  sons  and  six  daughters.  •In  1811  he 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  183 

came  to  Potsdam  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1839. 
John  was  sixteen  years  old  when  he  came  to  Potsdam,  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Potsdam  Academy.  In  1840  he  married  Eliza  Beach,  of  Pierrepont, 
born  in  Vermont,  Augusts,  1812,  who  came  with  her  parents  in  1818  to  Pierrepont. 
Mr.  and  Mrs  Aikens  had  two  children,  John  H.,  born  in  1841,  who  enlisted  in  the  Six- 
teenth N.  Y.  Infantry,  was  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  May  10,  and  died  in  Fredericksburgh  May  13, 
186 — .  The  second  child,  Mary  E.,  was  born  in  1847,  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
months.  Mr.  Aikens  came  to  Colton  in  1841  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Mr.s.  Aikens.  He  died  January  25,  1883,  and  his  wife  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  Ebenezer  and  Mabel  (Henry)  Beach,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Aikens,  had  seven 
children,  and  came  to  Pierrepont,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  a  Mr. 
Sabin.  They  later  went  to  Wayne  county,  where  Mr.  Beach  died  in  1841,  and  his  wife 
in  1848,  in  Illinois. 

Rodger.  G.  H.,  M.D.,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Hammond,  this  county,  April  4,  1860. 
He  was  educated  in  Grouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary  and  Hamilton  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1883.  He  studied  medicine  in  the  University  of  jSTew  York,  and  orad- 
uated  in  1888,  beginning  practice  in  Seattle,  Wash.,  where  he  remained  three  years,  but 
on  November  26,  1892,  he  returned  to  Hermon,  this  countj',  where  he  has  since  prac- 
ticed successfully.  William,  father  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  married  Isabella  Shiell,  they  being 
both  of  Scotch  descent. 

Wilson,  John,  Brasher,  of  Helena,  was  born  in  Brasher,  May  30,  1847,  a  son  of  John 
and  Lavina  (Yosburg)  Wilson,  both  of  Canada.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  came  to 
this  county  in  1835,  making  for  himself  a  fine  home  in  the  wilderness.  He  was  a  Whig 
and  Republican,  and  several  of  his  wife's  ancestors  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution. 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  in  1888,  and  the  mother  aged  seventy-five 
years.  Of  their  five  children  our  subject  was  the  fourth.  He  was  a  soldier  m  the  civil 
war  in  Company  — ,  Sixth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  serving  from  December,  1863,  to 
August,  1865,  and  participating  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  front  of  Petersburg,  etc. 
He  is  now  a  pensioner  and  a  member  of  the  Gr.  A.  R.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  held  ofiices  in  his  town.  October  3,  1869,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Nancy  Payden 
(who  died  June  10,  1876),  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  J.  Payden,  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  this  country  while  young.  May  24,  1877,  he  married  second  Mrs.  Agnes 
O'Brien  Bowns,  born  October  12,  1852,  widow  of  Thomas  Bowns.  Mr.  Wilson's  chil- 
dren are  as  follows :  Agnes,  aged  —  ;  Frank,  aged  twenty-four ;  Mary  Lovina,  aged 
twenty-two;  Chloe,  Elizabeth,  aged  twenty;  Frederick,  aged  nineteen;  Eva,  aged 
twenty-one;  Joseph  John,  aged  eighteen  ;  Mabel,  aged  fifteen;  Bertha,  aged  thirteen  ; 
Alice,  aged  ten ;  George,  aged  four ;  Ida,  who  died  February  2,  1893,  aged  two  years ; 
and  Eddie,  aged  seventeen. 

Richards,  James  A.,  Brasher,  of  Helena,  was  born  in  Waterford,  Vt.,  February  1, 
1826,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Jacobs)  Richards,  also  natives  of  Vermont,  who 
came  to  Brasher  in  1839  and  settled  at  Helena.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  died  aged  eighty-seven  years,  his  wife  dying  at  the  same  age.     Our  subject  grew 


184  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

up  on  the  farm,  aud  has  always  followed  agriculture,  having  accumulated  a  fine  prop- 
erty. He  is  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  the  town.  Mr.  Richards  married, 
January  12,  1853,  Jane  Houghton,  a  native  of  this  town,  whose  parents  were  among 
the  pioneers.  They  have  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  survive  :  Amelia,  Avife  of 
Arthur  Cunningham,  of  Tilton,  N.  H. ;  Emma,  wife  of  Edward  Cunningham,  of  Helena; 
Philena,  wife  of  Daniel  Ward,  of  Boston,  Mas.s. ;  Sarah,  wife  of  C.  Turner,  of  Moira, 
N.  Y. ;  Effie,  wife  of  Harry  Blanchard,  of  Bombay,  N.  Y.  ;  Horace,  and  James  W., 
who  live  at  home.  Mr.  Richards  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  several  offices  in  the 
township. 

Day,  William  H.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canton,  December  19,  1847,  a  son  of  Chester 
Dav.  He  married  Lucinda  H.  Morrison,  and  they  have  had  five  children:  Alfred  C, 
who  married  Carrie  Hogle  and  had  two  children,  Henry  and  Almond,  Almond  2d  next 
dead;  Charles  H.,  who  married  Dora  Coleman,  and  has  two  sons,  Harry  and  Walter; 
Leon  and  Lila,  who  live  at  home.  Mr.  Day  has  been  a  guide  in  the  South  woods  for 
many  years,  and  for  twelve  years  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Vanderbilt  Kildare 
club  house,  holding  that  position  now.  Mr.  Day  is  a  Republican,  but  not  an  aspirant  to 
office.     He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Pelsue,  Orson  J.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  October  17,  1843,  a  son  of  George 
Pelsue,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  December  22,  1820,  and  died  at  Antwerp,  De- 
cember 6,  1879.  He  was  a  son  of  George  Pelsue,  a  native  of  Vermont,  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  book.  George,  father  of  Orson  J.,  married  Fannie  J.  Eldridge,  and 
they  had  four  children.  Orson  J.  came  to  this  town  witli  his  parents  at  the  age  of  six, 
and  four  years  later  went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  F.  V.  Ellis,  of  Stockholm,  remaining 
till  he  was  seventeen,  when  he  and  his  father  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  served  three  years,  being  honorably  discharged  in  1865.  They 
were  in  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor,  Monaccay  and  the  Wilderness,  among  others. 
Soon  after  their  return  from  the  war  they  bought  the  hotel  property  at  Stark,  where 
they  kept  hotel  for  eleven  years.  Mr.  Pelsue  married  first  Sarah  Remington,  and  they 
had  one  child,  Frank  R.,  born  November  3,  1870,  who  married  Mabel  Richey,  Novem- 
ber 1,  1893.  Mr.  Pelsue  married  second,  May  9,  1872,  Melinda,  daughter  of  Woodard 
Brown,  of  Parishville,  born  September  22,  1848,  and  they  have  had  two  children :  Nel- 
lie, born  June  8,  1878,  died  January  14,  1879;  and  Grace  B.,  born  March  1,  1874,  now 
living  at  home.  From  the  hotel  our  subject  went  into  the  livery  business  at  Norwood 
for  about  a  year,  then  kept  hotel  at  Parishville  for  the  same  length  of  time,  and  then 
kept  hotel  at  the  Head  of  Bog  for  two  years.  Soon  after  leaving  the  Bog  he  engaged 
as  book-keeper  for  L.  Usher,  of  Potsdam,  and  kept  his  boarding-house  at  the  Head  of 
Plains  for  four  years.  Next  he  came  to  Stark  and  bought  a  small  farm,  where  he  now 
lives.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  about  fifteen  years,  and  his  wife  is  at  present 
postmistress  at  Stark. 

Webster,  W.  A.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives 
May  12,  1843.  He  followed  farming  actively  up  to  ten  years  ago,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  giving  his  attention  to  the  lumber  trade  principally.  He  owns  a  fine  sash, 
door  and  blind  factory  in  Clayton  and  475  acres  of  land.     In  1871  he  married  Charlotte 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  185 

Dygert,  of  Herkimer  county,  and  they  have  one  son,  Wilham  L.,  who  is  studying  medi- 
cine. Mr.  Webster  is  one  of  the  best  known  magistrates  of  this  county.  His  father 
was  Samuel  Webster,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  His  mother  was  Harriet  (Beach) 
Webster,  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Webster  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Heavy 
Artillery  in  1863,  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  J.  B.  Camp- 
bell Post  424,  department  Redwood. 

Gustin,  A.  H.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Stanstead,  Canada,  March  6,  1828,  a  son  of  Aaron, 
son  of  Josiah  Gustin,  of  New  Hampshire,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution.  His 
wife  was  Margaret  Wardner,  born  on  the  ocean  while  her  parents  were  coming  from 
Holland  to  America.  Aaron  was  born  in  Marlow,  N.  H.,  April  5,  1793,  and  married 
Miriam  Flanders,  of  Strafiford,  K  H.,  February  15,  1817,  she  having  been  born  N<xVem- 
ber  9,  1799.  They  had  thirteen  children:  Lyman'H.,  born  March  5,  1818;  Laura,  born 
October  21,  1817,  died  in  Illinois  in  1893  ;  Emily,  born  February  7,  1822 ;  Levi  B., 
born  April  10,  1824;  John  E.,  born  April  12,  1826,  died  in  1890;  A.  H.,  as  above; 
Joseph  F.,  born  June  8,  1830,  died  aged  five  years  :  Orlin,  born  June  11,  1832,  died 
April  19,  1837  ;  Marshall,  born  March  7,  1834,  died  in  Iowa  in  1879;  Samantha,  born 
in  1836  ;  Mary,  born  July  22, 1838,  died  June  8,  1853  ;  Lovina,  born  February  15,  1841, 
died  in  Missouri  in  1871 ;  and  Julia  A.,  born  October  3,  1846.  Mr.  Gustin  died  in  1864, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1890  in  Canada.  A.  H.,  our  subject,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  came  to  this  county  (May  17,  1850).  He 
married,  January  4,  1853,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Richard  Roberson,  an  early  settler  of 
Hammond,  and  they  had  three  children  :  Florence  E.,  born  October  14,  1853 ;  Charles 
J.,  born  February  12,  1860;  and  Albert  L.,  born  December  31, 1865.  Mrs.  Gustin  died 
December  10,  1879,  aged  fifty  years,  and  on  December  5,  1883,  our  subject  married 
second  Elma  A.  Perkins,  daughter  of  Amos  F.  Perkins,  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Hazel  M.,  born  July  15,  1887.  Mr.  Gustin  is  well  known  throughout  the 
county  and  surrounding  localities  as  a  builder  and  contractor,  and  has  built  or  superin- 
tended over  half  of  the  buildings  in  Colton  village  ;  also  the  steam  laundry  at  Potsdam, 
the  American  Hotel  at  Norwood,  Stark  Falls  Hotel,  and  the  hotel  at  Hollywood.  He 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  assessor  ten  years,  al«o  has  served  as  constable,  collector, 
highway  commissioner,  etc.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  president  of  the  Pleasant  Mound  Cemetery  Association,  which  office  he  has  held 
twelve  years. 

McMullin,  Paul,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie  in  November,  1857.  His  parents 
emigrated  from  Ireland  and  settled  in  this  county  in  1818.  Paul  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married 
in  1861  Miss  C.  Collins,  and  they  have  six  children.  Mr.  McMullin  has  for  the  past 
eight  years  been  a  tenant,  possessing  however  a  fine  drove  of  thirteen  head  of  cattle, 
four  horses,  and  sixteen  sheep,  besides  all  the  requisite  utensils  necessary  for  the  prose- 
cution of  his  business.  He  is  an  energetic,  hardworking  and  successful  man,  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all. 

Long,  Ransom  B.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Parishville,  October  12,  1840.  His  father 
was  Justin,  son  of  Jonathan,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  married  Matilda  Copeland,  and 


186  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

came  to  Potsdam  about  1809  with  an  ox-team.  Here  they  cleared  a  farm  and  settled, 
but  later  went  to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Colton,  where  they  died.  They  had  four 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Justin  Long  was  born  April  4,  1812,  at  Potsdam,  and  mar- 
ried Emily  Belding,  a  native  of  Pierrepont,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  the 
latter  the  wife  of  Edson  Perkins.  Mr.  Long  owned  400  acres  of  land,  and  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.  He  died  March  16,  1889.  and  his  wife  on  December  6  of  the  same 
year.  Ransom  B.  Long  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education. 
He  is  a  general  farmer  and  owns  500  acres  of  dairy  land.  March  27,  1890,  Nora  Whit- 
taker  became  his  wife,  and  they  have  one  son,  Glenn.  Mrs.  Long  is  a  native  of  Parish- 
ville,  and  a  daughter  of  Simom  Whittaker,  of  Stockholm.  The  latter  was  a  son  of 
Alanson  Whittaker,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  that  town.  Mr.  Long  is  a  Republican 
in  politics. 

Martin,  Orrin  E.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Westville,  Franklin  county,  December  22, 
1847.  His  father,  Hollis  S.,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Martin,  and  was  born  in  Compton, 
P.  Q.,  in  1822.  Samuel  was  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  in  1775,  and  his  father,  Na- 
thaniel, served  as  body  guard  to  General  Washington.  Hollis  S.  moved  to  Westville 
with  his  father  in  1834,  and  after  receiving  his  education  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
He  married  PauHna  E.  Ellsworth,  of  Dear  River,  Fort  Covington,  Franklin  county,  in 
1845,  and  in  1853  they  moved  to  Chateaugay,  Franklin  county,  where  he  carried  on 
carriagemaking  and  blacksmithing  till  1868.  He  then  removed  to  Norfolk,  this  county, 
and  began  the  manufacture  of  wagon  hubs  and  shingles,  this  being  the  first  hub  factory 
in  Northern  New  York.  In  1872  he  moved  to  Norwood,  where  he  and  his  son  Orrin 
built  a  large  factory  and  continued  the  business  till  1877,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  son 
Orrin,  though  he  continues  to  live  at  Norwood.  He  had  six  children:  Sidney  A.,  Or- 
rin E.,  Laura  A.,  Hollis  L.,  Charles  A.  and  Herbert  D.  His  wife  died  May  5, 1887,  and 
Hollis  L.  died  at  Monterey,  Mexico,  August  24,  1891.  The  latter  was  a  Republican. 
Orrin  E.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Chateaugay,  and  worked  at  black- 
smithing  with  his  father  till  the  age  of  eighteen,  then  went  to  Malone  and  engaged  with 
Whittlesy,  Perkins  &  Co.  in  the  machine  shop,  remaining  there  one  year,  then  returned 
to  Chateaugay  and  engaged  in  the  hub  business  with  his  father.  In  1877  he  bought  his 
father's  interest,  and  in  1878  the  factory  with  all  its  contents  was  burned,  with  a  loss 
of  $20,000  and  no  insurance.  The  factory  was  immediately  rebuilt  and  the  business 
continued  till  1880,  when  Mr.  Martin  moved  to  Ogdensburg  and  leased  the  Craghton's 
brewery  property,  building  it  over  into  a  hub  factory  and  shingle  mill.  This  also  was 
burned  a  year  later  with  a  loss  of  $9,0Q0,  $1,500  insurance.  He  then  leased  the  Hart 
pottery  property  and  carried  on  business  till  1887,  when  he  formed  a  company  known 
as  the  0.  B.  Martin  Hub  Company,  incorporated,  and  associated  with  him  Henry  F. 
James  and  James  G.  Westbrook,  of  Ogdensburg.  They  continued  in  business  a  year, 
and  built  large  buildings  on  River  street  in  which  to  carry  on  the  hub  business.  The 
next  year  Mr.  Martin  sold  bis  business  to  Henry  F.  James,  and  then  bought  the  stock 
of  the  Dunkirk  Hub  Company  of  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  which  he  later  disposed  of,  and  in 
1889  bought  the  Norwood  Agricultural  Works,  formerly  owned  by  S.  W.  Davis.  Mr. 
Martin  built  a  pulp  mill  on  this  place  with  a  capacity  of  4,200  tons  of  wood  pulp  an- 
nually.    He  also  owns  a  grist  mill  and  built  a  butter  factory  in  1893.     February  15, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  187 

1876,  he  married  Mary  J.  Butler,  only  daughter  of  the  late  William  Butler,  of  Pots- 
dam, and  they  have  three  children:  Edith  L..  Hollis  W.,  and  Arthur  H.  Mr.  Martin 
lives  in  Ogdensburg  and  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church. 

Curtis,  Lafayette,  Brasher,  of  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  February  10,  1834,  a  son  of 
Stephen  and  Hannah  (Powers)  Curtis,  natives  of  Hardwich,  Yt.,  who  came  to  St.  Law- 
rence county  about  1826.  They  had  five  children:  Otis,  William,  Martha,  Lafayette, 
and  Mary.  Our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  having  enlisted  in  Company  M, 
Sixth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery  in  December,  1863,  and  served  nearly  two  years.  Hejyras 
at  fhe  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  in  front  of  Petersburg,  under  Sheridan  in  the,  Shen- 
andoah, etc.  Since  the  war  he  has  followed  farming,  now  owning  two  fine  farms,  one 
of  150  and  one  of  114  acres.  The  homestead  is  the  old  Wright  farm,  owned  by  his 
wife's  father.  February  8,  1863,  he  married  Lucinda  Wright,  born  on  the  farm  where 
she  now  lives  July  7,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Ira  B.  and  Jerusha  (Hilliard)  Wright,  of  Con- 
necticut and  Canada,  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  have  had  five  children :  Silas, 
born  September  10,  1870,  died  in  March,  1871;  Lemuel,  born  June  11,  1872;  Abbie 
born  August  20,  1875,  died  November  1,  1889;  Hosea,  born  January  27,  1878;  and 
May,  born  May  18,  1880.  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  of  the 
Grangers,  and  also  of  the  Masons,  belonging  to  Lodge  441  of  Brasher  Falls.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Clark,  Edmund,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  April  25,  1815.  His  father  was  Ed- 
mund, son  of  Samuel,  a  native  of  Blandford,  Mass.,  who  came  to  this  town  in  1807  and 
here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Edmund,  sr.,  was  born  in  Blandford,  Mass.,  on 
March  19,  1780,  and  died  August  14,  1860.  His  wife  was  Chloe  Brainard,  born  in 
Blandford,  June  G,  1779,  and  died  August  19,  1860.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  now  owns  a  place  of  180  acres  and 
keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-three  cows.  He  married.  May  11,  1845,  Janet  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  Rollin  Smith,  and  they  have  had  these  sons  and  daughters :  C.  Rollin,  Frank  E., 
Myron  B.,  Cyrus  F.,  and  Silas  W.  and  Flora  A.  (twins). 

Oilman,  Alman,  Russell,  was  born  in  Colchester,  Yt.,  October  24,  1827,  a  son  of 
Antapath  and  Theodora  (Hudson)  Oilman,  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  from  whence 
they  emigrated  to  Vermont.  Mr.  Oilman  was  an  engineer  and  farmer,  but  followed 
farming  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  Of  their  eight  children  two  survive  :  Sophrona, 
wife  of  J.  L.  Fish,  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Oilead,  O.,  and  Alman,  our  subject.  The  latter  came 
to  New  York  State  in  1852  and  settled  on  wild  land  in  Pierrepont.  In  1847  he  mar- 
ried Celia  Caswell,  of  Yermont,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  three  now  living: 
George,  an  engineer  in  the  pump  works  in  Chicago,  who  married  Lucinda  Brooks,  and 
has  one  son,  Arthur  ;  Betsey,  wife  of  William  Matthew,  a  farmer  of  Canton  ;  and  L.  H. 
Oilman,  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Russell.  The  latter  married  Ella,  daughter  of  Aus- 
tin Clark  of  this  town.  The  names  of  those  deceased  are  as  follows  :  Luther,  Herbert, 
Solomon,  Miley,  and  Eugene.  Mrs.  Oilman  died  in  1875  (June  19),  and  he  married 
second  Fannie,  daughter  of  Zerah  Burdic,  of  Pierrepont,  by  whom  he  had  one  daugh- 
ter, born  February  3,  1880,  who  died  October  13,  1887.     Mr.  Gilman  remained  on  the 


188  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

farm  about  seven  years,  then  moved  to  Pierrepont  and  engaged  in  the  saw-milhng  busi- 
ness, continuing  until  1868,  with  the  exception  of  his  war  service.  September  30,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Infantry  and  remained  about  seven 
months,  being  discharged  on  account  of  sickness.  He  returned  to  the  service  as  soon 
as  he  could  be  accepted  and  remained  till  the  close  of  the  w^ar.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Kingston  and  other  engagements.  Returning  home  he  sold  the  mill  and 
built  another  in  Russell,  which  was  burned  February  1,  1891,  he  losing  about  $3,000. 
He  had  always  had  a  large  patronage,  and  was  able  to  replace  the  mill  promptly,  it  be- 
ino'  in  readiness  for  business  iust  one  month  from  the  time  of  the  fire.  He  is  now 
carrying  on  a  successful  business  of  manufacturing  lumber  at  the  rate  of  about 
200,000  feet  annually,  and  has  a  feed  mill  with  which  he  grinds  from  3,000  to  5,000 
bushels  of  grain  per  year.     He  also  makes  about  200  barrels  of  cider  yearly. 

Risley,  Hubbard,  Russell,  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  October  25,  1818,  a  son  of 
Asel  Risley,  whose  father,  Asel,  sr.,  was  a  native  of  England,  who  came  with  his  two 
brothers  to  America  and  settled  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  buying  two  townships,  and  here 
they  lived  and  died,  Asel  leaving  four  children.  Asel,  jr.,  was  born  in  1777,  and  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  a  Miss  Grant,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  He 
came  to  Canton  at  an  early  day,  and  after  the  death  of  his  wife  returned  to  Massachu- 
setts and  married  Sophia  Griswold,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  He  returned  to 
Canton,  where  he  lived  for  a  time,  but  died  in  Hermon  in  1843,  and  his  wife  in  1841 
in  Massachusetts.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  came  to  Canton  in  infancy  with  his  parents  and  here  he  has  spent  most  of 
his  life.  He  was  for  three  years  in  Onondaga  county  in  the  manufacture  of  salt,  but 
returned  to  St.  Lawrence  county.  In  1839  he  married  Susan,  died  April,  1884,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Beard,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Jeflferson  county,  who  died  in  Canton. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Risley  have  had  eight  children :  Sarahette,  wife  of  James  K.  Hale,  of 
Hermon,  who  has  one  child,  Morse  G. ;  Charles,  who  married  Mary  Varsen,  and  had 
one  child,  George  V.,  died  April,  1877  ;  Marion,  wife  of  Charles  Risley,  by  whom  she 
has  one  son,  Manley  ;  Louisa,  deceased  wife  of  Robert  Davidson  ;  Sylvester  H.,  born 
in  Russell,  October  6,  1848,  who  married  Alice,  daughter  of  Philander  Chapin,  of  Og- 
densburg,  who  married  Harriet  Jarvis,  of  Canton,  and  had  seven  children.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Risley  have  had  one  son,  Bruce  C,  born  April  7,  1881 ;  Augustus  W.,  who  mar- 
ried Mariette  Nickerson,  and  has  one  child,  George  N. ;  Eliza,  deceased  wife  of  Horace 
Chapin,  who  left  one  child,  A.  Bernice;  and  Vinnie  E.,  wife  of  George  Lewis.  Mr. 
Risley  was  a  Democrat  in  early  life,  but  has  many  years  been  a  Republican.  He 
bought  his  present  farm  of  200  acres  in  1848,  and  keeps  a  large  dairy. 

Buck,  Epaphroditus,  Russell,  was  born  in  Heath,  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  December 
9,  1820,  a  son  of  Hiram  Buck,  a  son  of  John,  also  of  Heath,  Mass.,  where  he  spent  most 
of  his  life.  The  latter  was  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  for  which  he  drew  a  pension 
He  married  a  Miss  Smith,  and  had  ten  children.  He  came  to  Pitcairn,  this  county, 
where  he  died  in  1844  at  the  age  of  nearly  one  hundred  years.  Hiram,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Heath,  Mass.,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Massena  with  two 
yoke  of  cattle  for  one  Smith,  which  he  drove  about  300  hundred  miles.     He  worked  a 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  189 

year  or  two,  then  returned  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  married  Harriet  Blodgett,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Blodgett.  who  came  to  Jefferson  county,  and  later  went  to  Albany, 
where  he  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  1821  he  and 
wife  went  to  Antwerp,  where  they  remained  till  1837,  then  came  to  Russell,  and  later 
went  to  Hermon,  where  they  died,  the  father  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight,  and  the 
mother  aged  eighty- two.  Our  subject  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Russell.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  academy  at  Gouverneur. 
He  started  in  business  on  a  farm  of  a  few  acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  until  he 
now  he  has  a  valuable  farm  of  200  acres,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1848  Mr.  Buck 
married  Phoebe  Russ,  a  native  of  Onondaga  county,  born  in  1828.  a  daughter  of  Russell 
and  Anna  (Hall)  Russ,  natives  of  Onondaga  county,  who  removed  to  Wilna  and  from 
there  to  Russell  about  1822,  where  they  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  have  had  eleven 
children  :  Harriet,  Wyman  L.,  Eugene  (deceased),  Duane,  Arthur  (deceased),  Ella  A., 
Charles  W.,  Edwin  E.,  Addie  E.,  Elton  E.,  Carrie  E.  Mr.  Buck  has  always  been  a 
Republican  since  the  organization.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Sanford,  Silas  H.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  March  9,  1849,  a  son  of  Jonah  Sanford  (see 
biography  of  C.  K.  Sanford).  His  birthplace  was  the  farm  on  the  old  turnpike  in  the 
town  of  Hopkinton,  where  his  father  settled  soon  after  his  marriage.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  worked  with  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  the  latter's  death,  October  18,  1886,  when  he  fell  heir  to  considerable 
property,  including  the  old  homestead  of  320  acres,  where  our  subject  at  present  re- 
sides. By  careful  management  and  good  business  tact  and  sagacity,  he  has  added 
largely  to  his  property.  Recently  he  bought  174  acres  adjoining  his  farm,  known  as 
the  Judge  Sanford  homestead.  Bis  dairy  consists  of  upwards  of  eighty  cows,  being 
the  largest  in  the  town.  He  is  now  erecting  a  butter  factory.  Mr.  Sanford  is  a  genial, 
social  man ;  knows  every  one  within  a  radius  of  several  miles  of  his  home,  and  is  re- 
spected and  liked  by  all.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  has  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  several  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  375,  F. 
and  A.  M. 

Brush,  Charles  H.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Hopkinton  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies, 
November  4,  1806,  and  traces  his  ancestry  to  one  Robert  Brush,  whose  father  came 
from  Wales  and  settled  on  Long  Island  in  1666.  Reuben,  a  son  of  Robert,  was  born 
on  Long  Island  in  1711,  and  married  Ruth  Wood,  born  in  1715.  Elkanah  Brush,  young- 
est son  of  Reuben,  was  born  in  Connecticut  March  9,  1762,  and  married  Althea  Fink, 
who  was  born  in  1764.  They  had  nine  children,  the  oldest  of  whom,  Eliphalet,  was 
born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  November  12,  1781.  His  parents  soon  moved  to  Vergennes, 
Vt.,  from  whence  he  came  in  1802,  with  the  first  company  of  white  men,  to  what  is 
now  Hopkinton.  He  selected  100  acres  and  paid  for  them  by  working  for  Mr.  Hopkins 
summers,  and  teaching  school  in  Vermont  winters.  In  1805  he  drove  in  the  first  ox 
team  and  cart  for  Mr.  Hopkins.  February  22,  1810,  he  married  Linda  Pier,  born  in 
New  Haven,  Vt.,  May  21,  1790.  They  had  six  children.  He  was  a  Whig  and  a  Re- 
publican, voting  at  every  election  for  sixty-five  consecutive  years  from  1807.  Mrs. 
Brush  died  September  15,  1862,  and  the  death  of  Mr.  Brush  occurred  January  11,  1873. 


190  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Their  lives  had  been  spent  in  steady,  honest  toil,  and  both  were  early  and  valued  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  church.  Jason  C,  their  third  child,  was  born  January  22, 
1822.  January  1,  1856,  he  married  Olivia  Chittenden,  who  died  September  7,  1858, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Ella  0.,  now  wife  of  Arthur  L.  Bonney  of  Potsdam.  Novem- 
ber 6,  1862,  he  married  Annice  P.  Avers  of  Lawrence,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
our  subject  and  Grace  L.,  wife  of  W.  L.  Pert  of  Potsdam.  Mr.  Brush  was  remarkably 
energetic  and  industrious,  a  valued  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  a  Whig  in 
early  hfe  and  a  staunch  Republican  later.  His  death  occurred  May  25,  1891,  at  the 
farm  where  he  was  born  and  had  always  labored.  Charles  H.  Brush  was  educated  at 
the  Potsdam  Normal  School,  but  by  reason  of  his  father's  ill  health,  the  care  of  the 
farm  early  devolved  upon  him,  and  he  did  not  graduate.  He  has  purchased  the  Mead 
farm  of  about  140  acres,  and  with  his  mother  owos  the  homestead  of  200  acres.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  mother  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
church.  He  has  in  his  possession  the  ox  cart  which  his  grandfather  drove  through  the 
woods  from  Vermont,  and  a  gun  taken  from  the  British  in  the  Revolution  and  handed 
down  from  his  great-grandfather. 

Dixon,  William  Henry,  Madrid,  was  born  near  Yorkshire,  England,  July  1,  1824, 
and  was  six  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  this  country.  His  father,  Robert,  took 
up  land  on  the  Ogden  tract  in  the  town  of  Potsdam,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  five 
children  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  in  October,  1854.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  Ann  Allenby,  also  a  native  of  England,  died  in  April,  1858.  The  early  life 
of  our  subject  was  spent  in  Potsdam.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
took  up  farming,  which  he  followed  with  his  father  until  after  marriage  when  he  bought 
a  farm  of  120  acres  in  Potsdam  and  lived  on  it  until  April  1,  1852,  when  he  sold  and 
boucrht  a  farm  in  Madrid,  which  he  cultivated  and  increased,  until  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  November  19,  1875,  he  owned  330  acres.  He  also  owned  village  property  in 
Madrid  village.  Mr.  Dixon  was  always  a  Republican.  He  was  many  years  a  trustee 
of  the  school,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Madrid,  and  a  trustee 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  always  lived  a  very  quiet  and  retired  life,  and  maintained 
a  great  influence  among  his  townspeople.  He  married  April  23,  1846,  Mary  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Israel  P.  Haskell,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Madrid.  They  have  had  eleven 
children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living:  Julia  A.,  wife  of  James  Fox,  a  commercial 
traveler  of  Potsdam ;  M.  Christene,  who  lives  with  her  mother  ;  Mabel  Katherine,  a 
student  of  Potsdam  State  Normal  School.  Mary  Louisa  Haskell  Dixon  was  born  and 
brought  up  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  and  was  the  daugliter  of  Israel  Putnam  Haskell  and 
PoUie  Williams  Haskell  of  Vermont,  her*  parents  being  among  the  early  settlers,  and 
her  father  a  descendant  of  Israel  Putnam  of  Revolutionary  fame.  She  received  her 
education  in  the  Madrid  school  and  the  district  school  in  her  father's  neighborhood,  and 
united  with  the  Congregational  church  in  Madrid  village.  May  28,  1841.  She  led  a 
quiet  life,  loved  by  all  who  knew  her,  was  the  means  of  bringing  a  great  many  to  Christ 
by  the  pure  life  she  led,  as  she  was  a  person  who  would  not  have  an  enemy,  and  was  a 
thorough  Christian  lady.  She  married  William  H.  Dixon  April  23,  1846.  She  lived  in 
the  village  of  Madrid  after  her  husband's  death,  until  the  time  of  her  death,  December 
6,  1803,  and  was  sixty-four  years  old.     The  cause  of  her  death  was   congestion   of  the 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  191 

lungs,  or  pneumonia,  and  she  was  sick  four  days.     Below  are  the  resolutions  drawn  up 
after  her  death  by  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  which  she  was  a  member: 

As  God  in  His  providence  has  seen  fit  to  remove  by  death  from  our  midst  one  of  our  old  and 
faithful  members,  Mrs.  Dixon,  we  would  offer  our  deepest  sympathy  to  the  afflicted  friends,  and 
assure  them  of  our  regret  that  so  useful  a  life  has  been  brought  to  its  earthly  close.  Believing 
that  a  better  world  has  opened  to  her  its  joys,  we  submit  to  this  sad  providence  with  chastened 
hearts,  and  would  express  our  gratitude  for  the  influence  of  her  Christian  life,  which  in  its  peace 
and  serenity  breathed  forth  the  spirit  of  the  Master.  And  since  we  mourn  our  loss— not  as  those 
without  hope  for  the  future— we  can  safely  and  trustfully  commend  her  sorrowing  daughters  to 
the  "  God:of  all  comfort,  who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulations,  that  we  may  be  able  to  com- 
fort them  which  are  in  trouble,  by  the  comfort  whereby  we  ourselves  are  comforted  of  God." 

Lathrop,  Mrs.  Serepta  S.  Merrill,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1811,  a  daughter 
of  John  Merrill,  who  during  the  War  of  1812-15  was  captain  of  a  Vermont  militia 
company  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Mer- 
rill, who  served  seven  years  in  the  Revolution.  In  1837  she  married  Rial  Lathrop  of 
Chelsea,  Vt.,  and  they  had  two  children :  Hiram,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years ;  and 
Clarinda,  who  resided  with  her  mother  until  her  death,  aged  fifty  years.  Mr.  Lathrop 
and  family  came  in  1867  to  Nicholville,  where  he  engaged  in  the  meat  business.  He 
was  a  man  of  means,  and  generosity  in  all  public  works.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  later  a  Republican,  and  served  in  various  offices  in  his  native  town.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lathrop  were  life -long  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  the  former 
was  a  liberal  supporter,  and  Mrs.  Lathrop  has  willed  the  church  $4,000,  having  also 
given  liberally  to  all  public  enterprises,  no  one  in  need  being  ever  turned  away  from 
her  door.  She  has  always  been  a  great  reader,  and  although  eighty-three  years  of  age 
she  is  well  informed  on  the  leading  topics  of  the  day,  and  especially  takes  a  great  inter- 
est in  politics,  being  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Since 
her  husband's  death  in  1884  she  has  resided  in  Nicholville. 

Glazier,  Ward,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Oakham,  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1818.  His  father  Jabez,  immigrated  to  the  then  wilderness  township  of  Fow- 
ler, St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  the  following  year  and  soon  became  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  town.  Appointed  by  Theodocius  0.  Fowler,  the  owner  of 
the  township,  as  his  agent,  for  the  sale  of  his  lands  and  the  general  management  of  his 
business  affairs,  was  postmaster,  justice  of  the  peace,  for  many  years,  and  held  various 
other  town  offices.  Ward's  minority  was  spent  in  assisting  clearing  land  and  running  a 
saw  mill  built  by  his  father  in  the  wilderness  on  his  farm.  His  early  opportunity  for 
procuring  an  education  was  very  limited,  and  having  a  strong  desire  for  one,  he,  at  the 
age  of  21  commenced  a  two  years'  course  at  the  Gouverneur  Academy  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  said  time  while  on  a  visit  to  his  relatives  in  Massachusetts  he  married  Miss 
Mehitable  C.  Bolton,  daughter  of  William  Bolton,  of  the  town  of  West  Boylston,  Mass., 
and  returning  to  Fowler  settled  on  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Little  York  since  known  as 
Maple  Grove  or  the  Glazier  homestead.  Was  engaged  in  farming  and  mercantile  pursuits. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  he  in  company  with  others  in  August,  1861,  re- 
cruited and  organized  Co.  I,  92d  N.  Y.  Regt.  of  Inft.,  then  being  organized  by  Col.  Jonah 
Sanford,  served  with  his  regiment  in  Penensular  Campaign  under  General  McClellan, 
wounded  in  action  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  and  on  account  of  said  wound  and  fail- 


192  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ing  health  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  service  and  was  honorably  discharged.  An  incident 
of  Mr.  Glazier's  career  was  his  going  over  to  Ottawa,Canada,  for  recruits  ;  as  this  was  a 
serious  breach  of  international  law,  Glazier  had  a  narrow  escape  from  arrest  by  the 
Canadian  authorities,  but  guessing  their  intent  he  cleverly  made  his  escape,  at  the  same 
time  drawing  forty  men  into  the  service  of  the  United  State?.  After  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  where  he  remained  until  1885,  when  he  took  up  the  pension  and 
claim  agency,  removed  to  Gouverneur  and  opened  an  office.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Glazier  were  eight  in  number,  namely  ;  Willard,  Elvira,  Marjory,  Caroline,  Ar- 
thur, Lina,  George  H.  and  Arthur  W.  (Caroline  and  Arthur  died  in  infancy).  Willard 
the  eldest  has  distinguished  himself  as  soldier,  author  and  explorer.  As  a  soldier  he 
served  with  credit  in  the  Harris  Light  or  2d  .N.  Y.  Cavalry,  under  Generals  Bayard, 
Stoneman,  Pleasanton,  Gregg,  Custer  and  Kilpatrick,  earning  his  various  promotions 
on  battlefields,  from  a  private  to  a  brevet  captaincy.  Since  the  war  he  has  published 
several  works  relating  to  his  army  experiences,  travels  and  explorations.  Capt.  Glazier 
explored  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  located  the  true  source  in  a  fine  lake 
beyond  Itasca  which  geographers  now  recognize  as  the  principal  reservoir.  Elvira 
graduated  from  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  taught  several  terms  of 
school  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty.  Marjory  was  a  graduate  from  Miss  Willard's 
Female  Seminary  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  taught  several  terms  of  school,  married  Madison 
Buck,  of  Wheaton,  111.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Lina  J.  married 
Simeon  Smith  and  resides  at  Fowler,  N.  Y.  George  H.  is  in  business  in  Chicago,  III. 
and  Arthur  W.  is  on  the  homestead  in  Fowler  engaged  in  farming  and  pension  attor- 
ney. The  ancestors  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  for 
several  generations  and  came  originally  from  England.  His  grandfather,  Oliver  Glazier, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  a  pensioner.     They  came  originally  from  England. 

Flood,  J.  Q.,  M.  D.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  April  29,  1845,  m  the  town  of  Montague, 
County  of  Lanark,  Ontario,  Canada.  His  parents  were  of  Scotch- Irish  descent;  he  taught 
school  for  many  years,  until  he  came  to  Canton  in  1870.  He  received  his  medical  education 
in  the  universities  of  New  York  city  and  Burlington,  Vt..  and  graduated  in  1880.  He 
practiced  his  profession  in  Norwood  until  February,  1881,  then  located  in  Hopkinton, 
where  he  has  secured  a  very  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  of  the  Medical  Association  of  Northern  New  York, 
and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Elk  Lodge  No.  577 
and  Elk  Chapter  No.  197  of  Nicholville,  N.  Y.,  also  of  St.  Lawrence  Commandery  No. 
28,  of  Canton.  He  is  an  active,  aggressive  Democrat,  and  served  as  postmaster  in  this 
town  during  Cleveland's  first  administration,  from  1885  to  1889,  resigning  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1889,  when  his  party  went  out.  His  family  consists  of  his  wife,  Lillie  L. 
Shannon,  and  son,  Armand  Ault,  born  October  26,  1890.  They  are  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

Davis,  P.  A.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  November  24,- 1838,  a  son  of  Francis 
Davis,  born  in  Hancock,  N.  H.,  in  1805,  whose  father  was  Edmond,  born  in  Hancock  in 
1781.  He  was  a  noted  teacher.  His  wife  was  Mary  Graves,  and  they  had  seven  sons  and  a 
daughter.     He  was  for  many  years  postmaster  of  East  Washington,  and  also  a  justice 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  193 

of  the  peace.  Francis  Davis  was  at  one  time  a  teacher,  but  for  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  he  was  a  saw-miller,  also  owning  a  grist  mill.  October  12,  1828,  he  married  Bet- 
sey Converse  Knights,  (widow  of  E.  Knights),  by  whom  he  had  five  children  :  Mary, 
Julia,  Martha.  Francis  and  Philo.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Hopkin- 
ton  and  Potsdam  Academy  and  has  always  followed  farming,  except  for  a  few  years 
during  which  he  was  engaged  in  a  creamery.  A  few  years  ago  he  rented  his  farm  and 
now  lives  at  Fort  Jackson.  He  owns  the  old  Davis  homestead.  September  18,  1860, 
he  married  Anna  Lobdell,  who  was  born  December  27,  1837,  at  Plattsburg,  a  daughter 
of  D.  S.  Lobdell,  whose  wife  was  Loretta  Leonard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  had  four 
children :  Edith  L.,  born  June  21,  1861,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Bartholomew  of  New  York 
city,  assistant  pastor  of  Holy  Trinity  church  ;  Martha  E.,  born  March  13,  1863,  wife  of 
Professor  T.  W.  White,  teacher  and  superintendent  of  schools  at  Westboro',  Mass.  ; 
Francis  D.,  born  July  25,  1866,  a  graduate  in  mechanical  engineering  from  Cornell 
University,  class  of  '90,  who  is  now  in  the  employ  of  Yale  &  Town  of  Stamford,  Conn.; 
Harry  D.,  born  May  19,  1872,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Davis  is  a 
Democrat.     He  is  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge,  No.  577,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Chittenden,  Varick  A.,  Hopkinton,  son  of  Clark  S.,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  February 
6,  1838.  He  was  educated  in  the  Potsdam  Academy,  and  in  1857,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  King  S.,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  this  town.  The  partnership 
lasted  until  1874,  when  our  subject  bought  out  his  brother  and  carried  on  the  business 
till  1893,  when  he  sold  to  his  son,  J.  H.,  who  now  carries  it  on,  the  business  having  been 
continued  in  this  family  since  1823.  Y.  A.,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  owns  the 
old  homestead  of  435  acres,  where  they  carry  on  general  farming,  and  are  also  largely 
interested  in  the  stock  business.  Mr.  Chittenden  is  a  Republican  and  was  town  clerk 
for  twenty-one  years.  He  is  now  serving  his  fifth  year  as  postmaster  of  Hopkinton. 
He  married  first  Charlotte  Risdon,  of  Hopkinton,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children  : 
Bertha,  wife  of  H.  J.  Sanford,  a  merchant  of  Parishville,  by  whom  she  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Alice;  Edna  M.,  Avife  of  E.  M.  Kent,  of  Westfield,  a  manufacturer  of  paper;  J.  H., 
who  was  educated  in  the  Ogdensburg  Academy  and  the  Albany  Business  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1886.  In  1893  he  married  Gertrude  Hoyt,  of  Parishville.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  died  March  5,  1871,  and  he  married  second  Laura  A.  Lawrence,  of 
Hopkinton,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  :  Mabel,  who  died  aged  three  years,  and 
Lawrence  A.,  a  student  at  the  Ogdensburg  Academy.  (See  biography  of  K.  S.  Chit- 
tenden). 

Chittenden,  King  S.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  February  20, 1833,  a  son  of 
Clark  S.,  son  of  Solomon  Chittenden,  of  Connecticut,  whose  ancestors  were  Welsh  and 
English.  He  married  in  Yermont  Susannah  Sanford,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons,  and 
he  and  wife  spent  their  last  days  in  Hopkinton.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-six,  and  his  wife  aged  ninety-two.  Clark  S.  was  born  in 
Benson,  Yt.,  May  16,  1803,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  to  learn  the  currier's  and 
tanner's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  four  summers,  attending  school  winters.  Early  in 
life  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Hopkinton,  which  by  strict  attention  to 
business  and  by  honorable  methods  he  made  into  a  prosperous  trade,  which  he  contin- 
y 


194  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ued  forty  years,  then  turned  over  to  his  sons  King  S.  and  Varick  A.  January  8,  1828, 
he  married  Julia  A.  Sheldon,  born  May  27,  1808,  in  Hopkinton,  a  daughter  of  Abram 
Sheldon,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town.  They  had  five  children,  two  surviving,  our 
subject  and  V.  A.  Chittenden.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  forty-three  years,  postmas- 
ter sixteen  years,  supervisor  six  years,  and  member  of  the  State  Legislature  two  years, 
1859-60.  He  was  always  in  favor  of  good  schools,  and  he  and  wife  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  church.  He  died  May  18,  1890,  and  his  wife  May  19,  1880.  King 
S.  was  educated  in  Potsdam  Academy  and  at  Bakersfield,  Vt,  and  clerked  in  the  post- 
office  under  William  L.  Knowles  in  1851-52.  In  1857,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
V.  A.,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  until  1874,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his 
brother  and  took  charge  of  their  farm  and  stock  business,  in  which  they  had  also  been 
engaged  for  a  number  of  years.  They  own  435  acres  of  land,  the  homestead  of  their 
father.  In  their  business  career  they  have  built  up  an  enviable  reputation  for  integrity 
and  liberality.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  town  clerk  and 
as  supervisor,  which  latter  office  he  held  from  1888  to  1894,  when  he  refused  a  renomi- 
nation.  He  has  been  postmaster  in  this  town  for  twenty  years.  October  10,  1859,  he 
married  Sarah  B.  Hopkins,  of  Potsdam,  daughter  of  Aaron  T.  Hopkins,  who  came  to 
Potsdam  in  1828,  and  married  Betsey  Eastman,  daughter  of  Samuel  Eastman,  a  pioneer 
of  Hopkinton.  He  engaged  in  the  leather  business,  and  in  1840  built  the  large  stone 
tannery  at  Potsdam.  He  was  supervisor  nine  terms.  Mr.  Chittenden  and  wife  reared 
Emma  S.  Ingalls,  who  married  Sanford  H.  Chittenden,  who  died  December  22,  1887, 
leaving  two  sons,  S.  King  and  Sidney  I. 

Brush,  Joseph  A.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  May  10,  1816.  He  was  a  son 
of  Joseph  Brush,  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vt.,  born  September  18,  1783,  who  died  here 
January  18,  1879.  His  wife  was  Clarissa  Armstrong,  who  was  the  widow  of  Abram 
Sheldon,  and  they  had  two  sons.  He  came  to  Hopkinton  in  1808  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Haselton  in  1814.  He  died  January  18,  1879.  and  his  wife 
October  6,  1868.  Joseph  A.,  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared  on  the  farm,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He  was  always  a  farmer  and  owned  considerable 
real  estate  in  the  town.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  and  was  highway  commis- 
sioner several  years.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational  church.  Sep- 
tember 12,  1842,  he  married  Adaline  Wright,  who  was  born  in  Hopkinton  in  1818,  a 
daughter  of  Caleb  Wright.  The  latter  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1787,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  came  to  Hopkinton,  where  he  spent  his  life.  His  wife  was  Rosalinda  Smith,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1 784.  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  Her  father  was 
Simon  Smith,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  who  lived  and  died  in  Vermont.  The  date  of 
Caleb  Wright's  death  being  November  14,  1839,  and  that  of  his  wife  August  8,  1861. 
Mr.  J.  A.  Brush  died  December  4,  1884. 

Woodward,  G.  W.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  August  16,  1847,  a  son 
of  J.  W.  Woodward,  whose  parents  were  William  and  Sarah  Woodward,  of  Vermont. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  December  27,  1815,  and  March  20,  1842,  he  married 
Sarah  Peck,  born  July  20,  1820,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Ann  (Martin)  Peck, 
and  they  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.     Mr.  Woodward  died  November  14,  1858, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  195 

and  his  wife  August  14,  1870.  G.  W.  Woodward  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  the 
war  broke  out,  and  was  anxious  to  enlist,  but  was  persuaded  to  remain  at  home  with 
his  widowed  mother,  whom  he  took  care  of  until  her  death.  Soon  afteward  he  went  to 
Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  until  1881,  being  engaged  in  various  occupations. 
He  was  six  years  in  the  fire  department  at  Holyoke.  July  17,  1881,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  bought  his  present  farm,  carrying  on  a  general  line  and  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  dairying.  He  has  about  twenty-five  head  of  high  bred  stock,  and  the  milk 
from  his  cows  stood  first  in  the  test  at  the  factory.  December  22,  1877.  he  married 
Em  L.  Sheldon,  born  November  15,  1848,  daughter  of  Asa  U.  Sheldon,  born  in  this 
county  in  1809,  whose  father,  Gains,  was  a  pioneer  of  this  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood- 
ward have  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter :  Wright  W.,  born  May  10,  1880,  at  Hol- 
yoke, Mass.  ;  Mark  Roy,  born  April  28,  1882  ;  Ruth  Gail,  born  February  29,  1887. 
Mr.  Woodward  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  family  attend  and  support  the  M.  E. 
church. 

Wells,  Henry,  Fort  Jackson,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  April  17,  1850,  a  son  of  Deacon 
Robert  Wells.  Mr.  Wells  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  the  New 
Hampton  Institute,  N.  H.,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  1866.  He  started  as  a  clerk, 
and  was  with  James  Sherar  &  Son,  of  Nicholville,  one  year,  also  with  S.  Sweet  &  Co., 
wholesale  clothing,  of  the  same  place,  then  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  with  Andrew 
Montrait,  of  Troy,  N.  H.  After  one  year  he,  with  J.  S.  Kellogg,  bought  a  store  of  gen- 
eral merchandise  of  Franklin  Kellogg  at  Fort  Jackson,  and  a  year  later  Mr.  Wells 
bought  out  his  partner  and  continued  the  business  a  year,  then  sold  out  to  Frank- 
lin Kellogg,  went  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  for  four  years  was  foreman  for  a  livery  firm. 
He  then  came  to  Potsdam,  and  after  clerking  for  H.  M.  Storey  and  E.  D.  Brooks 
about  eight  years,  his  brother's  death  occurred  and  our  subject  returned  home  to 
look  after  his  parents  in  their  old  age.  He  now  owns  and  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  is  also  engaged  with  the  firm  of  Miller  &  Ober  of  Fort  Jackson.  Mr. 
Wells  IS  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  No.  620  of  Winthrop,  N.  Y.  In 
1890  he  married  Edith  Austin,  and  he  and  family  attend  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church 
at  Fort  Jackson. 

Lucey,  D.  B.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  August  17,  1858,  of  Irish- 
American  parentage.  He  received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  this 
county  and  the  Normal  School  at  Oswego,  and  graduated  at  the  Normal  School  at 
Potsdam  in  the  classical  course  in  1883.  He  then  accepted  the  position  of  principal  of 
the  Ogdensburg  Grammar  School,  and  after  one  year  received  the  appointment  to  the 
chair  of  Natural  and  Physical  Sciences  in  the  Free  Academy  in  the  same  city,  which 
position  he  held  for  three  years.  During  this  time  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  September,  1886.  In  June  following  he  retired  from  the  academy  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ogdensburg.  In  1890  he  formed  a  copart- 
nership with  Hon.  George  R.  Malby  for  the  general  practice  of  law,  which  relation  still 
continues.  Has  been  connected  with  the  successful  prosecution  or  defense  of  many 
important  litigations,  including  some  large  corporation  suits  and  criminal  trials.  June 
30,  1891,  was  married  to  Mary  Agnes  Tuck,  daughter  of  Andrew  Tuck,  of  Lisbon.     Is 


196  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of  Ogdensburg,  the  Ogdensburg  and 
Oswet'atchie  clubs,  and  a  lieutenant  in  the  Fortieth  Separate  Company,  New  York  Na- 
tional Guards. 

Curtis,  Francis,  Russell,  was  born  in  Oswego  county,  August  14,  1835.  He  is  a  son 
of  Ashabel  C,  a  native  of  Oswego  county,  born  May  29,  1805,  who  came  to  Russell 
in  1836.  He  married  Jane  White,  born  in  Vermont,  July  14,  1808,  and  they  had  nine 
children.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church.  His  father 
was  Isaac  J.  Curtis.  Francis  M.,  our  subject,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  months  he  and  his  parents  came  to  Rus- 
sell, where  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  always  worked  at  farming  and  carpentry.  He 
married  in  1862  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Chloe  (Pomeroy)  Barnes,  of  Jefiferson 
county,  who  came  to  Russell  in  1850,  where  they  both  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  have 
had  three  children  :  Linda  M.,  wife  of  Eiward  Brown  ;  Erwin  V.,  and  Middie  L.  In 
politics  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  Democrat. 

Van  Ornum,  Chester,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  September  14,  1861.  His  father, 
Chester  L.,  a  son  of  Abram  and  grandson  of  Abram  (a  pioneer  of  the  town  of  Russell), 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Edwards,  January  2, 
1827,  coming  to  this  town  in  1849.  where  he  settled  at  Elm  Creek.  He  soon  returned 
to  Edwards  and  bought  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  which  was  later  destroyed  by  fire,  he 
sustaining  a  loss  of  about  $5,000.  He  soon  rebuilt  the  mill  and  continued  the  business 
about  three  years,  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Russell,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  five 
years.  He  bought  a  farm  on  Elm  Creek,  but  in  1873  he  removed  to  Silver  Hill  and  took 
charge  of  the  Palmer  mill  which  he  conducted  the  remainder  of  his  life.  February  11, 
1849,  he  married  Mary  E.  Nelson,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Sophia  Nelson,  both  of  Herki- 
mer county,  and  they  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Ella  V.,  born  February  25, 
1852,  who  married,  first,  Henry  Rushton,  and,  second,  Charles  T.  Freeman  of  Edwards  ; 
Nelson  A.,  a  farmer  of  this  town,  who  married  Mary  Noble  ;  Stella,  wife  of  A.  L.  Free- 
man, a  farmer  of  Edwards ;  and  Chester,  who  worked  for  his  father  at  farming  and 
lumbering,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father  took  charge  of  the  mill.  He  manufactures 
lumber  of  all  kinds,  and  also  does  custom  work,  having  a  planing  mill  in  connection. 
November  24,  1886,  he  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  D.  M.  Noble,  and  they  have  one 
danghter,  Vera,  born  September  22,  1887.  In  politics  the  family  are  Republicans. 
The  father  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  his  widow,  who  now  resides  with 
our  subject,  is  also  a  Baptist.  The  founders  of  this  family  in  America  were  three 
brothers  who  came  from  Holland  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  the  Mohawk  Valley. 

Smith,  John  C,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  July  3,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  John  T. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Russell  April  5,  1822,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
married  Alzina  Chapman  of  Stone,  Vt,,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  He  died  July 
12,  1858,  and  his  wife  in  November,  1870.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  but  his  parents  dying,  he  and  his  brother,  R.  G.  Smith,  carried  on  the  homestead 
until  John  C.  became  of  age,  when  the  place  was  sold.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  the 
latter  began  work  on  a  farm,  and  in  1877  he  and  his  brothers,  R.  G.  and  E.  L..  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business,  he  soon  buying  out  the  interest  of  R.  G.  Smith,  and  later  he 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  197 

and  E.  L.  sold  to  the  former,  and  engaged  in  farming.  After  four  j^ears  John  C.  re- 
turned to  Russell,  where  he  has  since  lived.  In  1884  he  bought  the  building  now  occu- 
pied by  R.  G-.  Smith,  and  he  and  the  latter  now  occupy  the  upper  story  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  Gibbons  washing  machine.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  V.i'i  acres,  which  he 
uses  as  a  dairy  farm.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566.  F.  &  A.  M.  July  2, 
1878,  he  married  Ella  C,  daughter  of  Calvin  H.  Knox.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Chester, 
whose  father,  John  Knox,  came  from  Blandford,  Mass.,  to  Russell  in  1805.  Calvin  H. 
was  born  here  December  3,  1824,  and  died  November  10,  1891.  March  2,  1858,  he 
married  Priscilla  Barker,  by  whom  he  had  two  children :  the  wife  of  Mr.  Smith,  and 
Justine  E.,  deceased  wife  of  F.  A.  Gray  of  Russell.     Mrs.  Knox  died  March  9,  1864. 

Fairbanks,  Richmond  J.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Hermon,  October  25,  1858,  a  son  of 
Reuben  J.  and  Harriet  (Eggleston)  Fairbanks.  Reuben  was  a  son  of  Oshea  and  Me- 
heiabel  (Powers)  Fairbanks.  Oshea  and  wife  came  to  Gouverneur  about  1823,  and  a 
year  later  to  Hermon,  being  pioneer  settlers  of  that  town.  He  went  west  about  1850, 
and  little  has  been  known  of  him  since.  He  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
Reuben  J.  was  born  February  7,  1828.  He  enlisted  October  16.  1861,  in  Co.  F,  60th 
N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  served  throughout  the  war.  November  24,  1863,  he  was  wounded 
at  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Gettysburg  and  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  was  with  Sherman  iu  his  famous  march  to  the  sea.  Mr.  Fairbanks  and 
wife  were  married  April  20,  1852,  and  had  six  sons  and  five  daughters :  Florence,  Man- 
dana,  Samuel,  Harriet,  Cynthia,  Rosina,  Rodger  E.,  Clark,  Perry,  Leroy  D.  and  R.  J., 
our  subject.  The  later  was  educated  in  the  school  at  Hermon,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen began  his  business  career  as  a  teamster  and  farm  hand.  He  afterwards  attended 
school  one  year,  and  then  worked  a  year  each  at  teaming  and  in  the  cheese  factory.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  bought  out  the  Leathe's  route  from  De  Kalb  to  Fine,  and  had 
charge  of  this  for  eight  years  and  four  months.  This  proved  a  very  successful  under- 
taking for  our  subject,  he  buying  during  this  time  370  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  has 
added  about  250  acres.  In  1889  he  built  a  saw  mill  on  his  farm,  and  now  manufactures 
lumber  iu  all  dimensions,  both  rough  and  finished,  shingles  and  cheese  boxes,  sawing 
about  500,000  for  market  annually.  He  also  has  an  interest  in  the  Iron- Clad  Mills  at 
De  Kalb  Junction.  He  has  an  interest  in  the  Kelly  Wagon  Works  also,  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  company.  October  28,  1880,  he  married  Sarah  Cousins,  born  September  7, 
1856,  daughter  of  William  and  Janette  (Cleland)  Cousins,  he  a  native  of  Ireland,  born 
Februrary  10,  1819,  and  she  of  Scotland,  born  January  29,  1826.  The  former  died  in 
June,  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairbanks  have  had  three  sons:  Milton  J.,  born  July  27, 
1882  ;  Howard  C,  born  December  6,  1885  ;  and  Richmond  Worth,  born  June  1,  1887. 
In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  Court  1,241,  Hermon  Lodge. 

Compton,  H.  M.,  Russell,  was  born  near  Milford,  Pike  county,  Pa.,  April  19, 1848,  a  son 
of  Ricmond  and  Eleanor  (Drake)  Compton.  Richmond  was  born  at  Fort  Richmond, 
Staten  Island,  July  19,  1812,  his  wife  being  a  native  of  Pike  county.  Pa.,  born  March 
6,  1815.  Richmond  was  a  lumberman,  and  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  timbered  land, 
which  he  manufactured  in  lumber.     He  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  former 


198  HISTOET  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

all  (except  one  who  died  in  infancy)  being  soldiers  in  the  late  war,  who  served  with 
distinction.  Our  subject  enlisted  also,  when  sixteen  years  old  in  the  Eleventh  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Cavalry  and  was  in  Grant's  campaign  around  Richmond,  and  was 
connected  with  the  Armies  of  the  James  and  Potomac,  participating  in  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  Drury's  Bluff  and  other  hard  fought  encounters.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Monroe  county.  Pa.,  and  began  work  at  lumbering  at 
the  age  of  fifteen.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  acted  as  director  and  manager  of  lum- 
bering, serving  in  that  capacity  for  several  years.  For  over  ten  years  he  had  charge  of 
a  wholesale  lumber  yard  in  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  four  years  as  manager  of  the 
A.  Lewis  Lumber  Co.  He  then  became  one  of  the  managers  of  the  lumber  works  at 
Pittston,  and  in  1891  came  to  Clifton,  N.  T.,  and  took  charge  of  the  land  and  lumber 
interests  of  Clark  &  Thompson,  of  New  York  city.  They  furnish  the  Canton  Lumber 
Co.  6,000,000  feet  of  spruce  annually,  also  furnishing  large  quantities  of  pulp  wood  to 
the  High  Falls  Pulp  Co.  In  1871  our  subject  married  E.  G-race,  daughter  of  Nelson 
Underwood,  and  they  have  had  one  son  and  two  daughters,  all  now  attending  the 
Normal  School  at  Potsdam :  Iva,  born  October  6,  1872,  A.  Lewis,  born  August  5, 
1875,  and  E.  Jeannette,  born  March  20,  1878,  the  youngest  pupil  admitted  to  the  Nor- 
mal School.  Mr.  Compton  is  a  G.  A.  R.  man,  belonging  to  the  Pittston  Post.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Robertson,  Alexander  M.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Louisville,  this  county,  June  22,  1838. 
His  parents,  Alexander  and  Jane  (Martm)  Robertson,  were  Scotch,  though  the  latter 
was  a  resident  of  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  Canada  when  young.  Here  they 
were  married,  and  later  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county  where  they  lived  a  number  of 
years.     Mr.  Robertson,  sr.,  died  in  Canada  August  12,  1887,  and  his  wife  September 

1,  1892.  Alexander  M.  came  to  Colton  in  1863  and  there  learned  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade,  which  occupation  he  folloAved  till  1870.  Subsequently  he  worked  as  a  carpenter 
eight  years,  and  for  four  years  occupied  the  position  of  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  the 
St.  Lawrence  Tanning  Co.,  then  three  years  at  carpentry.  In  1885  he  built  for  H.  J. 
Goodwin  the  veneer  mill  which  is  now  owned  by  S.  D.  Goodwin,  and  took  charge  of 
the  finishing  department  till  1889,  since  which  he  has  been  manager  until  January  1, 
1894,  when  he  became  a  partner  with  a  half  interest  in  the  business.  Mr.  Robertson 
was  a  Republican,  but  has  been  a  Prohibitionist  since  1884,  and  has  been  collector  of 
Colton  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  M.  E.  church  of  Colton,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  March  10,  1869,  he  married  Jennie  Fos- 
ter, and  they  have  two  children:  Nennie  I.,  the  elder,  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Lawrence 
University,  and  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  E.  G.  Mason,  pastor  of  the  First  Universalist  church 
at  Oakland,  Me.,  and  Hattie  E.  the  younger  is  now  a  student  at  the  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity. 

Smith,  R.  G.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  April  1,  1849.  His  father,  John  T.,  was 
a  son  of  Rollin  Smith,  a  native  of  Blandford,  Mass.,  born  October  24,  1788.     December 

2,  1817,  he  married  Olive  Gibbs,  who  was  born  February  28,  1791,  and  they  had  six 
children,  four  now  living  :  Mrs.  Edraond  Clark,  of  North  Russell ;  Mrs.  Ansil  Doohttle, 
of  Russell;  Mrs.  Samuel  Moore,  of  Russell;  and  Mrs.  Zenas  Squires,  of  Canton.  Mr. 
Smith  came  to  Russell  about  1813,  and  here  spent  his  life,  teaching  the  first  school  in 


i 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  199 

Russell  village.  He  was  quite  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  early  history  of  this  town, 
having  served  eight  terms  as  supervisor,  and  was  also  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died  in 
1866  and  his  wife  in  1881.  The  father  of  Rollin  was  John  Smith,  who  lived  and  died 
in  Massachusetts.  Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  and  his  father  dying 
when  he  was  nine  years  old,  he  was  in  early  life  thrown  on  his  own  resources,  and  be- 
ing the  oldest  son  he  had  much  responsibility  thrust  upon  him  in  caring  for  the  family. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  spent  several  years  in  teaching  school, 
beginning  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  also  attended  the  Canton  Academy,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four  took  a  course  in  penmanship  and  telegraphy  at  Eastman's  Busiress 
Collegre,  sraduatin?  in  1873.  He  next  went  to  northern  Wisconsin  and  taught  for 
some  time  and  in  1874  took  a  course  in  the  Oshkosh  Business  College,  and  taught  one 
year  after  that.  In  1875  he  returned  to  Russell  and  engaged  in  farming,  but  his  health 
failing  he  organized  a  select  school  of  sixty  pupils  in  Russell  and  taught  one  term. 
February  29,  1876,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hugh  Miller,  of  Russell,  and  they 
have  had  four  children :  Roy  L.,  John  L.,  Grace,  who  died  aged  seven  years ;  and 
Goldia.  In  1877  Mr.  Smith  and  brothers  John  C.  and  Eugene  L.  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  Russell,  but  our  subject  soon  sold  out  to  John  C,  and  later  repurchased 
the  entire  stock  and  has  since  had  a  very  successful  business,  carrying  all  classes  of 
hardware  and  tinware.  For  several  years  he  has  also  dealt  in  butter  tubs,  and  has 
handled  real  estate  also.  He  is  a  Republican,  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  two 
terms  and  is  now  filling  his  third  term  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge 
No.  566  F.  &  A.  M. 

Moore,  Samuel,  Russell,  was  born  in  Remsen,  Oneida  county,  December  20,  1825.  a 
son  of  Samuel  M.  Moore,  whose  father.  King  Moore,  was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  an 
early  settler  of  Connecticut,  where  he  died.  Samuel  M.  was  born  in  Connecticut  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1794,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came 
to  Remsen  when  a  yoimg  man  aud  there  married  Uruslia  Young,  a  native  of  Steuben,  born 
February  12,  1797,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  They  came  to  Russell  in  1838  and 
settled  on  a  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides,  and  here  he  died  in  1883,  and  his  wife 
in  1871.  Samuel  Moore  came  to  Russell  when  twelve  years  of  age  and  has  here  since 
resided.  He  owns  a  place  of  131  acres  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying.  In 
1851  he  married  Clarissa  C.  Smith,  born  April  3,  1826,  a  daughter  of  Rollin  Smith,  and 
they  have  had  six  children  :  Chauncey  L.,  of  Russell,  who  married  Attie  E.  Foster  and 
has  two  children,  Foster  L.  and  Lela  M. :  George  A.,  of  Pierrepont,  who  married  Lillian 
M.  Farmer  and  has  six  children,  Floyd  E.,  Gertrude  L.,  Rollin  E.,  John,  Bessie  and 
Roy  H. ;  Hattie  L.,  wife  of  Elgin  D.  Owen  of  Russell,  who  has  two  children,  Jerm  B. 
and  Donna  0.  ;  Eliza,  who  lives  at  home ;  Carrie  J.,  wife  of  Joseph  F.  Gray  of  Canton  ; 
and  Sidney  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  Moore  is  a  Democrat  and  in  religious  belief  a  Universal- 
ist.  Olive  Gibbs  Smith,  mother  of  Mrs.  Moore,  traces  her  ancestry  back  seven  genera- 
tions to  one  William  Gibbs  of  Lenharn,  Yorkshire,  England,  who  obtained  a  grant  of 
land  four  miles  square  in  his  town  for  signal  services. 

Merrmian,  Fred  J.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Somerville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  July  9, 
1856,  a  son  of  Lyman  Merriman,  a  farmer  of  Gouvernour.  His  mother,  Caroline  H. 
daughter  of  Oren  Freeman.     The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  towns  of 


200  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Rossie  and  Gouverneur.  His  parents  moved  on  the  farm  in  the  latter  town  when  Fred 
was  seven  years  of  age.  His  first  education  was  received  at  the  common  schools,  and 
when  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  was  sent  to  Wesleyan  Seminary  m  Gouverneur. 
His  first  occupation  was  a  teacher,  which  he  began  in  his  nineteenth  year.  The  year 
he  was  twenty-one  he  went  to  Watertown,  where  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
ofiSce  of  McCartin  &  Williams.  He  was  in  the  office  as  student  and  clerk  about  four 
and  one-half  years,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January  9,  1880.  He  was  in  the  office 
of  H.  M.  Wilbur  as  clerk  and  practicing  for  himself  about  a  year  and  a  half  and  was 
with  Henry  Purcell  then  city  recorder,  a  year  and  a  half.  In  1884  he  moved  to  the 
village  of  Madrid,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  established  a  practice  that  has  since 
occupied  his  attention.  The  winter  of  1879  he  was  clerk  to  the  committee  on  printing, 
and  committee  on  militia  in  the  Assembly  Chambers  at  Albany.  September  1,  1890, 
Mr.  Merriman  was  appointed  by  A.  Von  Landburg,  deputy  collector  of  Internal  Revenue 
for  the  third  Division  of  the  21st  District,  consisting  of  the  counties  of  Franklin,  St. 
Lawrence,  Jefiferson  and  Lewis,  an  ofifice  he  has  filled  with  satisfaction  to  his  superiors 
and  credit  to  himself.  He  is  a  retired  member  of  the  State  militia,  serving  five  years 
with  the  39th  Separate  Company  and  retired  as  corporal.  He  married  September  2, 
1886,  Edith  T.,  daughter  of  the  late  0.  C.  Robinson  of  Madrid.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Jessie  Viles. 

Gray,  0.  F.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  February  25,  1863,  a  son  of  Daniel  C.  Gray, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  son  of  Daniel  Gray,  who  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts  and  came  here  at  an  early  day.  D.  C.  Gray  was  born  February  8,  1833, 
and  has  always  followed  farming  until  the  last  three  years.  He  resided  in  Chicago  for 
some  time.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Winslow  of  this  county,  who  bore  him  three  chil- 
dren. Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  has  always  followed  agri- 
culture. He  has  160  acres  of  land  and  keeps  twenty-five  cows,  also  sheep.  February 
23,  1887,  he  married  Carrie,  daughter  of  Frank  and  Sarah  (Gilman)  Towner,  the  latter 
being  a  daughter  of  Antipath  Gilman,  mentioned  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Towner  died  in 
1880.  Mr.  Gray  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  liberal  in  their  religious 
views. 

Sanford,  Herbert  J.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  April  1,  1861,  a  son  of 
Jonah  Sanford.  He  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  in  Potsdam  Nor- 
mal School.  Mr.  Sanford  spent  one  year  at  the  tanning  business  in  Hopkinton,  and 
three  years  in  the  mercantile  and  lumber  trade  in  Parishville,  under  the  firm  name, 
of  Clark,  Sanford  &  Co.  In  1886  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for  himself 
and  has  since  done  a  very  successful  business.  June  28,  1882,  he  married  Bertha, 
daughter  of  Varick  A.  Chittenden,  a  retired  merchant  of  Hopkinton.  Mr.  Sanford 
and  wife  have  had  three  children :  Infant  son,  born  July  15,  1884,  died  September  6, 
1884;  Alice  Edna,  born  December  23,  1887;  Floyd  H.,  born  January  5,  1891,  died 
October  6,  1891.  Mr.  Sanford  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Congregational  church. 

Millar,  William  John  L.,  M.D.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Newboro,  Ontario,  Canada,  June 
27,  1839.  His  father,  William  J.  Millar,  M.D.,  was  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland, 
born  in  1795,  and  was  a  son  of  Captain  Alexander  Millar  of    the    English    army,  a 


i 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  201 

Scotchman  by  birth,  who  was  killed  during  the  rebellion  in  Ireland  in  1798.  Will- 
iam J.  ]\Iillar,  M.D.,  came  to  America  about  ]835,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Dublin  Uni- 
versity, Ireland.  After  coming  to  this  country  he  taught  Greek  and  Latin  for  two 
years  in  the  College  of  GeneA'a,  K  Y.  From  here  he  returned  to  Canada,  and  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  at  Newboro,  Ont.,  and  there  he  remained  in  active 
practice  up'to  the  time  of  his  death  in  February,  1858.  In  1837  he  married  Eliza 
Moore  of  Brockville,  and  they  had  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  our  subject,  William  J.  L.,  is  the  oldest.  He  was  educated  at  Buflfalo,  N. 
Y".,  and  is  a  graduate  from  the  Buffalo  University.  He  came  to  Russell  in  18G7, 
and  has  since  been  in  active  practice  here  and  in  surrounding  towns.  In  1862  he 
married  --Ida  J.  B.  West,  daughter  of  James  West  of  South  Mountain,  Ont..  a  sur- 
veyor and  civil  engineer,  who  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Henry  West  of  Canterbury, 
England.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Millar  have  four  sons:  James  C.  W.,  born  in  South  Mountain 
June  10,  1864,  who  is  principal  of  a  school  in  Montana;  William  J.  L.,  2d,  now 
practicing  medicine  witli  his  father.  He  was  born  May  20,  1865,  and  graduated 
from  Buffalo  University  in  May,  1893.  He  married  Edith  L.  Wilson  of  Heuvelton, 
and  they  have  one  child,  William  J.  L.,  3d,  born  May  16,  1802.  Arthur  W.  W., 
born  June  12,  1867,  at  Russell,  is  a  farmer  and  married  Florence  May  Sanderson ; 
Reginald  C.M.,  was  born  November  7,  1877,  at  Russell,  is  teaching  school  and 
lives  at  home.  Dr.  Millar  is  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society, 
is  a  Democrat  and  attends  the  Methodist  church. 

Fanning,  Benajah  C,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell,  October  29,  1836,  a  son  of  Caleb, 
who  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  November  14,  1807.  He  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Elsie  (Corp)  Fanning,  who  came  from  Herkimer  to  St.  Lawrence  county  when 
Caleb  was  a  boy.  In  1830  they  came  to  Russell,  where  he  died  in  1835,  and  his  wife 
several  years  later.  Caleb  was  twenty-three  years  old  when  he  came  to  this  town,  and 
he  has  lived  on  the  same  farm  since  1832.  In  1833  he  married  Jane  Brown  of  Edwards, 
born  March  26,  1816,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Brown.  To  Caleb  and  wife  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  grew  to  maturity  :  Emily,  wife  of  Hezekiah  Carr;  Ben- 
ajah, our  subject ;  Yaniah,  who  married  Clarissa  Stafford ;  Andrew,  who  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  and  married  Annie  Nolan ;  Hezekiah,  who  married  Elizabeth  McCon- 
nell ;  D.  C,  wife  of  Yictor  Hatch.  Mr.  Fanning  is  a  RepubHcan.  Benajah  C.  w'orked 
at  farming  at  home  till  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  and  then  rented  the  homestead  for 
four  years.  In  1868  he  bought  his  present  place  of  135  acres,  which  he  has  cleared 
and  improved,  and  he  keeps  a  dairy  of  fourteen  cows  and  young  stock.  In  1863  he 
married  Susan,  daughter  of  Ashabel  Curtis  of  Russell,  and  they  have  had  two  children  : 
Jessie,  wife  of  Albert  Hughes  of  Russell,  and  Lynn,  who  lives  at  home. 

Stearns,  Nathan  W.,  of  Brasher  Center,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  November  1,  1827, 
a  son  of  Abel  H.  and  Deborah  (Kelcey)  Stearns,  the  former  born  February  8,  1786, 
and  the  latter  July  22,  1790.  They  were  married  February  2,  1809,  and  came  to 
Stockholm  among  the  pioneers,  where  the  father  died  May  13,  1843,  and  the  mother 
October  16,  1845.  The  had  nine  children:  Ralph  P.,  Jonathan  W.,  Isaac  K.,  Abel 
II.,  jr.,  Eliza  Ann,  Jason  W.,  Benjamin  H.,  Reuben  R.,  and  Nathan  W.     The  latter 


202  '  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  reared  a  farmer  and  was  for  several  years  a  clerk  at  Brasher  Center,  and  about 
two  years  a  merchant.  For  the  past  thirty  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming, 
now  owning  a  farm  of  about  eighty  acres.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  over- 
seer of  the  poor,  etc.  March  8,  1854,  he  married  Maria  I.  Talcott,  born  August  14-, 
1826,  daughter  of  Dr.  Giles  L.  and  Charlotte  W.  (Goodnough)  Talcott  of  New  Eng- 
land and  afterward  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stearns  have  had  five  children : 
Marcia  M.,  born  March  3,  1855,  wife  of  Dr.  M.  B.  Holcomb  of  Keeseville ;  Giles 
H.,  born  March  27,  1858,  married  Lilly  M.  Bentley;  Elva  J.,  born  April  30,  1863, 
wife  of  H.  S.  Taylor  of  Brasher;  Bertha  E.,  born  February  2,  1866,  wife  of  M.  E. 
Shoen  of  Massena :  Charles  H.,  born  February  4,  1869,  married  Emma  J.  Allen,  and 
is  a  farmer  at  home.  Isaac  Kelcey,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
pioneer  in  the  county  and  a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  his  day.  The  village 
of  Winthrop  is  on  what  was  Isaac  Kelcey's  farm,  where  be  lived  after  coming  to 
the  county.  His  nearest  white  neighbors  on  the  northeast  were  at  Cornwall,  P,  Q., 
some  twenty-five  miles  distant;  though  the  red  men  were  all  about  him.  He  lived 
in  perfect  peace  and  tranquillity  among  them. 

Rider,  James  M.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1839,  a  son  of  James  D.,  whose 
father  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  James  D.  married  Sarah  Pot- 
ter, born  in  Vermont,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Hopkinton.  James  M.,  our  subject, 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Parishville 
and  Hopkinton.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  work  on  a  farm  at  very  low  wages, 
and  continued  in  this  line  for  about  fifteen  years.  By  industry  and  frugality  he  soon 
became  possessor  of  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  the  town.  In  1866  he  married 
Maria  M.,  daughter  of  Harry  West  of  Vermont,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Minnie 
Backus,  born  in  Hopkinton  April  3,  1868,  married  Myron  Backus,  and  has  one  child, 
Fredda  W.;  Gertrude,  born  in  Canton  June  9,  1871 ;  Eve  Knox,  born  in  Canton  April 
28,  1873,  married  Burtiss  S.  Knox;  Jay,  born  in  Russell  January  1,  1875;  William, 
born  in  Russell  June  27,  1878.  Mr.  Rider  first  bought  a  farm  in  Hopkinton,  where  he 
lived  one  year,  then  rented  in  Canton  five  years,  and  then  bought  the  farm  of  over  200 
acres,  which  he  now  owns  and  works.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  dairying, 
keeping  about  twenty  cows  and  other  stock,  sheep,  etc.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his 
politics,  but  has  never  cared  for  office.     His  family  attends  the  Methodist  church. 

Young,  Enoch,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Hammond,  December  8,  1835,  and  came  to 
Morristown  in  1844.  His  father  was  Zenas  Young,  and  his  grandfather,  Enoch  Young 
of  Dutchess  county.  His  mother  was  Evaline  (Battell)  Young.  Mr.  Young  is  an  ex- 
tensive farmer  and  prominent  in  Morristown.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  has  been 
delegate  to  the  county  and  State  conventions,  and  has  been  supervisor  of  Morristown 
for  eleven  years. 

Yerden,  George  S.,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  July  29,  1832,  and 
has  lived  in  Brier  Hill  for  sixty  years.  He  first  followed  painting  with  his  father,  but 
subsequently  became  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  followed  till  1883,  when  he 
opened  a  general  store  at  Brier  Hill.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  there  August  15, 
1889.     Mr.  Yerden  has  been  married  twice.     His  first  wife  was  Mary  E.  Burnett,  whom 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  203 

he  married  October  13,  1859.  His  second  wife,  Mrs.  Bridget  Bracey,  he  married  Sep- 
tember 25,  1888.  Mr.  Yerden  is  a  Republican,  and  highly  esteemed  by  a  large  circle 
of  acquaintances. 

Wilson,  George  B.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Gilboa,  Schoharie  county,  June  5,  1836,  a  son 
of  Benjamin,  a  native  of  that  county,  born  August  21,  1709,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Franklin,  of  Vermont,  and  had  seven  children  who  grew  to  maturity.  George  B.  lived 
on  a  farm  till  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  then  apprenticed  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade, 
which  he  soon  abandoned  and  learned  tanning,  working  first  in  Gilboa,  and  then  in 
Delaware  and  Hamilton  counties.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  came  to  Colton  and 
entered  a  tannery,  working  in  the  rolling  department  for  Lorenzo  Hull,  and  with  the 
exception  of  four  years  spent  on  his  farm  in  Pierrepont  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
St.  Lawrence  Tannery  most  of  the  time  since,  holding  the  position  of  foreman.  Mr. 
Wilson  owns  240  acres  of  land  in  Pierrepont  and  a  lot  in  Colton.  May  9,  1863,  he 
married  Ellen  J.  Jones,  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  four  children  :  Fred  W.,  Charles,  who 
died  aged  ten  years,  Frank  H.,  and  Alice.  In  1861  Mr.  Wilson  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Ninet3^-second  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  after  serving  one  year  was  discharged 
for  disability.  He  is  a  member  of  G.  A.  R.,  Wait  Post  No.  581  of  Colton.  Fred  W. 
Wilson  was  born  in  Colton,  November  10,  1864,  was  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity, and  spent  some  time  as  clerk  in  a  drug  store,  having  been  connected  with 
Hepburn  &  Spear  seven  years.  Since  April  15,  1889,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business,  also  handling  hay  and  wood.  October  11,  1893,  he  married 
Louisa  A.  Johnson,  of  Richville,  daughter  of  James  Johnson,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Wil- 
son is  a  Republican  and  has  been  town  clerk  one  year.  February  2,  1892,  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  and  has  since  held  that  office.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge 
No.  428  F.  &  A.  M. 

Wainwright,  J.  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Prescott,  January  4,  1847,  and  spent 
his  early  years  on  the  farm.  Twenty- five  years  ago  he  came  to  Gouverneur.  In  1868 
he  married  Olive  Haskins,  and  they  have  three  children :  Mrs.  William  Baker,  Elmer, 
and  Tunis.  Seven  years  ago  Mr.  Wainwright  opened  his  hotel  in  Brooklyn,  which  he 
will  greatly  enlarge  this  year.  His  father  was  Mathew  Wainwright,  and  his  mother 
Adelaide  (Thornton)  Wainwright. 

Walker,  William,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Richville,  April  8,  1843,  His  father,  Horatio, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  De  Kalb,  who  came  from  Massachusetts.  He  married 
Ruth  Smith,  a  native  of  De  Kalb.  Our  subject  followed  farming  till  thirty  years  of 
age,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  his  present  place.  He  has  con- 
ducted a  most  successful  business  for  twenty  years,  and  has  won  the  esteem  of  his 
townspeople.  In  1869  he  married  Amelia  E.  Lynd,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Ada  L. 

Wainwright,  Lorin  M.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Macomb,  November  13.  1853.  He  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business,  conducting  a  general  store  and  meat  market,  which  latter  branch 
he  gave  up  after  operating  it  ten  years,  and  now  devotes  himself  to  the  general  store, 
with  which  he  also  has  open  sheds  for  farmers'  use.     In  1874  he  married  Ella  Bar- 


204  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ber  who  died  in  1876.  In  1877  he  married  again  and  has  four  daughters.  Mr.  Wain- 
wrio-ht  has  been  very  successful  in  his  business  operations,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  men  of  De  Kalb.     He  is  a  Mason  and  an  active  Democrat. 

Wrio-ht,  S.  B.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  July  19,  1833.  He  was  a  farm- 
er's son  and  after  teaching  school  eight  winters  he  returned  to  farming,  which  he 
has  followed  ever  since.  In  1857  he  married  Martha  Moyer.  Mr.  Wright  has  been  as- 
sessor of  Hammond  ten  years.  In  1890  he  was  elected  magistrate.  His  father  was 
William  H.  Wright,  a  native  of  Canada.  His  grandfather  was  Timothy  Wright,  a  nat- 
ive of  Vermont,  and  his  mother  was  Mary  (Taylor)  Wright. 

AYalrath,  Philip,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Herkimer  county,  August  15,  1818,  but 
has  resided  in  Morristown  for  fifty  years,  and  during  a  great  part  of  this  time  has 
been  one  of  the  active  and  leading  men  of  the  town,  holding  public  offices.  In  1844 
he  married  Pluma,  daughter  of  Dr.  Willis,  of  Springfield,  Otsego  county,  and  they  have 
three  children :  Mrs.  Craigs,  Solomon,  and  Alfred  Willis.  Mr.  Walrath  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  qhurch  for  forty-five  years. 

Wright,  I.  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canada,  May  2,  1826.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  followed  it  many  years.  In  1868  he  came  to  Wegatchie 
and  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods.  He  has  a  fine  woolen  mill,  in 
which  he  put  all  the  machinery  himself.  Mr.  Wright  married  Maria  Fishbeck  in  Jan- 
uary, 1851.  They  have  one  son  and  two  daughters  :  Ida  Louisa,  Venetta  Estelle, 
and  J.  H.  Wright.     Mr.  Wright  manufactures  cashmeres,  flannels,  cotton  wraps,  etc. 

Wand,  Phihp,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  January  14,  1^53.  His  father 
inaugurated  business  here  forty- two  years  ago.  Philip  learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon 
and  carriagemaker  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  worked,  and  upon  the  death  of  that 
gentleman  succeeded  him  in  the  business.  About  sixteen  years  ago  they  moved  their 
business  from  down  town  up  to  their  present  stand  on  New  York  avenue,  which 
property  they  purchased  and  built  upon.  Philip  married  in  1880  Sarah  Connor,  and 
they  have  two  children.  Mr.  Wand  is  an  energetic  and  enterprising  gentleman,  much 
respected,  and  his  establishment  is  among  the  oldest  in  this  city. 

Wood,  Henry  H.,  Ogdensburg. — His  ancestors  came  to  this  country  in  the  Mayflower 
and  settled  in  Norwich,  Conn.  They  afterward  participated  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
in  General  Gates's  army,  and  in  the  War  of  1812.  A  branch  of  the  family  settled  in 
the  Genesee  Valley  and  Black  River  country.  From  this  branch  Henry  H.  is  in  direct 
descent.  He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Hammond,  and  was  brought  up 
by  his  grandfather,  Henry  C,  his  father,  Henry  F.,  having  died  in  early  manhood. 
He  has  been  in  Ogdensburg  for  the  past  thirty  years  and  is  general  manager  for  S.  G. 
Pope,  which  position  he  has  held  for  the  past  thirteen  years.  Prior  to  this  time  he 
was  employed  by  the  railroad  for  many  years.     He  married  in  1872  Jane  A.  Smith. 

VVatkins,  Henry,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Rutland,  \"t.,  in  October,  1819.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Middlebury  College  and  came  to  Potsdam  to  reside  about  1842.  Here  he 
entered  St.  Lawrence  Academy  as  professor  of  mathematics  and  remained  in  this  posi- 
tion for  several  years.     In  1847  he  engaged  in  the    foundry  business,  later  forming 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  205 

a  partnership  with  Charles  W.  Leete  in  the  hardware  trade.  In  1863  Messrs.  Walkins 
&  Leete  purchased  an  interest  in  the  saw  mill  property  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
and  continued  business  together  in  both  these  branches  of  industry  until  1872,  when 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Leete  takinp:  the  hardware  and  foundry,  and  Mr. 
Watkins  the  saw  mill  property,  with  wnich  he  was  connected  until  his  death.  When 
the  movement  was  started  to  secure  the  location  of  one  of  the  State  Normal  Schools 
in  this  village,  Mr.  Watkins  entered  into  it  heart  and  soul.  He  was  active  and  untiring 
in  all  the  plans,  details  and  management  connected  with  the  building  of  this  great 
and  beneficent  institution.  As  a  fit  recognition  of  his  services  he  was  made  president 
of  the  first  local  board  appointed  for  the  school,  and  continued  to  hold  the  position  un- 
til his  death.  His  interest  in  this  institution  never  for  a  moment  flagged,  and  every 
movement  for  its  advancement  and  success  received  his  earnest  and  effective  sup- 
port. Mr.  W^atkins  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he  united 
early  in  life.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  building  of  the  present  church  edifice  of 
that  society  m  this  village.  He  was  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial  business  men  of 
the  place,  and  for  half  a  century  was  closely  identified  with  the  social,  moral  and  ma- 
terial life  and  growth  of  Potsdam.  He  died  in  Potsdam,  March  29,  1891,  of  typhoid 
pneumonia  in  his  seventy- second  year. 

Wait,  Myron  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam.  May  17,  1825.  Allen  Wait,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Shoreham,  March  11,  1780,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Potsdam,  coming  here  in  1802,  when  the  town 
was  a  wilderness.  He  took  up  100  acres  in  the  northwestern  part,  and  his  first  resi- 
dence was  a  log  house,  which  was  superseded  in  1825  by  a  frame  house.  Allen  Wait 
took  little  interest  in  public  affairs,  but  devoted  his  whole  time  to  his  home  interests. 
His  wife  was  Abigail  Bailey,  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  ten  children,  only 
two  of  whom  are  living :  Allen  Wait,  the  second,  a  farmer  of  this  town ;  and  Myron 
H.  ■  Allen  Wait,  sr.,  is  dead,  and  Mrs.  Wait  died  in  December,  1839.  The  whole  life  of 
our  subject  was  spent  in  this  town,  living  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  he  was 
fifteen,  when  the  family  moved  to  the  western  part  of  Potsdam.  When  he  was  twenty- 
one  he  started  out  for  himself,  but  returned  after  two  years  to  spend  four  years  with 
his  father.  In  1853  he  moved  to  Hopkinton,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres, 
and  cultivated  it  three  years,  returning  in  1856  to  Potsdam,  buying  a  farm  of  ninety-six 
acres  to  Avhichhe  added  until  he  owned  176  acres.  He  left  this  in  1871  to  settle  on  his 
present  farm,  a  fine  place  of  167  acres  and  also  an  adjoining  one  of  fifteen  acres.  The 
farm  is  devoted  mainly  to  dairymg,  and  Mr.  W^ait  conducts  a  milk  route  in  Potsdam, 
where  he  disposes  of  about  150  quarts  per  day.  He  also  makes  butter  from  the  fur- 
nishing of  thirty-six  cows.  Mr.  Wait  married  in  1854,  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Butler,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  coming  to  this  country 
when  seven  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wait  had  two  children  :  Ida  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Ezra  S.  Smith  of  Des  Moines,  la.;  and  Emma  Sophronia,  now  a  teacher  in  the 
Normal  School  at  Shippenburg,  Pa. 

Wait,  John,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Clayton,  August  10,  1855,  a  son  of  Jason,  a  native 
of  Jefferson  county,  where  he  was  born  July  25,  1833.  He  is  a  ship  builder  by  trade 
and  has  built  a  number  of  lake  vessels.     He  married   Sarah   A.   Angsbery   of  Jefferson 


206  'history  of  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

county,  and  they  had  three  children,  all  living.  Mr.  Wait  died  in  1862.  John  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Clayton  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  went  into 
the  organ  factory  of  A.  M.  Brush  at  Clayton,  where  he  spent  five  years,  and  in  1872 
they  removed  to  Potsdam  and  Mr.  Wait  came  with  them,  and  has  ever  since  lived  here. 
He  is  a  Democrat  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics.  He  married,  September  14, 
1880,  Sarah  E.  Fling,  a  native  of  Potsdam. 

Weagant,  Ernest  E.,  D.S.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  6,  1859,  a  son  of 
Herman  Gr.,  now  in  his  seventy-fourth  year  and  still  practicing  dental  surgery  in  Mor- 
risburg,  Canada.  The  early  life  of  Ernest  E.  was  spent  in  the  town  ot  his  birth.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools  of  Morrisburg.  His  first  study  of  den- 
tistry was  in  his  father's  office,  and  in  1887  he  entered  Philadelphia  Dental  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  D.D.S.,  March  1,  1888.  The  same  year, 
in  May,  he  came  to  Potsdam  where  he  bought  the  office  and  practice  of  Dr.  H.  M. 
Welch,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
has  spacious  parlors  and  office  in  the  Ives  Block  on  Market  street,  and  has  built 
up  a  practice  second  to  none  in  the  town,  making  a  specialty  of  crown  and  bridge 
work. 

Whalen,  Thomas,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  September  12,  1830.  His 
parents  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  county  about  1822.  Thomas  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when 
he  commenced  learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  after  the  completion  of  which  he  became 
actively  engaged  in  contracting  and  building,  which  occupation  he  has  since  success- 
fully followed  and  in  the  course  of  which  he  has  erected  many  important  buildings, 
among  others  we  mention  the  annex  to  the  academy,  several  buildings  on  the  hospital 
grounds,  etc.  He  married  Elizabeth  Burns,  and  has  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Mr.  Whalen  has  served  the  city  as  alderman,  assessor,  etc.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Oswegatchie  club,  and  is  identified  with  the  city's  best  interests.  He  furnishes  con- 
stant employment  to  a  considerable  force  of  hands. 

Williams,  C.  E.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Vermont,  December  11,  1867.  He  was 
liberally  educated  in  the  schools  of  Turin,  Lewis  county,  after  which  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship for  five  years  in  pharmacy,  eventually  graduating  from  the  National  Insti- 
tute of  Pharmacy  in  Chicago.  In  1890  Mr.  Williams  purchased  the  drugestabhshment 
for  many  years  conducted  by  George  Watt,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He  handles 
a  number  of  specialties,  and  is  well  adapted  for  the  business. 

Westbrook  Family,  The,  Ogdensburg. — Members  of  this  family  settled  in  Ulster  county 
about  1640.  Charles  R.  Westbrook,  father  of  James,  came  to  Ogdensburg  from  Kings- 
ton, Ulster  county,  in  1855,  and  followed  the  pi-actice  of  his  profession  here  for  eight 
years.  He  then  was  appointed  manager  of  the  Parish  property,  and  five  years  after- 
ward assumed  charge  of  the  Power  Iron  Works,  which  position  he  held  for  twenty 
years.  After  this  Mr.  Westbrook  was  in  the  customs  department  in  New  York  city 
and  also  had  charge  of  the  Sterlington  Iron  Works  there.  He  is  at  present  practicing 
law  in  that  city.  James  Westbrook  was  born  in  Ogden.sburg,  September  29,  1860,  was 
educated  in  the  schools  here,  and  in  July,  1879,  entered  the  0.  L.  &  C.  Railroad  office 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  207 

nere  as  clerk.  He  is  now  agent  of  the  business.  Mr.  Westbrook  married  a  daush- 
ter  of  Stillman  Forte  and  they  have  three  children.  Mr.  Westbrook  is  a  member  of 
the  Ogdensburg  Club,  etc.,  and  upon  his  mother's  side  is  a  descendant  of  Judge  John 
Scott,  whose  history  is  identified  with  St.  Lawrence  county. 

Welch,  Michael,  Stockholm,  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Frances  Welch,  natives  of  Ire- 
land, where  they  died.  Michael,  jr.,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  when  fourteen  years 
of  age  went  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  remained  until  twenty-one  and  then  went  to 
Boston.  In  1841  Mr.  Welch  came  to  Stockholm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  at 
first  settled  on  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres,  but  has  added  to  it  until  now  he  owns  106 
acres,  on  which  he  has  made  improvements.  Mr.  Welch  married  in  Massachusetts 
Catherine  Kelley.  a  native  of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has  eight  children  :  Margaret,  James, 
John,  Michael,  Charley,  Patrick,  Edward,  and  William.  Mr.  Welch  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Captain  Gibson  Post.  In  18G1  Mr.  Welch 
enlisted  in  the  Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Infantry,  Company  D,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  During  the  last  two  years  he  was  in  the  Ninety-sixth  N.  Y.  Infantry,  Com- 
pany G. 

Whitton,  I.  R.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  at  Smith's  Mills,  June  7,  1867.  His  father  is 
a  farmer  and  he  lived  for  some  years  on  the  farm.  Four  years  ago  he  opened  a 
store  at  Smith's  Mills,  which  he  still  conducts  with  marked  success.  In  1884  he  mar- 
ried Adele,  daughter  of  Earlton  Heath.  They  have  three  children  :  Selee,  Hazel  Belle 
and  Claude.  Mr.  Whitton's  father  is  George  Whitton.  His  grandfather  was  James 
Whitton. 

Wood,  J.  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  September  12,  1853.  In 
1881  he  married  M.  E.  Comstock.  His  father,  Andrew  Wood,  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  America  when  a  young  man.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  self-made  man,  and 
is  much  respected  by  all.  He  has  been  collector  for  several  years  and  occupied  other 
public  positions.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  168  acres,  and  carries  on  dairyins:  and  grain 
raising. 

Welch,  Sylvester,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Philadelphia,  JeflFerson 
county,  March  29,  1842.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  early 
commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith  at  Oxbow,  after  the  completion  of  which 
he  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  1875,  and  has  conducted  this  branch  of  industry  here  since 
that  time.  He  married  in  1861  and  has  four  children.  Mr.  Welch  is  a  descendant  of 
an  old  American  family  of  Revolutionary  antecedents.  His  great-grandfather  was  an 
active  participant  of  these  stirring  times,  as  was  that  ancestor  upon  the  mother's  side. 

Weston,  John  R.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Canada,  March  22,  1863,  and  came  to  Mor- 
ristown,  St.  La's\'rence  county,  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  was  educated  in 
Brockville  High  School,  and  his  first  occupation  was  as  a  bookkeeper  for  W.  H.  Com- 
stock, of  Morristown,  a  position  he  held  for  four  years,  and  for  four  years  traveled 
for  the  same  firm.  In  1889  he  came  to  Potsdam,  where  he  was  in  partnership  with 
Zenas  Clark,  jr.,  in  the  book  and  stationery  business.  They  were  burned  out  a  year 
after  the  establishment  of  the  company,  and  m  1800  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Fred- 


208  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWEENCE  COUNTY. 

erick  A.  Wood  and  occupied  the  store  in  the  new  Ives  block.  Mr.  Weston  is  a  member 
of  Raquette  River  Lodge  No.  213,  F.  &  A.  M.  ;  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24;  and  St. 
Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28.  He  has  advanced  to  the  thirty-second  degree.  Mr. 
Weston  married  in  1890  Mary  J.  Lynde,  of  Gonvernear. 

Whitney,  Thomas  J.,  Gouverneiir,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Morley,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  September  23,  1850,  one  of  five  children  of  Nathan  E.  and  Esther  (Stephenson) 
Whitney.  In  1865  Nathan  E.  removed  to  Gouverneur  and  settled,  that  his  four  boys 
might  learn  the  trade  of  stone  cutter.  In  1876  the  first  marble  was  quarried  in  Gouver- 
neur by  T.  J.  Whitney  &  Bro.  T.  Whitney  went  to  Rutland,  Vt.,  in  1879,  and  spent 
three  years  there  in  the  employ  of  the  Rutland  Marble  Company.  In  1882  he  organized 
the  Whitney  Marble  Company,  and  in  1884  organized  the  St.  Lawrence  Marble  Com- 
pany, and  has  been  superintendent  since  that  time.  They  ship  marble  all  over  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  have  the  largest  mill  in  the  region,  using  sixteen  gangs 
and  employing  100  men  the  year  around.  T.  J.  Whitney  married  in  1872  Alice  M., 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Selina  F.  (Bignall)  Kinney,  of  Gouverneur.  Mr.  Whitney 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  eight  years,  and  was  president  of 
the  Water  Commission  when  the  new  system  of  works  was  constructed.  He  was  also 
district  commissioner  of  the  fourth  judicial  district  of  the  exhibit  of  the  State  of  New 
York  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 

Veitch,  Thomas  A.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  June  4,  1836.  He  is  a 
son  of  Adam  Veitch,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in  1805,  who  came  to  Waddington  when 
fifteen  years  of  age  with  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Isabell  (Trumbull)  Veitch,  who  set- 
tled on  a  farm  where  they  lived  and  died.  Adam  Veitch  was  educated  in  Scotland. 
He  married  Ann  Nesbit,  a  native  of  Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  are  now  living.  Mr.  Veitch  died  in  1864,  and  his  wife  in  1882. 
Thomas  A.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Wadding- 
ton. He  has  always  followed  farming  and  now  owns  321  acres  of  land,  used  princi- 
pally for  dairying,  and  keeps  thirty-five  cows.  Mr.  Veitch  married,  August  19,  1859, 
Elizabeth  Young,  of  Waddington,  a  daughter  of  Walter  Young,  of  Scotland,  who  came 
to  Waddington,  and  here  spent  most  of  his  life,  dying  in  California.  Mr.  Veitch  and 
wife  have  three  children:  Adam,  Angenett,  and  Walter.  ]\rr.  Veitch  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington. 

Vanderburg,  Fred,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county.  May  6,  1836, 
a  son  of  James  and  Roby  (Knight)  Vanderburg,  the  former  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county,  and  his  wife  of  Rhode  Island.  They  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  In 
1837  Mr.  Vanderburg  and  parents  came  to  Pierrepont  from  JeflTerson  county,  where 
they  lived  a  number  of  years.  The  family  afterwards  went  to  Lewis  county,  where 
Mr.  Vanderburg  died  in  1869,  and  his  wife  in  1853  in  Pierrepont.  Our  subject,  Fred 
Vanderburg,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  has  always  followed  farming,  owning  now  230 
acres  of  land  and  keeping  twenty-four  cows.  He  has  been  three  times  married;  first 
to  Catharine  Daniels,  of  Pierrejiont,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Flora,  Kittie  L., 
and  L.  Luella,  who  died  aged  two  and  a  half  years.  He  married  second  Mary  J.  Coon, 
of  Pierrepont,  and  third  Josephine  Hibbard.  a  native  of  Pierrepont,  by  whom  he  has 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  209 

had  five  children  :  Ida,  Julia,  Maleta,  Fred,  and  Charles  H.     Mr.  Vanderburg  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  been  highway  commissioner  four  years. 

Taylor,  George  F.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  April  7,  1821.  His  father 
was  John  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  November  22,  1789,  and  in  1819  came  to 
Waddington  and  settled  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  John.  He  was  a  large  real 
estate  owner,  having  at  one  time  about  700  acres  of  land.  He  married  Isabella  Turn- 
bull  of  Scotland,  bora  December  15,  1793.  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  church.  He  died  May  1,  1843,  and  his  wife  February  19,  1883.  George 
F.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  ill  the  common  schools.  Farming  has  been  his 
life  occupation.  He  resided  in  Lisbon  for  a  number  of  years,  then  came  to  Wadding- 
ton and  purchased  a  farm  of  112  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  three  years  ago,  when 
he  removed  to  the  village  and  his  adopted  son,  Homer  Taylor,  has  charge  of  the  farm. 
October  30,  1847,  Mr,  Taylor  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Andrew  Yeitch  of  Wadding- 
ton. Mr.  Veitch  came  from  Scotland  in  1818,  and  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  he  set- 
tled. His  wife  was  Janet  Porteous  of  Scotland,  and  they  had  six  children,  of  whom 
five  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Taylor  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  and' 
wife  are  members  of  the  Second  Reformed  Presbyterian  church  of  Lisbon,  but  at  pres- 
ent attend  and  support  the  M.  E.  church  of  Waddington.  John  Taylor,  brother  of 
subject  was  born  in  "Waddington,  October  4,  1829.  He  resides  on  the  old  homestead 
and  has  230  acres  of  land.  He  married,  October  29,  1862,  Isabel,  daughter  of  John 
Hobkirk.  Mr.  Taylor  and  wife  have  nine  children,  all  living.  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 

Thomas,  John,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Wales,  February  3,  1830,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam, a  native  of  the  same  place.  He  married  Ann  Davis,  and  they  had  nine  chil- 
dren. In  1833  they  came  to  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.,  finally  setthng  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  town  of  Rossie,  and  later  in  Pierrepont.  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our 
subject,  where  they  both  died.  John  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  He  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land,  and  followed  general 
farming  and  dairying,  keeping  fifteen  cows.  In  1857  Mr.  Thomas  married  Helen 
S.  Barker,  a  native  of  Moriah,  Essex  county,  born  in  1839,  daughter  of  Orrin  and 
Harriet  (Potter)  Barker,  natives  of  Vermont  and  Essex  county  respectively.  Mr. 
Barker  died  in  1880  and  his  wife  in  1852.  Mr.  and  Mr.  Thomas  have  had  three 
children:  Rena,  wife  of  George  L.  Isham  of  Colton;  William  J.,  a  farmer  who  mar- 
ried Lena  Chaaey  ;  and  Orrin  B.,  who  lives  at  home.     Mr.  Thomas  is  a  Republican. 

Tann,  J.  M.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  October  4,  1856,  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1887,  when  he  embarked  in  the  cheese  business  with  W.  D. 
Austin.  In  1882  Mr.  Tann  married  Maggie,  daughter  of  M.  P.  Ehle.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  local  office.  Mr.  Tann's 
father  is  William  Tann,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Edwardsville. 

Taylor,  D.  R.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  England,  April  2,  1846,  and  came  to  Canada  with 
his  parents  in  1849,  where  his  father  died.  In  1868  he  came  to  this  country,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  principally,  and  has  done  some  mining.     In  1876  he  married 


210  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Clara,  daughter  of  Chauncey  House  of  Macomb.  Mr.  Taylor  is  an  ardent  Prohibition- 
ist, and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  His  children  are  :  Barle,  Edmond,  Ivan, 
Nellie  and  Ormond. 

Stone,  Oscar  0.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Parisbville,  November  16,  1843,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Stone,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  August  19,  1811,  who  came  to  this  country 
and  settled  finally  in  Parishville.  December  15,  1836,  he  married  Almira  Poland,  a 
native  of  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  daughter  of  William  Poland,  a  native  of  Scotland,  wlx)  came 
to  Parishville  in  1830,  where  he  died  six  years  later.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone  had  two 
two  children,  Oscar  0.,  being  the  only  survivor.  Mr.  Stone  died  April  5,  1885,  and  his 
wife  resides  with  our  subject.  Oscar  0.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  follows  farming  and  at  present  owns  227  acres  of  land,  keeping  a 
dairy  of  twenty-seven  cow.s.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics.  He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Maria  Patty,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Stone  died  in  1870,  and  in  1871  he 
married  second  Sarah  Cowles,  daughter  of  Charles  Cowles  of  Parishville,  by  whom 
he  has  had  two  children  :  Maria  (deceased),  and  Lizzie,  at  home. 

Sayer,  M.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Macomb,  February  20,  1855,  and  has  followed 
farming  all  his  life.  In  1879  he  married  Ella  Lowes.  His  father  was  James,  and  his 
mother  Jane  (Farley)  Sayer,  both  of  England.  Mr.  Sayer  is  a  member  of  the  Fores- 
ters, an  active  Republican,  and  an  enterprising  business  man. 

Soper,  William,  Waddington,  was  born  July  8,  1817.  His  father,  David  Soper,  was 
a  native  of  Essex,  Vt ,  and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  came  to  Waddington  with  his 
mother  and  stepfather,  his  own  father  dying  when  he  was  a  child.  He  bought  one  of 
the  first  farms  in  what  is  now  Waddington.  This  farm  of  120  acres,  said  to  be  the 
best  in  the  town,  is  now  owned  by  William  Soper.  The  wife  of  David  Soper  was 
Mary  Straiter,  of  Prockville,  Canada,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Mr.  Soper  died  in  February,  1875.  Mr.  Soi>er  in  early  life  was  a  farmer  and  lumber- 
man. Mr.  Soper  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Thompson,  of  England,  who  came 
to  Waddington  when  Mr.  Soper  was  six  years  of  age.  Mr.  Soper  and  wife  have  two 
children:  Nancy  J.,  widow  of  Sidney  Monroe  (killed  in  the  late  Rebellion),  and  Avilla, 
wife  of  Hiram  H.  Peacock,  who  at  present  has  charge  of  Mr.  Soper's  farm.  Mr.  Pea- 
cock was  born  in  Waddington,  a  son  of  Matthew  Peacock,  who  came  to  Waddington 
from  England  in  1826,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Waddington  village.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Stearns,  of  Vermont,  and  they  have  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  He 
is  a  stone  mason.  Hiram  H.  Peacock  and  wife  have  one  daughter,  Eva  H.  He  is  a 
member  of  Waddington  Lodge  No.  393  F.  &  A.  M. ;  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a 
great  lover  of  fine  horses,  taking  pride  in  having  as  good  if  not  the  best  team  in  the 
town. 

Snyder,  John,  Heuvelton,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  July  9,  1832.  His  parents  were 
of  Mohawk  Dutch  descent,  who  for  a  time  resided  in  Canada,  and  afterward  at  Fort 
Plain.  John  received  his  education  in  this  State,  and  May  2,  1861,  enlisted  in  the  Six- 
teenth N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  went  to  Albany.  He  was  transferred  shortly  afterward 
to  the  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  in  which  he  served  one  and  one-half  years,  at  the  ex- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  211 

piration  of  wliich  he  entered  the  Fourteenth  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  two  years 
and  eleven  months,  during  which  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Petersburg, 
June  17,  18Gi,  and  confined  in  Libby  Prison  until  May  4,  1865,  wnen  he  again  suc- 
ceeded in  returning  to  his  regiment.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  which  occurred  during  his  service,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  he  was 
a  prisoner,  and  was  also  in  numerous  skirmishes.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Heuvelton  and  engaged  in  hotel  keeping  until  within  the  past  few  years,  since  which 
he  has  conducted  a  general  store.  He  married  Sarah  Moore,  of  Oswegatchie.  John 
Snyder  was  a  brave  soldier,  and  is  an  upright,  conscientious  and  energetic  business 
man. 

Stowe,  Thomas,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  October  5,  1847.  He  and  his 
brother,  John  H.  Stowe,  own  the  old  homestead.  Their  father  was  Robert  Stowe,  who 
came  from  England  and  settled  here  in  1836,  and  their  mother  was  Johanna  (Hayes) 
Stowe.  Thomas  married  Catherine  McPhail,  and  they  have  one  son,  Earle  Vincent. 
The  Stowe  brothers  are  well  known  breeders  of  Holstein  cattle  and  high  grade 
sheep. 

Steinburg,  Harvey,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Dundas  county,  Canada,  June  2,  1851. 
lie  learned  the  meat  business  in  that  country  and  located  during  1889  in  Ogdensburg. 
May  18,  1892,  he  moved  upon  New  York  avenue  where  he  enjoys  a  large  and  first  class 
patronage.  Mr.  Steinburg  married  in  1875  ^Sliss  Mcintosh,  of  Canada,  and  they  have 
two  sons.  Mr.  Stemburg  has  been  remarkably  successful  since  coming  to  Ogdensburg. 
He  is  a  thorough  business  man  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  public. 

ScuUin,  Nicholas,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  August  11,  1800. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he  came  to  this  country  in  1819  with 
his  mother.  His  mother  located  in  the  town  of  Brasher,  where  she  reared  a  family  of 
eleven  children.  Nicholas  worked  with  his  brother  Felix  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  then  learned  the  mason's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  dif- 
ferent places  until  1872.  The  spring  of  that  year  he  bought  a  farm  of  146  acres  in 
Potsdam,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  died  February  11,  1892.  He 
married,  February  11,  1830,  Mary  Colligan,  and  they  have  had  eleven  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  living :  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Grow,  of  Brasher ;  Felix,  a  farmer  of  Pots- 
dam ;  John,  of  St.  Louis,  is  prominently  connected  with  the  street  railroads  of  that 
city;  Henry  J.,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam;  James,  a  contractor  of  St.  Louis;  Nancy,  of 
the  Convent  of  the  Good  Shepard  in  Chicago ;  Kate,  wife  of  Henry  Loomis,  of  Mes- 
sina ;  and  Eunice,  who  lives  at  home.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Cathohc  church 
at  Potsdam.  The  farm  is  conducted  as  a  dairy  farm,  with  fifteen  cows.  Mr.  Scullin  is 
a  Democrat  and  holds  the  offices  of  collector  and  constable,  and  was  for  two  years  a 
trustee  of  schools. 

Stanton,  Alexander  B.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1821.  The  father  of  our  subject,  John  S.,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  Essex  county  in  1789  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church.  He  married  in  1820 "Lucy  Hubbell,  of  Pittsford,  Vt,  whose  father,  Oliver 
Bogue,  came  to  Vermont  from  Connecticut  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  State,  and 


212  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier.  John  S.  Stanton  was  the  father  of  four  children,  three 
now  livins; :  George  Franklin,  a  mechanic  and  farmer  of  Westport ;  Alex  B.,  and  a 
daughter,  Mrs.  Helen  Curren,  of  Peterboro,  Ontario.  Mr.  Stanton  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  started  for  himself  working  for 
farmers.  In  the  fall  of  1849  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  of  sixty-five  acres  in  Potsdam.  Since  that  time  he  has  increased  the  si>e  of 
the  farm  by  purchase  of  one  of  five  acres  and  one  of  forty-eight,  making  now  110.  He 
has  erected  a  good  residence,  three  large  barns  and  a  cheese  factory  on  the  place.  Mr. 
Stanton  married  in  1847  Minerva  Baldwin,  of  Westport,  and  they  had  five  children 
One  died  at  three  years  of  age;  Marthesia,  wife  of  John  Speed,  of  Santa  Anna,  Cal. 
Lucy,  wife  of  John  Clark ;  Fred.  A. ;  and  Minnie,  wife  of  Fred  Hill,  of  Boston,  Mass 
Mrs.  Stanton  died  September  7,  1869,  and  he  married  second,  April  12,  1870,  Angeline, 
daughter  of  George  Thompson,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Grace  M. 
Mr.  Stanton  built  a  cheese  factory  in  1878,  and  sold  it  in  1882  to  D.  Frank  Ellis;  it  is 
now  standing  idle. 

Farmer  Brothers,  Gouverneur. — This  firm  conducts  one  of  the  leading  merchant  tailor- 
ing establishments  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  their  trade  extends  in  every  direc- 
tion outside  of  Gouverneur,  besides  their  large  local  custom.  The  firm  is  composed  of 
F.  A.  and  H.  G.  Farmer,  the  former  managmg  the  business  and  the  latter  traveling  for  a 
New  York  fur  house.  Both  are  natives  of  Fowler  and  sons  of  Francis  Farmer  of 
that  town.  Their  grandfather  was  John  Farmer,  formerly  of  Herkimer,  and  the  fam- 
ily is  descended  from  the  Mohawk  Dutch.  Their  mother  was  Louisa  Homer.  F.  A. 
Farmer  lias  resided  in  Gouverneur  for  thirteen  years,  during  nine  years  of  which  he 
has  been  in  business.  He  began  his  mercantile  career  as  a  clerk,  and  learned  the  ait 
of  cutting  (in  which  he  excels)  with  James  Brodie,  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  town,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  social  circles, 
being  a  Master  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  In  1883  he  married 
Susan,  daughter  of  Lewis  Hale,  of  Gouverneur,  and  they  have  two  daughters.  Mr. 
Farmer  is  an  adherent  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  wliich  Mrs.  Farmer  is  a  member. 

Swift,  Norman,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  August  24,  1824.  Foster 
Swift,  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  Barnard,  Vt.,  in  179G. 
He  was  a  son  of  Levi  Swift  who  came  to  this  county  in  1805,  and  moved  his  family 
here  in  March,  1806.  He  took  up  a  tract  of  300  acres  where  he  reared  his  family. 
Foster  Swift  married  Nancy,  daugliter  of  Jonas  Fay  of  Royalton,  Vt.,  and  they  have 
had  eight  children,  three  of  whom  aie  living:  Heman,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  George,  a 
contractor  of  Potsdam,  and  Norman.  Foster  Swift  made  his  home  on  this  farm  until 
1838,  when  he  bought  a  farm  about  two  miles  west  where  he  lived  until  1856,  when  he 
moved  to  Wisconsin  and  died  in  1868.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  About  four  years  after  he  took  up  mill- 
wright work,  which  he  followed  about  eight  years,  most  of  the  time  with  Shaw  of 
Glens  Falls.  He  also  built  the  Sissonviile  mill  and  a  steam  mill  in  Clinton  county.  In 
1850  he  bought  the  homestead  farm  back  and  has  since  increased  it  from  thirty-three 
to  167  acres,  where  he  has  reared  his  family  and  still  makes  it  his  home.  In  1868  he 
began  to  take  contracts  for  bridge  building,  water  dams,  heavy  roofing,  and  work  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  213 

that  class,  and  lias  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  same.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
highway  commissioner,  and  was  town  hall  commissioner  at  the  time  of  its  erection. 
January  1.  1851,  he  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Ansel  Merritt  and  Betsey  (Howard) 
Meacham,  and  they  have  had  seven  children,  five  now  living  :  Georpe  H.,  a  farmer  and 
contractor  of  South  Colton  ;  Marian,  wife  of  Edward  C.  Batchelder ;  Elizabeth  J.,  wif^. 
of  John  L.  Brown,  a  druggist  of  North  Lawrence;  Frank  M.,  a  surveyor,  who  makes 
his  home  with  his  parents  ;  and  Fred  N.,  who  is  his  father's  assistant.  This  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  best  farms  of  this  section  for  dairy.  Mr.  Swift  keeps  about  forty  head 
of  cattle  and  sends  his  milk  to  the  butter  factory. 

Sheldon,  G.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Gouverneur,  August  24, 
1827,  he  being  one  of  twelve  children  of  Timothy  and  Nancy  (Bowen)  Sheldon.  The 
Bowen  ancestry  Avere  natives  of  Pawtucket,  Pi.  I.,  as  were  also  the  Sheldons.  Timothy, 
the  father,  came  from  Pawtucket  to  Oneida  county  when  a  boy  with  his  father,  James 
Sheldon,  who  came  as  agent  of  Brown's  tract.  He  was  a  native  of  Pawtucket,  born  in 
1776.  The  father,  Timothy  Sheldon,  came  to  Gouverneur  in  early  life  and  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  descendants,  when  it  was  an  unbroken  wilderness.  G.  B. 
Sheldon  was  married  in  1857  to  Fedora  Babcock,  daughter  of  Perry  Babcock,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  Gouverneur.  They  have  one  son,  Leroy  Sheldon,  who  was  born  August 
25,  1865.  After  receiving  the  benefit  of  the  schools  of  Gouverneur  he  went  to  Cornell 
in  188-i  where  he  spent  two  years  in  a  special  course,  including  agriculture,  dairying, 
soils,  etc.,  since  A\hich  time  he  has  been  engaged  with  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
dairy  business.  They  have  a  fine  farm  of  nearly  400  acres  and  have  a  dairy  of  forty- 
five  cows,  making  butter  exclusively  the  year  around  by  the  latest  and  most  approved 
methods,  using  steam  power,  seperator,  etc.,  their  enterprise  proving  successful  to  an 
uncommon  degree.  They  also  have  a  flock  of  eighty  sheep  of  high  grade,  their  horns 
being  notable  for  their  convenience  and  adaptability  to  the  requirements  of  their  busi- 
ness. Leroy  G.  was  married  in  1882  to  Millicenl  Pope,  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth (Soper)  Pope,  of  Morristown.     They  have  two  children  :  Lillian  and  Percy. 

Sellers,  George  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  October  16,  1855,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  making  witb  S.  B.  Van  Duzee.  Seven  3-ears  ago  he  em- 
barked in  business,  starting  a  general  store  in  Brooklyn,  and  with  much  success.  Mr- 
Sellers  takes  a  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Gouverneur,  and  is  one  of  the  village 
trustees.  He  married  in  1875  and  has  s-ix  daughters.  His  father,  George  Sellers,  is  a 
respected  citizen  of  Gouverneur  and  a  native  of  England.  Mr.  Sellers  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Sheldon,  E.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  St.  Lawrence  county,  March  15, 
1859.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  upon  a  farm,  and  through  earnest  work  and 
frugality  he  gradually  feucceeded  in  accumulating  sufl&cient  funds  to  come  to  Ogdens- 
burg and  enter  into  the  carriage  and  agricultural  business  in  1886,  since  which  time  he 
has  rapidly  increased  his  connections  until  last  year  he  sold  over  $14,000  worth.  Mr. 
Sheldon  keeps  on  hand  a  full  line  of  carriages,  wagons,  mowers,  reapers,  road  machines, 
engines,  plows  and  binders,  hay  tedders,  and  in  fact  everything  in  his  special  line  of 
business,  and  all  of  the  very  best  and  most  improved  manufacture.     He  married  in  1886 


214  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

and  has  two  children.     Mr.  Sheldon  is  a  Mason,  and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  re- 
spected business  men  and  citizens. 

St.  Germain,  Frank,  Ogdeusburg,  was  born  in  Montreal  in  1837.  For  twenty  years 
he  has  been  conducting  his  present  business  of  boat  building.  He  has  a  shop  and 
livery  at  the  foot  of  State  street  where  he  has  a  large  supply  of  skiffs,  paddling  and 
sailin"'  canoes,  oars,  paddles,  sails,  etc.,  and  also  furnishes  guides,  fishing  tackle  and 
minnows  to  the  general  public.  He  was  married  about  thirty-two  years  ago  to  Miss 
E.  Lesperance,  and  they  have  seven  children  living.  One  of  his  sons,  Frank,  jr.,  is  a 
partner  in  the  business.     His  wife  was  Libbie  Pero,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Stowe,  Charles  A.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  October  12,  1823,  a  son  of  Chris- 
topher G.  Stowe,  a  native  of  Grafton,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  until  nineteen  years  of  age. 
He  then  went  to  Vermont  with  his  parents,  where  his  mother  died.  His  father  returned 
to  Massachusetts,  where  he  died.  Christopher  G.  was  born  August  4,  1782.  In  1809 
he  came  to  Norfolk  and  a  year  later  contracted  for  land  now  owned  by  Charles  A.  Mr. 
Stowe  returned^to  Vermont,  and  there  married,  March  30,  1814,  Polly  Webster,  a  na- 
tive of  jNew  Hampshire,  born  August  28,  1784.  He  then  settled  on  his  farm  in  Nor- 
folk, and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  November  4,  1820,  he  married  second 
liucretia  Dearborn,  born  January  11,  1784,  widow  of  Asa  Lord,  by  whom  she  had  two 
children.  By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Stowe  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  county  superintendent  of  the  poor  thirteen  years,  super- 
visor and  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  assisted  in  surveying  the  town  of  Norfolk.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  he  was  forty  years 
a  deacon.  He  died  September  12,  1859,  and  his  wife  May  19,  1843.  Charles  A.  Stowe 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Norfolk.  He  taught 
school  for  a  short  time,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  went  to  California,  then  spent 
four  years  traveling  in  this  country  and  South  America.  He  then  engaged  in  farming 
and  dairying,  owning  now  105  acres.  October  9,  1851.  he  married  Mary  L.  Kimball,  a 
native  of  Norfolk  and  daughter  of  Amos  and  Hannah  (Poor)  Kimball.  Mrs.  Kimball 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1800.  Mr.  Stowe  and  wife  have  one  adopted  daugh- 
ter, Emma  L..  wife  of  Elbert  Hack.  Mr.  Stowe  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  high- 
way commissioner  and  overseer  of  the  poor.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  at  Norfolk,  of  which  Mr.  Stowe  has  been  deacon  twelve  years. 

?oper,  William,  Hammond,   was  born  in  Theresa,  January   15,    1858.     In  1882  he 
.  ed  Emma  Pierce.     He  followed  steamboating  for  five  years  and  then  built  his 
fine  sash,  door  and  blind  factory,  where  he  conducts  a  large  and  constantly  increasing 
business.     His  father  was  Orrin  Soper,  and  his  mother  Clarissa  (Ward)  Soper. 

Stevens,  Lewis  E.,  Canton,  proprietor  of  the  Hodskin  street  boarding  house,  was 
born  in  Lowville,  Lewis  county,  May  28,  1825.  He  is  a  son  of  Ashbel  Stevens,  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  who  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Lowville.  He  was  a  son  of 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  county.  Ashbel  moved  to  this  county  on  the  county 
line  and  got  together  a  church  called  the  Antwerp  and  Fowler  church.  Lewis  E.  at 
the  age  of  eleven  years  carried  the  mail  from  Summerville  to  Shingle  Creek.  Elder 
Ashbel  Stevens  preached  three  sermons  on   Sunday,  and  died  on  the  Thursday  after, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  215 

March  17,  1842.  He  preach  his  last  sermon  in  the  house  where  he  died.  He  left  three 
children  :  Lewis  E.  and  Caroline  B.  by  his  first  wife,  and  Mary  M.  by  his  second  wife 
who  was  Polly  Wilco.x.  His  first  wife  was  Betsey  Morse.  Lewis  E.  Stevens  married 
Mary  Smith,  who  died  leaving  three  children  :  Martha,  Henry  and  Elbert  E.  Remar- 
ried second  Jennie  Smith,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  who  died  leaving  nvo  children  :  -Jen- 
nie and  Josie.  He  married  third,  Maria  Grriswold,  widow  of  Leonard  Frye.  Lewis  E. 
Stevens  came  to  Canton  and  settled  here  in  1860,  and  established  a  large  insurance  bus- 
iness as  an  agent  of  the  Agricultural  Company  of  Watertown,  N.  Y.  He  was  appointed 
recruiting  agent  for  this  district  in  18G2.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of 
Canton,  and  is  a  very  earnest  worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance  and  established  the 
Temperance  Grove  meetings  here.  Elder  Ashbel  Stevens  was  a  son  of  Elisha  Stevens 
a  native  of  Connecticut. 

Simpson,  Thomas,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  November  13.  1850.  His 
father,  Samuel,  was  born  January  3,  1818,  and  when  a  boy  came  with  his  parents  to 
Canada.  He  came  to  Waddington  and  worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade.  In  1840  he 
purchased  the  farm  now  owned  by  Thomas  Simpson.  He  married  Maria,  dau<^hter  of 
George  and  Rosana  Abbie,  natives  of  England  and  early  settlers  of  Waddington.  Mr. 
Abbie  was  a  farmer  for  the  Ogdens  for  a  number  of  years,  and  both  he  and  bis  wife 
died  in  Waddington.  Samuel  Simpson  and  wife  have  had  three  children,  of  whom 
Thomas  is  the  only  one  living.  Mr.  Simpson  was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
attended  and  supported  the  M.  E.  church.  He  died  October  16,  1889,  and  his  wife 
October  7,  1892.  Thomas  Simpson  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington,  has  always 
been  a  farmer,  and  noAV  owns  250  acres  of  land.  He  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows. 
Mr.  Simpson  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  attended  and  supported  the  M.  E.  church 
November  28,  1875,  he  married  Libbie  Dawley  of  Lisbon,  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  Dawley  of  England,  early  settlers  of  Lisbon.  Mr.  Simpson  and  wife  had  one 
daughter,  Libbie  L.,  living  at  home.     Mrs.  Simpson  died  July  10,  1877. 

Storie,  George  D.,  Gouverneur  was  born  in  Rossie,  February  5,  1858,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  spoke  manufacturer.  In  September,  1883,  he  opened  a  general  store  in 
Wegatchie  and  has  since  conducted  it  with  great  success,  occupying  spacious  premises 
and  carrying  a  large  stock  of  goods.  In  1880  he  married  Ella  0.,  daughter  of  David 
Henderson,  and  they  have  one  son,  Ebert  Storie.  Mr.  Storie's  father  was  David  M. 
Storie,  a  native  of  Scotland.  Mr.  George  D.  Storie  is  postmaster  of  Wegatchie,  serv- 
ing his  second  term,  and  has  been  magistrate  since  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Stephenson,  A.  Revis,  Y.  S.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  1857  in  Ontario,  Canada.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  Ontario  Yeterinary  College  of  Toronto  in  April,  1878,  and 
came  to  Ogdensburg  in  September,  1892.  ,  Dr.  Stephenson  is  making  arrangements  to 
conduct  a  superior  infirmary  here.  He  pos.sesses  already  every  reciuisite  facility  and 
convenience,  which  combined  with  his  well  known  skill  has  already  brought  him  the 
leading  patronage  of  horsemen  of  this  locality. 

Sawin,  J.  P.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  April  25,  1845.  His  father  was 
Philander  Sawin,  who  came  to  Potsdam  when  a  young  man,  and  here  married  Esther, 
daughter  of  Anthony  Thompson.     To  Mr.  Sawin  and  wife  were  born  two  children  :  J. 


216  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

P.  and  Jane,  wife  of  "William  C.  Wait,  of  Stockholm.  Mr.  Sawin  was  a  mechanic  by 
trade.  He  died  in  August,  1847,  and  his  wife  August  8,  1877.  J.  P.  Sawin  was  a 
mere  child  when  his  father  died,  and  he  was  reared  hy  his  grandfather,  Anthony 
Thompson.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  early  in  life  engaged  in  farm- 
ing which  he  has  since  made  his  occupation,  owning  at  present  2.50  acies  in  Stockholm. 
Mr.  Sawin  has  been  twice  married ;  first  to  Anna  A.  Davis,  a  native  of  Stockholm  and 
daughter  of  Bradley  Davis.  They  had  one  child,  Riley,  who  died  aged  nine  years. 
Mrs.  Sawin  died  July  2,  1874,  and  he  married  second  Lois  P.  Munson,  a  native  of  Stock- 
holm and  daughter  of  Henry  Munson  of  that  place.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  has  held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner  over  seven  years ;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  620,  and  of  the  P.  of  H..  Stockholm  Depot 
Lodge  No.  538.  Mr.  Sawin  is  a  Universalist,  and  the  family  attend  and  support  that 
church. 

Spaulding,  B.  D.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  De  Kalb,  April  2,  1866.  His  father.  W^ilson 
M.  Spaulding,  was  a  farmer,  and  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  cheesemaker,  at 
which  he  continued  for  seven  years.  December  1,  1892,  he  started  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Hailesboro,  and  is  conducting  a  most  successful  establishment.  In  1891  Mr. 
Spaulding  married  Maude  M.  Reed,  daughter  of  Alpheus  Reed,  of  Hermon.  His  an- 
cestors were  among  the  early  settlers  of  De  Kalb. 

Schwartzman,  J.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  December  2.5, 1864,  and  came  to  America  in 
1883.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  continuously  in  this  country, 
and  with  much  success,  starting  in  business  in  Gouverneur  in  February,  1892,  as  a 
dealer  in  ready-made  clothing,  men's  furnishings,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.  He  now  has 
one  of  the  leading  establishments  in  his  line  in  Gouverneur.  Our  subject  married  Etta 
Jacobs,  of  Syracuse.  January  10,  1893.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  is  a 
popular  business  man  of  the  place. 

Spiaks,  Levi,  Colton,  was  born  in  Hampton,  Vt..  June  10,  1816.  His  father  was 
William,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  in  1790,  a  son  of  E.  Spink,  also  of  Vermont. 
William  married  Priscilla  Wood,  and  they  had  seven  children,  all  now  deceased  except 
our  subject.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  Levi  came  with  his  parents  to  Parishville,  and 
in  1834  they  moved  to  Colton,  the  father  purchasing  a  farm  on  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Levi  worked  with  his  father  until  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when 
he  began  for  himself,  working  by  the  month  on  a  farm.  He  married,  February  15, 
1841,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Henry  Gibbons,  of  English  descent,  though  a  resident  of 
South  Colton.  At  this  time  he  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  to  which  he  later  added 
200.  Mr.  Spinks  and  wife  have  prospered,  owing  to  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
have  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life,  but  now  they  are  en- 
joying the  fruits  of  their  early  exertions.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  them,  but 
both  have  died,  one  of  them  in  infancy,  and  the  other,  Philo,  born  March  10,  1861,  mar- 
ried Tina  Blanchard,  daughter  of  Albert  Blanchard,  of  Colton,  and  died  May  19,  1888. 

Smith,  Robert  W.,  Brasher,  a  farmer  of  Brasher  Iron  Works,  was  born  J\me  13,  1823, 
at  Fort  Covington,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Daniel  S.  and  Mary  (Mansfield)  Smith.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  1784.     He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  217 

died  at  the  age  of  eighty  four  years.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  died 
aged  seventy-one  years.  Our  subject's  grandfather  Smith, was  a  soldier  under  Washing- 
ton, and  spent  a  winter  at  Valley  Forge.  Amos  Mansfield,  an  uncle,  was  a  captain  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  served  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg.  Robert  W.  Smith  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  bought  his  first  farm  in  Brasher  to  which 
he  has  added  from  year  to  year  until  he  now  owns  nearly  1,200  acres.  April  10  1850 
he  married  Emily  J.  Cooper,  born  October  3,  1830,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Kin- 
caid)  Cooper,  natives  of  Salem,  N.  Y.,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  had  six  children  : 
Daniel  H.,  born  February  2,  1851,  who  married  Carrie  E.  Holcomb,  and  owns  part  of 
the  old  homestead;  Deforest  J.,  born  October 4,  1853,  married  AddieC.  Wells,  and  also 
lives  on  part  of  the  old  farm;  Cora  E.,  born  July  8,  1859,  wife  of  Charles  C.  Drake  ; 
Wright  A.,  born  February  G,  1862,  married  Alice  E.  Holcomb,  and  he  also  lives  on  part 
of  the  old  farm;  Orvis  0.,  born  October  1,  1864,  who  Hves  at  home;  Lottie,  born  July 
9,  1870,  lives  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
and  he  is  a  Reoublican. 

Smith,  Frank  L.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y.,  May 
27,  1860.  On  the  paternal  side  the  ancestors  were  from  Rhode  Island,  and  were  of 
English  descent.  On  the  maternal  side  they  were  of  Scotch  origin.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  Hezekiah,  was  a  captain  of  militia  and  a  native  of  thi.s  State.  Lorenzo 
H.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  followed  farming  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Cherry  Creek,  Chautauqua  county.  Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  six, 
of  whom  Frank  was  the  oldest  son.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Cattaraugus  county. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  assisted  on  the  homestead  until  twenty 
years  of  age.  In  1880  he  was  engaged  as  bookkeeper  in  the  bank  of  Ellicottville,  Cat- 
taraugus count)',  where  he  was  employed  until  1887,  rising  from  one  position  to  an- 
other until  he  became  the  head  bookkeeper.  In  December,  1886,  he  came  to  Norwood 
for  the  purpose  of  starting  a  bank,  and  the  project  culminated  in  January,  1887,  Mr. 
Smith  taking  the  position  of  cashier.  The  State  Bank  of  Norwood  was  opened  for  busi- 
ness May  1,  1887,  and  under  the  efficient  management  of  Mr.  Smith  it  has  grown  to  be 
a  financially  successful  institution,  and  a  great  benefit  to  the  community  at  large.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  member  of  Norwood  Lodge  I.  O.  0.  F.  He  married  in  1887  Carrie  B.  Arm- 
strong, of  Mansfield,  Cattaraugus  county. 

Smith,  Carlton,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  May  12,  1822,  a  son  of 
Manassa  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town, 
and  a  member  of  the  union  who  settled  the  Ogden  tract.  Manassa  Smith  married  Judith 
Walker,  of  Vermont,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  now  living :  Silas, 
a  farmer  of  Wisconsin  ;  and  Carlton.  Carlton  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  took  up  farming.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when 
he  moved  on  his  wife's  farm  in  Bicknellville,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1883.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he  built  and  conducted  an  iron  foundry  in  that  village,  which  he  still 
owns.  In  1880  he  bought  a  farm  of  176  acres  in  Potsdam,  and  in  1883  moved  and  set- 
tled here.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  for 
three  terms  in  the  town  of  Stockholm.     He  married  in  1844  Betsey  A.,  daughter  of 


218  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Zebioa  Bickr.ell,  a  farmer  of  Stockholm,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children  : 
Mrs.  Hannah  Emery,  of  Norwood  ;  Eugene,  a  farmer  of  Stockholm  ;  George  C,  who 
lives  on  the  homestead  farm  ;  and  one  died  in  infancy.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Smith  is  con- 
ducted as  a  dairy  farm,  with  twenty-five  head  of  cattle.  His  residence  is  one  of  the 
finest  old  places  in  this  town,  built  over  sixty  years  ago  of  field  stone,  and  to-day  is  as 
staunch  as  when  erected. 

Smith.  W.  F.,  Grouverneur.  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  May  20,  1863.  He  learned  the 
art  of  cheesemaking,  and  has  been  following  that  busine.«s  four  years.  He  now  con- 
ducts the  Smith's  Mills  factory,  with  an  annual  output  of  150,000  pounds  of  cheese. 
In  the  spring  of  1893  Mr.  Smith  married  Bessie,  daughter  of  William  Brown.  His 
father  was  Chauncey  Smith,  who  died  in  1884.     His  mother  was  Helen  (Griffith)  Smith. 

Spear,  George,  Colton,  was  born  in  Royalton,  Yt.,  one  of  nine  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters of  John  and  Axie  (Hibbard)  Spear,  who  came  to  Parishville  in  an  early  day. 
George  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  married,  September  30,  18-48,  Clarissa 
Ellis,  of  Morley,  N.  Y.,  born  June  11,  1825.  Their  children  were  :  Henry,  born  June  1, 
1851 ;  James,  born  August  27,  1853 ;  Fred,  born  February  9,  1856 ;  Frank,  born  April 
1,  1867  ;  Amy,  born  October  20,  1862  ;  George  T.,  born  February  17,  1864;  Marion  ; 
and  Adele  E.  Mr.  Spear  died  April  28,  1892,  and  his  widow  lives  in  Colton.  Mrs. 
Spear  is  a  daughter  of  James  S.  Ellis,  a  son  of  Ziba  Ellis,  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  born 
June  29,  1774,  who  married  Rhoda  Nickerson  and  had  eight  children.  James  S.  Ellis 
was  born  December  15,  1801,  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  married  Malinda  Wilson,  of 
Shoreham,  Yt.,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  In  1825  he  came  to  this  State  and 
finally  settled  in  Colton,  where  he  died  March  1,  1870,  and  his  wife  June  7,  1871. 
Frank  and  George  T.,  sons  of  our  subject,  formed  a  partnership  in  1885  in  the  drug 
business  in  Colton  and  have  since  carried  on  a  successful  trade.  Frank  worked  at  the 
lumber  business  previous  to  1885.  August  4,  1883,  he  married  Hannah  Mahoney,  of 
Colton,  daughter  of  John  and  Julia  Mahoney,  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country  when 
young.  Mr.  Spear  and  wife  have  three  children :  Ernestine,  Nettie,  and  Marion. 
George  T.  Spear  married  in  1886  Leora  Little,  of  South  Canton,  by  Avhom  he  has  had 
two  children :  Muriel,  who  died  aged  one  year  ;  and  Maleska,  aged  four  years.  He  has 
served  as  town  clerk  two  years. 

Southwell,  Daniel,  DeKalb,  Avas  born  in  England,  July  14,  1840,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1868.  He  has  resided  in  Richville  four  years,  and  conducts  the  milling  busi- 
ness of  the  place.  He  married  Sarah  Miles  and  they  have  four  children,  one  son 
and  three  daughters,  ilr.  Southwell  is  a  Democrat  in  politics ;  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  an 
adherent  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

Robinson,  J.  E.,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  April  10,  1868,  and  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years  came  to  Hermon,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  post-office  for  some  time. 
In  1880  he  began  his  mercantile  career  as  clerk,  and  purchased  a  drug  and  stationery 
business  in  1890,  which  he  now  conducts.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  his  town 
November  5,  1893.  He  is  an  active  and  successful  young  business  man  and  holds  a 
prominent  place  among  the  Democrats  of  Hermon. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  219 

Rider  Family,  The.— Robert  Rider,  sr.,  and  Esther  (White)  Rider  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  this  couctry  in  June,  1812,  and  settled  in  Hebron,  Washington 
county.  Their  original  plan  was  to  go  to  New  York  city,  but  on  account  of  the  war 
they  changed  their  destination  and  went  to  Washington  county,  via  Boston,  Mass. 
Robert  Rider  was  born  near  Ogdensburg,  February  15,  1830,  and  his  parents  finally 
settled  in  Waddington,  his  father  following  the  occupation  of  weaver  in  Washington 
county  for  iwo  years,  and  operated  a  farm  near  Waddington  for  about  ten  years. 
Robert  attended  the  public  schools  in  Ogdensburg  and  was  engaged  in  clerking  after- 
wards for  eight  years.  He  also  engaged  in  farming  and  through  industry  and  frugality 
succeeded  in  amassing  considerable  property.  He  now  owns  800  acres  of  land  in  this 
vicinity,  besides  quite  an  amount  of  city  property.  He  and  his  brother  William  sup- 
ported their  parent  for  many  years  prior  to  their  deaths,  his  father  dying  in  1850  and  his 
mother  in  1869.  Robert  has  now  retired  somewhat  from  active  work,  although  he  still 
manages  his  large  property  interests  here.  Mr.  Rider  is  emphatically  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes,  possessing  that  strength  of  mind  and  character  which  almost  always 
raises  a  man  above  the  generality  of  his  fellows.  He  resides  in  Ford  street,  Ogdens- 
burg, where  he  is  a  large  tax  payer. 

Rutherford,  John  D.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington  on  the  farm  he  now 
owUvS,  October  13,  1811.  His  father,  Richard,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to 
Waddington  about  1801  with  three  other  brothers,  there  being  only  one  house  in  the  town 
at  that  time  The)'  purchased  of  the  Ogdens  a  mile  square,  and  lived  and  died  farmers. 
Richard  Rutherford  married  in  Waddington,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Dunn,  and 
they  had  four  children,  of  whom  three  grew  to  maturity.  Mrs.  Rutherford  died  in 
1820,  and  Mr.  Rutherford  married  a  lady  from  Scotland,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Mr.  Rutherford  and  wife  assisted  largely  in  building  the  First 
Presbyterian  church.  Panthers,  bears  and  wolves  were  plenty,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  had  a  narrow  escape  from  a  panther  when  eight  years  of  age.  John  D.  was 
educated  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  has  always  followed  farming.  He  now  has 
eighty-two  acres  and  engages  in  general  farming  and  dairying.  He  has  cleared  his 
own  farm  and  erected  all  the  buildings.  Mr.  Rutherford  married  in  1833,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Hamiah  of  Lisbon,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters :  Rich- 
ard, Thomas  and  William  reside  in  Oregon,  and  John  and  James  reside  in  Waddington  ; 
Alexander  died  in  San  Francisco,  Cal;  Elizabeth  died  in  Waddington;  Mary  and  Jane 
live  in  Waddington.  Mr.  Rutherford  was  a  Whig  in  early  life  and  later  a  Republican. 
He  voted  for  William  H.  Harrison,  and  for  his  grandson  twice.  Mr.  Rutherford  died 
December  1,  1892. 

Rich,  S.  D.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Hailesborough  in  November,  1831.  He  learned 
the  milling  trade  and  followed  it  for  many  years.  He  enhsted  August  12,  1862,  in  Co. 
I,  11th  N.  Y.  Cavalry.  His  regiment  was  stationed  at  Washington  from  1864  to  1865. 
Mr.  Rich  has  been  in  the  hotel  business  in  Hailesborough  twenty-one  years  and  is 
widely  known  all  over  St.  Lawrence  county,  both  because  of  his  life  long  residence 
here,  his  success  and  geniality,  and  also  for  his  uncompromising  political  opinions,  being 
an  aggressive  Republican.     In  1856  he  married  Lucy  Walde,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 


220  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ter  Mrs.  F.  N.  Kilburn  of  Copenhagen.    Mr.  Kilburn  owns  one  of  the  finest  stud  farms 
in  America. 

Ramsey.  Isaac,  Morristown,  son  of  George  and  Lena  (Elwood)  Ramsey,  was  born  in 
Morristown,  October  13,  1852.  His  life  occupation  has  been  farming,  at  which  he  is 
very  successful.  In  1818  his  father  left  England  with  his  grandfather,  Cuthbert  Ram- 
sey. They  settled  in  Canada,  but  after  a  short  time  came  to  Morristown  and  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

Rutherford.  R.  Edward,  Waddington,  was  born  January  24,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  J.,  son  of  Rex,  who  was  a  son  of  George  Rutherford.  Robert  R.  was  born  in 
Scotland  in  1793,  and  came  to  Waddington  with  his  parents  in  1801.  He  was  a  self- 
educated  man  and  well  informed.  He  married  Ann  Porteous  of  Scotland,  by  whom  he 
had  6ve  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  owned  450  acres  in  Waddington.  He  was  killed 
by  falling  from  a  stage  in  going  from  the  fair  ground  at  Morrisburg,  Canada,  in  1872. 
William  J.  Rutherford  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  4,  1832.  He  married  Isabel, 
daughter  of  Adam  Veitch,  and  they  had  six  children,  of  whom  five  survive.  Mr.  Ruth- 
erford lived  and  died  on  the  farm  he  owned.  He  was  a  Republican  and  was  assessor 
three  terms.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
died  July  21,  1887,  and  his  wife  is  still  living  on  the  farm.  R.  Edward  Rutherford 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  school  and  Eastman's  Business  Col- 
lege at  Poughkeepsie,  graduating  m  1885.  Mr.  Rutherford  has  always  been  a  farmer, 
and  the  estate  has  222  acres,  the  principal  business  being  dairying.  The  farm  sup- 
ports twenty-five  cows.  Mr.  Rutherford  married,  February  22,  1887,  Florence  Moul- 
ton,  a  native  of  Waddington,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter,  Annlsabelle.  Mr.  Ruth  • 
erford  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
AVaddington. 

Read,  James  C,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Vermont,  February  21,  1809,  and  came  to 
Gouverneur  in  1827.  He  was  first  a  farmer  and  then  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1837,  he  married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Jabez  Miller.  Mr.  Read's  father,  Will- 
iam, was  a  native  of  Vermont. 

Rex,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  Lachine,  Canada,  August  22,  1844.  His  pa- 
rents moved  here  when  Joseph  was  only  eighteen  months  old,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able 
it  was  necessary  for  him  to  assist  in  obtaining  a  livelihood,  and  as  a  consequence  he 
did  not  obtain  the  educational  advantages  most  children  obtain.  At  a  very  early  age 
he  entered  the  shingle  mill  owned  by  the  Lyons  and  subsequently  the  factory  of  Mr. 
Pope,  in  which  latter  concern  he  commenced  just  before  the  war.  In  the  spring  of 
1863  he  enhsted  in  the  14th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  under  Captain  Oliver  Flagg,  and 
participated  in  thirteen  engagement.  He  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  returned  to  the  employ  of  the  Pope  factory.  When  the  fire  occurred  and  these 
mills  were  burned,  he  went  with  Mr.  Welch,  father  of  Sylvester  Welch,  with  whom  he 
remained  thirteen  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  Mr.  Welch  died,  and  then  Mr. 
Rex  returned  to  the  Pope  mills,  in  which  he  has  since  held  a  very  important  position. 
Mr.  Rex  has  been  twice  married  and  has  one  son.  Besides  his  mill  work  Mr.  Rex 
also  owns  a  grocery  store  in  this  city,  which  is  conducted  by  competent  assistants. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  221 

Rutherford,  Alexander,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  April  16,  1833. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1861  and  spent  five  years  there  and  in  Nevada.  Returning  to  New  York 
he  worked  for  his  father  about  two  and  a  half  years,  and  then  went  to  Wisconsin 
for  about  a  year.  Then,  in  company  with  his  brother  Duncan,  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia and  was  there  about  two  yeais,  when  he  returned  again  to  Waddington  and 
a  year  later  went  to  California,  but  on  account  of  his  father's  death  returned  to 
Waddington.  Mr.  Rutherford  then  worked  for  his  brother,  Nelson,  for  six  years 
and  then  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Canada,  and  there  lived  for  five  years, 
when  he  sold  and  came  to  Waddington  on  the  farm  he  now  owns.  He  has  127 
acres  and  keeps  a  small  dairy.  Mr.  Rutherford  married  in  March,  1879,  Eliza  J. 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Canada.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  Republican.  He  is  inclined 
toward  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  has  freely  supported  other  denominations. 

Rutherford,  James,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Northumberlandshire,  England,  April  13, 
1826,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  in  1832.  William,  his  father,  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Madrid  of  eighty  acres  of  uncleared  land.  The  first  residence  was  a  log 
hut.  The  father  and  two  sons  cleared  the  land,  and  in  a  few  j^ears  had  made  it  a 
good  average  farm  and  had  increased  it  to  164  acres.  William  Rutherford  died  on  the 
old  homestead  July  4,  1878,  aged  seventy-five  years.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Vio- 
let Amos,  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  county  m  England,  born  in  1805.  They  had 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  survive.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  August,  1888. 
James,  the  oldest  son,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  made  the  farm  his 
home  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  then  married  and  rented  a  farm  in  Pots- 
dam, afterwards  buying  174  acres,  where  he  lived  for  ten  years.  In  1865  he  bought  a 
farm  of  266  acres  in  Madrid,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  staunch 
Republican,  and  has  been  the  town  assessor  in  Madrid.  He  married  in  1853  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Putnam  Haskell,  the  first  settler  of  this  part  of  the  town,  and  fhey  had  four 
children  :  Polly,  wife  of  William  Rutherford,  of  Madrid ;  William,  who  lives  on  the 
Haskell  farm;  Mary  Rutherford,  of  Boulder,  Col.;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Rutherford  died  April  16,  1883,  aged  fifty-six  years.  William  Rutherford  was  born 
on  the  old  farm  December  29,  1857,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  has 
always  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  married,  September  7,  1880,  Maggie,  daughter  of 
John  W.  Rutherford. 

Rutherford,  Andrew  J.,  Madrid,  brother  of  Deacon  Thomas,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Potsdam,  February  10,  1834,  a  son  of  James,  who  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  July  16,  1785,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1825.  He  took  up 
a  tract  of  100  acres  in  Potsdam,  where  he  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  Andrew  J. 
was  the  seventh  son  of  this  early  settler,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  thirty-two  years  of  age.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty-two  acres  in  Madrid,  where  he  has  ever  since  made 
his  home.  He  also  owns  twenty-eight  acres  on  lot  seventy-four.  Mr.  Rutherford  has 
made  many  valuable  improvements  to  this  property,  and  has  erected  a  beautiful  resi- 
dence, large  barn,  etc.,  and  it  is  to-dav  one  of  the  finest  places  of  this  section.  He  con- 
ducts a  dairy  with  ten  cows,  finding  a  market  at  Boynton's  factory  adjoining.     He  has 


222  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

also  five  horses  and  young  stock.  Mr.  Rutherford  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  was 
for  a  number  of  years  trustee  of  the  school.  He  is  a  member  of  Norfolk  Grange  No. 
541.  He  married,  February  2,  1865,  Isabelle,  daughter  of  John  Mowitt,  of  Louisville, 
and  they  have  two  children :  Mattie  B.  and  Ella  M. 

Rodger,  John  T.,  Hammond,  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Hammond,  was  born 
in  this  town  July  4,  1864.  His  father,  Rutherford  Rodger,  is  one  of  the  best  known 
farmers  in  Hammond.  At  twenty-three  years  of  age  Mr.  Rodger  embarked  in  mercan- 
tile business.  He  conducted  a  store  at  Edwardsville  for  some  time,  and  has  been  in 
Hammond  since  September  1,  1892.  In  1890  he  married  Ella  E.  Smith.  Mr.  Rodger 
is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Foresters,  and  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Rhodes,  Harlow,  Fowler,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  Fowler, 
January  11,  1849.  He  married  in  December,  1870,  Mary  L.  Hitchcock,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Carrie  L.  Mr.  Rhodes's  father  was  Beloved  Rhodes,  and  his  grandfather 
Aaron  Rhodes.  Mr.  Rhodes  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a  successful  and  enterpris- 
ing farmer. 

Riggs,  Philo  P.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  May  21,  1847.  His  father  was 
John,  son  of  John  G.  Riggs.  John  Riggs  was  born  in  Cornish,  N.  H.,  June  8,  1811. 
He  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Stockholm,  and  was  there 
reared  and  educated.  His  wife  was  Lucina  Sheldon,  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  N.  Y., 
born  September  1,  1814,  and  they  had  three  daughters  and  one  son.  Mrs.  Riggs  died 
May  10,  1852,  and  he  married  second  Marion  Sheldon,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mr. 
Bio-crs  was  a  farmer  and  a  Republican.  His  death  occurred  November  21,  1884,  and 
that  of  his  wife  June  25,  1893.  Philo  P.  Riggs  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman,  and 
owns  115  acres.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  ''Phil  Sheridan"  stock,  and 
Wilkes  strain  of  Hambletonian  stock.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  L  0.  0.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  620,  and  P.  of  H.,  Stockholm  Depot  Lodge  No. 
538.  In  1868  Mr.  Riggs  married  Lorette  A.  Palmer,  a  native  of  Lincoln,  Vt.  She 
came  with  her  parents  to  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.,  when  a  child.  Mr.  Riggs  and  wife  have 
these  children:  Bert  F.,  born  September  11,  1869;  Leslie  E.,  born  February  6,  1874; 
and  Ettie  A.,  born  December  30,  1879.  The  sisters  of  subject  are:  Adaline  M., 
born  September  3,  1837;  Louisa,  born  September  11,  1842;  and  Lucina  S.,  born  May 
4,   1852. 

Sweatt,  Charles  A.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  August  18,  1835,  a  son 
of  John  and  Susan  (Putnam)  Sweatt,  of  New  Hampshire,  who  came  to  the  town  of 
Hopkinton  in  1844  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Sweatt.  They  went  to 
Iowa  in  1864  and  there  lived  and  died,  he  in  1883  and  his  wife  in  1882.  Charles  A. 
was  educated  in  the  public  school  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  owned  the  home- 
stead, to  which  he  added  eighty  acres,  making  160  acres  in  all.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican and  served  as  assessor  six  years.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  minister,  preach- 
ing in  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  of  Hopkinton,  which  he  founded,  and  which  his 
son  always  attended  and  supported.  Mr.  Sweatt  married  in  1854  Cornelia  Kimpton,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Jerusha  (Nay)  Kimpton,  of  Ver- 
mont, who  came  here  in  1844,  where  they  have  since  lived.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sweatt  have 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  223 

had  one  daugliter,  Lora  J.,  wife  of  Charles  Brown,  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have  one 
SOD,  Floyd  S.  Mr.  Brown  resides  with  his  daughter  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was  a 
clerk  in  Bicknellville  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also  clerked  for  Miller  &  Ober  some 
time  at  Fort  Jackson. 

Rowell,  George  W.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  February  IS, 
1848.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  at  Black  Lake,  and  came  to  Ogdens- 
burg eighteen  years  ago,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors, 
etc.,  and  is  also  conducting  an  undertaking  business  here.  He  married  March  18,  1859, 
Elizabeth  Nichols,  and  has  a  son  and  daughter.  Mr.  Rowell  is  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party,  and  of  the  Masonic  Order.  His  family  were  of  New  England  stock,  and 
some  of  his  ancestors  upon  both  his  father's  and  mother's  side  participated  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

Roach,  E.  W.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Pierrepontin  1851,  a  son  of  Morris  Roach  of  Ire- 
land, who  was  born  in  1811  and  married  Joanna  O'Kief,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  two  daughters  now  surviving.  In  1845  Mr.  Roach  and  family  came 
to  Potsdam,  and  he  worked  on  the  Northern  railroad  for  several  years.  He  then 
worked  on  a  farm,  and  also  rented  farm  land.  About  1848  he  came  to  Pierrepont  and 
settled,  owning  now  a  place  of  140  acres.  E.  W.  Roach  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  early  engaged  in  farming  and  now  owns  137 
acres  in  Colton,  besides  two  houses  and  lots.  He  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  and  was  also  proprietor  of  the  Stark  Hotel  at  Stark  Falls  for  about  three 
years.  In  1889  he  came  to  this  village  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
business.  He  married  in  1887,  Kittie  Clohosey,  a  native  of  Pierrepont,  and  daughter 
of  Edward  Clohosey,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  with  his  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roach  have  three  children  :  Vernice,  Grace  E.  and  Leo.  Mr.  Roach  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  aspired  to  office.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church. 

Russell,  S.  K.,  Colton,  was  born  in  1814,  a  son  of  Abram  Russell,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  born  March  17,  1789.  From  there  he  went  to  Vermont  and  in  1835  came  to 
New  York  State,  settling  in  Parishville,  but  soon  after  removing  to  Dickerson.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Colton.  He  married  Mercy  Kenyon,  and 
had  four  daughters  and  one  son.  Mrs.  Russell  died  in  1855,  and  in  1870  he  also 
passed  away.  S.  K.  Russell  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  m  the  public  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  came  to  Colton,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  mar- 
ried Caroline  Rawson,  a  native  of  Potsdam,  by  whom  he  has  had  ten  children,  five  sons 
and  five  daughters.     Mrs.  S.  K.  Russell  died  in  March,  1889. 

Russell,  William  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pierrepont,  Ma}^ 
8,  1852,  a  son  of  Benjamin  B.,  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  February  3,  1819.  He 
moved  to  Pierrepont  when  twenty-five  years  of  age.  Here  he  conducted  a  farm  until 
1882,  when  he  came  to  Potsdam  where  he  died,  December  25,  1890.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Nancy  Wilkinson,  a  native  of  Plattsburg.  She  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years.  They  had  two  children  :  Lorinda,  married  Alonzo  P.  Raymond, 
died  October  25,  1875;  and  William  H.     The  latter  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was 


224  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

eighteeen  years  of  age.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  eighteen 
started  for  himself.  After  working  one  year  on  a  farm  he  engaged  in  the  meat  busi- 
ness in  partnership  with  Nelson  Belding.  This  partnership  lasted  nine  years,  and 
afterwards  he  had  different  partners  in  conducting  a  meat  market  and  fruit  and  vegeta- 
ble store.  In  May,  1S90,  he  sold  out  his  business  and  bought  a  farm  of  220  acres  in 
Potsdam,  where  he  now  resides,  and  which  is  devoted  to  dairying.  He  keeos  thirty 
cows  and  thirty  .sheep.  He  married  in  1870,  Mary  E.  Drury  of  Pierrepont,  who  died 
November  2,  1875.  Mr.  Russell  married  second,  August  26,  1876,  Eva  T.  Kelsey  of 
Stockholm,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Ina  Belle  and  Delos  Leslie. 

Runions,  Oscar,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  this  county,  February  7,  1857,  a  son 
of  J.  N.  Runions  of  Canton.  Oscar  was  reared  on  a  farm,  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  seventeen  years  of  age  came  to  Crary's  Mills,  where  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  He  afterwards  rented  a  saw  mill  of  J.  V.  Harper  and  in  1888  bought 
the  mill  and  has  since  been  engaged  manufacturing  lumber,  sawing  600,000  feet  yearly. 
November  28,  1891,  the  mill  burned,  and  Mr.  Runions  has  since  rebuilt  it,  his  new  mill 
being  135  feet  long,  equipped  with  new  machinery,  and  capable  of  handling  dimension 
timber  of  any  size  and  length,  both  hard  and  soft  wood.  He  manufactures  lath,  shin- 
gles, etc.,  and  has  a  grist  mill  to  grind  coarse  feed  and  crush  corn  in  the  cob.  The 
machinery  is  run  by  steam  and  water  power.  In  1884  Mr.  Runions  married  Mabel 
Stinehour,  a  native  of  Crary's  Mills,  by  whom  he  has  had  four  children.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat. 

Popple,  William  I.,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Heuvelton,  August  11,  1861,  and  has  been 
in  the  hardware  business  since  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  began  first  as  a  tinner  with  his 
brother  in  Heuvelton,  following  this  trade  for  ten  years.  Five  years  ago  he  came  to 
Hermon  and  established  his  present  hardware  business,  in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. In  1889  Mr.  Popple  married  Florence  McCallum  of  Hermon.  He  is  a  member 
of  both  the  Foresters  and  the  Masons.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  Lorenzo  Dow 
Popple,  and  his  mother  was  Ann  Ireland,  a  native  of  England. 

Potter,  Edson,  Colton,  was  born  in  Essex  county,  March  18,  1842,  a  son  of  Philip 
Potter.  Our  subject  was  six  years  old  when  he  came  to  Colton  with  his  parents.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  en- 
listed in  Co.  K,  106th  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  three  years.  He  participated  in 
twenty-eight  battles,  and  was  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In  1866  Mr. 
Potter  married  Mary  Read,  a  native  of  Morley,  this  county,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  Alvira  (deceased),  Philip  (deceased)  and  Myra,  wife  of  Frank  Gushing. 
Since  the  war  Mr.  Potter  has  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  is  a  fine  violinist,  having 
been  a  pupil  of  Prof.  C.  D.  Lyons  of  Boston,  and  John  Esputa  of  Washington.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  musical  affairs  for  thirty  years,  and  during  the  war  serenaded  the  lead- 
ing generals  in  the  army  during  winter  seasons.  Mr.  Potter  is  a  Republican  and  has 
been  constable  for  twenty  years  and  deputy  sheriff  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Warren 
B.  Wait  Post  No.  581  of  Colton. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  225 

Phillips,  D.,  Ogdensburg,  established  his  furniture  and  second  hand  store  here  in 
1889,  and  has  since,  through  hard  work  and  strict  attention  to  business,  built  up  a  large 
trade.  His  store  in  located  at  266  Ford  street,  and  in  it  may  be  seen  everything- 
usually  pertaining  to  this  line  of  business,  including  furniture,  household  goods,  crock- 
ery, ironware,  jewelry,  etc.  Prior  to  establishing  business  here  Mr.  Phillips  peddled 
goods  in  St.  Lawrence  county  and  along  the  borders  of  Canada.  He  is  married,  has  a 
family  of  four  children  and  is  a  bright,  hard-working  and  energetic  man. 

Parr.  William,  Stockholm,  was  born  at  Brasher  Iron  Works,  N.  T.,  October  9,  1842. 
His  father  wa?  Mjses  S..  son  of  Thomas  Parr,  the  latter  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  he 
married  a  Miss  Sweet,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.     Mrs.  Parr  died  in  1836,  and  he 
married  second  a  Miss  Truebell.     In  an  early  day  Mr.  Parr  went  to  Bombay,  Franklin 
county,  and  there  died  in  1854.     Moses  S.  Parr  was  born  in  Vermont,  March  27   1800 
and  came  to  Franklin  county  when  a  young  man.     His  wife  was  Sarah  Babcock,  a  nat- 
ive of  Vermont,  born  December  10,  1804,  and  they  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
In  an  early  day  Mr  Parr  and  family  went  to  Helena,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  after- 
ward to  Brasher  Iron  Works,  where  they  resided  until  1857,  when  they  went  to  Brasher 
Falls.     Mr.  Parr  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  held  the  office  of  constable  for  twenty 
years.     They  spent  their  last  days  in  Stockholm  with  their  son,  subject  of  sketch,  Will- 
iam Parr.     The  latter  received  a  common  school  education,  and  previous  to  the  war  he 
worked  as  a  machinist,  also  at  farming.     He  spent  a  short  time  in  a  pail  factory  at 
Bicknellville  and  in  a  shingle  mill  at  Brasher  Iron  Works.     He  was  at  the  latter  place 
when  the  war  broke  out.     July  21,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  N.  T.  Heavy 
Artillery,  Company  A,  but  served  in  the  infantry.     He  was  in  the  following  battles : 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Road,  before  Petersburg 
and  Fort  Steadman.     At  the  close  of  the  war  he  received  his  discharge  and  returned  to 
Brasher  Falls,  where  he  spent  two  years  in  the  machine  shop,  since  which  time  farming 
has  been  his  occupation.     November  12,  1867,  he  married  Ellen  Morris,  a  native  of  Can- 
ada, born  October  28,  1849.     She  was  one  of  nine  children  of  Hugh  and  Sarah  (Thomp- 
son) Morris,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  Canada  and  later  settled  in  this  coun- 
try, in  Brasher,  where  Mr.  Morris  died  in  1886,  and  his  wife  in  1891.     He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  Seven  Days  before  Richmond,  and  at  Yorktown.     Mr.  Parr  and 
wife  have  five  children :  Fred,  Lavina  S.,  Willie  H.,  Hugh,  and  Lottie.     He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  P.  and  I.,  Banner  Lodge  No.  160.     He  is  also  a 
member  of  P.  of  H.,  Winthrop  Lodge.     Mrs.  Parr  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
Subject  has  but  one  brother  (Joel)  now  living.      He   resides  at  Brasher  Falls.     He 
also  has  a  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza  E.  Dustin,  -who  resides  at  Brasher  Falls.     Amanda,  his 
oldest  sister,  married  Sylvester  Rich,  and  they  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  dead. 
Newell  Parr,  a  brother,  was  in  the  Mexican  War  and  died  at  Vera  Cruz. 

Proctor,  Charles  Davis,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  February  22,  1856. 
He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  followed  farming  for  about  twenty  years, 
then  came  to  this  city  and  engaged  with  his  brother,  H.  I.  Proctor,  as  foreman  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  yards  in  the  lumber  busines."?.  He  married  in  1880  Miss  A.  Alden,  and 
they  have  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  respected  citizens. 


226  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Paio'e,  J.  W.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  March  27,  1841.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  and  has  since  been  identified  with  the  brick- 
makin"'  business,  which  was  inaugurated  by  his  father,  the  late  Smith  Paige,  in  1830, 
and  which  is  now  owned  and  conducted  by  himself  and  his  elder  brother,  A.  A. 
Paiire.  Mr.  Paige  married  in  1869  Elizabeth  Hewett,  and  they  have  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  He  is  a  high  degree  Mason,  takes  especial  interest  in  historical  and 
literary  matters,  and  is  highly  regarded  as  a  gentleman  of  superior  attainments  and 
ability. 

Perrin,  Walter  W.,  Gouverneur,  of  the  firm  of  Dewey  &  Perrin,  druggists,  was  born 
in  Potsdam,  November  27,  1864,  he  being  one  of  three  children  of  Philander  and  Louise 
(Tay)  Perrin.  The  father  spent  his  early  life  in  Vermont,  coming  to  Potsdam  when 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  where  he  has  since  remained.  The  mother's  ancestors  were 
also  Vermont  people.  Walter  W.  was  educated  at  the  Potsdam  Normal  School.  He 
learned  the  drug  business  with  Mr.  Thatcher  of  that  town,  and  in  1889  came  to  Gouv- 
erneur, and  in  company  with  A.  W.  Dewey  purchased  the  drug  store  of  William  Whit- 
ney, where  they  are  doing  a  large  and  successful  business.  Owing  to  their  enterprise 
and  thorough  knowledge  of  their  business  they  stand  notable  among  the  younger  ele- 
ment of  Gouverneur  business  men. 

Phelps  Family,  The,  Potsdam. — -In  tracing  the  ancestry  of  this  family  we  find  that 
in  1826  two  brothers,  George  and  William,  came  to  this  country  from  England  with  a 
party  of  seventy  in  a  sailing  vessel  under  the  leadership  of  Joseph  Mygatt,  a  Presby- 
terian minister.  The  party  founded  the  town  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  the  descendants 
of  William  Phelps  are  the  subjects  of  this  sketch.  Benajah  Phelps,  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  resident  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  the  father  of  fourteen 
children,  of  whom  Abel,  the  grandfather,  was  the  oldest  son.  He  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, April  28,  1774,  and  married  in  that  State  Mary  Pelton.  In  1801  they  immi- 
grated to  Vermont,  locating  in  Alburg,  Franklin  county,  now  Grand  Isle  county.  Abel 
Phelps  took  up  a  tract  of  400  acres,  and  in  connection  with  its  tilling  conducted  a  ferry 
between  Alburg  shore  and  the  head  of  Grand  Isle.  He  was  the  father  of  four  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Benajah,  Samuel  Mix,  Marcellus.  Algernon  Sidney,  Ohvia.  and 
Mariaette.  Abel  died  April  16,  1859,  and  Mrs.  Phelps  October  20,  1860.  Samuel  Mix, 
the  second  son  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Alburg,  Vt.,  March  25,  1806, 
where  he  was  educated  and  made  his  home  until  twenty-nine  years  of  age.  In  March, 
1835,  he  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county  and  located  in  the  village  of  Norfolk,  where 
he  conducted  a  hotel  until  1851.  The  fall  of  that  year  he  went  to  California,  and  was 
four  years  engaged  in  mining  and  mercantile  business.  Returning  to  St.  Lawrence 
county  he  engaged  in  dealing  in  stock  for  the  ^lontreal  market,  a  business  he  fol- 
lowed until  the  time  of  his  death,  February  17,  1S56.  The  mother  of  our  subject, 
Katherine  A.  Hoxie,  was  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  she  married  Mr  Phelps  in  Vermont, 
March  11.  1831.  They  had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  five  still  hving.  Hanson 
Colson  Phelps  was  born  at  Alburg,  Vt.,  August  10,  1834.  His  early  life  Avas  spent  in 
the  town  of  Norfolk.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  the  year  of 
1850  he  spent  in  Malone  and  Fort  Covington  Academies.  He  was  one  year  a  clerk  in  a 
Madrid  store,  taught  school  one  winter,  and  then  went  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent 


PERSONAL  SKETCPIES.  ,  227 

seven  months,  and  taught  school  the  following  winter  in  Madrid.  The  spring  of  1854 
he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  until  July  1,  1858,  as  chief  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  M.  S.  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad.  He  then  returned  and  was  for  two 
years  bookkeeper  for  Carpenter  &  Hall  at  Raymondville.  In  1860  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  shingles  at  Kent's  mills  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  running  six  ma- 
chines with  a  capacity  of  60,000  per  day,  and  was  engaged  in  this  business  sixteen 
years.  In  1876  he  removed  to  Norwood  and  for  nine  years  was  employed  as  a  com- 
mercial traveler  for  a  clothing  firm.  November  16,  1885,  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  the  fourth  class  office  at  Norwood.  In  1888,  by  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Phelps,  this 
office  was  raised  to  the  third  class,  and  Mr.  Phelps  was  appointed  by  President  Cleve- 
land postmaster  for  four  years,  but  was  removed  by  Pre.sident  Harrison,  March  1,  1890 
one  year  and  ten  months  previous  to  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  appointment.  He 
returned  to  the  business  of  commercial  traveler,  which  he  followed  until  January  1 
1892,  and  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Norwood  Elevator  Company  as  bookkeeper. 
Mr.  Phelps  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  thirty-four  years.  He  mar- 
ried, October  18,  1859,  Louise  H.,  daughter  of  William  Kent,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
they  had  five  children.  The  eldest  son,  William  Kent  Phelps,  was  killed  on  the  rail- 
road when  twenty-two  years  of  age.  A  daughter,  Mabel  L.,  died  at  nine  years  of  age. 
Samuel  Mix  Phelps  is  cashier  of  the  Buffalo  &  Gladstone  steamship  line  at  Gladstone, 
Mich.  Fred  G.  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  hat  and  cap  house  in  New  York  city. 
Charles  H.  is  a  clerk  of  the  Elevator  Company  at  Gladstone,  Mich.  Sidney  Roland 
Phelps  was  born  in  the  town  of  Norfolk,  July  28,  1838.  He  lived  in  his  native  town 
and  attended  the  common  schools  until  1855.  That  year  he  conducted  the  Empire  Ex- 
change Hotel  at  Colton,  and  in  1856  he  was  the  steward  of  the  steamer  Jenny  Lind^ 
plying  between  Ogdensburg  and  Montreal.  The  spring  of  1857  he  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  M.  S.  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  until  July  5, 
1858.  He  was  from  that  time  until  October,  1858,  engaged  as  conductor  on  the  first 
street  car  ever  run  in  that  city.  After  his  return  he  was  for  several  years  in  the  live 
stock  trade,  and  October  15,  1866,  purchased  the  Whitney  House  at  Norwood  of  Ben- 
jamin Whitney,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  the  landlord.  Mr.  Phelps  is  a  model 
hotel  manager.  He  has  been  rewarded  for  his  faithfulness  to  the  business  by  the  ac- 
cumulation of  a  large  property,  enjoying  the  distinction  of  being  the  most  popular  land- 
lord in  St.  Lawrence  county.  The  house  is  always  filled  with  guests,  and  some  of  the 
greatest  men  of  our  time  have  been  entertained  here.  Mr.  Phelps  is  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat, and  in  1892  represented  his  district  in  the  National  Convention  at  Chicago.  He 
married  in  1870  Emma  Louise,  daughter  of  Allen  D.  Calkins,  a  native  of  Clinton  county, 
now  living  at  Norwood,  and  they  have  three  children :  Jesse  Louise,  Sidney  Prentice, 
and  Harry  Benton ;  all  live  at  home. 

Wells,  George  K.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  March  28,  1842.  His  parents 
were  Robert  and  Mary  A.  (Bacheller)  Wells,  and  the  former  came  to  this  county 
when  a  boy,  and  with  his  savings  bought  a  farm  in  Lawrence,  which  he  sold  after- 
wards, and  in  1855  came  to  Hopkinton  and  bought  the  farm  of  302  acres,  part  of 
which  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Wells,  widow  of  our  subject.  He  had  three  sons. 
Mr.  Wells  died  July  31,  1890,  and  his  wife  October  20,  1890.     George  K.  was  edu- 


228  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

cated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  followed  farming,  doing  also  an  extensive 
bnsiness  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  shingles  and  lath.  He  built  the  shingle  mill 
at  Fort  Jackson,  a  large  steam  mill  in  Hopkinton  and  a  blacksmith  shop  at  Fort 
Jackson.  September  21,  1863,  he  married  Caroline  P.  Adams  of  Lawrence.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  H.  and  Irene  (Bishop)  Adams,  the  former  a  native  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and  the  latter  of  Hindsburg,  Vt.,  who  came  to  Lawrence  in  an 
early  day,  where  they  died.  They  had  three  sons  and  seven  daughters.  Mr.  Adams 
died  July  14,  1877,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  and  his  wife  October  1,  1893,  aged 
ninety-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  had  one  child,  Cora  A.,  wife  of  Frank  C. 
Locke  of  Stockholm,'  by  whom  she  has  one  daughter.  Hazel  B.  Mr.  Wells  died 
October  5,  1887. 

Perrin,  Byron  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  October  21,  1821,  a  son  of 
Noah  Perrin,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  was  a  son  of  Asa  Perrin,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  this  town,  who  came  here  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  where  he  reared 
a  family  of  ele\en  children,  of  which  Noah  was  the  third  son.  Noah  learned  the  tan- 
ner's trade,  which  he  followed  most  of  his  life.  After  active  business  life  was  over  he 
was  ordained  a  minister.  He  died  October  15,  1875.  He  was  twice  married.  His 
first  wife,  and  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Paulina  Lindsley  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had 
two  children.  Pamelia,  the  daughter,  died  at  thirteen  years  of  age,  Byron  was  edu- 
cated in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academ)',  and  learned  the  tanner's  trade,  which  he  followed 
most  of  his  life.  In  1855  he  came  to  the  farm  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  died  January  9,  1891.  He  married  in  December,  1845,  Amarilla,  daughter  of 
Eleazer  and  Philena  (Wright)  Emery  of  Potsdam.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Noah  Byron  Perrin,  born  July  11,  1847.  He 
was  educated  in  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  after  finishing  his  schooling  trav- 
eled very  extensively  through  the  west,  and  after  returning  home  learned  the  mason's 
trade,  which  he  has  ever  since  followed.  After  his  father's  death  he  came  into  posses- 
sion of  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  married,  August  10,  1876,  Jennie,  daugh- 
ter of  Patrick  and  Margaret  (Sullivan)  Devlin  of  Canton. 

Pratt,  Henry  W.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  January  19,  1817.  His 
father,  Amasa  Pratt,  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Elias  Pratt,  who  commanded  a  company  of 
volunteer  miUtia  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  served  until  peace  was  declared. 
Captain  Elias  was  born  November  16,  1763,  at  Oxford,  Mass.,  his  father  having  come 
from  England  at  a  very  early  day.  Amasa  Pratt  was  born  in  Oxford,  May  7,  1787. 
He  spent  his  youth  in  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  the  hatter's  trade. 
Coming  to  Ogdensburg  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  Sylvester  Gilbert.  In  1810  he  re- 
moved to  Hamilton,  now  Waddington,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  con- 
nection with  his  former  trade.  June  12,  1814,  he  married  Fannie  Conner,  daughter  of 
James  Connor  of  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.  She  was  born  October  18,  1793,  and  they  had 
five  children:  Emmeline  J.,  Henry  W.,  Miriam,  Amasa  and  Eleanor.  Three  of  them 
are  living:  Emmeline  J.  of  Waddington;  Eleanor,  wife  of  W.  L.  Rutherford  of  Wad- 
cington;  and  Henry  W.  Mr.  Pratt  was  lieutenant  in  the  State  militia,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  first  Masonic  lodge  in  Madrid.  He  died  May  27,  1830,  and  his  wife 
April  11,  1873.     Henry  W.  Pratt  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  at  Wad- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  229 

dington,  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age  went  to  Ogdensburg  and  learned  the  hatter's 
trade,  serving  four  years  with  Field  &  Robbins.  He  returned  to  AVaddington  and  en- 
gaged in  his  trade,  which  he  abandoned  after  two  year?,  when  he  lost  his  right  arm 
while  firing  a  salute  on  Washington's  birthday,  1839.  Mr.  Pratt  served  three  years  as 
deputy  sheriff  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  was  postmaster  under  William  H.  Harrison  and 
Fillmore,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  fifteen  years.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
town  board  several  years,  and  of  the  board  of  education,  in  which  latter  he  has  always 
been  deeply  interested.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Eebellion  Mr.  Pratt  took  an  active 
part  in  recruiting  volunteers  to  fill  the  quotas  of  his  town.  In  1877  he  was  appointed 
collector  of  customs  and  inspector  at  Waddington  port,  which  position  he  held  nine 
years.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  In  1852  he  married  Sylvia 
A.  Pratt,  daughter  of  John  M.  Pratt  of  Dudley,  Mass,  and  of  English  descent.  Mrs. 
Pratt  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  especially 
Interested  in  Sabbath  school  work. 

Popple,  G.  N.,  Heuvelton,  was  born  in  Waddington,  October  28,  1854.  He  received 
an  excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  Heuvelton,  and  when  about  nineteen  years  of 
age  began  learning  the  tinner's  trade  which  in  time  he  completed,  and  soon  after  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  at  De  Kalb  Junction  in  company  with  Roach,  now  of  Ogdens- 
bnrg.  He  dissolved  this  partnership  in  three  years  and  established  a  hardware  and  tin 
business  in  Heuvelton  (1881)  which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted.  Mr.  Popple 
married  in  1878,  Carrie  Basterline,  and  they  have  two  children.  His  parents  were  of 
New  England  descent  and  settled  in  this  State  about  forty  years  ago.  G.  X.  Popple 
is  a  very  thorough  workman,  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  business  transactions. 

Price,  John  E.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  December  9,  1856.  He  owns 
a  farm  of  102  acres  devoted  to  dairying  and  farming.  In  February,  1878,  he  married, 
and  has  three  children :  Eugene,  Alice  A.  and  Lena.  Mr.  Price  is  a  Democrat  and  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  His  father  was  Jonas  Price,  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county. 

Pike,  Nelson  W.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Potsdam,  March  7,  1835.  The 
earliest  ancestor  of  our  sui^ject  who  came  to  this  country  was  Orrison  Pike,  his  grand- 
father. He  was  the  father  of  three  child i  en,  of  whom  Alauson  Pike,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  oldest.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Potsdam,  February  27,  1809.  He 
took  up  farming  and  tilled  the  soil  his  father  bad  reclaimed  from  a  wilderness.  In 
1828  he  married  Amanda  Hall,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
three  children  who  reached  adult  age  :  Laura  L.,  widow  of  Charles  R.  McClellan  of 
Madrid  ;  Preston  H.,  followed  farming,  was  a  clerk  for  a  few  years,  was  in  California 
during  the  gold  excitement,  became  a  lumber  manufacturing  overseer  and  in  his  later 
years  was  engaged  in  railroading.  He  died  November  30,  1890,  at  fifty-three  years  of 
age.  Alanson  Pike,  father  of  our  subject,  died  November  27,  1865,  and  Mrs.  Pike, 
February  5,  1867.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  farm  in  Potsdam. 
He  was  educated  m  the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  at 
seventeen  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents  to  the  village  of  Madrid,  where  the  same 
year  they  built  the  present  residence  of  our  subject.     At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  went 


230  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

as  an  apprentice  in  the  cabinet  shop  of  B.  D.  Peck  in  the  village  of  Nicholville,  where 
he  spent  two  and  a  half  years  learning  the  trade.  The  summer  of  1856  he  was  employed 
on  the  erection  of  the  Tiieological  Institute  at  Canton,  and  the  following  winter  he  was 
employed  on  a  house  in  Potsdam.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  returned  to  Madrid,  bought 
a  cabinet  shop  and  established  a  cabinet  shop  and  undertaking  rooms,  and  has  ever  since 
been  eu'^&'^ed  in  the  same  business  in  this  town,  the  oldest  established  business  in  the 
town  conducted  by  its  founder.  Mr.  Pike  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  first  organ- 
ization of  the  party,  and  has  held  numerous  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  town,  now 
servino-  his  ninth  consecutive  years  as  assessor.  He  married.  May  26,  1863,  Laura  A., 
daughter  of  Jared  Abernethy  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  one  son  and  one  daughter:  A. 
Stanley  Pike,  principal  of  the  graded  school  at  Bangor,  Franklin  county ;  and  Florence 
May,  a  student,  of  the  Potsdam  State  Normal  School. 

Phair,  William,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Ottawa.  Canada,  April  3,  1838,  and 
came  to  Gouverneur  in  1868.  He  had  been  in  the  Southern  States  for  ten  years 
previously,  engaged  in  the  furniture  business.  He  has  now  been  in  the  S.  B.  Van 
Duzee  Company  for  twenty-five  years,  and  is  superintendent  of  the  planing  mill. 
In  1869  Mr.  Phair  married  Harriet  Newell,  and  they  have  four  daughters. 

Pickrell,  Dr.  Evan,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Augusta,  Ky.,  December  15,  1862,  where 
he  was  educated,  also  at  Georgetown  College,  and  studied  medicine  at  Minerva, 
Ky.  with  Dr.  John  A.  Reed,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Philadelphia  four  years,  graduating  in  1890.  For  about  two  years 
he  engaged  in  practice  at  Augusta,  Ky.,  then  came  to  this  county  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Brasher  Falls,  where  he  is  working  up  a  fine  practice, 
and  becoming  very  popular  in  his  adopted  town. 

Pringle,  Ralph  G.,  Madrid,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Madrid,  on  the  Potsdam  town  line, 
August  17,  1860,  a  son  of  William  Pringle  and  Mary  B.  Goldie.  William  Pringle  was 
the  twin  brother  of  Gilbert  Pringle,  the  oldest  sons  of  Ralph  Pringle.  He  was  born 
June  25,  1834,  in  the  town  of  Potsdam,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage  in  1859.  His  father  had  bought  a 
farm  in  1857  and  William  moved  there  after  his  marriage,  and  made  his  home  there 
seven  years.  In  1866  he  bought  a  farm  of  118  acres,  which  he  afterwards  increased  to 
178,  by  the  purchase  of  sixty  acres  known  as  the  Hall  lot.  It  was  on  this  farm  Mr. 
Pringle  spent  the  balance  of  his  days.  In  politics  he  was  an  active  Republican,  and 
held  the  office  of  assessor  and  commissioner  of  highways.  He  was  always  interested 
in  church  work  and  for  many  years  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Potsdam, 
also  of  Norfolk  Grange.  He  held  the  highest  esteem  and  respect  of  his  townspeople. 
Charitable  and  liberal  to  a  fault,  his  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  town  and  a  great 
loss  to  his  family.  He  died  November  14, 1889.  Ilis  widow  and  four  children  survive 
him.  These  children  are:  William  J.,  principal  of  Northfield  public  school  in  Minne- 
sota, a  graduate  at  Grinnell,  la.  ;  Samuel  J.,  a  blacksmith  of  California  ;  Margaret  J., 
a  graduate  of  Potsdam  Normal  School ;  and  Ralph  G.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  Madrid  public  schools,  and  took  up  farming.  At  the  death  of 
his  father  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm,  wliich  became  his  at  his  death.    He 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.     .  231 

conducts  it  as  a  dairy,  with  twenty-two  cows  and  other  stock.  Mr.  Pringle  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church  of  Madrid.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Madrid 
Branch  Genesee  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  a  member  of  Madrid  Grange  No. 
727,  of  which  he  is  the  overseer. 

Pringle,  Gilbert,  Madrid,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Pot.sdam,  June  25,  1834.  Ralph 
Pringle,  the  father,  was  a  native  of  England,  born  in  Northumberland  county.  He 
married  Janette  Young,  a  native  of  Roxburyshire,  Scotland.  They  had  four  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  living:  Ralph,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam,  and  Gilbert.  The  early  life 
of  the  latter  was  spent  on  the  old  homestead  in  Potsdam.  His  education  Avas  derived 
in  the  public  schools  and  he  took  up  farming.  In  1867  he  started  out  for  himself  on  a 
farm  of  115  acres,  on  the  town  line  of  Potsdam  and  Madrid,  and  for  four  years  spec- 
ulated in  cattle  and  stock.  In  1868  he  sold  the  first  farm  and  bought  the  Dailey 
farm  of  eighty-one  acres  in  Madrid.  He  stocked  this  place  with  young  cattle  for  two 
years,  and  leased  it  two  years,  and  in  March,  1871,  bought  his  present  residence,  known 
as  the  Daniel  Forbes  farm  of  100  acres.  Mr.  Pringle  has  made  many  valuable  im- 
provements to  this  property  in  the  way  of  repairing  the  stone  residence,  erected 
over  fifty  years  ago.  He  has  also  erected  new  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and 
now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  of  this  section.  He  has  always  been  a  firm  Repub- 
lican, but  never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  church  of  Potsdam.  He  married,  March  1,  1871,  Betsey,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Blythe,  a  farmer  of  Waddington,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Elizabeth 
and  Thomas  Ralph. 

Pelsue,  James  B.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Vt,,  February  16,  1829.  His 
father  was  George  Pelsue,  a  native  of  West  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  born  in  1786.  George 
Pelsue  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  in  an  early  daj'  came  to  Stockholm.  Here  in  1818  he 
married  Mrs.  Phoebe  Chase,  born  in  1796,  and  widow  of  Edmund  Chase,  who  was 
drowned  in  attempting  to  rescue  two  children  from  the  St.  Regis  River.  Mr.  Pelsue 
removed  to  Wallmgford,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  until  1832,  when  he  returned  to  Stock- 
holm, Avhere  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Mr.  Pelsue  and  wife  have  had  four 
sons  and  six  daughters.  He  died  February  21,  1868,  and  his  wife  November  14,  1870. 
The  father  of  George  was  James  B.  Pelsue,  who  lived  and  died  in  West  Chelmsford, 
Mass.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  subject  were  Caleb  and  Phoebe  (Parlin)  Newell, 
natives  of  Connecticut  and  early  settlers  of  Stockholm.  The  death  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Newell  occurred  in  Potsdam.  Our  subject,  James  B.,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  undertook  and  accomplished  the  task  of  paying  for  a 
small  piece  of  land  for  which  he  induced  his  father  to  bargain.  He  acquired  a  farm  of 
125  acres  with  good  buildings,  and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  town.  Oc- 
tober 21,  1856,  Mr.  Pelsue  married  Luthera  J.,  eldest  of  six  children  of  Lewis  and  Al- 
mira  (Newton)  Marsh,  of  Stockholm.  Lewis  Marsh  was  born  in  Sharon,  Yt.,  in  1803. 
His  father  was  Isaac  Marsh,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  pioneer  of  Stockholm.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Mercy  Percival  and  second  to  Lucy  Mason.  Lewis  Marsh  was  one 
of  the  representative  farmers  of  his  town.  He  died  in  1873,  and  his  wife  in  1872  in  De- 
troit, Mich.,  while  on  a  visit  to  that  place.  Lewis  N.  Marsh,  brother  of  Mrs.  Pelsue,  died  at 
Sandy  Hook  during  the  late  war.     James  B.  Pelsue  and  wife  have  had  five  children  : 


232  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWREXCE  COUNTY. 

Hattie  L.,  wife  of  Lloyd  N.  Allen,  of  Detroit,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  Ruby 
M  and  Earl  F.  ;  Edson  J.,  who  married  Emma  I.  Gilby,  of  Iowa,  and  had  one  son, 
Harold  G. :  George  L.,  at  home;  Joel  M.,  traveling  salesman  for  Sanford  Whip  Com- 
pany •  and  Early  M.,  at  home.  Mr.  Pelsue  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  has  often 
represented  his  party  in  town  and  county  conventions,  and  in  1892  was  chosen  delegate 
to  the  State  convention.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  militia  eleven  years,  was  cap- 
tain five  years,  and  lieutenant  two  years.  Mr.  Pelsue  and  family  are  liberal  in  religious 
views.     He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  H.  of  Potsdam,  Xo.  39. 

O'Driscoll,  Father  James,  Canton,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  27.  1842,  and  received 
bis  education  in  Dublin.  He  was  ordained  in  1867,  and  came  to  America  the  same  year, 
locatino'  in  Albany.  He  removed  to  Oswego  and  then  to  Lewis  county.  Twenty-two 
years  ago  he  came  to  Canton,  where  he  has  done  a  great  deal  for  the  church  and  his 
people.  He  has  built  one  of  the  finest  edifices  in  Northern  New  York,  at  a  cost  of 
$60  000,  and  his  congregation  numbers  1,000  souls. 

O'Brien  &  Maxfield,  Potsdam. — Franz  B.  Maxfield  was  born  in  Parishville,  Novem- 
ber 20  1860,  a  son  of  Samuel,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1858. 
He  was  a  carpenter  and  also  a  farmer,  and  was  the  father  of  six  children,  of  whom 
Franz  was  next  to  the  oldest.  :  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
Potsdam  State  Normal  School,  after  which  he  taught  for  one  year.  In  1885  he  was 
enoaged  as  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  F.  B.  Mathews  in  his  hardware  store.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1889,  Mr.  Maxfield,  in  company  with  Frank  F.  Flint,  purchased  the  business  of 
Mr.  Mathews  and  this  firm  existed  until  April  1,  1891.  On  that  date  T.  O'Brien  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Flint  and  the  firm  has  since  been  O'Brien  &  Maxfield.  Their 
store  is  located  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street  in  the  O'Brien  block ;  has  a  frontage 
of  twenty-four  feet,  and  seventy-five  feet  depth,  with  a  tin  shop  in  the  rear.  They 
carry  a  full  line  of  stoves  and  shelf  hardware  and  are  contractors  for  tinning,  plumbing 
and  furnace  work.  The  second  story  is  used  as  store  room  for  reserve  stock.  Mr. 
Maxfield  is  a  member  of  the  S.  0.  Y.  He  married  in  1887,  Nellie  J.  Currier  of  Pots- 
dam, and  they  have  had  four  children  :  Grace  C,  Carolyn  R.,  and  Jennie  C.  and  Nellie 
C.  (twins).     The  latter  died  April  4,  1893.     Mrs.  Maxfield  died  January  23,  1893. 

Olmstead,  WiUiam  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  October  12,  1825. 
Lester,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county 
when  about  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  born  December  9,  1795.  When  he 
came  to  Northern  New  York  he  took  up  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  in  Potsdam,  which  he 
afterwards  increased  by  a  purchase  of  forty  acres  more.  Lester  Olmstead  died  on  this 
farm  Augu.st  31,  1878.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Freelove  Benson,  was  also  a  native 
of  Benson,  Vt.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  now  living  :  Polly,  wife  of 
Freeman  McAllister  of  Potsdam  ;  Allen,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam,  who  owns  the  old  home- 
stead; Alraeda,  widow  of  C.  A.  Richards  of  Ogdensburg ;  Rufus,  of  Oklahoma;  and 
William  H.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  after  reaching  his  majority  he  worked  for  eight  years 
on  different  farms,  and  in  1853  bought  a  farm  of  125  acres,  on  which  he  has  built  a 
beautiful  residence  and  reared  his  family.     He  has  since  purchased  about  forty  acres, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  .  233 

which  he  has  added,  and  now  conducts  a  dairy  farm.  He  married,  January  2,  1849 
Susan  J.,  daughter  of  Spalding  and  Dorcas  (Parmenter)  Waterman,  and  they  have  six 
living  children  :  M.  Lester,  who  owns  a  farm  in  Pierrepont;  George  W.  who  conduc;ts 
his  father's  farm  ;  William  H.,  a  shipping  clerk  in  a  button  factory  in  Springfield,  Mass.; 
Albert  C,  a  maker  of  sewing  machine  needles  in  Springfield  ;  Mandana  L.  wife  of  Lewis 
D.  Partridge  of  Potsdam ;  and  Rhoda  A,  wife  of  Moses  M.  Emery  of  Orange,  Mass. 
Mr.  Olmstead  is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  this  town. 

Olin,  Charles  M.,  Canton,  was  born  in  this  town,  August  11,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
•Joseph  M.  Olin  of  Chittenden  county,  Vt.,  who  came  here  with  his  father,  Joseph  M. 
a  son  of  David  ORn,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  town,  who  came  here  from  Ver- 
mont. Joseph  Mitchell  OHn  had  twelve  children :  Polly,  Joseph  M.,  George  S.,  Risce- 
lus.  Asa,  Charlotte,  James,  Almina,  Sally,  Daniel,  Huldah  and  Edward.  The  second 
child,  Joseph  M,  had  seven  children:  Charles  M.,  Martha,  Elmina,  Elizabeth,  Thankful 
Andrew  and  Dann.  Charles  M.  married  Betsey  Ann  Davis,  who  died  May  23,  1892. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Davis  of  Canton,  formerly  of  Herkimer  county. 

Northrup,  Lorenzo,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  September  10,  1823.  His 
father,  Samuel,  was  a  native  of  Shoreham,  Vt,  bora  in  1793,  and  who  married  Abigail 
Doolittle  of  the  same  place,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons.  He  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  after  which  he  came  to  Pierrepont  and  settled.  He  was  supervisor  six  years, 
assessor  eight  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  about  forty  years.  He  died  December  22, 
1841,  and  his  wife  August  23,  1843.  Lorenzo  was  educated  in  the  common  and  select 
schools  of  his  day  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  owning  180  acres  of  land. 
August  2.  1857,  he  married  Patty  M.  Morrill,  a  native  of  Huntington,  Vt.,  born  in  1825, 
and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eunice  Morrill,  who  came  to  Pierrepont  in  1835.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Northrup  had  two  daughters,  Josephine  A.  and  Delphine  E.,  wife  of  George 
Hitchcock  of  Pierrepont.  Mr.  Northrup  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  justice  of  the 
peace  for  about  forty  years  in  succession,  except  one  term,  and  has  served  as  town 
clerk  for  eight  years.  In  1876  he  was  elected  supervisor,  which  position  he  held  six 
years ;  he  was  also  poormaster  for  three  years.  Mr.  Northrup  is  a  member  of  the 
Crary's  Mills  Grange. 

Nash,  Sidney  L.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Richville,  June  14,  1849,  and  has  always 
lived  in  this  county.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  followed  it  sixteen  years 
in  Soraerville.  He  was  subsequently  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  and  finally  began 
hotel  life,  o£  which  he  has  made  a  success.  He  built  a  hotel  at  Keene's  and  ran  it  five 
years,  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Gouverneur  in  1889,  and  is  proprietor  of  the  Brooklyn 
Hotel.     In  1865  he  married  Jane  M.  Becker,'  and  they  have  one  child,  Nina  B. 

Nightengale,  John,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  November  17,  1829. 
The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  trace  of  is  Timothy  Nightengale,  grandfather  of  subject. 
He  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  married  Abigail  Richardson.  They  were  the  parents 
of  one  child,  Timothy  Perr}^  Nightengale,  who  was  born  in  Monkton  in  1800.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  up  farming,  and  when  about  twenty-five 
years  of  age  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  buying  a  farm  in  the  west  part  of  Stock- 
holm. He  lived  there  but  a  short  time  when  he  bought  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in 
.1(1 


234  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Potsdam,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  married  when  he  first  came  to  this  town, 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Rosanna  Kerr,  and  they  had  eight  children,  of  whom  John 
is  the  only  one  living.  Timothy  Nightengale  died  June  11,  1850,  and  Mrs.  Nighten- 
gale, September  17,  1875,  at  seventy-five  years  of  age.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject 
has  been  spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  when  he  con- 
ducted it  for  his  mother  until  her  death.  After  that  it  became  his  by  right  of  inheri- 
tance. Mr.  Nightengale  is  a  Republican.  He  married,  January  1,  1856,  Catherine 
Maria,  daughter  of  David  W.  and  Clarissa  (Gardner)  Kennedy,  natives  of  Vermont,  but 
at  that  time  residents  of  Parishville.  They  have  been  the  parents  of  three  children ; 
Ida  Estelle,  wife  of  George  Boody,  a  merchant  of  Parishville  Center ;  Carroll  Chester, 
who  assists  on  his  father's  farm ;  and  Clara  Maria,  who  also  lives  at  home.  The  farm, 
is  conducted  as  a  dairy  farm,  with  twelve  head  of  cattle,  fifty  sheep  and  four  horses. 
The  residence  was  erected  about  1843  by  Timothy  Nightengale. 

Noble,  Tremont  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  May  10,  1852,  and  has 
been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  1873  he  married  Nana,  daughter  of  Eugene  Finch,  and 
and  they  have  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Noble  is  a  strong  Republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  father,  Henry  J.,  is  still  living,  aged  eighty- 
three  years.     He  is  reputed  to  be  the  oldest  resident  of  Gouverneur  born  in  the  town. 

Newell,  H.  A..  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur  in  1859,  and  has  resided  on  his 
present  farm  since  1866.  In  1884  he  married  Matie  Thayer,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters, Gerty  and  Dela.  Mr.  Newell's  grandfather  lived  on  the  Sogmadog  River,  and  his 
father,  Beverly,  has  been  a  resident  of  Gouverneur  nearly  all  his  life,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  land  owners  of  the  town.  They  keep  a  fine  stud  of  the  "  Flying  Cloud  " 
strain  of  horses. 

Nevin,  Henry  F.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Oswegatcbie  in 
1845.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  this  town  and  has  always  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits.  He  owns  the  old  homestead  of  100  acres,  located  near 
Ogdensburg  on  the  Morristown  road,  and  was  married  in  1889.  He  is  a  prominent 
Mason  and  has  served  in  various  local  offices.  His  ancestors  date  back  to  the  May- 
flower in  this  country,  and  are  of  Scotch  and  Irish  extraction.  They  participated 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  have  always  been  prominent  citizens  and  influential 
members  of  society. 

Allen,  Samuel,  Russell,  was  born  in  Wilsborough,  Vt.,  in  the  year  1770,  came  to  New 
York  State  and  settled  at  Chateaugay,  cleared  a  large  farm,  and  afterward  moved  to 
Waddington  on  the  banks  of  St.  Lawrence  River,  he  being  one  of  the  three  first  settlers. 
In  the  year  1790  he  married  Sally  Powers,  who  was  born  at  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  in  the 
year  1773,  her  father  being  one  of  the  earliest  EngHsh  settlers.  There  were  born  to 
thera  two  children,  George  R.  and  Nathaniel  P.  George  R.  born  in  the  year  1 793,  is 
still  living  at  Norwood,  N.  Y.,  he  having  celebrated  his  one  hundredth  birthday  last  De- 
cember. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  badly  wounded,  taken  prisoner, 
and  now  draws  a  pension.  His  occupation  since  has  been  farming.  Nathaniel  P.  was 
bora  at  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  March  11,  1796,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  235 

drew  a  pension  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Was  married  to  Lovisa  Rice  in  the  year 
of  1820,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1798  at  Brattleboro,  Vt,  and  died  in  the  year  1857. 
There  were  born  to  them  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living :  John,  a  wheel- 
wright by  trade,  resides  at  Degrasse,  N.  Y.  ;  Lovisa  was  married  to  Orsemas  Harris  in 
the  year  1854,  moved  to  Nebraska,  where  they  are  now  engaged  in  farming;  Noble  W. 
was  born  at  Stockholm,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1835,  by  trade  a  cooper,  for  the  last  twenty 
years  has  followed  farming  and  is  now  living  at  Clarksboro,  N.  Y.  Nathaniel  (now  de- 
ceased), born  1822,  by  occupation  a  wholesale  groceryman  in  Montreal,  Canada.  Sam- 
uel (also  deceased),  born  1825,  by  trade  a  cooper  ;  for  twenty  years  a  foreman  in  John 
P.  Wiser's  distillery  at  Prescott,  Canada.  Orlena,  born  1833,  was  married  to  C.  C. 
Towns  in  1856.  Mason  (also  deceased),  born  18'J:0,  was  married  in  1860  to  Frances  Fisk, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Harriet  Fisk  ;  she  died  in  March,  1865.  In  1861  he  enlisted 
and  saw  service  six  months,  when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  There 
were  born  to  them  two  children :  Hattie  (who  died  when  two  years  old)  ;  Alvah  A. 
(our  subject),  born  September  22,  1863,  was  educated  in  the  district  school  in  Russell. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  began  working  for  himself  on  a  farm,  and  continued 
farming  untill  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  began  the  mercantile  business 
at  Clarksboro,  N.  Y.,  and  is  now  postmaster  of  that  place. 

Davenport,  C.  L.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Coopersville,  N.  Y.,  February  16,  1842,  a  son 
of  T.  W.  and  Julia  (Chilton)  Davenport,  both  of  Vermont.  T.  W.  was  born  February 
17,  1811,  and  came  to  this  State  about  1835,  settling  in  Potsdam.  He  followed  his 
trade  of  blacksmithing  in  that  town  and  Canton,  also  at  various  other  places,  for  a  period 
of  sixty  years,  and  he  and  wife  now  reside  at  Fine.  Of  their  nine  children  six  survive  : 
Albert,  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Infantry  in  1861,  and  served  three  and 
a  half  years,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge.  In  1864  he  joined  an  independent 
squad  tc  fight  the  Indians,  and  has  never  since  been  heard  of;  Laura  married  D.  B. 
Fell,  of  Fine;  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Freely,  of  New  York  city;  Emma  mar- 
ried James  Lamb,  of  South  Dakota;  George  is  at  Black  River,  Jefferson  county; 
Eugene  lives  at  Cedar  Springs,  la. ;  and  C.  L.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  learned  his  trade  with  his  father,  beginning  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
and  remaining  in  his  father's  shop  till  about  seventeen,  when  he  began  work  for 
himself  at  Hermon,  where  he  remained  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Edwards,  where 
he  worked  six  years.  From  there  he  went  to  Fine  and  stayed  two  years,  and  in  1869 
came  to  Russell,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  worked  at  his  trade,  having  a  large 
patronage.  August  14,  1866,  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  (Norris) 
Rushton,  of  Bolton,  Lancashire,  England.  She  was  born  in  Edwards,  August  25,  1845, 
and  was  a  member  of  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davenport 
have  two  children  :  Norris,  born  in  Fine,  June  21,  1858,  who  married  Sadie  Hill  and  has 
one  child,  born  December  15,  1893;  and  Amy,  born  in  Russell,  June  27,  1871,  wife  of 
Harvey  Partridge,  of  Potsdam,  and  have  one  child,  born  August  1,  1892.  Mr.  Daven- 
port enlisted  in  1863  in  the  Twentieth  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  remained  as  a  blacksmith 
till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566  F.  &  A.  M.  John 
Rushton  was  twenty-six  years  eld  the  year  the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  fought,  and  was 
married  six  weeks  after  the  battle. 


236  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Armstrong,  Abner  H.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Theresa,  Jeflferson  county,  April  28,  1842, 
a  son  of  Edward,  a  son  of  John  A.,  of  Canada.  The  father  of  Abner  H.  was  born 
in  Canada.  In  1840  he  married  Rachel  Spicer,  a  native  of  BytoAvn,  Canada,  and  the 
same  year  moved  to  Theresa.  They  had  two  children:  Abner  H.  and  Thomas.  The 
father  of  Abner  H.  went  west  and  died  there.  Abner  H.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
with  his  mother  came  to  the  town  of  Russell  in  1856 ;  he  worked  on  a  farm  there 
until  August  13,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  N. 
Y.  Volunteers,  and  served  three  years  and  one  month ;  he  was  in  the  following  bat- 
tles: Martinsburg,  Mead's  retreat  from  Culpepper  to  Washington  Heights,  Rappahan- 
nock and  Bermuda  Station  ;  with  Grant  from  Culpepper  to  Petersburg,  Weldon  Rail- 
road, Fairmount,  Monocacy,  Opequan  Creek  and  Winchester,  where  he  lost  his  left  leg 
and  received  a  flesh  wound  in  his  right  leg;  he  also  received  a  flesh  wound  in  his 
right  leg  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse.  He  was  discharged  at  David's  Island,  New 
York,  September  10,  1865.  He  began  the  mercantile  business  in  1868  and  has  con- 
tinued ever  since  at  the  same  place  where  he  now  lives.  February  10,  1868,  he  mar- 
ried Florence  Spencer,  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Flansburg)  Spencer.  They 
have  had  five  children  :  Charles,  William,  Spencer,  Yiola  and  Edna,  all  deceased  except 
Edna  and  Spencer  ;  the  latter  is  now  in  partnership  with  his  father  at  De  Grasse.  He 
established  the  first  post-office  at  this  place  in  1880  and  has  been  postmaster  ever  since 
excepting  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  Rice  Post  No.  169  G.  A.  R.,  and  also  of  the 
Good  Templars,  Lodge  No.  650.  All  the  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
His  mother  is  still  living  with  him  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two. 

Newton,  A.  L.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  August  4,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of 
Orange  Newton  mentioned  in  this  work.  Mr.  Newton  has  always  followed  farming, 
and  is  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  uses  for  dairying.  In  1873  he  mar- 
ried in  Parishville  Harriet  Adgate,  a  native  of  that  place,  and  they  have  one  son,  Ern- 
est C,  a  teacher.  In  politics  Mr.  Newton  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  Methodist  church  of  Stockholm.  Mrs.  Newton  was  one  of  five  daughters  of 
Charles  and  Caroline  (Merrick)  Adgate.  Her  father  was  born  December  21,  1803,  and 
in  1831  came  to  Parishville,  where  he  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject, 
and  here  he  died  in  April,  1889.  and  his  wife  November  1,  1890.  Charles  was  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Hannah  (Hawley)  Adgate,  the  former  born  July  14, 1778,  and  was  drowned 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.     His  wife  died  September  29,  1821. 

McCiair,  J.  E.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Macomb,  June  24,  1861.  He  learned 
cheesemaking  and  followed  it  eight  years,  when  he  took  up  farming.  In  1887  he  mar- 
ried Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Cooper,  of  Morristown.  Mr.  McClair's  father  was 
James  A.  McClair.     His  mother  was  Sarah  (Partridge)  McClair. 

Morgan,  Dorson  D.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  April  13,  1829,  a  son  of 
Daniel,  who  was  a  son  of  Forest  Morgan.  Daniel  was  born  in  Vermont  and  when 
a  young  man  came  to  Potsdam.  He  afterwards  went  to  Stockholm  and  settled  on 
a  farm  in  the  wilderness,  where  he  hved  and  died.  His  wife  was  Cynthia  Shaw, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  daughter  of  Daniel  Sha^v,  an  early  settler  of  Potsdam. 
Mr.  Morgan  and  wife  had  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  two  sons  and  one 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  237 

daughter  survive.  He  died  in  Stockholm,  and  his  wife  survives  him  and  lives  with 
her  son,  Dorson  D.  The  latter  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Stockholm.  He  is  a  general  farmer  and  dairyman  and  owns  140  acres. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  family  attend  the  Congregational  church. 
The  wife  of  Mr.  Morgan  was  Mary  Chandler,  a  native  of  Stockholm  and  daughter 
of  Daniel  Chandler,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  an  early  settler  of  Stockholm.  Mr. 
Morgan  has  eight  children:  George,  Emma,  Clara,  Sarah,  Cora,  Hattie,  Mary  and 
Harland.     Mrs.  Morgan  died  April  4,  1889. 

Morgan,  Charles  G.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Stockholm,  May 
9,  1832.  The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  in  this  family  is  Forrest  Morgan,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  the  father  of  seven  sons  and  five  daughters, 
one  now  living,  Sereno  E.  Morgan,  a  retired  farmer  of  Potsdam.  Joel  Morgan,  the 
second  son,  and  father  of  our  subject^  was  born  in  Rochester,  Yt.,  in  January,  1800,  and 
was  only  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county.  For- 
rest Morgan  took  up  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Potsdam,  which  was  then  but  a  wilderness. 
He  reared  his  family  on  this  farm,  and  Joel  was  sent  to  the  district  schools.  Joel 
started  out  for  himself  when  he  was  of  age,  and  his  first  purchase  of  land  was  a  farm 
of  sixty-four  acres  in  the  town  of  Stockholm,  where  he  has  always  made  his  home. 
He  married  Rebecca  Curren  of  Potsdam,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
eight  now  living :  Silas  and  Maurice  are  in  Kansas ;  Ira  in  Missouri ;  Albert,  Mrs. 
Daniels  and  Mrs.  Helen  Hines  are  in  Michigan ;  Marsden  is  a  farmer  of  Stockholm  ; 
and  Charles.  Joel  Morgan  died  in  ISGo,  at  sixty-five  years  of  age.  Our  subject  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  made  his  home  with  his  mother  until  he  was 
twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  married  in  1859,  Arvilla  Whitney  of  Louisville,  and 
they  had  one  child,  Myron  J.,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Norfolk.  In  1857  Mr.  Morgan 
bought  his  present  farm  and  has  added  to  it  by  purchase  until  now  he  owns  a  beautiful 
farm  of  135  acres,  devoted  to  dairying,  keeping  nineteen  head  of  stock  besides  six 
horses  and  other  stock.  Mrs.  Morgan  died  in  June,  1865,  and  he  married  second  in 
18'i7,  her  sister,  Susan  J.,  who  died  later  without  issue.  The  present  Mrs.  Morgan  was 
Martha,  daughter  of  Samuel  Meecham  of  Lawrence  and  widow  of  Jerome  Hathaway 
of  Westport,  on  Lake  Champlain.  They  have  one  daughter,  Gertrude  L.,  a  student  of 
Norwood  Academy.     Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Republican. 

Maxfield,  Elijah  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Saranac,  Clinton  county,  April  8,  1848,  a 
son  of  Elnathan,  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who  came 
to  Vermont  when  a  young  man,  where  he  married  Lucinda  Knowlton.  Later  he  went 
to  Michigan  where  he  followed  his  trade  until  his  death.  He  had  ten  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  our  subject  being  the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  Plattsburg  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  after  leaving 
school  followed  mechanical  pursuits  until  1871.  He  went  to  Ottawa,  where  he  had  a 
contract  for  finishing  doors  for  the  Australian  market,  until  1874.  He  then  came  to 
Ogdensburg  where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  for  four  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Potsdam.  From  that  time  he  was  engaged  with  Felton  &  Senter  in  the 
grocery  business  until  1883,  then  he  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  for  eight  years, 
and  in  1891  became  a  partner  with  J.  A.  Cox  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Cox  &  Max- 


238  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

field.  Mr.  Maxfield  married  in  1872,  Emma  M.  Blood,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
they  have  had  four  children:  Herbert  F.,  Scott,  Bessie  and  Jennie  L.,  who  died  in 
1889,  aged  fourteen  years. 

Morehouse  Albert  W.,  Potsdam,  vsras  born  in  Brockport,  Monroe  county,  June  13, 
1844.  His  father,  Oliver,  has  been  the  principal  of  several  academies  in  this  State  and 
has  tau"-ht  over  one  hundred  terms,  has  been  an  institute  conductor,  and  was  for  six 
years  school  commissioner  of  Orleans  county.  He  is  now  seventy-nine  years  of  age 
and  has  retired  from  active  work.  He  has  had  two  children  :  our  subject  and  a  daugh- 
ter who  died  in  1864  at  sixteen  years  of  age.  Prof.  Oliver  Morehouse  and  Dr.  Mac- 
Vicar  were  associate  principals  of  the  Brockport  Collegiate  Institute,  which  was  after- 
ward merged  into  the  State  Normal.  He  was  granted  the  degree  of  A.M.  from  Ro- 
chester University.  Albert  W.  prepared  for  college  in  Albion  Academy  and  Brockport 
Colle'^'iate  Institute,  and  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Rochester  University  in  Sep- 
tember, 1866,  graduating  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  in  July,  1869.  He  was  granted  a  de- 
gree of  A.M.  in  1872.  He  was  professor  of  languages  in  Albion  Academy  for  one  year, 
and  in  September,  1871,  became  principal  of  Weedsport  Union  School,  a  position  he 
held  until  March,  1876.  In  November,  1875,  he  was  elected  school  commissioner  of 
Cayuga  county,  serving  three  years.  He  was  the  principal  of  Port  Byron  Free  School 
and  Academy  from  September,  1878,  to  September,  1888;  was  secretary  of  the  ''  State 
Association  of  School  Commissioners  and  City  Superintendents"  from  December,  1875, 
until  January,  1880.  He  has  also  been  the  secretary  of  the  New  York  State  Teachers' 
Association  for  eight  years  (1883-91).  He  has  been  a  lecturer  at  teachers'  institutes. 
In  September,  1888,  he  came  to  Potsdam,  where  he  had  accepted  the  position  of  teacher 
of  higher  mathematics,  geology  and  astronomy  at  the  State  Normal  School,  a  position 
he  still  holds.  Mr.  Morehouse  is  master  of  Raquette  River  Lodge  No.  213,  F.  &  A.  M., 
now  serving  his  second  term,  and  a  member  of  St  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24.  Prof. 
Morehouse  married  in  Albion,  November  25,  1869,  Alice  M.  Conner,  of  Albion,  and  they 
have  had  two  children:  Harry  A.,  who  died  November  19,  1877,  in  his  eighth  year; 
and  Clara  E.,  who  lives  with  her  parents. 

McAllaster,  J.  E.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  January  26, 
1833.  He  was  on  a  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  into  mercan- 
tile business  at  Redwood,  where  he  remained  sixteen  years.  In  1858  he  married  Maria 
F.  Freeman,  who  died  in  1867,  and  in  1871  he  married  again.  His  children  are  :  A.  F. 
McAllaster,  Adelaide  M.,  and  Fred  B.,  by  his  first  wife,  and  Lewis  A.  by  his  second. 
In  1880  Mr.  McAllaster  opened  the  St.  Lawrence  quarry,  the  first  opened  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  His  present  business  consists  of  a  large  dry  goods  establishment  and  his 
milling  interests. 

Morgan,  James,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  County  Dublin,  Ireland,  in  August,  1823,  and 
was  only  five  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  this  country.  The  father  of  James 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  now  occupied  by  a  brother  of  subject,  Daniel.  James 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  assisted  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  In  1853  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  the  Reming- 
ton tract,  on  which  he  has  erected  a  beautiful  residence,  two  barns  and  a  granary.    He 


i 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  289 

has  also  increased  the  size  of  the  place  to  105  acres,  which  he  conducts  as  a  dairy  farm 
with  seventeen  head  of  cattle,  three  horses,  sheep,  etc.  The  milk  is  made  into  butter, 
and  the  product  is  about  1,500  pounds  per  year.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  He  married,  January  29,  1853,  Jane,  daughter 
of  Patrick  and  Alice  (Murphy)  McGrouvern,  and  they  had  five  children,  all  deceased. 
They  have  two  adopted  daughters,  Johannah  and  Jane  Elizabeth. 

Morgan,  George,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  April  12,  1845,  a  son  of 
John  and  grandson  of  George.  John  Morgan  was  born  in  County  Maith,  Ireland,  in 
1813,  and  came  here  with  his  parents  in  1830.  He  was  employed  by  David  Clarkson 
about  four  years,  and  ten  years  after  coming  to  this  country  bought  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  Potsdam,  where  his  whole  life  was  spent.  He  married  when  a  young  man 
Mary  McGinness,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  they  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living:  James,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam  ;  Bridget,  of  Potsdam;  Ann,  wife  of  Thomas 
Horan,  of  Potsdam  ;  John,  also  a  farmer  of  Potsdam  ;  and  George.  John,  the  father 
died  September  20,  1888.  Mrs.  Moran  is  still  living  at  seventy-six  years  of  age.  The 
whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in  this  town.  He  was  given  a  good  education 
and  in  his  younger  days  was  employed  in  the  neighboring  mills.  In  1883  he  bought  a 
farm  of  200  acres,  known  as  the  Leonard  farm,  and  part  of  the  Usher  &  Dart  farm. 
Jklr.  Morgan  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  trustee  of  St.  Andrew's  church  for  the  year 
1892.  He  married  in  1870  Bridget,  daughter  of  James  O'Brien,  a  native  of  Canada,  and 
they  had  four  children — one  died  in  infancy,  three  now  living :  James  William,  John  Les- 
lie, and  Bridget  Irene.     Mrs.  Morgan  died  November  28,  1887. 

Morgan,  Daniel.  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Ireland,  November  25,  1825,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  country  in  1830,  when  he  was  only  five  years  old.  The  family  lived 
six  months  at  Waddington,  and  then  settled  in  Potsdam.  George  Morgan,  father  of 
Daniel,  bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres.  He  married  in  Ireland  Catherine  Halligan,  and 
they  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Mary,  widow  of  Henry  Crosby, 
of  Potsdam  ;  Margaret,  widow  of  John  O'Leary,  of  Norwood  ;  James,  a  farmer  of  Pots- 
dam ;  and  Daniel.  Subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  up  farming. 
George  Morgan  died  October  15,  1877.  Our  subject  has  been  a  very  extensive  dealer 
in  live  stock,  grain,  fruit,  etc.  He  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  highways  four  years.  He  married  in  1854  Catherine  Sherlock, 
of  Russell,  and  they  had  seven  children  :  Catherine  Maria,  wife  of  Richard  Rice,  of 
Johnstown  ;  George  C,  who  lives  on  the  homestead  ;  Clara,  also  lives  at  home  ;  Fran- 
ces, wife  of  Emmett  Dardis,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam ;  Lottie,  wife  of  Dr.  Du  Bois,  of  Ma- 
lone.  N.  T.  ;  Fred,  in  a  railroad  office  at  Denver,  Col. ;  and  Sarah,  principal  of  West 
Chazy  school,  Clinton  county.  The  residence  of  our  subject  was  erected  b}'  him  in 
1853,  and  he  has  also  been  quite  an  extensive  landholder,  now  having  three  farms 
containing  167  acres. 

Mackey,  Thomas,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lisbon,  June  3,  1845.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  Patrick  Mackey,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  about  1808,  and 
came  to  this  country  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  first  located  in  Essex 
county,  where  he  married  Sarah  Martin,  a  native  of  that  county.     They  moved  into 


240  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

St.  Lawrence  county  in  1837,  and  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  Hved  but  a  short  time, 
when  he  moved  into  the  town  of  Lisbon,  and  died  in  August,  1880.  He  was  the  father 
of  eight  children,  six  now  Hving  :  Mary,  wife  of  Edward  Flemons,  a  farmer  of  Lisbon  ; 
Henry,  a  stone  dealer  of  Watertown  ;  Jame^,  a  farmer  of  Lisbon  ;  Edward,  section 
superintendent  of  the  R.,  W.  &  0.  railroad  lines  at  Norwood  ;  Michael,  a  farmer  of 
Lisbon  ;  and  Thomas.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  December  24,  1890,  at  eighty- 
four  years  of  age.  The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  towns  of  Potsdam  and 
L'sbon.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  assisted  on  his  father's  farm  until  1864, 
when  he  bought  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  Lisbon,  which  he  afterwards  increased  to  ninety 
acres.  He  lived  there  nine  years  and  then  sold  and  bought  eighty  acres,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  In  March,  1888,  he  bought  a  farm  of  seventy  acres,  making  150 
acres.  Mr.  Mackey  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  army,  en- 
listing in  July,  1865,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  married,  December  1, 
1867,  Ann,  daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Ann  (Martm)  Collins  of  Potsdam,  and  they 
have  one  son,  John  Edward,  born  December  7,  1870,  and  one  daughter,  Ann  Gertrude, 
born  September,  7,  1883. 

Mills,  J.  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  at  Oxbow,  Jefferson  county,  August  6,  1866,  and 
the  whole  of  his  business  life  has  been  spent  at  cheese  making.  He  owns  and  operates 
the  fine  cheese  factory  at  Little  Bow,  turning  out  annually  about  200,000  pounds  of 
high  class  cheese.  In  1889  he  married  Jessie,  daughter  of  Chauncey  Smith.  Mr.  Mills 
is  a  son  of  Thomas  Mills. 

McCaflfrey,  J.  G.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  January  5,  1866.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  after  which  he  sought  employment  in 
different  capacities  until  March,  1889,  he  purchased  a  meat  market  business  in  Ford 
street,  which  he  has  been  most  successfully  conducting  since  that  period.  He  married 
in  1892,  Ella  Smith  of  this  city.  Mr.  McCaffrey  is  one  of  our  enterprising,  energetic 
young  business  men. 

McGuire,  James,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland,  June  24,  1822.  His  parents 
came  to  this  country  in  1831  and  settled  in  Waddington  ;  after  a  year  at  that  place 
they  moved  to  Ogdensburg,  where  they  permanently  settled.  James  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  this  city  and  afterward's  learned  the  mason's  trade,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  followed.  During  the  past  score  of  years  he  has  erected  many  of 
the  most  substantial  buildings  in  this  city  and  vicinity.  He  married  in  1849  Annie 
Smitii,  and  has  reared  a  large  family.  His  children  are  among  the  city's  best  known 
and  substantial  citizens.  They  are  respectively  :  Alderman  J.  McGuire,  Henry,  Fred, 
Albert,  George  M.,  Nettie,  Annie,  Minnie  and  Belle.  Mr.  McGuire  has  held  the  office 
of  assessor,  etc.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Morley,  George  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  May  13,  1843,  of  English 
parentage.  His  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county  when  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age,  where  he  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  92d  N.  Y^ 
Vols.,  and  .served  eleven  months,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  besides  sev- 
eral skirmishes.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Washington.  His  brother  was  killed  at  De- 
troit daring  this  period  at  the  blowing  up  of  the   Brooklyn.     Mr.   Morley  returned  to 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  241 

Ogdensbnrg  and  has  since  followed  bricklaying,  contracting,  etc.  He  has  built  some  of 
the  most  important  buildings  and  brick  work  here,  among  others,  the  marble  front  of 
Ashley's  hardware  store,  Hill's  bakery,  Rodie"s  engine  house.  West  Side  hose  house 
and  many  others.  He  married  in  1867,  Miss  Marceau,  and  they  have  four  children  liv- 
ing :  James  Edward.  Ada  Matilda,  Emmet  Roscoe  and  William  Frederick. 

McCormick,  Francis  H.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Schuyler  Falls,  Clinton  county,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1848.  The  father  of  our  subject,  James  AlcCormick,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  in  1808,  and  came  to  this  country  about  1830.  He  was  a  tailor  by  occupation 
and  followed  his  trade  for  a  short  time  m  Montreal,  and  then  located  in  Plattsburg. 
The  spring  of  1862  he  located  in  Madrid.  Starting  in  a  small  way  he  gradually  in- 
creased his  stock  and  business,  until  at  the  time  our  subject  became  a  partner  they  were 
doing  a  very  extensive  trade.  Jacob  McCormick  died  March  17,jl888.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  Catherine  Murphy,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  to  this  country  when  a 
child.  Of  their  four  children,  three  now  survive  :  Mary  A.  of  Madrid  ;  Eliza  A.,  wid- 
ow of  James  Halligan  of  Potsdam ;  and  Francis  H.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the 
town  of  his  birth  and  at  Madrid.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  he  entered  the  store 
of  his  father  and  learned  the  trade,  which  he  has  ever  smce  followed.  In  1872  he 
.became  a  partner  with  his  father,  and  became  manager  and  proprietor.  He  now  owns 
a  brick  block  and  carries  a  complete  line  of  ready-made  clothing  and  does  a  general 
merchant  tailoring  business.  Mr.  McCormick  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
John's  church,  and  for  thirteen  years  was  treasurer  of  the  society ;  he  has  also  been 
one  of  its  trustees.  He  married,  August  16,  1882,  Mary  A.  Coughlin  of  Madrid,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Leland  Francis,  now  in  his  tenth  year. 

Madock,  John  H.,  G-ouverneur,  was  born  August  28,  1851.  His  parents  came  to  Little 
Bow  seventy-five  years  ago,  and  be  has  lived  in  this  county  all  his  life,  except  sixteen 
years  spent  in  Illinois.  In  1860  he  married  Clara  Basil,  and  they  have  one  son,  Charles. 
Mr.  Madock  enHsted  in  August,  1862,  in  Co.  K,  96th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  four 
years.  His  father  was  Roger  Madock.  He  was  an  agent  for  Gouverneur  Morris  sev- 
enteen years.  His  mother  was  Adehne  Harris.  Mr.  Madock  is  a  member  of  Barnes 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  held  ever}'  position  in  it  except  commander. 

Miller,  Benjamin  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Danville,  N.  Y.,  October  6,  1844. 
He  enlisted  in  Company  H,  20th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  in  August,  1863.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Captain  Spencer's  company,  and  served  till  July  31,  1865.  He  then  took  up 
the  carpenter  and  millwright  trades,  and  has  been  connected  with  Sterbuck  &  Mc- 
Carty's  mills  for  eleven  years.  He  was  contractor  for  A.  L.  McRae  three  years 
previously.  Mr.  Miller  married  in  1870.  Hattie  Ives,  and  they  have  had  seven  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Miller's  father  was  William  Miller,  a  na- 
tive of  England. 

Murray,  Andrew,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Scotland,  February  21,  1830,  and  came 
to  America  in  1834,  with  his  father's  family.  They  settled  in  Prescott,  Canada,  and 
Mr.  Murray  spent  his  early  life  on  a  stock  farm.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smith and  moving  to  Hai'esboro,  this  county,  followed  his  trade  five  years.  He  then 
took  up  farming  with  great  success,  being  now  a  large  land  owner.     In  January,  1856, 


242  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Murray  married  Susan  A..  Gates,  and  they  have  three  children ;  Andrew  A.,  a 
farmer-  Leon,  bookkeeper  for  the  St.  Lawrence  Marble  Company  ;  and  Emma  E.,  wife 
of  Dr.  Eddy  of  Colby,  Kan. 

Mann,  William  T.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Franklin,  Delaware  county,  July  5, 
186L  He  was  a  telegraph  operator  in  Franklin  before  coming  to  Gouverneur  in  No- 
vember, 1889,  He  learned  photography  in  Otsego  county,  and  followed  the  business 
there  for  some  time.  He  opened  his  present  studio  in  1889,  and  is  now  considered  the 
leading  photographer  of  Gouverneur.  In  1884  he  married  Cora  Brown,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Helena  Allen  Mann.  Mr.  Mann's  father  was  Gilbert  Mann  of 
Franklin. 

McDougall,  John  H.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristowu,  Febuary  21,  1843.  He 
has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  except  for  tAvelve  years  has  worked  for  himself.  In 
1864  he  married  Adelia  S..  daughter  of  Henry  Green,  and  they  have  two  sons :  James 
Henry  and  Elmer ;  and  one  daughter,  Louisa.  Mr.  McDougall's  father  was  John  Mc- 
Dougall, and  his  mother  Elizabeth  (Yayler)  McDougall. 

More,  David  A.,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  September  1,  1830, 
and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1841.  He  has  followed  farming  all  his  life. 
In  1865  he  margaret  Hill,  and  they  have  one  son,  Elmer  J.  More.  Mr.  More's  father, 
James,  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  as  was  his  mother,  Margaret  (Anderson)  More. 

Miller,  Edward  H.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Waddington,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
August  16,  1861.  He  has  been  connected  with  railroading  for  thirteen  years,  and  was 
seven  years  train  dispatcher  at  Watertown  and  Carthage.  In  September,  1890,  he  was 
appointed  agent  at  Morristown.  Previous  to  engaging  in  railroading  Mr.  Miller  was 
in  the  drug  business.  In  February,  1888,  he  married  Nettie  M.  Green,  daughter  of 
Mowray  Green  (deceased).  Mr.  Miller  is  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Miller,  a  native  of  St. 
Lawrence  county,  but  now  residing  in  California. 

Mellette,  Paul,  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  Massena,  March  1,'1822,  a  son  of  John  and 
Jane  (Mitchell)  Mellette,  the  former  of  this  county  and  of  French  ancestry,  and  the  lat- 
ter a  native  of  Quebec.  John  died  in  1847  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  and  his  wife 
in  1868  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  Their  seven  children  were  :  Jane,  Margaret, 
John,  Joseph,  Paul,  Angeline,  and  Lucy.  Paul  married.  December  11,  1844,  Annette 
Deshow,  a  native  of  Canada.  She  was  born  June  14,  1825,  a  daughter  of  Emil 
Deshow  and  Mary  Show,  natives  of  Canada,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1820,  their 
parents  being  natives  of  France.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mellette  have  had  eleven  children  : 
Paul,  William,  Gilbert,  John,  Henry,  who  died  young,  Frank,  Joseph,  Alline,  Henry  2d, 
Justus  and  Nancy.  Mr.  Mellette  owns  a  nice  farm  of  fifty  acres,  and  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  St.  Patrick's  church  at  Brasher 
Falls. 

Lamb,  Harlan,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  JeiFerson  county,  June  26,  1838. 
He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life  and  has  been  four  years  in  his  present  residence, 
while  he  has  resided  in  this  county  since  four  yeai  s  of  age.  In  1839  he  married  Jane 
Blanchard,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Ada.  Mr.  Lamb's  father,  Ira,  was  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  043 

Leach,  J.  S..  Gouverneui,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Yi.,  January  6,  1836. 
His  people  moved  to  Gouverneur  when  he  was  an  infant,  and  he  has  resided  here 
ever  since.  His  father  was  John  Leach.  In  October,  1870,  Mr.  Leach  married  Sarah, 
daugliter  of  Alvan  Barrett,  and  they  have  four  children  :  Joseph,  Walter,  Bertha, 
and  May.  The  young  ladies  are  both  teachers  of  high  standing  and  superior  intelli- 
gence. 

Lesperance,  F.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg  in  July,  1867.  After  re- 
ceiving a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  this  city  he  entered  the  photographic  estab- 
lishment of  Dow,  where  after  a  most  successful  and  studious  career  he  has  succeeded  in 
becoming  a  high  class  artist  in  this  profession.  On  August  15,  1892,  he  established  him- 
self in  business  here,  where  he  enjoys  an  influential  patronage.  Mr.  Lesperance  married 
Annie  Ward,  of  Ogdensburg,  and  they  have  one  son. 

Lavier,  Thomas  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  July  18,  1862.  At  an 
early  age  he  was  compelled  to  leave  school  and  work  to  support  his  parents.  He  first 
entered  the  store  of  H.  D.  Northrup,  after  which  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Skelling  & 
Whitney,  E.  B.  Eddy,  and  others,  and  also  folioAved  sailing  for  two  seasons.  In  1881 
he  commenced  learning  plumbing,  and  after  completing  it  worked  at  the  trade  in  1889, 
during  which  period  he  had  charge  of  the  Malone  Gas  Works  for  J.  H.  Findley. 
In  1889  he  established  business  for  himself  here,  and  has  since  done  much  notable  work 
in  his  line  in  Ogdensburg.  He  employs  from  seven  to  ten  hands.  Mr.  Lavier  married, 
September  3,  1885,  Miss  L.  Myers,  and  they  have  six  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
living.     Mr.  Lavier  is  identified  with  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  etc. 

Lovejoy,  Henry,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  September  13,  1823.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Canada,  having  been  born  in  Brockville  in  1800,  and  came  to 
St.  Lawrence  county  when  Henry  was  only  twelve  years  of  age.  Subject's  mother 
was  born  in  Oswegatchie.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits.  For 
the  past  twelve  years  he  has  conducted  a  sash,  door  and  blind  establishment  in  Ogdens- 
busg,  although  he  still  retains  his  farm,  possessing  in  all  about  400  acres.  He  married 
in  1844,  and  has  two  sons  living.  Mr.  Lovejoy  served  as  assessor  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  respected  citizens. 

LaUy,  P.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  Sing  Sing,  July  27,  1858,  and  after  receiving  an 
excellent  education  he  learned  the  butcher's  trade.  This  he  soon  mastered  in  leading 
establishments  in  Ottawa  and  New  York,  and  in  the  fall  of  1876  commenced  operations 
here  in  the  line  of  flour  and  feed,  in  which  lie  has  been  very  successful.  His  premises 
are  located  on  Lake  street  near  the  bridge.  Mr.  Lally  married  in  1880  Clara  Bishop, 
and  they  have  six  children.  Mr.  Lally  is  a  practical  man  and  much  esteemed  here.  He 
IS  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Lalone,  G.  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  June  4,  1872,  and  came  to  Gouver- 
neur in  1890.  He  has  been  in  business  at  Natural  Dam  two  years.  He  was  previously 
engaged  in  clerking.  Mr.  Lalone  is  a  young  man  of  superior  business  attainments,  and 
is  deputy  postmaster  at  Natural  Dam.  He  and  his  brother,  now  of  the  firm  of  Lalone 
&  Storie,  have  been  in  partnership  for  some  time. 


244  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Livingston,  James  N.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Crown  Point,  June  23,  1825.  He  is 
a  son  of  William  Livingston,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who,  when  a  mere  child,  went 
to  New  Hampshire  with  his  parents.  He  was  educated  in  Middlebury  College,  and  at 
the  ao-e  of  fifteen  years  went  to  New  York  city.  He  was  a  noted  grammarian  and  as- 
sisted in  revising  one  of  the  text  books  on  that  subject,  and  also  introduced  the  ele- 
mentary system  of  teaching  grammar  in  New  York  State.  Lucy  Chatterton,  of  Ac- 
worth,  N.  H.,  became  his  wife,  and  they  had  nine  children.  In  a  very  early  day  Mr. 
Livino-ston  emigrated  to  Crown  Point,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers.  Here  he  resided 
about  sixteen  years,  and  March  19,  1836,  came  with  a  team  to  Stockholm,  being  four 
days  on  the  way.  He  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  Livingston,  and  here 
lived  and  died.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  but  for  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  He  died  January  25,"1863,  and  his  wife  April  14,  1877.  Subject  of  sketch  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam  Academy.  He  was 
a  boatman  when  a  young  man  and  followed  it  on  Lake  Champlain.  He  afterwards 
worked  on  the  Rutland  and  Burlington  Railroad.  He  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Bicknellville  four  years  with  Frank  B.  Peck  and  three  years  with  J.  B.  Pal- 
mer. He  owns  192  acres  of  land,  follows  general  farming  and  dairying,  and  keeps 
twenty-two  cows.  Mr.  Livingston  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  assessor  for 
eleven  years.  In  religion  he  and  family  are  liberal.  His  wife  was  Sarah  M.  Covey,  a 
native  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have  one  adopted  daughter,  Mary  I.,  at  home. 

Lytle,  David,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  1816.  He  is  a  grandson  of  W.  Lytle,  who,  to- 
"■ether  with  his  son,  James  J.  Lytle,  the  father  of  our  subject,  settled  in  Lisbon  near  the 
Centre  in  1801,  where  they  took  up  500  acres  of  land,  which  is  still  in  the  possession  of 
David  and  his  brother  Andrew,  the  survivmg  members  of  the  Lytle  family,  which 
originally  consisted  of  three  sons  and  six  daughters.  David  Lytle  is  a  most  energetic, 
influential  and  prominent  property  owner  and  capitalist,  and  exerts  considerable  influ- 
ence in  the  material  welfare  of  this  town.  He  has  never  married  and  lives  on  the  old 
homestead  with  his  brother  Andrew. 

Liddell,  James,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Waddington,  June  4,  1835.  His  father,  James 
Liddell,  sr.,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  came  to  this  country  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  merchant  tailoring  and  farming.  In  1870  subject  of  sketch  purchased  an  ex- 
cellent farm  of  105  acres  near  Ogdensburg,  upon  which  he  has  since  lived,  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  in  1861  Jennett  Graham,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children  :  James  Henry,  William  Thomas,  Alex  D.,  and  four  daughters,  who  married 
gentlemen  prominent  in  business  and  social  circles  in  this  county.  Mr.  Liddell  has  al- 
ways been  a  prominent  factor  in  local  afifairs,  and  is  a  gentleman  of  sterling  worth  and 
superior  abilities.     He  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all. 

.  Losee,  William,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  May  24,  1858,  and  has  followed 
farming  all  his  life.  In  1881  he  married  Estella,  daughter  of  Henry  Butrick,  of  Ham- 
mond, and  they  have  three  children  :  Leon,  Lena,  and  Florence.  Mr.  Losee  is  an  act- 
ive Democrat  and  prominent  on  the  town  committees.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Foresters.  Theodore  Losee,  his  father,  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  day  in  this 
town. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  245 

Leete,  Asa  H.  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Essex,  Essex  county,  August  31 
1825,  a  son  of  Asa  Leete  and  Hannah  Randall,  natives  of  Vermont.  Our  subject  was 
the  oHest  sou  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  He  was  nine  years  old  when  the  family 
moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county  and  located  in  Potsdam,  where  the  boyhood  of  our  sub- 
ject was  spent.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  assisted  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  married  in  185L  His  wife  was  Samantha,  daughter  of  ElishaBrad- 
ish,  a  farmer  of  Norfolk.  After  his  marriage  he  bought  a  farm  where  he  made  his 
home  for  a  short  time,  and  in  the  spring  of  1854  bought  the  farm  of  871^  acres  which 
was  his  home  at  the  time  of  his  death,  January  6,  1881.  His  widow  and  four  chil- 
dren survive  him  :  Herbert  W.,  who  conducts  the  farm  :  Lida  E.,  of  Potsdam  •  Elva  L. 
wife  of  Charles  I.  Bailey,  of  Potsdam ;  and  Vila  E.,  who  lives  at  home.  In  the  death 
of  Mr.  Leete  the  community  has  lost  a  good  citizen. 

Lalone,  J.  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  January  22,  1864.  He  has  been  a 
cheesemaker  in  several  places,  and  finally  embarked  in  mercantile  business.  He  came 
to  Gouverneur  in  1891,  and  with  his  brother  established  abusines  at  the  Natural  Dam. 
In  1893  Mr.  Lalone  came  into  the  village  and  formed  a  partnership  with  T.  D.  Storie  in 
the  grocery  business,  retaining  his  interest  in  the  business  with  his  brother.  Mr.  Lalone 
is  a  prominent  Mason,  passed  to  the  Commandery.  His  father  was  Hugh,  as  was  also 
his  grandfather,  who  was  a  native  of  Canada. 

Lawyer,  A.  D.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Macomb,  December  15,  1842.  He  was  a  farm- 
er's son,  and  followed  agriculture  till  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Cav- 
alry, Company  B,  and  served  four  years  in  Virginia  and  with  Sherman.  After  the  war 
he  followed  farming  for  twenty  years,  and  dunng  the  past  seven  years  has  been  en- 
gaged in  milling.  Mr.  Lawyer  married  Persis  M.  Murton,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Albert  B.,  Gertie  and  Merton.  The  family  has  resided  in  Richville  about  seven 
years. 

Lindsay,  William  P.,  Colton,  was  born  in  West  Poultney,  Vt,  September  21,  1840,  a 
son  of  Rufus  H.  Lindsay,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1797,  who  married  Julia  Potter 
of  the  same  State,  and  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
died  in  Colton  in  1866.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812  and  his  widow  drew  a  pension 
for  his  services.  William  P.  was  reared  in  West  Poultney,  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  the  West  Poultney  Seminary.  He  also  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  many  years.  September  22,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
Ninety-second  N.  Y.  Infantry,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  transferred  to 
the  Ninety-sixth  Regiment  later,  and  from  which  he  was  mustered  out.  He  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  following  battles:  Kingston,  Fort  Anderson,  and  also  many  skirmishes. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Fort  Anderson.  July  12,  1863,  and  held  until  November,  1864. 
He  was  present  at  the  taking  of  Richmond  and  was  held  prisoner  at  Gouldsboro  as 
hostage;  then  at  Richmond  on  Belle  Island,  and  at  Andersonville  ;  then  at  Savannah 
and  Milan,  where  he  was  released.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Colton, 
then  went  to  Rockford,  111.,  and  .spent  three  years  hunting  on  the  plains  and  acting  as 
guide.  His  health  failing  he  returned  to  New  York  and  settled  in  Potsdam.  After  re- 
siding there  two  years  he  came  to  Colton,  where  he  has  worked  at  his  trade  and  also  as 


246  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Tuide.  In  1879  Mr.  Lindsay  erected  the  .Lindsay  House  at  South  Colton,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  proprietor.  In  1866  he  married  Bridget  Linney,  daughter  of  Henry  Lin- 
ney,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  had  five  children :  Delia,  Edwin,  Arthur.  Sylva,  and 
John  (deceased).  Mr.  Lindsay  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  of 
Wait  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  an  Odd  Fellow  of  Potsdam. 

Lavack,  Alexander.  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canada,  February  15,  1834.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1844,  and  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  ever  since.  He 
owns  110  acres  of  fine  dairy  land.  In  1858  Mr.  Lavack  married  D' Anise  Lewar,  and 
they  have  three  children :  Alexander,  George,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Reynolds,  of 
Depauville. 

Lynde,  Elliot,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rossie,  January  3,  1832.  He  was  a  mechanic 
by  trade,  but  has  been  a  farmer  for  many  years  and  has  acquired  a  great  deal  of  prop- 
erty. In  1852  he  married  Nancy  Gleason,  and  they  have  seven  children :  C.  B.,  J.  C, 
H.  C,  E.  W.,  Clara,  Alice,  and  Mary. 

Lyman,  James  W.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Colton,  October  18,  1839,  a  son  of  R.  K.  Ly- 
man, whose  father  was  Asa  Lyman,  an  early  settler  of  this  county,  who  was  drowned 
in  the  Missouri  River.  R.  K.  Lyman  was  born  in  Potsdam  in  1817,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  came  to  Colton.  He  married 
Mary  A.  daughter  of  Abram  Russell,  and  they  had  five  children,  of  whom  three  sons 
are  living.  Mr.  Lyman  died  in  1871,  and  his  widow  lives  in  Colton.  James  W.  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  engaged  as  clerk  for  C.  W.  Gibbs  of  Ogdensburg 
until  the  war  broke  out,  when  he  enlisted,  but  was  rejected.  He  then  spent  seven  years 
as  clerk  for  0.  N.  Hall  of  Colton  and  worked  in  a  tub  factory  at  Parishvil'e  three  years. 
Since  1883  Mr.  Lyman  has  been  engaged  with  Cook  &  Hawley  of  this  town.  July  4, 
1865,  he  married  Amelia  E.,  daughter  of  Calvin  Fuller  of  Colton,  and  they  have  two 
children  :  Ina,  aged  nineteen  years,  and  Ida,  aged  fourteen.  Mrs.  Lyman  and  daugh- 
ters are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mr.  Lyman  is  vestryman. 

Laving,  Andrew,  jr.,  of  Helana,  Brasher,  was  born  July  27,  1845,  a  son  of  Andrew 
and  Clarrisa  (La  Dean)  Laving,  natives  of  Canada,  the  former  born  August  20,  1812, 
and  the  latter  December  20,  1821.  Both  are  now  living.  They  had  thirteen  children, 
nine  surviving.  Our  subject  was  the  fifth,  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  March 
2,  18G7,  he  married  Mary  Dow,  born  July  7,  1843,  and  they  had  three  children,  all  of 
whom  died  young.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Laforsed)  Dow,  and 
was  born  in  Eogansburg,  Franklin  county,  the  fourth  of  eleven  children.  Her  family 
are  both  natives  of  Quebec.  Mr.  Laving  has  a  Que  farm  of  fifty  acres,  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Knapp,  Moore  B.,  Stockholm,  born  in  Stockholm,  January  18,  1832,  is  a  son  of  Moses 
Knapp,  whose  father,  John,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  there  married  and 
reared  a  family  of  five  sons.  Later  he  settled  about  a  mile  east  of  Bicknellville,  N.  Y. 
He  died  at  Knapp's  Station,  in  1840.  Moses  Knapp  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  Stockholm  with  his  parents.  In  1828  he  married  Rachael, 
daughter  of  Peter  Brasee,  an  early  settler  of  Stockholm.     In  1828  Mr.    Knapp  settled 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  247 

at  what  is  now  known  as  Knapp's  Station,  which  was  named  in  liis  honor.  He  was  a 
farmer,  owning  250  acres  of  land.  Tn  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  but  during  the  last 
thirty  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie  Masonic  lodge  of 
Potsdam,  and  he  and  wife  were  Universalists.  Mrs.  Knapp  died  in  1840,  and  Mr. 
Knapp  married  second  Julia  Wetmore  of  Norfolk.  Mr.  Knapp  died  December  24,  1884. 
Moore  B.  Knapp  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  in  St.  LaAvrence  Academy.  He  taught  school  for  a  time, 
and  then  for  three  years  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Hitchins  &  Hall  of  Raymondville.  In 
1857  he  came  to  Knapp's  Station  and  erected  the  store  building,  which  he  now  occu- 
pies. Here  he  has  since,  with  the  exception  of  eleven  years,  been  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  business.  In  1868  he  built  a  steam  saw  mill  and  for  eight  years  did  a 
successful  business.  He  also  owns  and  carries  on  a  farm  of  100  acres.  In  1857  Mr. 
Knapp  married  Louise  D.  Hale,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  daughter  of  Ira  Hale.  They 
had  one  daughter,  Carrie  A.  Mrs.  Knapp  died  in  1865,  and  in  1867  Mr.  Knapp  mar- 
ried Lucinda  B.  Berry,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they  had  two  children  :  Edwin  R. 
and  Gertrude.  Mrs.  Knapp  died  in  1880.  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge  No.  689,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Norwood,  and  I.  O.  0.  F. 
of  Norfolk.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Norwood. 

Keenan,  William  L.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Bombay,  Franklin  county,  October  18, 
1857.  John  Keenan,  father  cf  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  the 
town  of  Brasher  in  1822.  He  was  a  farmer  and  owned  153  acres  in  his  native  town. 
In  1847  he  married  Mary  M.  Howe,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1830.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  three  still  living :  May  E.,  wife  of  E.  T.  Fletcher  of  Tup- 
per  Lake;  Ann  Eliza,  wife  of  E.  W.  Shepard  of  Lawrenceville;  and  William  L.  John 
Keenan  died  in  January,  1868  ;  Mrs.  Keenan  still  survives  him.  The  boyhood  of  our 
subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Brasher.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  his  parents 
moved  into  the  town  of  Lawrence,  and  it  was  in  the  common  schools  of  that  town  and 
Lawrenceville  Academy  he  was  educated.  In  his  fourteenth  year  he  started  as  an 
apprentice  in  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Israel  Dupee  at  Lawrenceville.  He  was  employed 
by  the  day  at  his  trade  for  seven  years.  In  1878  he  established  a  shop  in  Madrid,  which 
he  conducted  until  the  fall  of  1889,  when  he  gave  up  the  busmess  on  account  of  lame- 
ness. October  18,  1889.  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  hardware  store  and  tin  shop 
of  Bartholomew  &  Bullard.  established  in  1886.  The  firm  of  Bullard  &  Keenan  now 
carry  a  full  line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  and  are  agents  for  the  Buckeye  mowers 
and  reapers,  Champion  horse  rake,  the  Mann  seeder,  and  also  dealers  in  harrows,  plows 
and  all  other  agricultuaal  implements.  Since  the  founding  of  the  above  company  their 
business  has  grown  to  extensive  proportions,  and  they  are  to-day  the  leaders  in  the 
trade  of  this  section.  Mr.  Keenan  married  in  1887,  Nellie  A.,  daughter  of  John  Taylor, 
a  native  of  England,  who  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  farming  and  the  butchering 
business  in  Madrid. 

Kennedy,  William  L.,  AVaddington,  was  born  in  Ireland,  November  12,  1852.  His 
father,  Hugh,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1813,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  Remar- 
ried Jane  Toms,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  In  1858  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Morrisburg,  Canada,  and  after  eight  months  removed  to  Wadding- 


248  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ton  and  purchased  fifty-six  acres  of  land  now  owned  by  William  L.  After  fifteen  years 
Mr.  Kennedy  added  fifty  acres  to  his  first  purchase  and  here  he  spent  his  life,  dying  in 
the  village,  October  19,  1891.  His  widow  now  lives  in  Waddington  village.  William 
L.  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington  and  early  in  life  learned  the  ^shoemaker's 
trade  and  carried  on  a  very  successful  business  in  Waddington  two  years.  In  1883  he 
purchased  the  old  homestead  and  has  been  a  resident  since  1885.  L.  Robella,  daughter 
of  Robert  Brown  of  Waddington,  became  his  wife,  November  20,  1878.  Mr.  Kennedy 
is  a  Republican  in  polities  and  has  always  been  a  temperance  man,  never  having  used 
liquor  in  any  form.  He  has  been  a  member  of  various  temperance  organizations,  and 
he  and  wife  are  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Kenned}^  was  Sunday  school  superintendent  one 
year,  secretary  and  treasurer  five  years  and  librarian  seven  years. 

Killmer,  John,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  August  5,  1824,  and 
came  to  Gouverneur  in  1834.  He  has  been  connected  with  farming  part  of  his  life, 
but  is  now  hving  retired.  His  active  life  has  been  spent  chairmaking  and  painting. 
January  7,  1852,  Mr.  Killmer  married  Sarah  McKane,  and  they  have  two  children 
John  P.  and  Ellen  W.,  wife  of  A.  S.  Coates.  Mr.  Killmer  was  trustee  of  the  village 
seven  years  and  excise  commissioner  five  years. 

Kelsey,  Delos  D.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  [December  6,  1815,  a  son  of 
Sidney  Kelsey.  Our  subject  received  a  good  education,  and  has  made  farming  a  life 
occupation.  He  owned  a  farm  upon  the  site  of  part  of  the  village  of  Winthrop,  and  it 
is  due  Mr.  Kelsey  to  say  that  it  was  through  his  efibrts  that  the  village  was  built.  He 
is  now  the  oldest  settler  living  in  the  place.  His  first  wife  was  Harriet  Cook,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Weltha.  His  second  wife  was  Nancy  Perrine,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living  :  Emma  and  Eva.  His  last  wife  was  Annie  Groves, 
a  native  of  Stonnont  county,  Canada,  and  the  only  survivor  of  five  children  born  to 
John  and  Rachael  (McLaughlin)  Groves.  Mr.  Groves  died  in  1858,  and  his  wife  Feb- 
ruary, 1891.  Mr.  Kelsey  is  a  Republican,  and  has  always  taked  an  active  part  m  poli- 
tics. He  is  a  member  of  Brasher  Lodge  N.  541,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  P.  of  H.,  Win- 
throp Lodge.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Universalist  church,  of  which  they 
have  been  very  liberal  supporters. 

Kirby,  Reynold  Marvin,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Brownville,  Jefterson  county.  April 
6,  1844,  a  son  of  Col.  Edmund  Kirby  of  the  U.  S.  A.,  and  grandson  of  Gen.  Jacob 
Brown  and  Judge  Ephraim  Kirby.  He  graduated  at  Hobart  College,  Geneva,  in  1865, 
and  taught  school  for  a  year  at  Bath,  then  entered  the  General  Theological  Seminary  at 
New  York  city,  graduating  in  1869.  He  was  ordained  deacon  at  Mount  Morris,  May 
23,  1869,  and  priest  at  Christ  church,  Albion.  August  21,  1870,  by  Bishop  Coxe.  He 
was  rector  at  Albion  from  1869  to  1871,  and  was  assistant  minister  of  St.  Mark's  cathe- 
dral. Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  from  1871  to  1882.  He  has  been  rector  of  Trinity  church, 
Potsdam,  from  1882  to  the  present  date. 

Kennedy,  Martin,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  June  4,  1832.  His  parents 
settled  in  this  country  about  1820  and  were  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Martin 
entered  the  hardware  establishment  of  Allen  Chaney  &  Co  ,  as  clerk,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  then  for  thiiteen  years  he  was  identified  with  the  dry  goods  store 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  249 

of  T.  B.  Jomes.  After  this  Mr.  Kennedy  established  a  grocery  store  in  Clayton  and 
conducted  it  for  five  years,  and  after  disposing  of  this  he  returned  to  Ogdensburg  and 
established  a  grocery  store  on  the  west  side,  which  he  kept  for  four  years.  Since  that 
time  Mr.  Kennedy  has  followed  the  auctioneering  business  most  successfully.  Mr. 
Kennedy  has  served  as  inspector  of  elections  and  in  other  capacities.  He  married  in 
1860  Ellen  H.    Marshall  and  they  have  five  children  living,  three  girls  and  two  boys. 

Kegle,  M.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  St.  Johns,  Canada,  September  29,  1836.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  merchant  tailor  in  that  place,  and  conducted  this  branch  of  mer- 
cantile industry  for  some  years  prior  to  coming  to  Ogdensburg.  He  came  here  May  4, 
1885,  engaged  in  the  same  business,  and  gradually  extended  his  connections  and  patron- 
age, until  he  conducts  one  of  the  leading  merchant  tailoring  and  men's  furnishing  estab- 
lishments located  on  Ford  street.  Mr.  Kegle  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  J'jlia  Lucier,  to  whom  he  was  married  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  His  second 
and  present  wife  was  Pamelia  Carom.     Mr.  Kegle  has  eight  children. 

Kelley,  J.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  February  14,  1865.  He  came  to 
Ogdensburg  about  1870,  and  was  for  twelve  years  a  valued  employee  at  Colnan's 
mills.  He  was  also  identified  with  Ramsey's  for  four  years.  About  two  years  ago 
Mr.  Kelley  established  a  grocery  business  which  has  proved  entirely  satisfactory. 
He  married,  in  1889,  Maggie  McDonald  of  Ogdensburg,  and  they  have  a  son  and 
a  daughter. 

Kelly,  James,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Canton,  December  17,  1832.  He  began  to 
learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  following  it  for  twenty-five 
years.  He  spent  some  time  in  Greenwood  Valley,  Eldorado  county,  Cal.,  and  from 
September,  1852,  till  1855,  he  was  engaged  in  mining  on  the  North  Fork  of  the 
American  River.  In  1856  he  established  his  business  in  Hermon,  and  it  became  the 
James  Kelly  Wagon  Company  in  1890,  with  Mr.  Kelly  as  superintendent.  In  1857 
he  married  Mina  Burnham,  and  their  children  are :  Mrs.  0.  H.  Farnsworth,  Frank 
B.  and  Maude.     Mr.  Kelly  is  a  prominent  Mason. 

Johnson,  James  0.,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Brasher,  January  26,  1851,  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Orvie  (Freeman)  Johnson.  Isaac  was  the  son  of  William  and  Catharine  (Little) 
Johnson  of  Vermont,  who  came  here  and  settled  about  1812.  Ashley  Freeman,  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  also  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town,  and 
died  November  9,  1892.  James  0.  Johnson  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  now  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  112  acres,  highly  cultivated.  He  was  married,  November  23,  1878,  to 
Leona  Clark,  born  March  23,  1848,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Dickenson) 
Clark,  natives  of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  three  children  :  Arthur  L., 
born  January  22,  1881 ;  Clark  F.,  born  June  14,  1882  ;  and  Bruce  M.,  born  September 
4,  1885.     He  is  a  Republican  in  poHtics  and  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars. 

Johnson,  Abner  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Jefferson   county,   February  3,  1831, 

and  was  a  farmer's  son.     He  has  been  in  business  twenty-five  years,  sixteen  of  which 

have  been  in  Spragueville.     He  married  Lydia  Glazier,  May  29,   1853,   and  they  have 

two  children:  Dewitt  Clinton,  who  is  engaged  in  the  tea  business  in  New  York;  and 

ff 


250  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Mrs.  James  W.  Elliot  of  Montreal.  His  first  wife  died  and  Mr.  Johnson  married  Caro- 
line Collins  and  their  children  are :  Leslie  A.  and  Grace  B.  Mr.  Johnson  was  super- 
visor of  Fowler  two  terms,  and  is  an  active  Republican. 

Joyce,  James,  Potsdam,  was  born  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  October  24,  1820,  and  was 
only  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  immigrated  to  this  country.  Hugh  Joyce,  his 
father,  first  settled  in  Waddington,  working  for  Judge  Ogden  about  six  years,  accept- 
ino-  as  part  pay  about  thirty-five  acres  on  the  Ogden  tract  in  Potsdam,  which  he  settled 
on,  adding  by  purchase,  until  at  one  time  he  owned  240  acres.  He  was  a  Republican, 
and  married  in  Ireland  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  Charlotte  Welworth,  also  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  they  had  six  children  :  Alexander,  died  May  7,  1892,  in  Potsdam, 
aged  seventy-four  years ;  John,  a  farmer  of  Madrid  ;  Abigail,  wife  of  John  Bardon  of 
Dakota;  Jemina,  wife  of  Isaac  McCarthy  of  Madrid;  Hugh,  a  mechanic  of  Canton; 
and  James.  His  father  died  March  3,  1868,  and  his  mother  December  15,  1887.  The 
whole  hfe  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town.  He  worked  for  farmers  three  or  four 
years,  and  in  1849  went  to  Wisconsin,  from  where  the  next  spring  he  went  the  over- 
land route  to  California.  Tliis  being  the  time  of  the  first  discovery  of  gold,  Mr.  Joyce 
mined  and  speculated  for  seven  years.  Returning  here  in  1857,  he  settled  on  his  farm 
of  150  acres,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  Mr.  Joyce  is  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican and  an  honest,  upright  citizen.  He  married  in  1859,  Agnes,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Philpot,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  six  children,  two  died  in  infancy.  A  son, 
Melvin,  eighteeen  years  old,  was  drowned  in  an  inland  lake  in  Michigan,  September, 
19,  1880.  The  others  are :  Emma,  wife  of  Thomas  Fisher,  a  farmer  of  Madrid  :  Min- 
nie, wife  of  John  R.  Dawson,  a  manufacturer  of  Philadelphia;  and  William  R.,  Avho 
assists  on  the  homestead  farm.  Mr.  Joyce  and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church  at  Buck's  Bridge. 

Irish,  Jesse  C,  Colton,  was  born  in  Milton,  Chittenden  county,  Vt.,  December  4, 
1822,  a  son  of  Smiton  and  Thankful  (Reynolds)  Irish,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  1777,  and  she  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  in  1781.  They  came  to  Colton 
in  1841  and  settled  in  South  Colton,  where  Mr.  Irish  lived  just  one  year  after  his  arrival. 
His  wife  died  in  1846.  Mr.  Irish  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  the  father  of  thirteen 
children,  three  now  living.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
where  he  lived  and  died,  and  he  married  Dolly  Irish.  Their  son,  Jesse  C,  started  out 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years  to  make  his  own  way.  He  commenced  work  on  a  farm, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he,  in  company  with  his  brother  James,  came  to  Colton, 
where  they  bought  a  farm,  erected  a  log  house  and  barn,  and  began  clearing  the  land. 
Success  attended  their  efforts  and  they  soon  increased  their  possessions  to  220  acres. 
Early  in  life  they  entered  mercantile  business  at  South  Colton,  and  continued  until  the 
death  of  James,  July  31,  1884,  since  which  time  Jesse  has  carried  on  business  in  his 
own  name.  Mr.  Irish  married  in  Colton,  Adaline  Irish,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a 
daughter  of  Luther  Irish,  of  the  same  place,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Colton.  He  died 
here  in  1886,  and  his  wife  still  survives  him  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Irish  have  had  five  children  :  Sumner  D.,  who  married  in  Michigan  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Maria  and  Rex;  Inez,  wife  of  Antoine  Campltell,  who  has  three  children,  Mary, 
Sumner  and  Benjamin  ;  Lottie,  who  was  the  wife  of  Clarence   Phailings,    who   died  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  251 

1889,  and  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Mildred ;  Jesse,  now  at  home ;  Malcomb  E.,  who 
died,  aged  two  years.  Mr.  Irish  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  three 
years. 

Johnson,  J.  E.,  Canton,  is  known  by  almost  every  one  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  warm  social  instincts  and  possesses  those  generous  traits  of  character 
in  a  marked  degree,  which  make  men  popular  in  public  life.  He  was  born  m  Rossie, 
this  county.  His  grandfather,  Caleb  Johnson,  came  from  Connecticut  to  Northern 
New  York  about  1827.  Mr.  Johnson's  father,  John,  lost  his  life  in  the  late  war.  In 
1873  our  subject  finished  a  course  of  study  in  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  and 
then  became  assistant  postmaster  of  Canton  for  four  years  under  W.  R.  Remington. 
In  1880  he  received  an  appointment  as  clerk  in  the  county  clerk's  office  at  Canton. 
Two  years  ago  last  January  his  ability  led  to  his  appointment  as  deputy  county  clerk 
and  in  this  position  Mr.  Johnson  has  shown  himself  master  of  the  details  of  official  life 
the  books  and  papers  that  come  under  his  careful  scrutiny  being  models  of  neatness  and 
accuracy.  There  are  thirty-one  towns  in  this  county,  and  seven  persons  constantly  in 
service  in  the  clerk's  office.  Of  course  much  of  this  work  is  under  the  direct  super- 
vision of  Mr.  Johnson.  He  served  seven  years  in  the  Canton  fire  department,  and 
though  still  a  young  man  is  serving  as  president  of  tlie  village.  The  prince  of  good 
fellows  socially,  he  possesses  yet  a  vast  amount  of  nerve  and  determination,  which  com- 
mand the  respect  of  the  lower  classes.  He  is  a  man  of  unusual  abilities,  and  has  an 
exceptional  official  career  for  a  man  of  his  age.  He  is  much  liked  in  Canton  and 
throughout  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  is  an  active  Mason,  and  a  member  of  Canton 
Consistory  and  the  Media  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Watertown. 

Johnston,  William  H.,  of  Helena,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Fort  Covington,  Franklin 
county,  March  21,  1851,  a  son  of  William  P.  and  Eliza  (Wagner)  Johnston.  The 
father  was  born  in  New  York  city  about  1807.  The  grandfather  of  William  H.  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  a  ship  chandler  in  New  York.  He  married  Eliza  A.  Johnston, 
a  native  of  Ireland.  He  also  was  a  ship  owner  and  importer.  WiUiara  P.,  father  of 
our  subject,  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  and  his  mother  is  still  living  with  her 
son,  aged  seventy-seven.  William  P.  and  Eliza  Johnston  had  these  children :  Joseph 
H.  (deceased);  Henrietta  M.,  wife  of  Henry  Schoff;  Georgiana  (deceased);  Juliette 
C,  wife  of  W.  C.  Poor ;  Albert  C.  (deceased) ;  and  William  H.,  who  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Hogansburg,  where  he  remained  during  early  life,  then  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  produce.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free  Mason  Lodge  of  Brasher  Falls,  and 
married,  March  30,  1875,  Georgiana  Denio,  born  July  12,  1855,  daughter  of  John  and 
Eliza  (Butler)  Denio,  of  French  ancestry.  One  of  Mrs.  Johnston's  ancestors,  a  Miss 
Wilson,  was  captured  by  the  Indians  at  Deerfield,  Mass.,  in  Revolutionary  times,  and 
afterwards  was  ransomed  by  the  colonists  and  married  a  French  officer,  a  Captain  Denio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnston  have  had  six  children :  Bertha  I.,  born  March  18,  1876;  Car- 
roll, who  died  young;  Beryl  S.,  born  March  6,  1882;  William,  born  July  30,  1884; 
Willma,  born  October  27,  1886,  died  January  16,  1889;  Julietta  S.,  born  May  8,  1889. 

Jefferson,  N.  W.,  Parishville,  was  born  October  23,  1848,  a  son  of  Benjamin  P.,  who 
was  a  son  of  Russell,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  The  latter  married  Betsey  Cheney, 


252  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  He  was  a  relative  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  came  to 
Parishville  in  1848.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  Chicago  in  1883, 
his  wife  having  died  in  Vermont  in  1853.  Benjamin  P.  was  born  in  Washington,  Vt., 
December  14,  1818,  and  came  to  Parishville  in  1840,  where  he  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  our  subject.  In  1842  he  married  Sallie  Willis  Stark,  widow  of  Wilder  S. 
Stark,  who  was  drowned.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferson  had  four  sons :  A.  W.,  B.  F.,  Cyrus 
and  N.  W.  The  former  two  are  Baptist  ministers,  and  Cyrus  resides  in  California.  N. 
W.  Jeflferson  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He 
taught  school  several  years,  and  has  since  followed  general  farming  and  dairying,  own- 
ino"  175  acres  and  keeping  twenty-three  cows.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  twenty  years,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He  was  census  taker  in 
1890.  He  is  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  Potsdam  Chapter,  St.  Lawrence 
Commandery  No.  28,  Lodge  of  Perfection  of  Canton,  and  P.  of  H.  No.  542  of  West 
Parishville.  In  1870  Mr.  Jefferson  married  Ida  L.,  daughter  of  Norman  Harvey  of 
Colton.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church. 

Joyce,  John.  Madrid,  was  born  in  Waddington,  June  22,  1838,  a  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (McMurray)  Joyce.  James  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  in  1791,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1823.  He  was  employed  with  Judge  Ogden  for  about  a  year, 
and  was  then  employed  by  G-eorge  Reddington  for  eighteen  years.  About  1840  he 
bought  the  home  farm  of  100  acres  in  Madrid,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  sixty 
acres.  Here  he  died  July  3,  1863.  The  mother  of  John  was  of  Scotch  ancestry  and  a 
native  of  Ireland.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing. Mrs.  Joyce  died  August  20,  1892,  at  ninety-two  years  of  age.  John  was  the 
youngest  of  the  family  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Regiment  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  with 
them  until  September  20,  1863.  Mr.  Joyce  was  with  the  regiment  at  the  siege  of  Suf- 
folk, Va.,  but  soon  after  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  pneumonia  and  was  obliged  to  with- 
draw from  the  service,  and  although  after  his  recovery  he  was  anxious  to  re-enlist  he 
was  rejected  on  account  of  weak  lungs.  He  returned  to  the  old  homestead  and  three 
years  later  bought  the  farm.  He  now  owns  164  acres,  which  he  conducts  as  a  dairy 
and  sheep  farm,  with  sixteen  head  of  cattle  and  forty-three  sheep.  Mr.  Joyce  has  al- 
ways been  an  active  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  William  Dalzell  Post  No.  530, 
G.  A.  R.  He  married  in  1868  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Alfred  Emerson,  of  Madrid,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Alfred  E.,  now  in  his  thirteenth  year. 

Jones,  Cyrus  0.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Monkton,  Yt,  November  17,  1839.  His  father 
was  James  Jones,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  1799,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. He  married  Lovica  Tracy,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  In 
1837  Mr.  Jones  came  to  Stockholm  and  after  a  few  years  went  to  Norfolk  and  settled 
on,  the  farm  now  owned  by  ]\Ir.  Waldron.  He  afterwards  purchased  the  farm  now 
owned  by  H.  0.  Jones,  and  he  also  owned  the  farm  which  subject  now  owns,  the  Low- 
ery  place,  and  the  place  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Richards,  where  his  wife  died  in  1878. 
Mr.  Jones  married  second  Clarinda  Jenkins,  and  .«pent  his  last  days  in  Brookdale.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  but  not  an  aspirant  to  office.     He  died  in  1883.     Cyrus  0. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  253 

Jones  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  learned  the  har- 
nessmaker's  trade  and  followed  it  for  ten  years  in  Madrid.  He  married  Selema  Thomp- 
son, of  Canton,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children  :  Kittie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
months  ;  and  Alton  A.,  at  home.  Mr.  Jones  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  and  a  very 
pleasant  home,  Pie  has  been  very  successful  and  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  Nor- 
folk. He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics.  He  and  family  attend  and  support  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Norfolk. 

Jenne,  E.  A.,  Gouverneur,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  at  Fullerville,  August  20,  1842 
and  has  resided  in  Gouverneur  fourteen  years.     He  has  been  in  mercantile  business  in 
Russell,  and  traveled  for  a  New  York  house  twenty-five  years,  but  is  now  engaged  in 
the  pulp  business.     la  1874  Mr.  Jenne  married  Lilly,  daughter  of  Dexter  Moody   the 
famous  Evangelist.     Their  children  are  Mabel  and  Hazel. 

Hubbard,  Benjamin  P.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Brandon,  Vt.,  September  10,  1844  a 
son  of  Ira  M.,  a  native  of  Rochester,  Vt.,  born  July  27,  1812.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  Hubbard,  who  came 
to  Pierrepont  about  1848  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  remained  till  1878,  then  moved 
to  Pierrepont  Center,  where  he  died  in  July,  1890.  He  married  first  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Hamilton,  of  Vermont,  an  early  settler  of  thfs  town.  They  had  five  children. 
Mrs.  Hubbard  died  in  1876,  and  he  married  second  Zilpha  Adams,  who  survives  him. 
Mr.  Hubbard  was  a  Republican  and  was  overseer  of  the  poor  for  a  number  of  year.s. 
Benjamin  P.  Hubbard  engaged  in  farming  for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1872  came  to 
Pierrepont  Center,  and  excepting  one  year  in  partnership  with  Milton  F.  Bentley  in  the 
mercantile  business,  has  been  engaged  in  that  calling  by  himself.  December  24,  1870, 
Mr.  Hubbard  married  Cynthia  A.,  daughter  of  James  and  Ruby  Taggart,  who  came 
from  Jefferson  county  and  settled  in  Hermon,  then  went  to  Russell  and  finally  to  Pierre- 
pont. He  afterwards  went  to  Norwood,  where  he  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  have 
had  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Theron  B.,  who  was  educated  in  Potsdam  Normal 
School,  and  is  now  teaching;  Leon  I.,  Meivin  C.  and  Ethel  R.  Mr.  Hubbard  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  been  postmaster  at  Pierrepont  Center  since  1874,  excepting  for  the 
first  administration  of  President  Cleveland,  and  has  been  town  clerk  since  May  5, 
1891. 

Hoit,  L.  A.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Parishville,  May  4,  1829,  a  son  of  John,  a  native 
of  Plainfield,  N.  H.,  born  April  16,  1791.  The  latter  came  to  Parishville  in  1809,  walk- 
ing from  Plainfield.  He  worked  on  a  farm  and  soon  purchased  a  small  piece  of  land 
of  Mr.  Parish,  to  which  he  added  until  he  owned  140  acres.  He  married,  March  1, 
1818,  Polly  Green,  of  Vermont,  born  March  1,  1801,  whose  father  was  Henry  Green,  a 
Baptist  minister  of  Parishville  for  some  years.  John  Hoit  and  wife  had  eight  children. 
He  was  a  Democrat  and  served  as  supervisor  some  time.  He  died  December  7,  1852, 
and  his  wife  April  19,  1843.  L.  A.  Hoit  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Pots- 
dam Academy,  following  teaching  for  several  years.  He  next  engaged  as  clerk  for  the 
Parishville  Co-operative  Union,  and  after  a  year  and  a  half  went  to  Illinois  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Hopper  in  Springfield,  111.,  in  the  news  business.  He  next 
came  to  Parishville,  remaining  a  year,  and  then  went  west,  being  for  three  years  a  clerk 


254  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

in  Decatur  111.  In  1861  he  entered  in  the  mercantile  business,  remaining  about  twelve 
years  He  tiien  came  to  Parishville  and  bought  the  farm  his  father  settled,  and  a  year 
later  became  clerk  in  the  Union  store.  In  1876  Mr.  Hoit  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business  which  he  has  since  carried  on  successfully.  March  17,  1864,  he  married 
Sarah  J.  Cheney,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  have  adopted  a  niece  of  Mr.  Hoit, 
Emma  Simpson.  Our  subject  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party, 
and  has  served  as  town  clerk  five  years  and  justice  of  the  peace  four  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Parishville. 

Hildretb  A.  T.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fowler,  December  16,  1825.  In  1858  he 
married  Maria  D.  Graves,  daughter  of  James  Graves,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  four 
daughters:  Ella  M.,  Mrs.  Stella  Hale,  Mrs.  Edith  R.  Gardner,  and  Mrs.  May  Hamilton. 
Mr.  Hildreth's  father  was  Amos  Hildreth,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 

Hagfarty.  William,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam.  November  27,  1838, 
son  of  Patrick,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  County  Maith,  February  2,  1794,  and  came 
to  this  country  about  1826.  He  located  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  employed  by 
Judge  Ogden  for  three  years,  then  came  to  Potsdam,  taking  a  small  place  of  twenty- 
five  acres  in  payment  for  his  service  to  Judge  Ogden.  He  increased  the  size  of  this 
place  by  purchase  until  at  one  tinfe  he  owned  200  acres.  Patrick  married  in  Wadding- 
ton in  1828  Margaret  Hanny,  also  a  native  of  West  Maith,  Ireland,  and  they  had  six 
children  three  now  living:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Julius  Ames  of  Canton;  Jane,  wife  of 
Mathew  Murphy  of  Madrid  ;  and  William.  Patrick  died  May  24,  1870,  and  Mrs.  Hag- 
garty,  September  3,  1870.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  on  this  farm. 
He  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  married  in  1870,  Louisa,  daughter  of  SaffordFay 
of  Madrid,  and  they  had  six  children:  Darius  E.,  Mattie  L.,  Rose  Theresa,  Mary  Anas- 
tatia,  William  P.  and  Margaret  E.  Mrs.  Lousia  Haggarty  died  October  5,  1886,  aged 
thirty-eight  vears.  Mr.  Haggarty  and  family  are  members  of  St.  Mary's  church  at  Can- 
ton, and  have  been  for  about  twelve  years. 

Henry,  William  Y.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Randolph,  November  19,  1831.  Hiram 
H.,  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade.  Of 
his  three  children,  William  was  the  only  son.  The  latter  was  educated  in  the  common 
school,  and  after  leaving  school  he  went  to  Madrid,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  for 
four  or  five  years  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  general  store.  He  was  engaged  in  trade 
in  different  places  a  number  of  years.  Returning  to  Madrid  he  afterward  became  sta- 
tion agent,  was  then  passenger  train  conductor,  and  also  conducted  a  store  in  Madrid 
for  a  few  years.  In  1863  he  entered  the  government  employ,  stationed  at  Alexandria, 
Va.  In  1866  he  came  to  Potsdam,  where  in  March  of  that  year  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  National  Bank  of  Potsdam,  as  bookkeeper,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged, now  filling  the  position  of  both  teller  and  bookkeeper.  He  is  al«o  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Potsdam  Electric  Light  Company.  Mr.  Henry  married  in  1854,  Hattie  J. 
Dayton  of  Madrid,  who  died  in  1870.  They  had  two  children:  Fred  D.,  who  died  De- 
cember 25,  1872,  in  his  sixteenth  year ;  and  Jessie  M.,  wife  of  Dr.  F.  L.  Dewey  of 
Potsdam  State  Normal  School.  Mr.  Henry  married  in  1871,  Jane  Huntington  of  St. 
Albans,  Vt.,  and  they  have  one  son,  Alfred  Huntington,  born  May  23,  1873. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  255 

Haywood,  C.  Eugene,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Parishville,  November  5,  1855,  h  son  of 
Ryland  F.  Haywood,  a  native  of  Springfield,  Vt.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and 
while  living  in  Parishville  followed  farming.  About  1870  he  came  to  Potsdam  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  his  death  in  1885.  He  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
He  was  always  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party,  and  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Parishville.  C.  Eugene  was  the  third  son.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Potsdam  State  Normal  School,  and  his  first  occupation  after  leaving  school  was  in 
Sparrow's  sash  and  door  factory,  and  next  in  the  A^ews  office  of  M.  V.  B.  Ives.  He  was 
five  years  with  R.  F.  Welch,  jeweler,  and  in  1879  established  a  jewelry  store  where  A. 
L.  Lock  wood  is  now.  He  was  there  four  years,  and  in  December,  1882,  moved  to  his 
present  location.  He  has  also  a  department  for  repairing.  Mr.  Haywood  was  for  two 
years  a  village  trustee  and  for  sixteen  years  a  member  of  the  fire  department,  of  which 
he  was  chief  for  two  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Raquette  River  Lodo-e  No.  21.-{ 
F.  &  A.  M.  and  has  been  through  all  the  chairs;  he  was  master  in  1888-9  and  is  also  a 
member  of  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24,  and  St.  Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28.  He 
mrrried  in  1881,  Libbie  E.  Roberts  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  daughter  Leah 
Marie,  now  in  her  fourth  year. 

Harvey,  James  Freeman,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Canton,  June  10  1814  a 
son  of  Jonathan,  who  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  1789.  He  lived 
in  his  native  State  until  he  was  of  age,  and  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  He  always 
followed  farming,  but  at  odd  times  and  evenings  he  would  make  tubs,  barrels  and 
buckets  for  his  neighbors.  He  married  Polly,  daughter  of  Thomas  Kingsbury,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Canton  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Jonathan  Harvey  was 
the  father  of  nine  children,  two  now  living:  Orrin  Harvey,  a  cloth  dresser  of  Col- 
ton,  and  James.  Oin-  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  assisted  on 
his  father's  farm  until  reaching  his  majority.  He  was  for  two  years  out  of  busi- 
ness, and  in  1837  bought  a  farm  of  twenty-five  acres  in  Potsdam  which  he  still 
owns.  Mr.  Harvey  has  increased  the  size  of  his  place  by  different  purchases  until 
now  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  115  acres,  devoted  to  dairying.  Mr.  Harvey  has  lived 
in  this  place  for  fifty-six  years  and  holds  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all.  He  mar- 
ried, November  22,  1843,  Evaline,  daughter  of  Ira  Copeland  of  Potsdam,  and  they 
had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living ;  Mahlon,  a  farmer  of  Iowa ;  Edson,  who 
conducts  the  homestead  farm;  Mathew,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam;  and  Henry  J.,  a  den- 
tist of  Kalamazoo.  Mrs.  Harvey  died  September  24,  1884.  Carrie  Annette,  the 
only  daughter,  died  at  fourteen  years  of  age.  Edson  Harvey  was  born  December 
26,  1845,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  and  select  schools.  He  has  spent  some 
little  time  in  mechanical  pursuits,  and  since  then  has  lived  on  the  homestead. 

Hargrave,  John  and  Richard,  twin  brothers,  Waddington,  were  born  September  15, 
1848.  Their  father  was  Ruther,  son  of  Rulher  Hargrave,  who  was  born  in  Scotland 
and  came  to  Canada  in  1818,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1845.  Ruther  Hargrave, 
jr.,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1788,  and  married  there,  Agnes  Goldy,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  children.  In  1819  he  came  to  Waddington,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  He  settled  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  and  Richard  Hargrave.  He  married 
second,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Rutherford,  and  they  had  twelve  children.    Mr.  Har- 


256  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

grave  a  oi  the  original  members  and  helped  establish  the  church.     He  died  in 

1879  and  his  wife  in  1885.  John  and  Richard  Hargrave  were  reared  on  the  farm  they 
own  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  They  have  always  been 
eno-ao'ed  in  farming,  and  own  19G  acres  of  land  and  keep  a  dairy  of  twenty-two  cows. 
They  are  Republicans  in  politics,  and  attend  and  support  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church.  They  have  one  brother,  James,  who  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  25, 
1837.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for  twenty-three  years.  At  present  he  is  a  farmer,  hav- 
inff  220  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-two  cows.  He  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  John  W.  Rutherford,  and  they  have  these  children  :  Jennie  B.,  Helen 
H.,  Louis,  Albert,  Edwin,  Roberston,  Edith  and  Ralph  H.  Mr.  Hargrave  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church. 

Hull,  Royal,  Fowler,  was  born  August  18,  1818,  and  is  a  successful  and  wealthy 
farmer.  He  married  in  1843,  Sophia  Cheney,  and  their  children  are:  B.  Frank  Hull 
and  Mrs.  Clark  Bowman.  Mr.  Hull  has  acquired  all  his  large  property  by  his  own  abil- 
ity and  industry,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  residents  of  Fowler.  He  has  held  dif- 
ferent offices,  including  assessor  and  commissioner  of  highways.  His  father  was  Jesse 
Hull,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  State. 

Hatch,  Robert  R.,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Bellows  Falls,  Vt.,  November  3,  1819. 
His  father,  Robert,  was  a  son  of  Robert  Hatch,  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  he  lived 
and  died  December  23,  1793.  His  wife,  Ruth  Hatch,  whom  he  married  November  8, 
1792,  died  January  4,  1795.  Robert,  father  of  subject,  was  born  at  Bellows  Falls,  Vt., 
November  21,  1793.  His  wife  was  Azuba  Ripley,  born  in  Vermont,  October  10,  1793. 
He  married,  September  22,  1817,  and  they  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr. 
Hatch  came  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  in  1824,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  by 
hand.  He  came  to  Waddington  in  1831  and  engaged  as  foreman  in  a  paper  mill  with 
Thayer,  Whitcomb  &  Wales.  He  spent  a  few  years  on  a  farm  and  died  in  the  village 
of  Waddington,  July  10,  1870,  and  his  wife  in  1880.  Robert  R.  Hatch,  subject  of 
sketch,  was  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  making  the 
trip  from  Vermont  with  team  and  wagon.  He  received  a  common  school  education, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  worked  in  a  paper  mill.  He  finally  concluded  lo  engage  in 
farming,  and  purchased  eighty -eight  acres  of  land  in  Waddington.  He  has  added  to 
his  land  and  at  present  owns  a  very  fine  farm  of  124  acres.  At  present  our  subject 
lives  a  retired  life  in  Waddington.  Mr.  Hatch  married  in  Waddington  in  February, 
1856,  Jessie,  daughter  of  John  Hunter,  a  native  of  Scotland.  Mr.  Hunter  came  to 
Waddington  and  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  he  died  in  1886.  Mr.  Hatch  and  wife 
have  had  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living:  John  W.,  who  is  boatmg  on  the 
St.  Lawrence ;  Belle,  a  teacher ;  Arthur,  a  general  merchant  of  Waddington  ;  and 
Carrie,  a  student  of  Potsdam.  In  early  life  Mr.  Hatch  was  a  Whig,  but  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  the  organization  of  the  party.  The  family  is  identified  with  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Hepburn,  Arthur  T.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  June  6,  1843.  The  grandfather, 
Roderick  C,  was  a  son  of  the  first  of  this  family  to  settle  in  this  county,  and  was  the 
father  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  William,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  257 

in  Madrid  about  1800.  He  was  early  in  life  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and  was  a 
partner  with  Austin  J.  Goss  in  a  general  store  for  a  number  of  years.  He  married 
Emily  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter  :  Hattie  L.,  of  Madrid  ; 
Frank  W.,  who  is  in  California  ;  Clark,  who  died  in  1862  ;  one  who  died  in  infancy  ;  and 
Arthur  T.  The  latter  has  always  made  his  home  in  this  village.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  was  only  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted,  October  20, 
1861,  in  Company  C,  Sixtieth  Regiment  N  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  saw  service 
with  them  until  August,  1862,  when  he  was  for  a  while  taken  sick  with  fever  and  was 
sent  to  Sulphur  Springs  near  Washington.  From  Washington  he  was  sent  to  Phila- 
delphia Hospital,  where  he  served  as  nurse  for  eleven  months,  and  after  the  battle  of 
G-ettysburg  was  detailed  by  the  secretary  of  war  as  provost  guard  in  Philadelphia,  serv- 
ing from  July  10,  1863,  until  May,  1864.  He  was  discharged  October  29,  1864,  and  re- 
turned to  his  native  place,  where  in  1866  he  bought  out  the  drug  and  grocery  store  of 
L.  W.  Dillingham  and  conducted  that  about  ten  months,  and  after  spending  a  year  and 
a  half  in  the  store  of  J.  C.  Gage  &  Bro.  established  the  business  he  has  ever  since  been 
engaged  in.  This  was  June  15,  1868.  August  15,  1878,  the  store  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Mr.  Hepburn  rebuilt  the  next  year  a  brick  store,  where  he  carries  a  full  line  of 
drugs  and  groceries,  books  and  stationery.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  col- 
lector two  years.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Madrid  branch  of  the  Genesee  Na- 
tional Loan  Association.  He  married  in  1872  Margaret  J.  Fisher,  of  Madrid,  and  they 
have  two  children  :  Maud  E,,  a  student  of  Wells  College  ;  ^and  William  C,  a  student  of 
St.  Lawrence  University  at  Canton. 

Hurlbut,  E.  A.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Waddington,  August  16,  1839.  His  par- 
ents moved  to  Cleveland,  0.,  shortly  after  his  birth,  where  they  resided  until  Edward 
was  eleven  years  of  age,  when  they  returned  to  this  county  and  settled  permanently  in 
Ogdensburg.  His  ancestors  were  originally  from  Wales,  settling  in  Vermont  over  200 
years  ago,  and  his  parents  on  both  sides  participated  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His 
grandfather  Hurlbut  settled  in  this  State  at  Waddington  when  his  father  was  nme  years 
of  age.  E.  A.  Hurlbut  has  been  engaged  in  the  grain  and  flour  commission  business 
for  the  past  thirty  years,  and  enjoys  an  extensive  connection.  He  married  in  1862  and 
has  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  also  one  grandchild.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ogdens- 
burg Club.  etc. 

Hall,  John,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  October  15, 1825.  The  earliest 
ancestor  we  find  trace  of  in  this  family  is  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joseph  Hall. 
He  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  married  a  Miss  Hurl- 
bert,  and  they  had  five  children,  of  whom  John  Hall,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
oldest.  He  was  born  in  Charlotte,  Vt.,  April  16,  1793.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  his 
native  State  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  In  1816  he  immigrated  with 
his  parents  to  what  was  then  the  new  country  of  Northern  New  York.  They  took  a 
tract  of  land  of  150  acres.  John  Hall,  sr.,  married  about  1820  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Captain  Solomon  Lindsley,  who  was  a  captain  of  Continental  troops  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children  :  Catherine,  who  died  July  8,  1846, 
at  twenty-four  years  of  age ;  and  John.     John  Hall,  sr.,  died  October  2,  1859,  and  his 


25S  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

wife  April  16,  1843.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in  this  town  and  on 
the  old  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  up  farm- 
ing, a  business  he  has  always  followed,  and  still  holds  the  original  farm  of  150  acres. 
He  has  made  many  valuable  improvements.  His  buildings  are  all  in  the  best  of  repair, 
and  their  trim  appearance  denotes  the  thoroughness  of  our  subject.  Water  for  cattle 
and  horses  is  furnished  by  a  wind-mill  pump  on  the  property.  Mr.  Hall  has  always 
been  an  active  Republican,  assessor  nine  years,  and  trustee  of  the  school  eleven  years. 
Mr.  Hall's  ambition  has  always  been  to  become  a  successful  farmer.  He  married, 
March  15,  1854,  Orpha  M.,  daughter  of  David  Chandler,  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 
dren. One  son  died  when  seven  years  of  age  :  Wilifred  Henry,  of  the  firm  of  Smith  <fe 
Hall,  millers  of  Madrid ;  and  Harry  Augustus,  now  a  resident  of  the  old  homestead, 
who  contemplated  making  his  home  in  California.  This  is  conducted  as  a  dairy 
farm  with  twenty  head  of  Holsteins,  the  milk  bemg  sent  to  the  butter  factory  at 
Madrid. 

Heckles,  William.  Canton,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  April  6,  1842.  He 
enlisted  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Volunteeis  August  8,  1862,  and 
served  two  years  nine  months  and  one  day,  being  discharged  May  9,  1865.  He  was 
wounded  July  9,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  Frederick  City,  Md.,  and  discharged  from  the 
hospital  at  that  city.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Ruth  Heckles,  who  had  ten  children  : 
Robert,  William,  James,  John,  Ruth,  Hannah,"Mary  Ann,  Lucina,  Martha,  and  Margaret. 
William  Heckles  married  Olive  Fuller,  and  they  had  three  children :  William  J.,  Charles 
F.,  and  Edna.  Robert,  a  brother  of  William  Heckles,  enlisted  in  Battery  I,  First  Illinois 
Light  Artillery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  died  in  1886  in  the  town  of 
Lisbon. 

Hilts,  Francis,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  July  5,  1820,  and  came  to  St. 
Lawrence  county  in  1845.  In  1846  he  married  Mary  S.,  daughter  of  William  Homer, 
and  they  have  two  children  :  Fred  S.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter.  Mr.  Hilts's  father  was 
Greorge  Hilts,  a  native  of  Herkimer  county  and  of  Mohawk  Dutch  descent,  as  was  also 
his  grandfather.     Mr.  Hilts  has  several  relations  in  the  Mohawk  Yalle}'. 

Howard,  William  Penn,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  at  Black  Lake,  November  6,  1840. 
His  parents  came  from  Vermont  to  St.  Lawrence  county  about  1822.  They  settled 
first  near  Gouverneur,  and  finally  located  on  Black  Lake  a  few  miles  from  Ogdensburg. 
Here  William  P.  was  born  and  lived  until  about  thirty  years  of  age,  when  he  married 
Adaline,  eldest  daughter  of  Robert  Johnson,  and  moved  into  Ogdensburg.  Mr.  How- 
ard has  two  sons.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  clerk  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  several  years.  He  resides  on 
New  York  avenue. 

Hulburd,  Hon.  Calvin  T.,  Brasher,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  this  county,  in  1809,  a  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Lucy  (Tilden)  Hulburd,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  settled  in  thiscount.y 
aboat  1798.  They  were  of  Puritan  stock,  the  ancestors  of  the  family  having  come 
from  Wales  in  the  year  1600.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  and  merchant,  a 
Whig,  and  acted  as  supervisor  of  his  town  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He 
died  in  1857,  aged  eighty-three  years.     His  wife  was  of  the  same  stock   as  the  late 


PERSONAL  SKETCHE?5.  259 

Hon.  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  and  she  died  in  1850,  aged  sixty-eight.     The  first  school  days 
of  Calvin  T.  were  passed  in  an  old  log  stockade,  built  for  protection  against  the  Indians. 
He  was  a  precocious  lad,  devouring  all  the  scant  reading  matter  obtainable,  and  his 
parents  soon  decided  to  allow  him  the  advantages  of  a  college  education,  and  in  the 
county  academj'  and  a  minister's  study  he  fitted  for  college,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
entered  Middlebury  College,  Vermont,  where  in  1829  he  graduated  with  high  honors. 
He  often  acted  as  editor  of  the  National  Standard  while  attending  college,  at  that  time 
one  of  the  most  influential  Democratic  papers  in  Western  Vermont.     In  1830  he  began 
the  study  of  law  with  Judge  Abraham  Van  Vechten  of  Albany,  after  which  he  spent  a 
j'ear  at  Yale  Law  School  and  one  year  in  the  office  of  Judge  Isaac  McCanihe  at  Troy, 
and  in  1833  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New  York  city.     Those  who  knew  him  antici- 
pated for  him  a  career  of  usefulness,  but  in  his  close  application  to  study  for  so  many 
years,  he  somewhat  undermined  his  constitution,   and  on  account   of  ill  health  was 
obliged,  in  1839,  to  purchase,  with  his  brother,  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence River,  where  the  village  of  Brasher  Falls  has  since  been  built.    Here  they  erected 
mills  and  factories  and  our  subject  soon  built  for  himself  an  ideal  country  residence,  in 
which  he  still  resides.     As  merchant,   manufacturer,  farmer  and  breeder  of  fine  stock 
he  has  spent  many  years.     In  1841  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,   was  re-elected  in  1842  and  returned  in  1844.     He  was  from  first 
to  last  on  important  committees  and  championed  the  cause  of  moral  and  educational 
reforms.     He  introduced  the  bill  which  resulted  in  the  creation  of  the  State  Normal 
Schools,  having  previously  visited    Europe    and    studied    their    origin    and    progress. 
After  several  years  spent  in  private  life,  he  was  again  m  1862  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature,  this  time  on  the  Republican  ticket,  having  become  a  Republican  at  the 
formation  of  that  party.     In  the  fall  of  18G3  he  was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the 
of  the  United  States  on  the  Republican  ticket,  taking  his  seat  in  the    XXXVIIIth 
Congress.     His  first  speech  was  in  vindication  of  President  Lincoln's  Emancipation 
Proclamation.      At    the    close   of   his  congressional  term  he  accepted,  in  the  fall  of 
18G9,  the  position  of  superintendent  of  construction    of    the    New  York  post-office, 
during  which  period  and  through  the  disbursement  of  §9,000,000,  there  was  not  the 
least  criticism   of  Mr.   Hulburd's  official  life.     June  1,  1842,  he  married  Jane  I.  But- 
terfield,  born  June  1,  1820,  a  daughter  of  Shubal  Butterfield,  a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
army,  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.     She  was  a  sister  of  General  Justin  Butterfield, 
who  settled  in  Chicago  in  an  early  day.     Her  mother  was  Jerusha  Burchard,  a  sister  of 
the  evangelist,  Jared  R.  Burchard.     Mrs.  Hurlburd  died  September  7,  1891,  leaving  no 
children.     Both  have  been  many  years  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  he  a  ruling 
elder  since  1844. 

Hill,  L.  H.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Chester,  Vt,  March  27,  1841,  and  began  his  busi- 
ness life  as  a  clerk,  in  his  native  place.  He  next  worked  for  a  Troy  house  and  then 
for  an  Albany  firm.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  started  in  business  for  himself  in 
Rensselaer.  Falls,  where  he  has  resided  continuously  since,  with  the  exception  of 
one  and  one-half  years  spent  in  Canton.  Mr.  Hill  is  one  of  the  prominent  Masons 
of  St.  Lawrence  county,  belonging    to   the   blue   lodge,    chapter   and    commandery. 


2G0  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1866  by  Mr.  Gates  Curtis,  the  master  of  the  lodge.     In 
1867  Mr.  Hill  married  Lucretia  M.   Hamlin,   who  died  in  1879. 

Healy,  Philip,  Colton,  was  born  in  Colton,  February  22,  1863,  a  son  of  Dennis  and 
Sarah  (Cullen)  Healy,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  had  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  twelve 
now  living.  Mr.  Healy  and  family  came  to  Smith  Falls,  Canada,  and  thence  to  Canton, 
finally  locating  in  Colton,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm,  and  now  own  155  acres.  They 
keep  a  dairy  of  about  twenty-two  cows.  Mr.  Healy  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  the 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Philip  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Eastman's  Business  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1887.  He  worked 
for  the  St.  Lawrence  Tanning  Company  of  Colton  as  bookkeeper,  and  in  1891  engaged 
as  clerk  for  Mr.  Horton,  of  South  Colton,  which  position  he  now  occupies.  November 
16,  1892,  he  married  Ettie  Sellick,  of  Colton.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church. 

Glennan,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  April  20,  1851.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  cigarmaking  and  in  1885  established  business  here  in  Ogdensburg.  In  1886 
he  admitted  a  partner  who  is  now  attending  to  the  outside  work.  Mr.  Glennan  em- 
ploys about  fifteen  persons  in  his  establishment,  which  consists  of  the  manufacture  of 
cigars,  etc.  He  is  married  and  has  one  son.  In  politics  Mr.  Glennan  is  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat.    His  father  settled  in  this  country  about  1847. 

Gibson,  George,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Ireland,  October  28,  1836,  and  came  to 
America  in  1854.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  and  followed  it  for 
some  time.  Thirteen  years  ago  he  purchased  a  farm  and  has  since  followed  that  occu- 
pation. Mr.  Gibson  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  He  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Regiment,  and  served  three  years  and  two  months.  Mr. 
Gibson  married  EustaciaBuck,  and  they  have  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Gib- 
son is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  has  served  on  the  town  committee  and  in  other  ways 
aided  his  party. 

Gardner,  Otis,  Hammond,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Hammond,  was  born  in  this 
town  December  5,  1828.  He  has  practically  followed  farming  all.his  life.  In  1862  he 
married  Margaret  Lambie,  and  they  have  one  daughter  living,  Julia  M.  Mr.  Gardner's 
father  was  Otis  Gardner,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  his  mother,  Mary  (King)  Gardner,  a 
native  of  the  Mohawk  Valley.  Mr.  Gardner  has  lived  on  his  present  farm  all  his  life. 
It  was  owned  by  his  father. 

Gladding,  William  L.,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Vergennes,  Addison  county,  Vt.,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1814.  His  father,  Josiah,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  who  came  to  Vermont 
and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  His  first  wife  was  Olive  Murphy,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children.  He  married  second  Mary  Bratte,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  His 
third  wife  he  married  in  Buffalo,  and  they  moved  to  Michigan,  where  Mr.  Gladding  died. 
He  lived  in  St.  Lawrence  county  a  number  of  years  and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  was 
a  Whig  in  politics.  William  L.  Gladding  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  at  which  he  worked  one  year  in  Michigan  with  his  father.  He  came  to 
Norfolk  with  his  parents  when  twelve  years  of  age.     He  married  Mary  M.  Palmer, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  261 

daughter  of  Amos  Palmer,  ot  Norfolk,  who  was  a  native  of  Richmond,  Vt.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gladding  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living.  He  bought  the 
farm  he  now  owns  when  a  young  man.  He  now  owns  225  acres.  Mr.  Gladding  was 
a  Democrat  in  early  life,  but  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party. 
Mrs.  Gladding  died  February  1,  1890,  and  Mr.  Gladding  February  16,  1892. 

Grant.  Samuel,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  N.  Y.,  February  27,  18G7.  His  father 
is  Julius  Grant,  a  son  of  Julius  Grant  mentioned  in  this  work.  Julius  Grant,  jr.,  was 
born  in  Matilda,  Canada,  January  27,  1820,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  He  came  to  Norfolk  in  1840,  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  since  fol- 
lowed that  occupation.  He  purchased  126  acres  of  land  in  Norfolk,  now  owned  by  the 
family,  and  here  he  has  since  lived.  He  married  Catharine  Brouse,  a  native  of  Will- 
iamsburg, Canada,  born  June  30,  1831,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Brouse.  Mr.  Grant 
and  wife  have  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  now  living.  He  is  ?,  Republican, 
and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church  at  Raymondsville.  Samuel  Grant 
was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation  he  has  since  followed.  September  6,  1892,  he 
married  Jennie  Hosmer,  a  native  of  Norfolk,  and  daughter  of  Edwin  Hosraer,  of  Nor- 
folk. Mr.  Grant  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  P.  of  I.  No.  167  of  Nor- 
folk. 

Gilbert,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  six  miles 
below  Cornwell,  Canada,  January  13,  1830.  He  learned  the  mechanic's  trade  with  his 
father,  and  in  1839  the  elder  Gilbert  moved  with  bis  family  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he 
followed  carpentry  for  some  years.  In  1858  Joseph  Gilbert  inaugurated  his  soap  and 
candle  industry,  adding  to  this  a  grocery  store.  He  took  John  Knapman  as  a  part- 
ner, and  for  ten  years  they  conducted  business,  dissolving  partnership  in  1871.  In 
1873  Edward  Derochie  became  a  partner,  and  a  large  business  is' now  conducted  by  this 
house,  consisting  of  the  wholesaling  and  retailing  of  Lehigh  Valley  and  Wilkes-Barre 
coal,  Straitsville,  Reynoldsville  and  Mclntyre  smithing  coal,  also  Warsaw  and  Canada 
salt  for  dairy  and  other  purposes.  Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  repeatedly  solicited  to  accept 
public  office,  and  was  elected  alderman  in  1876,  but  resigned  the  next  day.  He  mar- 
ried Margaret  Perry,  by  whom  he  has  no  children.  Mr.  Gilbert's  grandfather  Derochie 
was  the  first  man  to  cut  a  tree  in  the  settlement  where  he  located,  in  Canada,  early  in 
the  last  century.  His  father,  Peter  Gilbert,  participated  in  the  War  of  1812.  Our  sub- 
ject is  one  of  Ogdensburg's  most  esteemed  and  prosperous  citizens,  and  his  business  in- 
terests are  an  important  factor  in  the  commercial  life  of  the  city. 

Grange,  John  D.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Malone,  October  10,  1843.  After  a  residence 
of  eighteen  years  in  Canada,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  he  went  to 
Troy  and  remained  two  years,  coining  to  Canton  in  1879.  Mr.  Grange  bought  his  pres- 
ent lumber  business  from  B.  Hodskins,  which  he  has  successfully  conducted  ever  since, 
also  operating  a  saw  and  planing  mill  in  connection.  He  married  Hattie  W.  Rice  in 
1873,  and  they  have  three  children  :  Hattie,  Mane,  and  J.  D.  Grange.  Our  subject  is  a 
Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


262  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Griffith,  J.  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  Gouver- 
neur.  In  1882  he  married  Aggie  Flood,  and  their  children  are:  George,  Gertie,  and 
Ethel.  Mr.  Griffith  is  one  of  the  largest  farmers  of  Gouverneur,  owning  410  acres  of 
land.  His  father,  William  Griffith,  settled  in  Gouverneur  fifty-four  years  ago.  His 
grandfather,  Hugh  Griffith,  came  from  Wales  eighty-five  years  ago.  Mrs.  Griffith  is  a 
daughter  of  Matthew  Flood. 

Gardner,  L.  M.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  April  1,  1837,  and  came 
to  Gouverneur  in  1880.  Since  coming  here  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  mining, 
and  has  prospected  and  opened  more  mines  here  than  any  other  man.  He  also  spent 
the  years  from  1857  to  1860  in  mining  in  California.  In  1862  Mr.  Gardner  married 
Mary  A.  Reese  and  they  have  had  three  children,  none  now  living :  Fred,  Grace,  and 
Jessie.  The  latter  died  in  April,  1893.  She  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  I.  E.  Brooks,  of  New 
York.  Mr.  Gardner  has  been  president  of  the  village  and  is  a  prominent  figure  in  the 
Methodist  church. 

Giffin,  A.  D.,  Heuvelton,  was  born  in  Depeyster,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  June 
15,  1869.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality,  and  in  1893 
formed  a  copartnership  with  N  S.  Millard,  and  purchased  the  interests  of  J.  E.  Chaffee 
in  the  hardware  establishment  at  Heuvelton,  which  he  and  Mr.  Millard  are  now  con- 
ducting under  the  firm  name  of  Millard  &  Giffin.  Mr.  Giffin  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
county's  oldest  and  most  respected  families,  and  is  himself  a  thorough  enterprising  and 
popular  merchant.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Indian  Order  of  Foresters  and  interested  in 
all  local  matters. 

Glover  &;  Orne,  Potsdam. — This  firm  is  composed  of  William  H.  Glover  and  William 
H.  Orne  and  was  established  in  Potsdam  in  November,  1891,  by  the  purchase  of  the 
stock  and  store  of  E.  D.  Brooks,  which  was  established  here  in  1S70.  The  store  is  lo- 
cated in  the  Brooks  block,  on  the  west  side  of  Market  street,  where  they  have  a  fine 
store  of  twenty-eight  feet  front  and  seventy-five  feet  in  depth,  occupying  three  floors, 
the  main  floor  being  devoted  to  dry  goods,  etc.,  the  first  floor  to  carpets,  wall  paper  and 
cloaks,  and  the  basement  for  reserve  stock.  Both  men  have  been  brought  up  in  the 
trade.  Mr.  Glover  is  traveling  salesman  for  the  Boston  firm  of  Walker,  Stetson,  Saw- 
yer &  Co.  Mr.  Orne  was  formerly  with  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.  of  Boston.  They  em- 
ploy six  clerks  and  do  a  strictly  cash  business. 

Garfield,  Milton  (deceased),  Potsdam,  was  born  January  13,  1832,  in  the  town  of 
Colton,  a  son  of  Horace  Garfield,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of 
Colton.  Horace  Garfield  was  twice  married  and  our  subject  was  a  son  of  the  second 
marriage.  Milton  was  but  a  lad  when  his  parents  moved  into  the  town  of  Potsdam, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  of  105  acres,  where  the  whole  life  of  our  subject  was  spent.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  academy,  and  took  up 
farming.  He  married,  February  13,  1853,  Abigail  M.  Saddler,  and  they  had  three 
children,  all  of  whom  died  young.  Mr.  Garfield  married  second,  January  7,  1870,  Ab- 
bie,  daughter  of  Patrick  Finnegan  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  and  they  had  three  sons : 
George  M.,  born  January  10,  1871,  a  farmer;  Charles  H.,  born  September  20,  1872, 
also  a  farmer;  and  James  A.,  born  June   16,  1882.     Mr.   Garfield  died  May   6,  1883. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  263 

The  widow  and  sons  survive  hina  and  conduct  a  dairy  farm,  keeping  fifteen  cows    and 
sending  the  milk  to  the  butter  factory. 

Gaddis,  E.  W.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  February  3,  1860,  and  lived  on  a  farm  till 
1880  when  he  took  up  cheesemaking,  which  he  followed  for  two  years.  He  then 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  has  followed  ten  years,  seven  of  which 
have  been  for  himself.  In  1886  Mr.  Gaddis  married  Elma  M.  Seaver,  daughter  of 
Robert  Seaver,  and  they  have  three  children.  Mr.  Gaddis's  father  was  James,  a 
native  of  Ireland. 

Gilbert,  E.  Howard,  Parishville,  was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  August  29, 1869. 
His  father  was  George  G.,  a  son  of  Peter  B.,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  October  25 
1793.  The  latter  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Parishville,  to  which  town  he  came 
when  a  young  man.  He  married  Lucina  Adams,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  November 
3,  1801,  and  they  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  Gilbert  took  up  and  cleared  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  and  there  died,  November  3,  1874,  aged  eighty-one. 
His  wife  died  April  23,  1873.  George  G.  was  born  September  4,  1823,  in  Parishville 
and  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Mary  Chandler,  a  native  of  Potsdam,  by 
whom  he  had  a  son  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Gilbert  died  m  1856.  He  married  sec- 
ond, October  21,  1868,  Hannah  A  Courser  of  Parishville,  who  was  born  in  1839,  and 
by  whom  he  had  one  child,  our  subject.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge 
No.  395,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  died  in  1877,  and  his  wife  July  19,  1872.  After  his  parent's 
death  our  subject  was  reared  by  his  aunt,  Alzina  P.  Cook  of  Newton,  Mass.,  and  received 
his  education  at  the  Newton  schools  and' the  Vermont  Academy  at  Rockingham,  the 
New  Church  School  at  Waltham,  Mass.,  and  the  English  and  Classical  School  at  West 
Newton,  Mass.  He  spent  two  years  in  Boston  in  the  hardware  business,  and 
in  1890  came  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  owns  300 
acres  of  land,  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying.  In  1891  Mr.  Gilbert  married 
Ida  E.  Weller  of  Parishville,  born  in  1872,  whose  parents  are  Harry  and  Harriet  (Shel- 
don) Weller.  Mr.  Weller's  father  was  a  native  of  Bridgeport,  Vt.  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  town.     Mr.  Gilbert  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Gardner,  A.  D.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  De  Kalb,  December  31,  1859.  He  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  till  the  age  of  twenty,  when  he  took  up  cheesemak- 
ing. In  1884  he  became  a  partner  of  the  firm  of  Jones  &  Gardner,  and  after  three 
years  of  successful  business  he  bought  out  Mr.  Jones's  interest  and  conducted  the 
factory  one  year  alone.  Then  after  some  changes  he  bought  out  the  mercantile 
business  of  G.  T.  Merrithew  in  Richville,  and  has  vastly  increased  the  business. 
Mr.  Gardner  is  gifted  with  more  than  ordinary  business  ability  and  enterprise,  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Richville. 

Groulx,  F.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  15,  1862.  He  came  to 
Ogdensburg  five  years  ago,  and  for  the  past  three  years  has  conducted  his  meat  business 
on  Ford  street.  He  learned  his  trade  of  butchering  in  Canada,  and  is  very  prosperous. 
He  married  in  Canada  prior  to  coming  here,  and  has  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.     Mr.  Groulx  is  much  liked  by  his  partners. 


264  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

McGinnis,  Edward,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  February  28,  1844.  He  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  Ogdensburg,  and  commenced  as  a 
clerk  being  identified  in  that  capacity  with  the  establishment  of  William  Ferguson, 
the  Northern  Transit  Company  of  Michigan,  Hanon  Bros,  and  Lynch  Bros.  April  14, 
188G  he  established  his  present  bottling  works,  which  he  has  successfully  conducted 
since.  He  bottles  the  Milwaukee  and  Rochester  lager  beer,  Joseph  Schlitz's  export 
and  Saratoga  Star  water,  ginger  ale,  birch  beer,  orange  fizz,  etc.  His  premises  are 
located  at  the  corner  of  Patterson  and  Washington  streets,  where  all  the  latest  im- 
provements are  at  hand  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  industry.  Mr.  McGinnis 
married  February  5,   1888,  Catherine  White  of  Picton,  Ontario. 

Murphy,  M.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland,  July  4,  1827.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  country,  and  in  1844  came  to  this  country,  set- 
tling in  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade  and  conducted  a  mer- 
chant tailoring  establishment  there  many  years.  In  1854  he  came  to  Ogdensburg 
and  established  himself  in  the  same  branch  of  business,  which  he  has  since  most 
acceptably  conducted.  Mr.  Murphy  married  Elizabeth  Reynolds  of  Boston,  and 
they  have  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Murphy  employs  about  a 
dozen  assistants  in  the  prosecution  of  his  branch  of  industry.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence and  business  career  in  Ogdensburg,  Mr.  Murphy  has  through  upright  and 
honorable  methods  gained  the  respect  of  this  entire  community. 

Fairbrother,  George,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  England,  May  24,  1844.  He  came 
to  this  country  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  During  the  war  he  served  in  the 
Third  Light  Cavalry  for  two  years  and  eight  months,  after  which  he  settled  on  a 
farm  on  the  Morristown  road.  He  married,  twenty-two  years  ago,  Elizabeth  Fur- 
nace of  Oswegatchie,  and  they  have  four  children.  George  Fairbrother  is  a  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  poUtics  is  a  Republican. 

Fuller,  A.  P.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Fullerville,  January  15,  1841.  His  father 
was  Lehman  Fuller,  who  found  the  Javal  ore  beds,  and  his  grandfather,  Abram  Fuller, 
found  the  Carney  ore  beds.  In  1882  Mr.  A.  P.  Fuller  came  to  Gouverneur  and  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  farm  implements,  which  he  still  continues.  He  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason  and  a  strong  Democrat.  He  married  in  1860  Martha  A.  Rolf,  and  they 
have  two  sons :  A.  L  Fuller  and  F.  B.  Fuller,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Dennison. 
Mr.  Fuller's  ancestry  dates  back  to  pioneer  days  in  this  county. 

Forsythe,  W.  W.,  Lisbon,  was  born  in  Lisbon,  March  5,  1834.  He  has  long  been 
engaged  in  farming,  but  has  also  had  experience  in  mining,  and  was  for  fourteen  years 
bridge  builder  on  railroads.  In  1852  he  married  Sarah  Hanna,  and  they  have  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr.  Forsythe's  father  was  John  Forsythe,  a 
native  of  Ireland.     His  mother  was  Catherine  (Kennedy)  Forsythe,  a  native  of  Lisbon. 

Flint,  Frank  F.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Jay,  Essex  county,  N,  Y.,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1843,  a  son  of  Charles  D.  Flint,  who  died  in  February,  1889.  Frank  was  twelve 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  located  in  Colton. 
December  16,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  was  in  service  nearly 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  205 

two  years.  His  service  was  entirely  on  scouting  expeditions,  and  after  his  return  home 
in  1865  he  built  a  saw  mill  in  Colton,  which  he  conducted  until  1879.  He  then  sold 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  mercantile  business  at  South  Colton.  February  20, 
1889,  he  moved  to  Potsdam,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade, 
and  is  now  in  the  paper  manufacturing  trade.  He  married  in  1866  Emma  L.  Arm- 
strong, of  Colton,  and  they  have  two  sons.  Mr.  Flint  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  was  for  two  terms  supervisor  of  Colton  and  is  now  a  trustee 
at  Potsdam  village. 

Faulkner,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Oswegatchie,  September  6, 
1845.  He  learned  his  trade  with  William  Gordon  and  commenced  business  for  himself 
in  1865,  since  which  time  he  has  built  up  a  large  patronage.  He  married  first  in  1865 
Henrietta  Jenness,  and  has  had  two  children.  His  second  wife  was  N.  Currey.  Mr. 
Faulkuer's  ancestors  settled  in  Lisbon  over  sixty  years  ago,  and  were  among  the  early 
settlers.  They  have  all  been  of  large  and  robust  physical  proportions,  and  are  noted  for 
their  strength  and  energy.  Joseph  Faulkner,  the  subject,  has  been  in  Ogdensburg  over 
forty  years  and  is  well  known  in  this  county.  He  is  energetic,  reliable  and  skillful  in 
his  business,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all. 

Farley,  John,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Massena,  January  14,  1848,  spending  his  early 
life  on  the  farm.  He  then  for  fourteen  years  acted  as  a  clerk  in  different  hotels,  and 
has  been  three  years  in  the  livery  business.  He  is  now  traveling.  Mr.  Farley  is  a 
Mason  and  has  long  been  an  influential  and  active  Democrat.  In  1874  he  married  Mar- 
garet McEwen. 

Fenner,  Judson  F.,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Fowler,  April  10,  1831,  and  has  always  been 
a  very  successful  farmer.  In  1850  he  married  Eleanor  Kitts,  by  whom  he  has  had  the 
following  children  :  George,  Charles,  Hattie,  Luna,  Sarah  and  Bertha  A.  Mr.  Fenner 
is  an  active  Prohibitionist  and  known  all  over  the  county  for  his  strong  advocacy  of  the 
cause.  His  father  was  Thomas  H.,  a  native  of  Fairfield,  and  his  mother  Harriet  (Mar- 
ble) Fenner. 

Foster,  W.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  December  9,  1854.  His 
parents  moved  to  this  city  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  a  child.  After  re- 
ceiving his  education  he  learned  the  butcher's  trade  of  J.  B.  Armstrong,  the  pioneer  of 
this  branch  of  business  in  Ogdensburg:,  and  in  1878  established  himself  in  business  here. 
He  possesses  every  convenience  and  facility,  such  as  cold  storage,  etc..  and  has  a  very 
fine  trade,  keeping  three  assistants.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  Ogdens- 
burg Commandery,  etc.,  also  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  married  in  1890  Eva  Osier,  and  they 
have  two  sons. 

Farnsworth,  Amos,  Norfolk,  was  born  in  Gilaum,  N.  H.,  February  8, 1833.  His  father, 
Moses,  son  of  Moses,  sr.,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1805  and  there  married  Hepsible 
Comstock,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  by  wliom  he  had  nine  children.  Mr.  Farnsworth 
came  to  Norfolk  in  1833  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Fisher  Ames,  afterwards 
buying  the  farm  no^  owned  by  Mr.  Hartford,  where  he  lived  and  died  in  1868.  His  wife 
died  the  same  year,  within  two  weeks  of  her  husband.    Amos  Farnsworth  was  reared  on 

lib 


266  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

a  farm  aud  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  married  Lucy  A.  Raymond,  a  native  of 
Lawrenceville,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of  Timothy  Raymond,  of  Peru.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farns- 
worth  had  four  children  :  Ella,  Ida,  Richard,  and  Homer.  Mr.  Farnsworth  owns  about 
300  acres  of  land,  chiefly  devoted  to  dairying,  keeping  fifteen  cows.  He  is  a  Democrat 
m  politics.  He  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  1853,  and  has  cleared  it  himself. 
Mr.  Raymond  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Patience  Hamlin,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  sons.  His  second  wife  was  Lucy  Ballard,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  In  1808  he  came  to  Lawrenceville,  and  finally 
to  Brasher,  where  he  died  in  185i,  and  his  wife  in  1889,  aged  ninety-three  years.  Mr. 
Raymond  was  a  farmer.  His  father,  John,  was  an  early  settler  of  Raymond's  Island, 
Massena.  Of  Mr.  Farnsworth's  children  Ella  married  Silas  Adams  ;  Ida  married  Daniel 
E.  Bush,  and  resides  in  Nebraska.  Tbey  have  one  son.  Charles  A. ;  Richard  married 
Minnie  Gladding,  and  they  have  two  children,  Effie  ^I.  and  Ida  R.  Homer  lives  at 
home. 

Fuller,  Edward,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Jefi^erson  county,  February  14,  1842,  and  has 
resided  in  St.  Lawrence  county  since  1865.  In  1865  he  married  Sarah  A.  Burt,  and 
their  children  are:  Mrs.  Fred  Jefiers  and  Adelbert  Fuller.  Mr.  Fuller's  father  was 
David  Fuller,  and  his  grandfather  John  Fuller,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Jefi'erson 
county. 

Fitzgerald,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  1845  in  Ireland.  He  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1858,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  owns  a  farm  con- 
taining forty-nine  acres  on  the  Morristown  road,  and  has  never  married.  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald is  a  strict  member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  is  much  respected  and  esteemed. 

Forsythe,  Walter  (deceased),  Brasher,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  came  to  America 
in  1826,  settling  on  the  place  where  his  son  Robert  now  lives,  being  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Brasher.  He  took  up  a  tract  of  about  seventy-seven  acres  in  the  wilderness,  and  he 
and  his  oldest  son  cleared  a  fine  farm.  He  was  a  shepherd  in  the  old  country,  where 
he  married  Margaret  Ralph,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  lived  to 
maturity,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead  but  Robert.  Our  subject's  father  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years,  and  his  mother  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Robert  was  born  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  October  31,  1826,  and  has  always  continued  his  residence 
there,  the  farm  now  comprising  182  acres.  March  22,  1874,  he  married  Sarah  McGee, 
born  October  19,  1829,  in  Canada,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Brown)  McGee, 
natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  in  early  life.  Her  father  was  a  British  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Forsythe  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  assessor  of 
the  town  for  five  years. 

Forrester,  Irwin  D.,  Hammond,  was  born  in  Hammond,  November  13,  1844.  In  1887 
he  married  Emma  Forrester,  a  native  of  Canada  and  daughter  of  WiUiam  Forrester. 
Mr.  Forrester's  father  was  ilitchel  Forrester,  who  was  born  July  12,  1S17,  came  to 
Hammond  in  1827,  and  died  July  14,  1890.  Mrs.  Forrester,  mother  of  Irwin  D.,  was 
born  July  14,  1825,  and  is  still  living. 

Fisher,  William,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid.  February  1,  1823.  the 
oldest  son  of  WiUiam  and  Euphemia  (McDonald)  Fisher.     The  early  life  of  our  subject 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  2G7 

was  spent  on  the  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  assisted^his  father 
until  about  twenty-three  years  of  age  when  he  engaged  in  the  buying  and  selling  of 
live  stock,  which  he  has  followed  more  or  less  ever  since,  his  market  being  Boston  and 
New  York,  which  has  caused  his  frequent  visits  to  those  cities.  In  1849  Mr.  Fisher 
bought  a  farm  of  211  acres,  where  he  has  ever  since  lived.  He  has  added  many  im- 
provements to  the  property  since  he  came  here,  and  all  of  the  barns  and  the  substantial 
brick  residence  are  the  result  of  his  industry.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  ninety-eight 
acres  in  the  town  of  Waddington,  which  he  uses  as  a  pasture  for  his  large  herd  of  cattle 
from  the  dairy  farm.  Mr.  Fisher  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  foundation  of  the 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church  of  Scotch  Settlement.  Mr. 
Fisher  married,  January  27,  1857,  Maria,  daughter  of  Andrew  McDonald  of  Hunting- 
don, Canada  East,  and  they  have  had  three  sons :  Frank  A.,  born  May  28,  1858,  now  a 
stock  buyer  for  Swift  &  Co.  of  Chicago  ;  G.  Byron,  born  November  1,  18G2,  now  a 
stock  buyer  at  Buffalo  for  the  New  England  Dressed  Meat  and  Wool  Company  of  Bos- 
ton ;  and  Howard  A.,  born  June  6,  1869,  connected  with  the  same  firm  in  Chicago 
with  his  brother,  Frank  A.  Mrs.  Fisher,  wife  of  our  subject,  died  September  24,  1891 
at  fifty-eight  years  of  age. 

Fisher,  James,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  July  9,  1829,  son  of  William,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  born  in  Roxburvshire  in  1798.  who  came  across  the  water  in  1820.  Landing 
in  Quebec  they  came  up  the  river  to  Waddington,  which  place  they  reached  in  June, 
1820.  He  took  a  tract  of  land  of  fifty  acres  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  to  which  he  added 
until  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  about  200  acres.  He  reared  ten  sons  and  six 
daughters.  Twelve  of  those  children  are  still  living.  William  Fisher  died  in  June, 
1875.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  Euphemia  McDonald,  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland, 
born  in  1802.  James  was  the  third  son,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
lived  on  the  homestead  farm,  assisting  his  father,  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  Jan- 
uary 2,  1856,  he  married  Margaret  F.,  daughter  of  John  Dunn  of  Waddington,  and  the 
same  year  Mr.  Fisher  bought  a  farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home.  He  has  added  to  this  farm  twenty  acres  and  has  made  many  valuable  improve- 
ments. His  fine  residence  and  large  stock  barn,  etc.,  are  the  result  of  Mr.  Fisher's  labor 
and  enterprise.  He  is  one  of  the  staunchest  Republicans,  though  taking  no  active  part 
in  politics.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  about  twenty  years 
and  was  for  four  years  one  of  the  trustees.  Mrs.  Fisher,  the  companion  of  our  subject 
during  his  early  struggles  and  successes,  is  still  living.  They  have  had  four  children : 
Alexander  D.,  who  lives  on  the  homestead ;  Loretta  E.,  wife  of  Richard  I.  Libby,  a 
travehng  salesman;  Charles  E.,  traveling  salesman  for  a  Boston  house  ;  and  Carrie  A., 
who  lives  at  home. 

Fife,  Andrew,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Waddington,  April  3,  1826.  His  father, 
William  Fife,  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  Waddington  when  a  young  man.  He 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Rachael  Walker,  who  came  to  Waddington 
in  an  early  day.  Mr.  Fife  and  wife  had^five  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living : 
Thomas  W.  and  Andrew.  At  his  death  Mr.  Fife  owned  107  acres.  He  and  family 
were  members  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church.  He  died  in  1832  and  his  wife  in 
1872.     Andrew  Fife  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington.      lie  engaged  in  the 


2G8  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

manufacture  of  butter,  following  it  many  years.  He  is  a  farmer  and  owns  160  acres 
and  a  villafe  lot  of  six  acres,  where  he  has  resided  since  1881.  Mr.  Fife  married,  April 
5  1855  Euphemia,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Ann  (Nesbett)  Veitch  of  Scotland,  early  sel- 
lers of  Waddington,  and  had  four  children,  three  now  living.  William,  one  of  their 
children,  married  Maggie  Boon  of  Waddington,  and  died  March  27,  1886.  In  politics 
Mr.  Fife  is  a  Republican.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Waddington. 

Fisher,  Robert  A.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Madrid,  August  29,  1844,  the 
third  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Todd)  Fisher.  Robert  Fisher,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  near  Jedburg,  Scotland,  in  1800  and  came  to  this  country  when  twent}^  years 
of  age.  He  took  up  a  farm  of  fifty-  two  acres  in  Madrid,  which  he  increased  to  283 
acres.  He  was  always  a  Republican,  but  never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington,  and  married  in  1834,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Todd,  a  native  of  England,  who  came  to  this  country  about  the 
same  time  as  the  Fisher  family.  Robert  and  wife  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom  sur- 
vive :  William  M.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Madrid ;  Betsey,  wife  of  John  Westaway  of 
Buck's  Bridge ;  Margaret,  wife  of  Rev.  William  H.  Kanoflf  of  Hermon,  N.  Y. ;  Susan, 
wife  of  Jerome  Bartholomew  of  Madrid ;  John  Henry,  who  lives  on  the  homestead 
farm  ;  and  Robert  A.  Robert,  sr.,  died  January  8.  1863,  and  his  wife  died  October  8, 
1884.  She  was  born  in  1808.  Robert  was  educated  in  the  common  and  select  schools 
and  the  old  Ogdensburg  Academy,  and  after  leaving  school  he  was  for  three  seasons 
engaged  in  teaching.  At  his  father's  death  he  returned  home  to  manage  the  farm  and 
care  for  the  family,  remaining  on  the  old  homstead  until  the  spring  of  1869.  He  then 
bought  the  Hesselgrave  farm  of  100  acres,  where  he  lived  but  one  season  and  then 
moved  on  to  the  George  Dean  farm  of  seventy-three  acres,  where  he  has  ever  since 
made  his  home.  He  has  made  many  additions  and  improvements,  and  now  has  a  225 
acre  farm,  with  a  fine  residence,  good  barns,  etc.  He  conducts  it  as  a  dairy  farm,  with 
twenty-five  head  of  cati:i>,  ten  sheep  and  four  horses.  Mr.  Fisher  has  always  been  a 
worker  in  tlve  Republican  party  and  has  many  times  held  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in 
his  town,  now  serving  his  twelfth  year  as  assessor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Scotch 
church,  and  has  been  an  elder  for  six  years.  He  married,  December  9,  1868,  Ann, 
daughter  of  William  Brown  of  Waddington,  and  they  have  six  children  :  Mary  Eulab, 
George  Thomas,  William  Edward,  a  student  of  Potsdam  State  Normal  School;  Myron 
Brown,  Lila  May  and  Arena. 

Fay,  Francis  E.,  Potsdam,  was  born  where  he  now  resides  in  Potsdam,  November  21, 
1833.  Jonathan  Fay,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He 
married  in  the  State  of  his  birth  and  afterwards  moved  to  Vermont,  locating  in  the 
town  of  Royalton.  He  was  the  father  of  eleven  children.  Silas  Fay,  the  oldest  son, 
was  the  first  to  emigrate  to  New  York  State.  James  Fay,  the  second  son  and  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  June  27,  1805,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  ud 
farming.  He  married  in  1830,  Jerusha  Lyman  of  Royalton,  and  in  the  fall  of  1832 
they  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county,  at  that  time  a  wilderness.  He  bought  a  farm 
of  thirty-seven  acres,  which  he  afterwards  increa.eed  to  eighty-seven  acres,  and  always 
made  his  home  here.     He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  town,  and  held 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.'  269 

the  office  of  highway  commissioner  and  was  also  assessor.  In  poHtics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  was  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  He  had  two  children  :  Doug- 
lass W.,  who  was  born  June  27,  1842,  and  died  in  1847  ;  and  Francis.  The  whole  life 
of  our  subject  has  been  spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  the  death  of  the  latter,  June  27,  1869,  after  which  the  farm  became  his  by  right 
of  inheritance,  and  there  he  has  reared  his  family.  He  has  added  by  purchase  to  the 
farm  until  it  now  contains  157  acres,  devoted  to  dairying,  with  thirty-three  head  of 
cattle.  The  residence  was  erected  by  Tames  Fay,  and  the  out-buildings  by  Francis. 
Mr.  Fay  married  in  1856,  Harriet  Dustin  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  two  children,  one 
now  living,  Fred  J.,  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  New  York  city.  Mrs.  Fay  died  April  2,  1864, 
and  he  married  second,  in  September,  18G8,  Mrs.  Anna  Leonard,  daughter  of  Peter 
Sturtevant,  and  widow  of  Lorson  Leonard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fay  have  one  daughter, 
Louise.  Mr.  Fay  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  Democratic  party,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Potsdam,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  Potsdam  Grange, 
No.  39. 

Ehle,  M.  P.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  at  Sharon,  Monroe  county,  June  10,  1835. 
When  a  year  old  his  parents  moved  to  Morristown  and  settled  on  part  of  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Ehle.  He  married  first,  Sarah  E.  Haggert,  and  they  had  these  children  : 
Reuben  P.,  Margaret,  Alice  A.  and  Mabel  P.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  E.  Lammond, 
who  died  in  1892.  Mr.  Ehle's  father  was  John  Ehle.  a  native  of  Montgomer}'-  county. 
His  mother  was  Margaret  Freleich.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  Mr. 
Ehle  is  the  only  survivor. 

Eastman,  George  L.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  August  11,  1837.  He  came 
to  Potsdam  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  after  leaving  school  studied  law  in  Dart 
&  Tappan's  law  office,  where  he  was  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  in 
the  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Volunteers.  Lieutenant  Hopkins  together  with  Mr.  Eastman  raised 
Co.  B  of  the  regiment,  and  Mr.  Eastman  was  made  second  lieutenant.  lie  served  nearly 
two  years  and  was  discharged  on  account  of  sickness.  He  visited  California,  and  was 
in  mercantile  business  in  Idaho  City  for  about  three  years.  He  returned  to  Potsdam 
and  established  a  hardware  store  here,  which  he  conducted  for  six  years  and  then  in- 
vested in  a  sheep  ranch  in  Kansas,  which  State  he  visited  and  remained  there  about 
two  years.  He  was  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  business  for  a  time,  and  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  by  President  Harrison  in  1890.  He  died  November  11,  1891.  He 
married  in  1872,  Eunice  J.  Merriam  of  Malone,  daughter  of  John  Merriam,  a  farmer  of 
that  town,  and  they  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Harry  M.,  deputy  post- 
master ;  Susie  L.,  Lee  J.,  Margaret  R.  and  George  L.  Mrs.  Eastman  was  appointed  by 
President  Harrison  to  fill  the  office  of  postmistress  for  the  full  term  from  January  6, 
1892. 

Ellis,  D.  Frank,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  December  1,  1850,  was  edu- 
cated at  Cambridge  High  School,  and  in  1860  engaged  in  the  butter  business  in  Boston. 
In  1880  he  became  interested  in  creameries  in   St.  Lawrence  county,  still  holding  his 


270  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

connection  with  David  Ellis  &  Co.  of  Boston  until  1890.  From  1890  to  1893  Mr.  Ellis 
was  at  the  head  of  the  D.  F.  Ellis  Butter  Company,  and  the  latter  year  organized  the 
Potsdam  Milk  Sugar  Company  in  Potsdam,  in  company  with  Thomas  S.  Clarkson.  Mr. 
Ellis  was  for  two  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  village.  He  married 
in  1873,  Addie  M.,  daughter  of  C.  W.  Kingsley  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  they  have  one 
dauo'hter,  a  student  at  the  Normal  School. 

Ne'^us,  A.  I.,  De  G-rasse,  was  born  in  Madrid,  November  17,  1857.  His  grandfather, 
William  Negus,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  drew  a  pension  for  services  rend- 
ered there.  He  married  Abigail  Hudson,  whose  parents  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and 
he  came  with  his  wife  to  this  county  and  settled  at  Hermon.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  John  Negus,  of  Jeflferson  county,  who  married  Theresa  Sherwin,  daughter  of  Isaac 
C.  Sherwin,  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons:  Wihiam,  Asa,  and 
A.  I.  Negus.  His  wife  died  October  25,  1862,  and  in  October,  1865,  he  married  Catha- 
rine Morgan,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  three  boys  and  two  girls :  Laura,  Inez, 
James  Monroe,  John,  and  Nile.  His  wife  died  January  3,  1893.  Andrew  I.  Negus, 
our  subject,  received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  began  work  for 
himself  by  running  a  mill  in  Canton  in  the  year  of  1880,  and  ran  the  Hodskin  mill  in 
Canton  in  1881.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he  moved  to  De  Grasse,  and  ran  the  Hodskin  mill 
in  company  with  his  father  until  1885.  After  working  in  various  places  for  the  next 
five  years  he  again  returned  to  the  Hodskin  mill  in  1890,  where  he  is  engaged,  at  pres- 
ent proprietor,  manufacturing  lumber,  shingles,  laths,  etc,  making  in  all  dimensions  an 
output  of  700,000  feet  lumber,  700,000  shingles,  and  500  bales  of  laths  yearly.  He  has 
also  a  planing  and  finishing  mill  and  a  small  grist  mill.  In  1879  he  married  Anna  Birch, 
daughter  of  Thomas  C.  and  Mary  (Williams)  Birch.  Her  father  was  in  the  late  war  in 
the  Eighty-third  Regiment ;  he  was  wounded  in  the  foot  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness; had  his  leg  taken  off";  was  taken  to  the  Alexander  Hospital  in  the  fourth  ward  ; 
had  the  mumps,  and  that  was  what  killed  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Negus  have  had  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Lena,  born  October  H,  1880,  died  August  5,  1881  ;  Earnest,  born 
July  17,  1882;  William,  born  October  25,  1884,  died  August  15,  1885;  Florence,  born 
February  11,  1892.  Mr.  Negus  and  father  are  both  Democrats,  the  latter  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  F.  &  A.  M.     He  resides  with  his  son,  A.  I.  Negus. 

Beede,  Royal  S.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  August  1,  1838.  He  is  a  son  of 
Manasah,  whose  father  was  Jonathan  Beede,  of  New  Hampshire,  who  died  in  Ver- 
mont after  a  residence  there  of  many  ^^ears.  Manasah  was  born  in  Orange,  Vt.,  March 
23,  1807,  and  there  married  Mehetable  S.  Carpenter,  and  had  two  sons.  Royal  S.  being 
the  only  survivor.  Mr.  Beede  came  to  Lawrence  in  1836  and  there  spent  his  days, 
though  he  died  in  Hopkinton,  April  12,  1881.  His  wife  died  in  1840.  Royal  S.  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  and  in  1864  came  to  his  present  residence,  comprising  160  acres, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  keepmg  twenty  cows  and  following  general  farming.  He 
also  has  a  hop  yard  of  three  acres.  R.  S.  Beede  built  the  first  silo  in  town  in  August, 
1887,  he  also  operates  a  red  sandstone  quarry  located  on  his  farm.  Mr.  Beede  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  and  has  served  as  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  Elk 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Nicholville,  and  he  and  family  attend  and  support  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member.     March  30,  1864,  he  married  HonoraDes- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  271 

mond,  a  native  of  Merimishee,  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick,  born  February  1,  1842,  and 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Bridget  (Power)  Desmond,  the  former  of  County  Cork,  and 
the  latter  of  County  Waterford,  Ireland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beede  have  two  sons  :  Fayette 
W.,  a  resident  of  Keene,  Essex  county,  who  married,  December  10,  1889,  Jennie  T., 
daughter  of  John  Lindsay,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  one  son.  Royal  L.  Earl  D. 
second  son  of  our  subject,  resides  at  home.  Mrs.  Beede  possesses  more  than  ordinary 
ability  and  taste  for  literary  work,  and  has  been  a  regular  correspondent  for  the  Pots- 
dam Herald,  Courier,  Freeman,  Adirondack  News,  Norwood  News,  the  Rural  New 
Yorker,  etc.,  and  was  awarded  first  prize  in  the  woman's  department  in  1892.  She 
was  educated  in  Lawrenceville  Academy," and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  successful 
teacher. 

Elliott,  Admiral  M.,  Stockholm,  was  born  at  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  January  23 
1818,  a  son  of  Admiral  M.,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who  married  Abiah  Burton  of 
the  same  place,  and  had  twelve  children.  Mr.  Elliott  and  wife  came  to  Crown  Point 
in  an  early  day,  where  they  lived  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Elliott.  His  widow  then  came 
to  Stockholm,  but  died  in  Hopkinton.  Admiral  M.  was  twenty-one  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Stockholm,  and  settled'on  the  farm  where  his  son  Xerxes  now  lives.  Here  he 
resided  until  1885,  then  moved  to  Hopkinton,  his  present  residence.  He  married 
Daphne  Converse,  born  June  24,  1824,  the  date  of  their  marriage  being  1842.  They 
have  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Elliott,  Xerxes  C,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  November  20,  1855,  a  son  of 
Admiral  Elliott,  also  a  son  of  Admiral,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Crown  Point.  He  afterwards  came  to  Stockholm,  and  finally  went  west  and  was 
never  afterwards  heard  of.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  butter  and  cheese  for  several  years. 
He  has  had  charge  of  the  factories  for  L.  S.  Crapser.  Mr.  Elliott  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Stockholm,  owning  165  acres  of  land,  which  was  settled  by  his  father.  He 
follows  general  farming  and  dairying,  keeping  twenty-seven  cows.  He  is  a  Democrat, 
a  member  of  P.  of  H.,  and  Fort  Jackson  Lodge.  He  married  Sarah  Chamber,  daughter 
of  John  Chamber  of  this  town.     They  have  one  son  Lloyd. 

Eacutt,  William,  Colton,  was  born  in  Morrisburg,  Canada,  December  24,  1849,  a  son 
of  Isaac  Eacutt,  a  native  of  Berkshire,  England,  born  in  1812,  who  came  to  Canada  and 
married  Sophia  Bourck,  a  native  of  Canada,  by  whom  he  had  twelve  children,  eleven 
now  living.  By  occupation  he  has  always  been  a  railroad  man,  but  is  now  retired  and 
lives  at  Farran's  Point,  Canada.  William  was  reared  in  Morrisburg,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  went  to  Prescott,  Ontario,  where  he  learned  the  tinsmith's  trade,  at  which  he 
spent  four  years.  March  17,  1872,  he  came  to  Colton,  and  in  1875  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  James  P.  Howe  in  the  hardware  and  tinware  business,  at  which  he  continued 
eleven  years,  then  bought  the  interest  of  his  partner.  December  28,  1882,  he  married 
Mary  Potter,  a  native  of  Colton,  and  daughter  of  Pelopidis  Potter.  Mr.  Eacutt  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  428,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  and 
family  attend  the  Episcopal  church  of  Colton. 


272  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Dow  James  M.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Watertown,  January  1,  1828.  He  has  been 
located  in  this  city  for  the  past  thirty-five  years,  where  he  has  been  very  prominent 
in  his  profession  (photography).  His  art  works  are  in  every  household  and  are  un- 
equaled  for  softness  and  fineness  of  finish.  Mr.  Dow  has  taken  all  of  the  photo- 
graphs for  all  of  the  leading  histories,  etc.,  which  have  been  published  in  this  county, 
and  is  now  assisting  Mr.  Gates  Curtis  to  gather  together  views,  etc.,  for  this  his- 
tory. 

Deschamps,  George,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada  in  1849.  He  early  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade,  and  when  twenty- three  years  of  age  came  to  Ogdensburg,  where  he 
worked  for.  several  establishments  engaged  in  this  branch  of  industry,  and  in  1884  es- 
tablished himself  in  business  here.  He  married  Theresa  Bourdon,  and  they  have  four 
children.  Mr.  Deschamps  is  a  prominent  Catholic  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  St. 
John  the  Baptist  Society. 

Dorgan,  William,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ireland,  March  2,  1852.  His  parents 
moved  from  that  country  and  settled  in  Depeyster,  St.  Lawrence  county,  in  1853,  one 
year  after  William  was  born.  They  took  up  land  on  the  east  side  and  followed  farm- 
ing. William  was  educated  in  the  district  schools,  and  after  a  time  took  charge  of  the 
farm  of  the  Averills,  known  as  the  Whitehouse  farm,  on  Heuvelton  road,  which  William 
Dorgan  conducted  most  successfully  for  thirteen  years.  He  then  moved  to  Ogdensburg 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  L.  M.  Bristol  in  the  coal  and  wood  trade.  This  bouse 
then  purchased  an  entire  block  on  the  railroad,  where  they  enjoy  special  facilities  and 
advantages  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  their  important  branch  of  industry.  They 
have  an  office  at  No.  5  Ford  street.  Mr.  Dorgan  married  Ellen  F.  Hurlburt  of  Depey- 
ster, a  daughter  of  Amos  Hurlburt. 

Dodds.  George  M.,  Gouverneur,  one  of  three  children  living  of  Andrew  and  Sallie 
(Smith)  Dodds,  was  born  on  the  farm  owned  by  his  father  in  Gouverneur.  Andrew 
Dodds,  the  father,  was  born  in  Roxburyshire,  Scotland.  August  16,  1812.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1832  and  located  in  Gouverneur  on  what  is  called  the  Scotch  Settlement 
road.  In  1851  he  bought  the  farm  on  which  his  two  sons  now  live,  comprising  some 
360  acres.  George  M.  owns  the  homestead  with  some  200  acres  of  the  farm,  where  he 
has  always  lived.  The  mother,  Sallie  (Smith)  Dodds,  was  a  daughter  of  Willard 
and  Lucy  (Garrett)  Smith  of  Gouverneur,  who  were  Washington  county  people.  They 
were  one  of  the  first  families  to  settle  in  Gouverneur,  corning  over  200  miles  on  an  ox 
sleigh  in  the  winter,  George  M.  was  married  in  1878  to  Zeruah  Johnson,  daughter  of 
Grove  and  Malvina( Wight)  Johnson  of  Fowler.  They  have  three  children:  Bertha 
Ada,  George  Wilson  and  Bligh  Dodds.  Mr.  Dodds  is  a  member  of  the  highway  com- 
mission, and  is  one  of  the  representative  young  men  of  the  town. 

Dart,  Dennis  R.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  January  24,  1850.  Jabez 
Dart,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  1740. 
Simeon  Dart,  grandfather  of  Dennis,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1770,  and  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  in  his  native  State.  When  about  thirty  years  of  age  he  moved 
into  Vermont,  where  he  lived  but  a  few  years,  when  he  joined  a  party  of  men  under 
Sewall  Raymond,  and  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  settling  in  Potsdam  in  1809.     He 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  273 

followed  his  trade  about  thirty  years  and  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  town.  He 
died  in  1859.  Mr.  Dart  married  Phoebe  Allen  of  Westchester  county,  and  they  had 
seven  children,  of  whom  Charles,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  second  son.  He  was 
born  February  7,  1S07,  in  Williston,  Yt.,  being  only  two  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  into  the  town.  He  was  given  a  common  school  education  and  took  up  farm- 
ing. He  took  charge  of  the  homestead  farm  at  West  Potsdam.  Charles  Dart  was  for 
a  great  many  years  justice  of  the  peace  of  Potsdam.  He  was  twice  married,  first  in 
1832,  to  Olive,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Bailey  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  six  children, 
two  now  living ;  Mrs.  Capt.  Holt  of  West  Potsdam  ;  and  Dennis  R.  Mrs.  Dart  died 
September  18,  1865,  and  he  married  second  in  1869,  Levisa,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Sylvia  (A.xtell)  Rice  of  Oswegatchie  and  widow  of  William  Rich  of  Potsdam.  Charles 
Dart  died  January  28,  1871.  Subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  old 
St.  Lawrence  Academy.  He  took  up  farming  and  in  1872  bought  a  farm  of  seventy- 
six  acres,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  married,  January  15,  1872,  Eva, 
daughter  of  William  Rich  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  three  children,  two  living :  Charles 
Holt  and  William  A. 

Dessert,  George  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  October  20,  1865.  His 
father,  Peter,  was  a  native  of  Three  Rivers,  P.  L  He  came  to  Ogdensburg  when  six- 
teen years  of  age  and  married  Miss  Chevrier  of  Yaudrellil,  P.I.  George  H.  received 
his  education  in  the  local  schools,  after  which  he  was  a  salesman  for  Charles  Wood  five 
years,  and  also  was  connected  with  the  Central  Railroad  and  the  Courier  Publishing 
Company.  In  1880  he  was  appointed  substitute  on  the  staff  of  the  Ogdensburg  postal 
service,  and  in  August  he  received  a  regular  appointment.  In  June,  1892,  he  received 
the  appointment  of  city  clerk  from  1892-93,  which  position  he  still  most  acceptably 
fills.  Mr.  Dessert  is  a  young  gentleman  of  affable  and  courteous  manner,  and  has  many 
friends  in  this  city. 

De  Lack,  John,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  February  1,  1840.  He  was  for 
some  time  engaged  in  steamboating.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  16th  N.  Y.  Regi- 
ment, under  Captain  (now  General)  Curtis.  He  afterwards  re-enhsted  in  Co.  A,  14th 
Heavy  Artillery.  Since  the  war  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Cor- 
nelia R.  Schofield  in  1866,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr. 
De  Lack  takes  an  active  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  has  been  school  trustee. 
His  father  was  Lewis  P.  De  Lack. 

Daniels,  John,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  May  14,  1844,  and  has  fol- 
lowed farming  smce  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  1863  in  the  14th  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery, 
Co.  A,  and  served  at  Petersburg,  Richmond  and  all  the  actions  of  the  9th  Army  Corps 
during  the  last  two  years  of  the  war.  His  service  extended  over  two  years  and  twenty- 
six  days.  He  is  a  member  of  H.  I.  Hooker  Post.  His  father  was  Charles  Daniels. 
Mr.  Daniels  married  Lucy  A.  Thomas,  April  9,  1884.  She  has  done  much  to  assist  him 
in  the  affairs  of  life,  and  is  a  most  estimable  woman. 

Dunnery,  F.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  this  State,  and  has  lived  in  Ogdensburg  for 
the  past  twenty -three  years.  For  fourteen  years  he  had  charge  of  the  filing  and  grind- 
ing departments  in  H.  D.  Northrop's  shop.     He  married,  February  22,  1878,  Catherine 


274  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Friel  of  this  city,  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Mr.  Dunnery  is  one  of  Ogdensburg's 
must  enero^etic  business  men.  His  business  is  rapidly  increasing  and  he  numbers  among 
his  patrons  the  leading  families  of  Ogdensburg. 

Dawson,  Asa,  a  farmer  of  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  Grand  Isle,  Vt.,  October  16, 
1818  a  son  of  John  and  Elsie  (Babcock)  Dawson.  His  father  came  to  America  from 
Scotland  during  the  last  years  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  a  British  soldier  under  Lord 
Cornwallis,  was  taken  prisoner  at  Yorktown,  and  then  joined  the  Continental  army. 
The  mother's  people  were  of  English  birth  and  came  to  America  when  she  was  a  child. 
Asa  was  the  thirteenth  of  fourteen  children,  all  but  one,  his  younger  brother  John,  of 
Rochester,  bemg  deceased.  In  early  life  Mr.  Dawson  was  a  sailor  on  the  lakes,  then  a 
sawyer  for  about  thirteen  years  in  this  county.  He  bought  his  farm  in  1853,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  a  fine  place  of  eighty-five  acres,  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
He  married  first  in  October,  1839,  Sally  A.  Hall,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity:  Thomas,  Hannah,  Marion,' Ellen,  Emery,  and  Ethan.  Mr. 
Dawson  was  a  Democrat  in  early  life,  but  has  been  a  Republican  for  the  last  thirty 
years.  His  first  wife  died  in  December,  1877,  and  he  married  second  in  February,  1882, 
Mrs.  Mary  Halcomb  Hill,  widow  of  Nelson  Hill. 

Barnett,  Michael  J.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Ireland,  November  24,  1852,  a  son  of  Jere- 
miah and  Catharine  (Driscoll)  Irish,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Barnett 
engaged  in  farming  three  years,  then  moved  to  the  village,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
teaming  for  some  time.  He  was  street  commissioner  three  years  in  Potsdam,  where  he 
lived  eleven  years.  He  next  moved  to  South  Colton,  where  he  bought  the  Riverside 
House  in  1888,  of  which  he  has  since  been  proprietor.  This  place  is  pleasantly  located 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  Raquette  River,  and  has  a  good  livery  in  connection,  with  a 
a  stage  running  to  and  from  Potsdam  daily,  affording  excellent  accommodations  for 
travelers.  Mr.  Barnett  married  at  F'otsdam,  February  22, 1876,  Ellen  Culhane,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has  had  nine  children  :  Kittie,  who  died  aged  eleven  years  ; 
John  T. ;  George  B. ;  Joseph  F.,  who  died  aged  four  years;  Mary  A.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Leslie,  also  died  young;  Blanch  E.  ;  H.  Grace,  and  Kittie  B.  Mr.  Barnett  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Bowen,  William  C,  Colton,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  G,  1844,  a  son  of  Nathan 
Bowen.  His  wife  was  Clara  Pike,  of  Vermont,  and  they  resided  in  Canada  many 
years,  coming  to  Colton  in  1854.  They  finally  moved  to  Massachusetts,  where  they 
died.  They  were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  young- 
est. He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  educated  at  the  public  schools,  and  worked  at  farming 
and  carpentry  for  about  twenty  years.  He  has  been  engaged  in  a  saw  mill  also.  Jan- 
uary 3,  1866,  Mr.  Bowen  married  Druzilla  G.  Wait,  of  South  Colton,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children :  Clara,  Carrie,  Effie,  Ruby,  Mira,  Mabel,  and  Carroll.  Mr.  Bowen  is  a 
Republican  and  has  been  assessor  three  years.  He  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Thirteenth 
N.  Y.  Cavalry,  in  1864,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Wait 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Colton.  and  has  always  been  an  active  worker  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHED.  275 

Butler,  Edwin  H.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Fletcher,  Vt.,  March  8,  1820,  a  son  of  John 
and  Clarissa  (Davis)  Butler,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  the  latter  of  Can- 
ada. They  came  to  this  county  about  1850  and  settled  in  Colton,  where  the  father  died 
in  18G3.  They  had  ten  children.  Edwin  H.  started  in  life  by  working  on  the  farm  by 
the  month,  and  has  made  his  own  property.  In  1839  he  came  to  Colton,  and  after 
working  on  a  farm  for  several  years  engaged  in  milling  for  six  years,  then  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  in  which  he  had  a  successful  career  for  twenty  years,  retiring  in  1882. 
He  married  first  Charlotte  E.  Hopburn,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  Mrs.  Butler 
died  in  1851,  and  he  married  second  Ellen  M.  Campbell,  of  Vergennes,  Vt.  Mr.  Butler 
is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  supervisor  five  years,  justice  of  the  peace  nearly  forty 
years,  and  was  one  of  the  first  constables  of  Colton. 

Beckwith,  Hon.  M.  D.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Oppenheim,  Fulton  county,  August  24 
1829,  a  son  of  Ira  Beckwith,  of  Connecticut,  one  of  Fulton  county's  early  settlers. 
Our  subject  was  educated  at  the  Little  Falls  Academy  and  Fairfield  Seminary,  and  read 
law  with  Wells  &  Dudley,  of  Johnstown,  and  Josiah  Miller,  of  Seneca  Falls,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859.  He  was  school  commissioner  of  Herkimer  county  from 
1864  to  1866,  when  he  moved  to  this  town,  where  for  several  years  he  had  charge  of 
the  local  oflBce  of  George  Parish.  From  1871  to  1876  he  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
from  that  time  till  1882  was  supervisor.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  to  the  As- 
sembly, where  he  served  two  terms.  He  practiced  law  in  Colton  twenty-five  years, 
and  in  1890  moved  to  Canton  and  formed  a  law  partnership  with  P.  R.  McMonagle,  and 
here  he  resided  until  his  death  March  9,  1892.  He  married  in  1861  in  Herkimer 
county  Sarah  H.,  daughter  of  William  Doyle,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  when  Mrs. 
Beckwith  was  an  infant,  and  she  was  adopted  by  John  A.  Barrett,  of  Salisbury  Center, 
Herkimer  county.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Doyle  was  Eliza  Nicholas,  who  spent  her  last  days 
with  Mrs.  Beckwith,  and  died  April  5,  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckwith  adopted  one  son, 
Herbert  M. 

Clark,  Thomas,  of  Brasher  Center,  was  born  in  Stormont,  Ontario  county,  March  31, 
1824,  a  son  of  Francis  and  Eliza  (Bass)  Clark,  the  former  of  Canada  and  the  latter  of 
Vermont,  both  of  Scotch  ancestry,  their  parents  having  come  to  America  when  young 
people.  The  grandfather,  Francis  Clark,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and  after- 
wards lived  at  Fort  Covington,  where  he  died  aged  seventy-five.  Francis,  father  of 
Thomas,  died  aged  seventy-four  years,  and  his  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Our 
subject  has  always  followed  agriculture.  He  bought  in  1869  a  fine  farm  of  135  acres, 
where  he  now  lives.  In  1845  he  married  Julia  A.  Clark,  a  cousin,  of  the  same  lineage, 
and  they  have  had  ten  children :  Charles,  of  the  State  of  Washington ;  Benoyer  P., 
Eleanor,  Franklin,  Melvin,  and  Rhoda,  besides  four  who  died.  Benoyer  P.  was  born  in 
Brasher,  May  8,  1850.  He  married,  February  7,  1874,  Nancy  Wright,  born  August  7, 
1855,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  L.  Curtis  of  this  town.  She  was  appointed  postmistress  of  Brasher 
Center  in  July,  1893,  although  the  family  are  Republicans,  there  being  no  Democrat  in 
the  district  to  accept  the  office.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  four  children  :  Grace,  David, 
Jennie,  and  Vera  B.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  Free  Mason.  His  brother  Hugh  was  in  the  Civil 
War,  where  he  lost  his  life. 


o 


27(5  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Chamberlain,  Worth,  Canton,  was  born  in  Canton,  May  23,  1850.  He  was  educated 
in  the  colleo-e  of  Canton,  and  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
bein"'  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Michigan  in  1872  and  to  the  bar  of  New  York  in  1875.  In 
this  year  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Canton,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since.  He  has 
held  several  public  positions,  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  three  years,  special  surro- 
o-ate  for  a  term,  and  was  made  member  of  assembly  for  three  years,  from  1879  to 
1882.  He  has  also  been  president  of  the  village  of  Canton.  In  1884  he  married  Emma 
J.  Dezell. 

Colborn,  Benjamin,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  near  North  Augusta,  Canada,  and  was  for 
a  great  many  years  identified  with  the  leading  interests  of  that  vicinity.  He  was  divi- 
sion clerk  of  the  courts  of  Leeds  and  Granville  for  seven  years.  Besides  this  he  Wf  s  an 
extensive  owner  of  mill  property  there,  which  he  unfortunately  lost.  Mr.  Colburn  then 
moved  to  Gouverneur,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  engaged  in  carriagemaking  for  a  few 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Ogdensburg  and  established  business  on  Lake  street,  where 
he  is  assisted  by  his  two  sons.  Here  he  does  a  general  work  and  iron  business,  includ- 
ing carriagemaking,  etc.,  besides  a  general  repairing  business.  He  married  in  1855 
Harriet  Earl,  and  they  have  eight  children. 

Close,  John,  Oolton,  was  born  in  Canada  in  May,  1837,  one  of  eight  children  of  John 
and  Catharine  Close,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Ogdensburg  in  an  early  day,  and 
thence  went  to  Canada,  where  they  died.  John  Close  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  In  January,  1864,  he  married  Margaret  Brown,  a  native  of 
Canada,  born  in  1837,  and  they  had  nine  children :  Sarah,  Mary,  Catharine,  Samuel, 
Rose,  Margaret,  John  (deceased),  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Close  came  to  Col- 
ton  in  1863,  and  in  1869  went  to  Parishville  and  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  of 
381  acres,  keeping  a  dairy  of  thirty-five  cows.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Colton. 

Casey,  L.  B.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Parishville,  September  29,  1841.     His  father  was 
Thomas,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1810,  who  came  to  Canada  when  a  young  man,  and 
there  married  Ann  Fallon,  also  of  Ireland,  and  widow  of  John  Fallon,  by  whom  she  had 
five  children.     Mr.  Fallon  was  killed  in  1853  by  the  falling  of  a  tree.     About  1837  Mr. 
Casey  came  to  Parishville,  and  after  four  years  to  Colton  and  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  our  subject,  where  he  died  in  1864  and  his  wife  in  1868.     They  had  nine 
children.     Mrs.  Casey  had  five  sons,  one  son-in-law  and  a  brother  in  the  late  war.     L. 
B.  Casey  enlisted  in  July,  1863,  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-sixth  N.  Y. 
"Volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  the  following  battles: 
Under  General  Banks  up  the  Red  River ;  under  Sheridan  in  Shenandoah  Valley  ;  and 
was  color  bearer  at  Cedar  Creek,  Winchester,  and  Fisher  Hill,  after  the  latter  battle  be- 
ing promoted  first  lieutenant.     At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Colton  and  in 
1867  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  married  Pauline  Mead,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Lamb,  by  whom  he  has  had  one  son,  Lee  E.,  and   they  have  one  adopted  daughter, 
Josie.     In  June,  1870,  Mr.  Casey   came  to  Colton,  where  he  has  s'nce  resided.     He 
owns  a  farm  of  140  acres,  also  an  interest  in  the  Wildwood  Cheese  Factory.     He  is  a 
Democrat  and  has  been  twice  assessor  and  served  as  excise  commissioner  two  terms. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES  277 

He  is  a  member  of  Ward  Post  No  581,  also  of  High  Falls  Lodge  No.  128,  F.  &  A.  M. 
of  which  he  was  master  for  five  years.     Mr.  Casey  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Currier,  L.  S.,  Colton,  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  December  4,  1846,  a  son  of  L.  W. 
and  Margaret  (Shipley)  Currier,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of 
New  Hampshire.  They  had  three  children.  The  father  was  a  railroad  conductor  for 
many  years,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  as  a  stage  driver.  He  died  in  1867  and  his 
wife  lives  in  Howell,  Mich.  L.  S.  Currier  was  reared  as  a  railroad  man  and  for  seven- 
teen years  worked  for  the  Boston  and  Lowell  Railroad  Company.  He  was  clerk,  yard- 
master,  and  for  some  time  sold  tickets  in  Boston.  In  1875  he  married  Helen  M.  Leon- 
ard, of  Canton,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Leonard,  the  first  male  child  born  in  that  town. 
He  was  a  son  of  Peter  R.  Leonard  and  Annie  Rich,  very  early  settlers  there.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Currier  have  had  two  daughters:  Margaret  H.,  who  is  a  student  at  St.  Lawrence 
University,  and  Hilda  L.,  who  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Currier  is  a  Republican.  In  1876  he 
came  to  Colton  and  two  years  later  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  He  carries  dry 
goods  of  every  kind,  notions,  millinery  goods,  ladies'  and  children's  shoes,  rubbers  wall 
papers,  curtains,  etc. 

Desmond,  John,  Brasher  Falls,  proprietor  of  the  Riverside  House  at  Brasher  Falls 
was  born  May  1,  1843,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Johanna  Desmond,  natives  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  this  country  soon  after  their  marriage.  They  were  farmers  and  had  a  family 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  The  father  died  aged  forty-eight  years 
and  tiie  mother  aged  sixty.  John  grew  up  on  the  farm  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- five 
years  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  several  years  and  in  the  hotel  business,  where 
he  still  continues,  having  also  a  livery  in  connection.  He  married  Ellen  O'Connell  of 
this  town  July  3,  1867.  She  was  born  May  6,  1845,  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Mary 
(McCarthy)  O'Connell,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  County  Cork,  who  came  here  when 
young  people.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Desmond  are  members  of  St.  Patrick's  church.  They 
have  three  children  living :  Mary  Elizabeth,  John  Francis,  and  Gertrude  Ann.  Mr. 
Desmond  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  the  Earl  of  Desmond  in  Ireland.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 

Dousey,  Dr.  George  H.,  of  Brasher  Falls,  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  December 
12,  1864,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  also  at  Potsdam  Normal 
School.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  S.  W.  Close,  of  Potsdam,  and  Dr.  A.  M.  Larkin, 
of  Norwood,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  also  at 
Bellevue  Hospital  College,  and  graduated  at  the  former  place  in  March,  1892.  He  at 
once  entered  on  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Brasher  Falls,  where  he  has  been  very 
successful.  His  father,  Joseph  Dousey,  was  a  native  of  this  State,  and  his  mother 
Anna  S.  Hesse,  was  a  native  of  Galveston,  Texas,  of  German  ancestry.  The  doctor  is 
a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Society,  and  also  a  Free  Mason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow. 

Dunn,  Robert  F.,  Waddington,  oldest  living  son  of  John  Dunn,  mentioned  in  this 
wor'K,  was  born  June  28,  1831.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Waddington,  and  has 
been  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers.  Starting  in  life  a  poor  boy,  he  now  owns  160 
acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.     December  31,  1857,  Mr.  Dunn  mar- 


278  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ried  Jane  Yeitch,  of  Madrid.  She  was  born  September  2,  1835,  a  daughter  of  William, 
Veitch,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  Jane  Graham,  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Veitch  and  wife  early 
in  life  came  to  Madrid,  where  they  lived  and  died.  They  had  seven  daughters  and  two 
sons  all  now  living.  Mr.  Dunn  and  wife  have  the  following  children  :  John  L.,  Will- 
iam C,  Sarah  S.,  Thomas  A.,  and  Mary  A.  Mr.  Dunn  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Waddington. 

Covey,  H.  M.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Parishville,  March  21,  1854,  the  only  son  of 
John  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Lewis)  Covey,  the  former  a  native  of  Parishville,born  August  4, 
1828,  and  the  latter  of  Franklin  county,  born  October  27,  1829.  The  father  of  John  L. 
was  Levi,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  an  early  settler  of  Parishville,  where  he  died  in 
1864.  He  married  Balinda  Lewis,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  John  L.  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  owns  215  acres  of  fand,  keeping  twenty  cows.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  a  spiritualist  in  religion.  His  first  wife  died  December  1,  1858,  and  he 
married  second,  June  17,  1861,  Victoria  Wilcox,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Eliza- 
both,  wife  of  David  Russell,  a  farmer  of  Parishville.  H.  M.  Covey  was  educated  in  the 
common  schocls  and  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  for  the  past  nine  years  has  carried 
on  his  father's  farm.  February  22,  1882,  he  married  Juliet  L.  Thomas,  a  native  of  this 
town,  and  a  daughter  of  Harrison  Thomas  and  Mary  J.  Richardson.  Her  grandfather, 
Reuben  Thomas,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this 
town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Covey  have  had  two  children  :  Milton  H.  and  Pearl  M.  Mr. 
Covey  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  P.  of  H.  No.  549  of  West  Parish- 
ville. 

Covey,  David  M.,  Stockholm,  was  born  February  23,  1824,  in  Stockholm,  on  the  farm 
settled  by  his  father,  Samuel,  a  son  of  Joseph  Covey.  The  latter  was  born  on  the  Del- 
aware River  about  17G0,  from  which  place  his  mother  and  family  were  driven  by  the 
Indians  in  Revolutionary  times.  Joseph  settled  in  Windham  county,  Vt.,  and  there 
lived  and  died.  Samuel  Covey  was  born  in  Windham,  Vt,  in  1798.  In  1822  he  came 
to  Stockholm  and  settled'on  the  farm  of  thirty  acres  now  owned  by  subject.  Here  he 
spent  his  life,  becoming  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  at  his  death  owned  240  acres  of  land. 
His  wife  was  Roxsena,  daughter  of  Joseph  Franklin  (who  was  a  second  cousin  of  Ben- 
jamin Franklin).  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Covey  died  in  Vermont  when  the  latter  was  but 
twelve  years  of  age.  Joseph  Franklin  was  twice  married.  He  spent  his  last  days  with 
his  daughter  in  Stockholm,  where  he  died  in  1840.  Mr.  Covey  and  wife  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  survive.  He  died  in  1886,  and  his  wife  in  1850.  David  M. 
was  born  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  follows  general 
farming  and  dairying,  keeps  eighteen  cows  and  owns  160  acres  of  land  on  lots  99  and 
100  of  Stockholm.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Covey  was  Laura  A.  Dustin,  who  was  born  in 
Potsdam,  and  a  daughter  of  Parley  Dustin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Stockholm.  Mr. 
Covey  belongs  to  the  People's  party.  He  has  been  a  student  and  is  a  spiritualist  in  re- 
ligion, having  for  many  years  been  an  investigator  of  that  subject.  Mis.  Covey  died 
October  21,  1889. 

Coates,   T.    A.,  Edwardsville,   was  born  in  Morristown,  July  3,  1854.     In   1876  he 
married  Addie  Breckenridge,  and   they  have  four  children.     Mr.  Coates's  father  was 


J 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  279 

T.  H.  Coates.     His  mother  was  Lucy  Ann  (Castle)  Coates.      Although  quite  a  young 
man  Mr.  Coates  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Morristown. 

Rogers,  Clark,  Brier  Hill,  was  born  in  Morristown,  August  G,  1864.     He  is  one  of 

the  progressive  men  of  the  town  to  day  and  a  successful  farmer.  In  1886  he   married 

E;ta  Potter,  and  they  have  two  children,  Vera  and  Ethel.     Mr.  Rogers'.s  father  was 
David  Rogers,  and  his  mother  Christie  (Baggart)  Rogers. 

Colnon,  J.  W.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Brownsville.  He  moved  from  PotsdaTa  to 
this  city  in  1886,  and  purchased  his  present  fiour  and  feed  mills.  Prior  to  this  time  he 
had  conducted  for  thirty  years  an  important  and  successful  business  in  Potsdam,  with 
the  exception  of  two  and  one-half  years  when  he  was  in  Vermont.  Mr.  Colnon  mar- 
ried Miss  Hamett  Perkins  of  Watertown,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  Some  time 
after  her  death  he  married  second,  Margaret  Lynch,  and  had  two  children.  Mr.  Colnon 
employs  a  number  of  experienced  millers  and  his  flour  and  feed,  graham  and  buckwheat 
flour,  etc.,  reach  all  parts  of  this  county.  More  especially  is  his  trade  devoted  to  the 
city  where  he  contracts  a  greater  portion  of  patronage.  Mr.  Colnon  is  an  affable, 
agreeable  and  thorough  business  man  of  fine  physique,  and  is  much  esteemed  in  this 
county. 

Carswell,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Oswegatchie,  Jnne  14,  1846.  His  father 
settled  near  Montreal  early  in  life,  and  soon  afterward  went  to  Oswegatchie.  The  sub- 
ject has  resided  in  Ogdensburg  and  conducted  a  boot  and  shoe  business  for  the  past 
twenty  years,  and  for  five  years  prior  to  that  time  was  situated  at  Lisbon  in  the  same 
business.  He  married  in  1873  Martha  Seyer  and  they  have  four  children  living.  Mrs. 
Carswell  is  one  of  a  very  respectable  and  old  family  of  this  county.  Her  brother  is 
Ransom  E.  Seyer,  the  baker  and  confectioner  of  this  city,  and  her  father  resides  near 
Ogdensburg,  where  he  possesses  considerable  land  and  property. 

Clark,  M.  W.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  June  19,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  P.  Clark,  a  native  of  Bristol,  Vt.,  born  in  August,  1796.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  but  early  in  life  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  as  a  life  occu- 
pation. About  1816  Mr.  Clark  came  to  Stockholm,  where  he  followed  his  trade  more 
than  forty  years.  He  married  Hannah  Perrin  of  Potsdam,  by  whom  he  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  daughters  and  three  sons  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Clark,  in  com- 
pany with  Aberon  Buttolph  and  Fred  P.  Sprague,  manufactured  pitch-forks,  being  the 
first  manufacturer  of  these  articles  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Mr.  Clark  was  also  a 
real  estate  owner,  having  thirty-five  acres,  which  is  now  owned  by  our  subject.  In 
poHtics  Mr.  Clark  was  always  a  Democrat.  He  died  in  May,  1856.  M.  W.  Clark  was 
reared  a  blacksmith  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged  in  farming,  and 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  on  the  railroad,  has  followed  that  occupation. 
Mr.  Clark  has  become  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Stockholm.  He  owns  135  acres 
of  land,  and  also  a  half  interest  in  the  Bicknellville  woolen  mills.  Mr.  Clark  married 
Lovice  P.  Stafford  of  Parishville,  who  in  an  early  day  came  to  Stockholm  with  her 
parents.  The  children  of  our  subject  are  Corydon,  Xenia  and  Bertha.  In  pohtics  Mr. 
Clark  is  a  Democrat,  but  he  has  never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  is  a  member  of  P. 
of  I.  of  Sanfordville. 


2P0  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Church,  Jonathan,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Camden,  April  24,  1840,  a  son  of  Hiram 
Church  a  native  of  Dorset,  Vt.,  born  June  15,  1799.  The  wife  of  Hiram  was  Huldah 
Madison,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  September  20,  1800.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren. In  1840  Mr.  Church  and  family  settled  on  a  farm  in  Camden,  and  in  1842  went 
to  Pierrepont,  where  they  died  in  1870  and  1875  respectively.  Jonathan  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer  and  now  owns  163  acres  of  land 
and  keeps  twenty  cows.  May  9,  1867,  he  married  Ellen  Colton,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  daughter  of  Zebina  Colton,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Church  have  had  two  children  :  Lelia,  a  teacher  ;  and  Lola.  Mr.  Church  is  a  Republi- 
can in  politics  and  liberal  in  his  views  on  religious  subjects. 

Carpenter,  Robert  Byron,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  January  11, 
1820.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  William,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in 
Charlestown  in  1752,  where  his  whole  life  was  spent.  He  served  in  the  American 
army  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Before  en- 
listing he  had  emigrated  to  New  Hampshire,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to 
New  Hampshire,  married  while  in  the  service  and  settled  in  Swansea.  His  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Lucina  Sumner,  and  they  had  these  children  :  Clement,  Gruy,  Will- 
iam, Sarah,  Ralph,  George  Samuel,  Joseph,  James  and  Ezra.  Clement,  the  oldest  son, 
and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Keene,  N.  H.,  October  10,  1781,  and  came  to 
this  county  with  his  father  in  the  spring  of  1807.  Clement  lived  there  but  a  short 
time  when  he  sold  and  bought  150  acres  where  he  made  his  home  until  1827,  and  then 
bought  100  acres.  He  married  in  New  Hampshire.  Elizabeth  Gilraan,  a  native  of 
that  State,  and  they  had  ten  children:  Eliza,  who  married  Anson  Dickenson,  died  in 
1845;  Emily,  married  Henry  B.  Webb,  died  in  1859:  Sarah,  married  Jacob  Clark,  died 
in  1890;  Guy,  died  in  1849;  Mary  Ann,  married  Morris  Pierce,  died  in  1858;  David, 
died  in  December,  1891  ;  Joel,  died  in  January,  1891  ;  Zelinda,  married  Henry  Wy- 
man,  died  in  1873  ;  Martha,  married  Preston  H.  Carpenter  died  April  15,  1893  ;  and 
Robert  B.  Clement  died  May  1,  1800.  Mrs.  Carpenter  died  March  20,  1863.  The 
whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  on  this  farm,  which  he  has  increased  to  350 
acre?!.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy. 
He  is  a  staunch  Republican.  His  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to  farming.  He  still 
conducts  the  homestead  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He  married  in  1845, 
Arvilla,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  Bannister,  and  they  have  had  eight  children  : 
Martha,  wife  of  Henry  E.  Shaw,  a  railroad  claim  agent,  Spokane  Falls,  Wash  ;  Mary, 
married  N.  J.  Abernathy,  a  farmer  of  Madrid;  J.  Guy,  station  agent,  Marion,  Ind.; 
Sarah,  married  Alexander  McKnight.  died  in  1889;  James,  died  in  1890;  William,  a 
farmer  of  Seabeck,  Wash.  ;  David,  a  lawyer  of  Helena,  Mont ;  and  Clement,  in  the 
railroad  office  at  Spokane  Falls,  Wash. 

Carpenter,  L.  P.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Hermon,  April  26,  1846,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged in  many  lines  of  business.  He  is  now  a  farmer  and  owner  of  a  residence  in 
Gouverneur.  Tn  1882  he  married  Annie  Smith,  and  they  have  three  children.  Mr. 
Carpenter  farms  100  acres  of  land  for  dairy  purposes.  Mr.' Smith's  father  is  Benjamin 
Smith  of  Oxford  Mills,  Canada. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  281 

Callanan,  Thomas  F.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  February  10,  185!».  He,  after  receiving 
an  excellent  education,  immediately  commenced  active  business  operations  in  several 
lines.  For  a  short  time  he  had  under  his  control  the  entire  block  since  purchased  by 
the  Edgar  Merrell  Company  ;  besides  sub-letting  portions  he  conducted  an  agency  for 
billiard  tables,  a  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  business,  besides  doing  a  general  specula- 
tive trade.  April  12,  1892,  he  started  his  butcher  business  on  Ford  street,  near  Natt's 
grocery,  where  he  already  controls  a  large  trade.  Mr.  Callanan  also  conducts,  further 
up  the  street,  a  liquor  business  under  the  management  of  a  competent  assistant.  He 
employs  from  four  to  eight  hands  constantly.  In  1882  he  married  Margaret  Mulanev 
of  Ogdensburg,  and  they  have  two  sons. 

Carpenter,  A.  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Hailesboro,  February  15,  1823.  He  has 
been  a  farmer  all  his  life  since  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  Previous  to  that  he  learned 
and  for  some  time  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter.  In  1855  he  married  Elizabeth 
McArthur,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Josephine.  Mr.  Carpenter  is  interested  in 
raising  Shropshire  sheep.  He  is  a  brother  of  Dr.  James  Carpenter  of  Gouverneur  and 
a  son  of  Jonathan  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island. 

Capron,  Royal  E.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  November  15,  1836.  He 
left  that  State  at  fourteen  years  of  age  and  went  to  Chicago  where  he  remained  three 
years,  coming  to  Edwardsville  in  1858.  He  has  conducted  the  Capron  House'  twenty 
years.  In  1858  he  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  H.  J.  Pohlman,  and  their  children  are  : 
Irwin,  WiUiam,  Claude  Ernraa,  Jessie,  Laura  and  Susan.  Jessie  was  appointed  post- 
mistress of  Edwardsville,  May  24,  1893.  Mr.  Pohlman  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
on  Black  Lake.  Mr.  Capron's  father  was' Royal,  and  his  mother  Desire  (Burdick) 
Capron. 

Chapman,  H.  A.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown  in  the  house  he  now  occu- 
pies, July  2,  1850.  His  business  operations  have  been  mainly  confined  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  large  property  interests.  He  conducted  a  paper  factory  for  four  years  and 
was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ogdensburg.  In  1874  Mr. 
Chapman  married  Laura  Sheppard,  and  they  have  three  sons:  Henry  Hooker,  Charles 
Sheppard  and  George  Augustus.  Mr.  Chapman  is  highly  popular  in  Morristown  owing 
to  his  liberality  and  his  interests  in  churches,  schools  and  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
place.  !  He  has  been  trustee  of  the  village  six  years  and  held  other  local  offices. 

Clark,  Charles  A.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  November  12,  1836.  After 
clerking  for  a  time  he  embarked  in  mercantile  business  for  himself,  and  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful man.  In  1868  he  began  the  milling  business  in  Hailesborough,  in  which  he  is 
engaged.  In  1860  he  married  Jean  Herbert,  and  their  children  were  :  W.  T.  Clark,  the 
present  supervisor  of  the  town  ;  and  Charles  H.,  who  is  connected  with  the  Watertown 
Times.  His  first  wife  died  and  Mr.  Clark  married  Arlina  Phillips.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  party  since  the  days  of  Fremont. 

1  Corbin,  Charles  M.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  November  25,  1837.  He 
was  a  cattle  dealer  thirty-one  years,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  is 
known  all  over  this  county  as  the  man  who  spent  a  fortune  in  fighting  railway  monop- 

JJ 


282  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

olv  refusing  a  rebate  on  shipments  that  was  not  granted  other  shippers.  In  1859  Mr. 
Corbin  married  Arhna  McComb,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Ada  and  Mrs.  McWill- 
iams  of  Gouverneur.  His  father  was  Amasa  Corbin.  one  of  the  leading  men  of  this 
county  in  his  time. 

Coo'swell,  Seth  L.,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Madrid,  December  8,  1850.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  scnools  and  took  up  farming.  He  has  been  engaged  in  various 
enterprises  in  connection  with  his  farm  duties,  spending  one  year  on  the  road  for  a 
marble  firm,  and  one  year  a  salesman  of  nursery  stock.  In  188G  he  bought  a  portion  of 
the  old  homestead  farm  and  has  increased  it  by  purchase  until  now  he  owns  138  acres. 
A  year  later  he  began  dealing  in  agricultural  implements,  and  to  that  business  in  1889 
he  added  the  handling  of  wagons  and  fine  carriages.  He  handles  the  D.  S.  Morgan 
mowers,  reapers,  rakes,  harrows,  etc.,  and  buys  for  the  market  the  Emerson  &  Fisher 
fine  carriages  and  Milburn  &  Co.  farm  wagons.  Mr.  Cogswell  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  to  public  office.  He  married  in  1881  Maggie  Martin,  of  Win- 
chester, Ontario,  who  died  five  years  after  marriage.  She  left  two  children :  Bessie 
V.  and  Minnie  E.  Mr.  Cogswell  married  again  December  14,  1887,  Alice  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Phillips,  of  Madrid,  and  they  have  one  child.  Hazel  R.,  now  in  her  sec- 
ond year. 

Coggswell,  Enos  Loomis,  Madrid,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sherlock,  Chittenden 
county,  Vt.,  June  14,  1804,  and  was  only  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved 
into  St.  Lawrence  county.     This  was  then  a  new  countr}'  just  being  opened  up,  and 
Seth  Coggswell,  father  of  our  subject,  took  up  a  farm  of  100  acres,  which  he  redeemed 
from  a  wilderness  into  a  garden,  reared  a  family  of  four  children  and  spent  the  balanca 
of  his  days.     He  died  July  12,  1862.     The  mother  of  our  subject,  Hannah  Martin,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Lanesborough,  May  13,  1776,  and  died  in  Madrid, 
July  15,  1833.     The  four  children  of  Seth   and  Hannah  Coggswell  were :  Laura,  who 
married  Truman  Wilcox,  of   Potsdam ;  Paulina,  married  Alanson  Durfey,  of  Madrid  ; 
Wait  Martin,  the  oldest  son,  became  a  farmer  and  died  October  31,  1827,  at  twenty-six 
years  of  age  ;  and  Enos  L.,  our  subject.     The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent 
in  this  town.     He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing.    In  politics  in  early  life  Mr.  Coggswell  was  a  staunch  Democrat,  but  at  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Repubhcan  party  he  joined  their  ranks.     He  has  held  numerous  offices  of 
honor  and  trust  in  this  town.     Mr.  Coggswell  is  the  only  living  witness  of  the  ac- 
cident at  Madrid  Dam  in  the  Grass  River,  May  9,  1818,  when  six  men  were  drowned. 
He  is  a  man  of  wonderful  memory  of  the  early  history  of  the  town  and  tells  many  in- 
teresting stories  of  the  first  buildings  in  the  town.     He  has    always  been  an  active 
member  of  the    Universalist  church,  and  was  one  of    the  foun(Jers  of  the  first  Uni- 
versalist  church  of  this  town.     He  has  always  been  an  active  and  thorough  worker  and 
lived  on  the  old  homestead  farm  until  June  12,  1879,  when  he  removed  to  a  small  place 
with  ten  acres  attached  in  the  village  of  Madrid,  leaving  his  sons  to  conduct  the  farm. 
Mr.  Coggswell  has  been   twice  married,  first,  February  16,  1831,  to  Eliza  Gibbs,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children :  Harriet,  who  married  Milo  Lockwood,  a  stone  cutter  of 
Madrid,  and  died  April  9, 1886,  leaving  one  son,  Sylvanus  R.,  of  Madrid  ;  Betsey  Yene- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  2s3 

tia,  wife  of  William  Phillips ;  Martin  Enos  and  Seth  Loomis  conduct  the  old  homestead 
farm.  Mrs.  Eliza  G.  Coggswell  died  February  19,  1852,  and  he  married  second,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1856,  Elmina  Bailey,  daughter  of  Isaac  Bailey,  of  Vermont. 

Clark,  Harry  Noble,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  Potsdam,  January  12, 
1834.  The  earliest  ancestor  of  this  family  Ave  find  trace  of  was  Nathan  Clark,  who 
Avith  four  brothers,  serA-ed  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  Nathan  as  quartermaster-general.  His  home  was  at  Tinmouth,  Vt.,  but  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  He  was  judge  of  probate  of  Rutland  county.  He  was  three 
times  married  and  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Harry,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  second  son.  He  was  born  in  Tinmouth,  Vt.  in 
1786,  Avhere  he  remained  until  March,  1833,  when  he  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county 
and  bought  a  tract  of  220  acres,  Avhere  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  a  Taylor  and  was  the  mother  of  six  children.  His  second  wife  was 
Lucinda  Lord,  of  ShrcAvsbury,  Vt.,  born  April  15,  1796,  a  daughter  of  Philip  Lord,  who 
also  served  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  in  the  French  and  English  War.  Both 
grandfathers  of  our  subject  served  in  the  battle  at  Quebec.  Philip  Lord  Avas  a  native  of 
Ipswich,  Mass.  Harry  and  Lucinda  (Lord)  Clark  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two 
now  living.  Mr.  Clark  died  January  8,  1846,  and  his  wife  March  4,  1884.  The  other 
son  of  Harry  Clark  living  is  Nathan  Edgar  Clark.  These  tAvo  brothers  have  always 
been  interested  together  in  farming  the  homestead  farm.  They  were  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  Nathan  spent  some  time  in  the  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy. 
Harry  spent  about  seven  years  in  California  engaged  in  mining,  but  has  always  made 
this  his  home.  H.  and  N.  E.  Clark  now  OAvn  about  950  acres  of  land  in  Potsdam  and 
Canton  which  is  devoted  to  dairying.  They  have  a  cheese  factory  on  their  farm,  and 
have  110  cows,  ten  horses,  seventy-five  sheep,  etc.  Harry  Clark  married,  April  3, 1877, 
Julia,  daughter  of  Humphrey  and  Margaret  (Murphy)  Leary,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have 
four  children  :  William  N.,  born  August  31,  1880  ;  Harry  N.,  born  December  3,  1885; 
Mary  L.,  born  June  17,  1888;  and  Margaret  D.,  born  March  18, 1890.  Mrs.  Clark  was 
born  November  24,  1858. 

Clark,  Nathan  Edgar,  Potsdam,  was  born  March  17,  1837,  and  married,  February  21, 
1879,  Emma  L.,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Sally  (Knight)  Lord,  of  LudloAv.  They  have 
two  children :  Nathan  E.,  born  June  26,  1882,  and  Lizzie  D.,  born  February  22,  1886. 
Mr.  C'ark  is  a  member  of  Raquette  River  Lodge  No.  213,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Church,  Charles  B.,  Potsdam,  Avas  born  in  Canton,  December  20,  1830.  The  earliest 
ancestor  Ave  find  trace  of  in  this  family  is  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  Avas  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  the  father  of  four  sons,  of  which  Jonathan,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  oldest.  He  was  born  in  Dorset,  Vt.,  September  23,  1785.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1808,  when  he  removed  to  this  section,  locating  in  South  Canton, 
where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  100  acres,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time  when 
he  removed  to  near  Crary  Mills,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  August  29,  1867. 
He  married  in  Canton,  December  20,  1810,  Amelia  Lloyd,  of  Colwell's  Manor,  Canada- 
and  they  had  nine  children,  four  of  Avhom  are  still  living:  Robert  L.,  retired,  of  Can- 
ton ;  Ashley,  manufacturer  of  Canton  ;  Eliza  M.,  widow  of  Dr.  Alvin  Ames,  of  Can- 


og^  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ton  •  and  Charles  B,  The  early  life  of  Charles  was  spent  on  the  farm  in  Canton.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  with  Nathan  C. 
Howard  at  Crary's  Mills,  but  followed  this  trade  only  a  short  time  when  he  returned  to 
farming,  and  was  engaged  in  that  occupation  in  Pierrepont,  Potsdam  and  Canton  until 
the  breakino-  out  of  the  war,  when,  October  10,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninety-second 
N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  with  them  three  years  and  three  months.  He  served  as  a 
private  only  twenty  days  when  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant,  and  made  the 
captain  of  Company  D,  January  1,  1863,  which  office  he  held  when  mustered  out,  Jan- 
uary 7,  1865.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Williamsburg,  Cold  Harbor,  before  Petersburg, 
Kingston,  N.  C,  where  he  was  wounded,  Goldsboro,  Newburn,  and  many  others  with 
the  Army  of  the  James.  After  his  return  home  he  took  up  farming,  which  he  followed 
until  1885,  when  he  retired.  He  is  now  notary  public  and  justice  of  the  peace  of  Pots- 
dam. He  married,  January  31,  1853,  Caroline  C,  daughter  of  Edward  Crary,  whose 
father,  Nathan,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Potsdam,  and  it  was  Edwin  Crary  for 
whom  the  settlement  of  Crary's  Mills  was  named.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Church  have  had  five 
children,  three  now  living :  Edwin  A.,  a  musician  and  composer,  now  in  one  of  the 
Western  States;  Anna  E.,  wife  of  Edmund  Hamilton,  of  Potterville,  Mich.;  and  Les- 
lie H.,  a  clerk  in  the  post-office  and  store  at  Crary's  Mills.  Amelia  Lloyd  and  her 
brother  came  to  this  country  about  1808.  Robert  Lloyd  became  a  prominent  con- 
tractor on  the  Erie  Canal.  After  he  completed  this  he  died  on  his  Avay  to  Virginia  in 
183T. 

Couper,  Joseph,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  April  8,  1824.  He  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  but  only  followed  it  ten  years,  since  which  he  has  been  farming,  own- 
ing a  very  fine  place  of  278  acres.  In  1855  he  married  Emily  C,  daughter  of  A.  W. 
Church,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr.  Couper's  father, 
George,  was  a  native  of  England,  who  canre  to  Morristown  in  1818,  being  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  this  part. 

Couper,  Joseph  P.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Morristown,  March  16,  1828.  He  has 
followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  of  the  county. 
He  married  first  Hannah  Wilson,  and  their  children  were :  Mary  Augusta  (now  Mrs. 
John  Whitherheadj,  Edgar  J.,  and  Walter  T.,  the  latter  an  assistant  professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin  in  Hamilton  College.  Mr.  Couper's  second  wife  was  Josie  Long,  and  his 
present  wife  was  Janet  E.  Ferguson.  His  father,  Joseph  Couper,  left  England  in  1817 
and  settled  in  Morristown  in  1818,  after  a  short  sojourn  in  Canada. 

Clark,  S.  L.,  Parish ville,  was  born  in  Hermon,  this  county,  May  11,  1844,  a  son  of 
Jedediah  S.,  whose  father,  Jedediah,  sr.,  was  a  native  of  Rockingham,  Vt.  He  had  ten 
children  and  came  to  Hermon  in  1841,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1850.  Jede- 
diah S.  was  born  in  Rockingham;  Vt.,  March  31,  1816,  and  married  while  there  Char- 
lotte A.  Mott,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  In  1840  he  went  to  Hermon,  and  about 
1870  to  Norwood,  where  he  engaged  in  groceries,  farming,  etc.,  and  in  1878  went  to 
Parishville,  where  he  died  in  1882.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church.  S.  L.  Clark  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Her- 
mon, and  started  in  life  as  a  teacher,  Avhich  he  followed  for  five  years,  working  on  the 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  285 

farm  during  vacations.  In  1871  he  came  to  Parishville  and  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  company  with  J.  H.  Miller,  M.D.  After  one  year  he  bought  out  Mr.  Miller  and 
continued  in  business  over  five  years,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Newton.  About  1877 
our  subject  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  and  in  1880  formed  a  partnership  with 
H.  L.  Dagget ;  in  1883  bought  him  out  and  also  purchased  the  Union  store  in  Par- 
ishville and  soon  afterwards  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  E.  and  H.  I.  Sanford. 
After  three  years  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and  bought  them  out  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  In  187G  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  butter  tubs,  turning  out 
about  20,000  annually,  and  has  since  increased  the  output  to  350,000.  He  has  also 
been  engaged  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  since  1880.  He  owns  a  half 
interest  in  the  Parishville  Lumber  Company.  The  firm  of  S.  L.  Clark  &  Son  employs 
125  men  in  summer  and  fifty-five  in  winter.  September  5,  1864,  Mr.  Clark  enlisted 
in  the  First  N.  Y.  Light  Artillery,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war.  August  4,  1865, 
he  married  Mary  E.  Keeler,  a  native  of  Spencerville,  Ontario,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children  :  Charlotte  A.,  Plina  J.,  Ernest  S.,  who  died  in  1882,  and  Earl  K.,  who  died 
in  1880.  Mrs.  Clark  died  September  15,  1891,  and  June  7,  1893,  Mr.  Clark  married 
Mrs.  Mary  (Keeler)  Berry.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  also  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Rockwell  Post  No.  328.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Parishville. 

Clutterbuck,  William  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Brockville,  Ontario,  July  7,  1862. 
His  father,  Henry,  settled  in  Brockville  from  England  about  1842.  William  H.  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  Brockville,  and  in  1879  came  to  Ogdensburg  and 
eno'ao'ed  in  the  hotel  business,  with    which    he   has   since  been  identified.     He  em- 

DO  ' 

ploys  about  seven  assistants.  Mr.  Clutterbuck  is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg  Lodge 
No.  128,  Chapter  63  Ogdensburg  Commandery,  St.  Lawrence  Lodge  of  Perfection, 
and  of  the  Syracuse  Consistory.  He  is  also  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  of 
Elijah  White  Lodge.  He  married  in  1887  Emma  Bell,  of  Ogdensburg,  and  they  have 
one  daughter.  During  his  residence  and  business  career  in  this  city  Mr.  Clutterbuck 
has  made  many  friends. 

Crawford,  George  A.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Edwardsville,  March  6,  1866.  He 
followed  farming  for  some  time  and  seven  years  ago  began  mercantile  business  in  Ed- 
wardsville. His  father  is  David  Crawford.  His  mother  was  Margaret  (Mayberry) 
Crawford,  both  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland. 

Clark,  James,  Gouverneur,  one  of  ten  children  of  James  and  Lydia  (Woodward) 
Clark,  was  born  on  the  family  homestead  in  Gouverneur,  where  he  now  fives.  The 
father,  James,  came  to  Gouverneur  to  live  in  August,  1831.  He  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Mass.,  as  was  also  his  wife,  Lydia  (Woodward)  Clark.  He  died  here  in  De- 
cember, 1878,  aged  nearly  eighty-two.  The  grandfather,  James  Clark,  was  also  born 
in  Massachusetts,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Mr.  Clark  has  always  lived  on  the  home- 
stead. The  farm  comprises  of  330  acres  and  is  used  as  a  dairy  farm,  carrying  a  dairy 
of  about  forty  cows.  On  the  farm  i.s  a  sugar  bush  of  about  500  trees,  producing  from 
1,400  to  1,600  pounds  of  sugar  the  season.  Mr.  Clark  has  served  the  town  as  as.sessor 
continuously  for  the  past  eighteen  years.     He  is  now  serving  a  second  term   as  master 


2g6  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

of  Grouverneur  Grange,  he  being  interested  in  all  movements  to  further  the  agricultural 
interests  of  the  town  and  section. 

Cox  James  A.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  November  28, 1849,  a  son  of  Charles, 
the  first  to  establish  a  dry  goods  store  in  Potsdam.  The  latter  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Vt., 
in  1813  and  came  to  live  with  his  uncle  Thomas  Cox,  a  fur  dealer  and  restaurant  keeper 
in  Potsdam.  He  married  Martha  J.  McCrea  of  Fort  Covington,  and  they  had  three 
children,  all  living.  Mr.  Cox  also  had  a  son  by  his  first  wife,  Charles  Cox  of  Potsdam. 
The  brother  of  our  subject,  H.  M.  Cox,  is  a  physician  in  New  York  city.  James  A. 
was  the  youngest  son  and  was  educated  in  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  at  the 
Poughkeepsie  Military  Academy.  In  1873  he  became  a  partner  in  his  father's  store, 
making  the  firm  name  Cox,  Herrick  &  Co.  This  partnership  lasted  until  the  death  of 
his  father  in  1887,  when  Cox  &  Herrick  bought  the  interests  of  the  senior  member  and 
this  company  conducted  the  business  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Herrick,  January  13,  1889. 
Mr.  Cox  bought  his  interest  and  was  alone  in  the  business  until  January  5,  1892,  when 
he  was  joined  by  E.  E.  Maxfield,  making  the  firm  now  Cox  &:  Maxfield,  No.  7  Market 
street,  where  in  1888  Mr.  Cox  built  a  block  three  stories  high.  Mr.  Cox  is  a  member  of 
Raquette  River  Lodge  No.  231,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married  in  1888,  Ahce  A.  Heath  of 
Watertown. 

Colburn,  Benjamin,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  near  North  Augusta  and  lived 
in  that  vicinity  until  about  seven  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county. 
He  was  well  to  do,  but  through  misfortune  lost  most  of  his  property  in  Canada.  He 
served  as  clerk  of  the  Division  court  of  Leeds  and  Granville  for  over  seven  years,  and 
was  proprietor  of  the  leading  grist  mill  in  North  Augusta,  besides  possessing  consider- 
able other  property.  Mr.  Colburn  lived  in  Gouverneur  for  three  or  four  years,  then 
came  to  Ogdensburg  and  engaged  in  carriage  making  and  general  blacksmithing,  in  the 
prosecution  of  which  industry  he  is  assisted  by  two  sons.  He  also  has  a  son  in  the 
employ  of  Gates  Curtis.  Mr.  Colburn  married  in  1855  Harriet  Earl,  and  they  have  had 
eight  children. 

Breckenridge,  M.  P.,  Morristown,  was  born  in  Macomb,  July  3,  185J:.  His  father 
was  a  farmer,  and  he  followed  that  occupation  till  1891,  whom  he  moved  into  Morris- 
town  and  opened  his  livery  stables  and  carriage  repository.  He  sells  the  vehicles  of  H. 
H.  Babcock,  the  union  gear  and  Watertown  spring.  In  1878  he  married  Cassie  Row- 
land, daughter  of  Harvey  Rowland,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Buckley,  John  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  and  came  to  St. 
Lawrence  county  in  1884.  He  was  a  diamond  drill  man.  and  successful  in  his  trade. 
He  conducts  the  Wegatchie  Hotel,  the  only  hostelry  in  the  ■village.  In  1874  Mr.  Buck- 
ley married  Mary  Kelly,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Maggie  and  Mary.  Mr.  Buck- 
ley is  of  Irish  descent. 

Bloss,  George  W.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  24,  1838,  one  of  thirteen 
children  of  Samuel  and  Patty  (Jones)  Bloss.  Samuel  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  by  his  first  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  Bloss,  he  had  six  children.  Mr.  Bloss  came  to 
Canada,  and  afterwards  to  Parishville,  where  he  died.  George  W.  Bloss  was  reared  on 
a  farm  and  educated  m  the  common  schools.     At  the  age  of  twentv-one  he  came  to 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  287 

Parishville  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  with  the  exception  of  five  years  in  the  cooper 
trade,  has  since  followed  that  occupation.  He  owns  160  acres  and  keeps  fifteen  cows. 
Mr.  BIoss  married  in  Parishville,  Jane  Parker,  a  native  of  that  place,  and  daughter  of 
Hiram  Parker.  They  have  one  child,  Jennie,  the  wife  of  William  Hart  of  Parishville. 
Mr.  Bloss  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  wife  attend  the  M.  E.  church,  though 
liberal  in  the  support  of  all  churches. 

Briggs,  Benjamin  P.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Grafton  county,  N.  H.,  August  16, 
1820,  a  son  of  Ebenezer,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  born  in  1785,  who  married  Lois 
Shattuck,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  He  came  to  Parishville  in  1839  and  died  in 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  native  town,  where  he  was  honored 
by  numerous  town  offices.  He  was  a  mmute  man  in  the  War  of  1812  and  an  of- 
ficer in  the  militia.  His  wife  died  in  1868.  Benjamin  P.  Briggs  was  reared  on  the 
farm  on  which  his  father  was  born  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came 
to  Parishville  with  his  parents  when  nineteen  years  old  and  has  alwa}'s  been  en- 
gaged in  farming,  owning  200  acres  of  land.  In  1871  he  came  to  Parishville,  and 
has  since  led  a  retired  life.  In  1849  Mr.  Briggs  married  Caroline  Keach,  a  native  of 
Rhode  Island,  born  in  1824.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Amasa  Keach  and  Abbie  Hull,  who 
came  to  this  town  in  1840.  They  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Keach 
went  to  Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1863,  his  wife  having  died  in  1860.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Briggs  have  had  six  children  :  Lawson  D.,  Josephine  D.,  Horace,  Georgia  D.,  Abbie  J. 
and  Samuel.  Mr.  Briggs  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Amber  Lodge  No.  395. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Parishville.  He  has  always  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  and  as- 
sisted largely  in  building  Ihe  Parishville  church,  in  which  he  was  trustee  for  fifteen 
years.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church  for  many  years,  but  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church.  The  father  of  Ebenezer  Briggs,  Nathaniel,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  War  under  Washington.  Horace  A.  Briggs  was  born  in  Parishville, 
August  15,  1853.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
Potsdam  Normal  School,  supplemented  by  a  course  at  the  Oberlin  Telegraphic  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1876.  He  followed  teaching  for  a  number  of  years,  but 
his  principal  occupation  has  been  farming.  March  7,  1880,  he  married  a  Miss  Potter,  a 
native  of  Russell,  N.  Y.     Mr.  Briggs  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Boody,  Joseph,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Vermont,  December  7,  1815,  a  son  of  Eza- 
riah  and  Susannah  (Barker)  Boody,  he  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  she  of  Vermont. 
They  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr.  Boody  and  family  came  to  Pierre- 
pont in  1837  and  resided  there  until  their  death,  he  in  1839  and  she  in  1877.  Joseph 
Boody  was  twenty-two  years  old  when  he  came  to  Pierrepont,  and  in  1846  he  married 
Sarah  Russell,  by  whom  one  child  was  born,  Amanda  E.,  who  was  educated  in  the  Pots- 
dam Normal  School.  She  followed  teaching  for  several  years,  and  excelled  in  penman- 
ship, at  one  time  taking  the  highest  prize  offered  among  a  large  number  of  com- 
petitors. Her  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Mr.  Boody  and  wife 
have  one  adopted  son,  George  W.,  a  merchant  at  Parishville  Centre,  where  he  is  also 
postmaster.  His  wife  was  Ida  Nightengale.  Mr.  Boody  owns  179  acres  of  land.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church  at  Hanawa 
Falls.     Mrs.  Boody,  wife  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Parishville  in  1823,  a  daughter  of 


288 


HISTORY  OF  ST.   LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Abram  Russell  and  Mary  Kenyon,  natives  of  Rhode  Island,  who  moved  to  Vermont 
and  thence  to  Parishville.  He  Bnnlly  moved  to  Colton  in  1832,  where  his  wife  died  in 
]855  and  he  spent  his  last  eight  years  with  cftir  siiliject. 

Borland  C.  W.,  Lisbon,  was  born  at  De  Kalb,  October  23,  1862.  After  receiving  a 
o-ood  education  in  the  public  schooLs  of  this  town  he  learned  tlie  process  of  chee.se 
manufacturing  with  George  Lalone,  with  whom  he  remained  for  some  time.  After 
becoming  thoroughly  proficient  in  this  important  branch  of  industry  he  started  his  pres- 
ent factory  in  Lisbon  some  three  years  since,  where  lie  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the 
community  to  a  marked  degree,  inasmuch  that  now  his  annual  output  is  over  9.(K)l) 
pounds  of  superior  cheese.  Mr.  Borland  married  in  18>>7  Libhie  Creightoo,  and  they 
have  two  sons.  Mr.  Borland  is  an  energetic,  careful  and  popular  manufacturer  and 
citizen,  and  is  much  respected  and  esteemed  by  all. 

Baird,  Robert  J.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  N.  Y.,  November  25,  1856.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  Baird,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  182G.  The  latter  emigrated  to 
Burlington,  Vt.,  and  after  two  years  settled  on  the  farm  in  Lawrence,  now  owned  by 
subject.  In  1872  he  bought  an  adjoining  farm  in  Stockholm  and  there  .«peni  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Mr.  Baird  was  twice  married,  first  to  Margaret  Baird,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  two  daughters.  She  died  in  June,  18G9, 
and  he  married  second  Sarah  J.  Robinson,  of  Madrid,  N.  Y.,  who  at  present  resides 
in  Stockholm  with  her  son.  Mr.  Baird  died  November  23,  1891.  Robert  .1.  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  is  a  progressive  farmer,  owning  265  acres  in  Stock- 
holm and  Lawrence,  and  keeping  thirty-five  cows.  He  has  on  his  farm  two  silos,  hold- 
ing fifty  tons  each.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  improved  Chester  white  swine. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of  assessor.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Winthrop  Lodge  No.  G20,  and  P.  of  H.  of  Winlhrop. 
In  1881  our  subject  married  Etta  A.  Meacham,  a  native  of  Stockholm,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Ernest  H.  Mrs.  Baird  is  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  church  of  Fort 
Jackson,  N.  Y. 

Burnham,  G.  C,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Macomb,  September  26,  1859,  and  came  to 
his  present  residence  in  1892,  where  he  farms  235  acres  of  land.  In  1883  he  married 
Cynthia  Britton,  and   they  have  one  daughter.  Iva.     Mr.  Burnham's  father  was  Hiram 

C,  and  his  mother  Margaret  (Fawcett)  Burnham. 

Balcome,  Elon  S.,  Canton,  is  one  of  the  representative  farmers  of  the  town.  He  was 
born  in  Denmark,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1844.  and  settled  about  1850  in  the 
town  of  Hermon,  and  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  1882.  He  married  Han- 
nah M.  Golden,  September  4.  18G4,  and  they  have  had  three  children  :  Jane  Ann.  who 
died  September  7,  1868,  aged  two  months  and  twenty-two  days;  Ruth  M. ;  and  Morey 
J.  Elon  S.  is  a  .son  of  Jefferson,  who  married  Ruth  Morey,  both  living.  They  have 
three  children  :  Morse  K.,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who  married  Estelle  Lovewell.  and  has 
one  daughter,  Grace,  who  married  Rollm  T.  Dickenson,  by  whom  she  has  one  child ; 
Elon  S. ;  and  Jane  Ann,  who  married  Mahlon  Lovewell,  and  they  have  one  child,  Elon 
J.  Lovewell, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  289 

Bissell.  Ralph,  Madrid,  was  born  in  Waddington.  October  17.  1823.  His  father, 
Ezekiel  Bissell,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  to  Vermont. 
In  1S05  he  came  to  Waddington,  purchased  a  farm  in  the  wilderness  and  commenced 
clearing  the  farm  our  subject  now  owns.  He  returned  to  Vermont  and  married  Loris 
Yale,  and  then  came  to  his  Waddington  farm  in  ISIO,  where  his  wife  died.  They  had 
one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  He  married  second  Annis  Hurlburt,  and  they  had  two 
daughters  and  three  sons.  Mr.  Bissell  was  a  Whig  in  politics.  His  wife  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church,  which  he  attended  and  supported.  He  and  wife  are 
dead.  Ralph  Bissel  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Academy 
and  Wesleyan  Seminary.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer,  owns  100  acres  of  land,  and 
keeps  a  dairy  of  fifteen  cows.  He  married  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Daniel  Packard,  of 
Madrid,  by  whom  he  has  had  four  children  :  Mary  E.,  Annis  H.,  Frank,  and  Carrie  A. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  poHtics.  He  and  family  attend  and  support  the  Congregational 
church. 

Barnes,  A.  N.,  G-ouverneur,  was  born  at  Natural  Dam,  April  14,  1843,  and  early  in 
life  took  up  carpentering  and  architecture.  lie  is  to-day  the  leading  architect  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  In  June,  1868,  Mr.  Barnes  married  Hetty,  daughter  of  Jefferson 
Mclntyre.  Mr.  Barnes's  father  wai;  Edwin  R.  Barnes,  and  his  grandfather  Rockwell 
Barnes.  He  has  designed  and  built  many  fine  structures  in  this  part  of  the  county,  in- 
cluding the  Sherwood  &  Potter  block,  Waldorf's  block,  and  -the  residences  of  Charles 
Sherwood,  E.  T.  Beardsley,  Walter  W.  Hall,  and  Frank  Daly.  Mr.  Barnes  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-third  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  in  1864,  and  remained 
in  service  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  has  been  service  commander  of  the  Barnes 
Post. 

Bowen,  A.  D.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ugdensburg,  November  16,  1848.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  after  which  for  from  twelve  to  fourteen  years  he 
followed  sailing  on  the  lakes.  About  1879  he  gave  up  the  business  and  settled  down 
permanently  in  Ogdensburg  in  the  grocery  trade,  which  he  has  since  successfully  fol- 
lowed. His  store  is  located  on  New  York  avenue,  west  side.  Mr.  Bowen  married  in 
1874  Annie  Kirk,  and  they  have  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  girls.  Mr.  Bowen 
has  served  as  supervisor  for  two  or  three  terms  and  is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics. 
His  parents  settled  here  just  before  the  battle  of  the  Windmill.  Mr.  Bowen  is  also  an 
active  member  of  the  Knights  of  Fidelity,  Sobriety  and  Integrity. 

Ball  &  Fletcher,  Gouverneur.— This  representative  marble  firm  was  established  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1893.  They  do  all  kinds  of  marble  and  monumental  work  and  give  estimates 
on  all  kinds  of  the  same,  whether  for  cemetery  or  building  purposes.  F.  A.  Fletcher  is 
a  native  of  England.  He  came  to  America  in  1860.  In  1881  he  married  Lily  Liberty, 
and  they  have  two  daughters :  Pearl  and  Ruby.  Rufus  Ball  is  a  native  of  Germany. 
He  came  to  America  in  1887,  and  married  Maud  Lyons  in  1891.  Both  gentlemen  are 
experts  in  this  line  and  thorough  business  men. 

Boland,  William,  Waddington,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1848.  and  when  a  child  came 
to  Waddington  with  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  Boland,  who  had  a  family  of  three 
sons  and  five  daughters.     Mr.  Boland  died  in  Waddington  in  1864  and  his  wife  atpres- 

kk 


2!)0  FHSTORV  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ent  resides  in  tiie  village.  Wiliiaiu  !•  .;iiul  wu*,  .  '  t.I  in  the  Union  Free  School  of 
Waddin^ton  and  started  in  life  a  poor  l)oy,  first  „'  for  William  Clark.    When  the 

war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  tiie  142d  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  for  three  yeani.  He 
was  at  Petersburg,  Drury's  BlufT,  Richmond  and  many  of  the  most  decisive  battle«.  In 
front  of  Richmond  Mr.  Roland  lost  his  left  leg,  and  wa«  wounded  in  the  shoulder  pre- 
vious to  tliis  at  Drury's  J{!iitV  He  was  placed  in  tli--  New  York  Park  Ho.4pitai,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  retuineii  to  Waddington,  wiinc  iie  found  employment  with  Dal- 
zell  &  Reddingfon  m  their  flax  mill.  He  afterwards  engaged  with  Mr.  Harrison  in 
packing  shingles,  and  for  three  years  bought  eggs  for  Dal/ell  &  Rutherford,  when  he 
engaged  as  cook  for  Capt.  W.  Murphy,  witlj  whom  he  renmined  ten  yearn.  Mr.  Bo- 
land  then  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business  for  '  "  a»id  has  been  very  t-  '  ' 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  m  religious  Ll.  : .  ..:  '  urnciice  a  < 'athohc,  ...„  ., 
member  of  the  church  at  Waddmgton. 

Blood,  Amos,  Potsdam,  was  bom  in  Charleton,  Worcester  county,  Ma-ts.,  October  24, 
1806.     The  ancestry  of  this  family  were  English  people.     The  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  Richard  Blood,  and  we  find  that  in  1736  ho  purctiased  a  tract  of  ;{00  acre« 
of  land  near  Charleton  of  Bellington,  one  of  the  ori  ■       -.     Richanl   second. 

grandfather  of  Amos,  was  born  on  the  homestead  Ui  >  ,  .  •  ......   .....ays  made   his  home 

there.  lie  was  the  father  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  Jacob,  father  of  our  subject  was 
the  second  son.  Richard  Blood  died  April  10,  1 -JO.  Jacob  was  born  July  '.».  1771. 
In  politics  he  was  one  of  the  old  Federal  party.  He  married  Phcrbe  K«ldy,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Charleton,  and  they  hati  .seven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  only  one 
living.  Jacob  died  March  10,  1857,  and  Mrs.  Rlooii,  .-•"  •  • '  cr  4,  1841.  aped  sixty- 
seven  years.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spiiit  .  ive  town.  He  worked 
on  the  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In  the  fall  of  1834  he  bought  a 
farm  of  125  acres  where  he  followed  farming  until  1875,  when  he  sold  the  farm  and 
bought  a  small  plaoe'in  the  village  of  West  Potsdam,  where  he  is  now  living  retired. 
Mr.  Blood  is  a  Republican  and  ha.s  held  the  office  of  commis.<ioner  of  highways  three 
years,  assessor  two  years,  and  justice  of  the  peace  iwent^'-one  years.  In  1S40  he  was 
elected  supervisor  and  served  with  great  credit  two  years.  He  ha«  been  twice  married. 
In  1833  he  married  Electa  Blood,  a  cousin,  who  died  in  1837,  leaving  one  child,  Ed- 
mund, who  died.  Mr.  Blood  married  second,  October  1,  1840,  Catherine,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Matilda  (Gage)  Dayton,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  five  now  living:  Ze- 
lia  A.,  widow  of  Charles  0.  Owen,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor.  June  2,  1864; 
Freeman  A.,  a  farmer  of  Potsdam;  Lefe  E.,  widow  of  Emmett  S.  Goodale:  Fred  G., 
a  journalist  and  lecturer  at  Mount  Vernon,  HI. ;  and  Elmer  E.,  a  cheese  manufacturer 
of  Lisbon. 

Butler,  Ira  Daniel,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  Potsdam,  June  10,  1859. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Henry,  was  a  native  of  ' '  '  usetts,  born  at  Pelham. 

He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  i...  .;,...».; s.  William,  the  oldest 
son,  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  this  farm  October  1,  1822,  where  he  has 
always  made  his  home.  He  has  never  taken  any  active  interest  in  politics.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodise  church  at  Potsdam,  and  has  been  a  trustee  and 
class  leader  for  a  great  many  yea-  -      He  married  in  1852,  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  291 

Daniel  and  Sarah  (Willis)  Morgan  of  the  town  of  Lawrence,  and  the}'  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Owen  Martin  of  Ogdensburg;  William  Watson,  a  teacher  of 
stenography  at  Yonkers.  X.  Y. ;  and  Ira  D.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been 
spent  on  this  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam  State  Nor- 
mal School,  and  after  leaving  school  he  took  up  farming,  which  he  has  ever  since  been 
engaged  in.  The  farm  is  conducted  as  a  hay  and  grain  farm.  It  has  now  229  acres 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  section.  Mr.  Butler  is  a  Republican 
but  has  never  been  on  aspirant  for  puhhc  otlioe.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  clmrch  at  Norwood.  Mr.  Butler  married,  November  27,  ISSl,  Hannah  May 
daughter  of  Harry  and  Mahala  (Simmonds)  (I'hittenden  of  Norwood. 

Brodie,  James,  Gouverneul-,  was  born  in  Scotland,  June  1,  1815,  and  came  to 
America  in  1S34.  He  learned  the  tailoring  trade  in  Scotland  and  followed  it  in 
America.  In  1862  he  came  to  Gouverneur  and  established  his  present  business. 
Mr.  Brodie  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Helen  McGregor  who  died 
in  1854.  His  second  was  Eliza  Niblock,  who  died  in  1873.  He  has  four  children, 
two  by  each  wife.  Tiiey  are :  William  Brodie.  a  farmer ;  Catherine,  who  keeps 
house  for  her  father;  Arthur  F.,  who  lives  in  Kansas  City;  and  Mrs.  Edwin  Fow- 
ler, who  lives  in  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Brodie  has  been  a  .very  successful  business  man, 
and  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  an  elder  in 
the  First  Pre.ibyterian  church  of  Gouverneur. 

Benson.  Charles  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  I'otsdani,  January  27,  1854. 
The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  of  this  family  was  Seth  Benson,  who  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  born  in  Benson,  in  17!tn.  iL-  was  the  father  of  eleven  children  of  whom 
Norman  L.,  father  of  Charles,  was  the  third  son.  He  was  born  December  22,  1826, 
in  Vermont,  and  wa.s  only  a  lad  when  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county 
and  located.  Norman  L.  took  up  farming.  In  1849  he  bought  a  farm  of  180  acres, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  married  in  March.  1848,  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Eli 
Perry  of  Colton,  and  they  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs.  Benson  died 
November  25,  1873.  Charles  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Potsdam 
State  Normal  School,  and  followed  farn'ing.  lie  has  here  a  beautiful  home  with  a  farm 
of -160  acres,  devoted  to  grain  and  dairying.  He  has  eighty-six  head  of  cattle,  six 
horses  and  other  stock.  The  milk  is  sent  to  the  cheese  factory.  Mr.  Benson  is  one  of 
the  supporters  of  the  Universalist  church  of  Potsdam.  He  married,  February  26,  1879, 
Emma  J.  Chase  of  Stockholm,  and  they  had  tw^o  children  :  Grace  E.  and  Floyd  C.  Mrs. 
Benson  died  November  3,  1890,  and  he  married  second,  April  12,  1893,  Minnie  M., 
daughter  of  George  and  Martha  (Pwich)  ''lark  of  Potsdam.  George  Clark  died  in  1877, 
in  the  State  of  Colorado,  and  Mrs.  Clark  died  in  1875. 

Barry,  Frank  D.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1834. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  James,  was  a  farmer  and  real  estate  dealer.  The  early  life 
of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town  of  his  birth.  He  was  educated  at  Franklin 
Academy,  Malone,  and  was  engaged  as  bookkeeper  with  Knapp,  Durkey  &  Co.  for  a 
while,  and  for  several  years  was  in  the  otlice  of  the  Ogdensburg  and  L.  C.  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  Malone.     In  1870  he  entered  the  Farmer's  National  Bank  at  Malone  as  book- 


292  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

keeper  and  teller,  a  position  he  filled  until  1878,  when  he  changed  to  the  National 
Bank  of  Malone,  as  teller.  In  June,  1889,  he  came  to  Potsdam  to  take  charge  of  the 
People's  Bank  in  this  town,  filling  the  office  of  cashier. 

Baker  J.  Y.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  and  has  been  en- 
ffao-ed  in  the  insurance  business  seventeen  years,  sixteen  of  which  have  been  in  Gouv- 
erneur. He  represents  the  leading  fire  and  life  insurance  companies  of  the  county,  and 
does  a  large  business.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  prominent  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
a  Prohibitionist,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Methodist  church.  His  father  was  John  W. 
Baker,  a  Quaker  preacher,  as  was  also  his  grandfather.  In  1871  Mr.  Baker  married 
Louisa  E.  Harris,  and  they  have  three  children. 

Bixby,  George  H.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  May  8,  18-13.  Solomon  J., 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Canton,  December  11,  1818,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  for  the  past  twenty  years  in  this  town.  He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
Reuben  Batchelder,  the  first  Baptist  preacher  of  Potsdam.  They  had  four  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living:  Lewis,  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store  in  Utica,  and  George 
W.  The  boyhood  of  the  latter  was  spent  in  Canton.  He  was  educated  in  old  St. 
Lawrence  Academy,  and  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  began  work  for  Dem- 
ing  &  Dayton.  He  was  with  them  twelve  years  and  with  Watkins,  Rodee  &  Co. 
until  1885,  when,  in  partnership  with  Hosea  Bicknall,  he  established  a  grocery  and 
provision  store  in  the  People's  Bank  building,  which  they  conducted  together  for 
five  years,  when  Mr.  Bixby  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr.  Bicknall,  and  has  since 
conducted  it  alone.  The  coal  business  was  established  at  the  same  time  as  the 
partnership  above  referred  to,  and  has  grown  to  a  yearly  dealing  of  about  1,500 
tons.  Mr.  Bixby  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having  reached  the  thirty- 
second  degree,  and  a  member  of  Raquette  River  Lodge  No.  213,  St.  Lawrence 
Chapter  No.  24,  and  St.  Lawrence  Commandery  No.  28.  He  married  in  1881, 
Sadie  A.,  daughter  of  Julius  Hand  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Marian. 

Bouck,  Gordon,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Dundas  county,  Ontario,  August  29,  1850,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1870.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  and  carriage  maker 
in  Gouverneur,  and  there  settled  in  Hailesboro,  where  he  has  resided  sixteen  years.  In 
1880  he  married  Delia  Forsythe  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Addie  and  Inez.  Jacob, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of  Mohawk  Dutch  nationality,  and  his  father,  John  C. 
Bouck,  was  born  in  Canada.  In  politics  Mr.  Bouck  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  an  adherent  of  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Bouck  is  a  member. 

Burnham,  Francis  S.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Potsdam,  August  24,  1851,  a 
son  of  James  M.  Burnham,  who  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  March  22,  1811,  and 
was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  when  his  parents  moved  into  St.  Lawrence  county.  His 
father  bought  a  farm  of  156  acres.  James  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
for  a  short  time  taught  in  Canada,  but  gave  this  up  and  took  up  farming.  His  father, 
Sylvanus,  died  in  1871,  when  101  years,  four  months  and  seventeen  days  old.  The  old 
homestead  came  into  the  hands  of  James  M.  Burnham  about  1841,  and  the  farm  now 
consists  of  166  acres.     He  has  been   three  times  married:  First  in  October,  1835,  to 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  293 

Martha,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Buttolph  of  Potsdam,  who  died,  and  he  married  second 
June  19,  1839,  Miranda,  daughter  of  Abel  0^ven  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  they  had  one 
son,  Capt.  Collins  A.  Burnham  of  Wemore,  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Burnham  died  May  16 
1840,  and  he  married,  November  3,  1840,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Francis  Gillette  of  Stock- 
holm, and  they  had  four  children  :  Martha,  married  J.  S.  Buttolph,  died  July  24,  1883  • 
Mary,  married  J.  D.  Whitney  of  Syracuse,  died  May  12,  1878;  Miranda  H.,  married 
Fred  Partridge  of  Norwood,  where  she  now  lives ;  and  Francis  S.  Mr.  James  Burn- 
ham is  still  living  at  eighty  three  years  of  age.  The  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been 
spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Potsdam 
State  Normal  School,  and  took  up  farming!  He  is  a  member  of  Potsdam  Grange  No. 
39,  and  is  a  Republican.  He  married  in  1S73,  Angusta,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Electa 
(Willis)  Shields,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  James  S.,  now  in  his  seventeenth 
year. 

Barbour,  W.  J.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Norfolk,  June  14,  1843.  He  has  lived  in 
St.  Lawrence  county  since  a  child  of  four  vears  of  age,  and  has  been  identified  with 
musical  merchandise  trade  here  for  the  past  twenty-six  years.  He  has  conducted  the 
leadmg  establishment  in  Ogdensburg  devoted  to  that  important  branch  of  industry  for 
the  greater  part  of  that  time,  but  sold  his  interests  to  Edgar  A.  Merrill  some  months 
ago,  and  now  attends  to  the  outside  trade  of  the  house,  his  territory  consisting  of 
Northern  New  York,  including  St.  Lawrence,  Franklin  and  Jefferson  counties.  Mr. 
Barbour  married  in  1871,  Alary  M.  Houston,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Houston,  and 
they  have  four  children  living.  He  is  a  member  of  Ogdensburg  Masonic  Lodge  No.  128, 
and  identified  with  local  and  social  institutions. 

Burtis,  S.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Jefterson  county,  December  15,  1844,  and  was  a 
farmer  until  twenty  years  ago.  He  ran  a  hotel  for  ten  years,  and  has  been  in  the  bot- 
tling business  in  Gouverneur  for  twenty  years.  He  is  a  successful  business  man  and 
owns  the  Burtis  Block,  besides  other  property.  In  1870  he  married  Ettie  Jones,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Stephen  J.,  fifteen  years  of  age,  who  is  a  promising  youth  and  very 
popular  among  a  large  circle  of  associates.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  as  is 
also  Mrs.  Burtis.  Mr.  Burtis  is  a  strong  Democrat,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  all 
laudable  enterprises. 

Brassard,  John,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  October  11,  1852.  He  came  here 
in  1865,  and  after  leaving  school  was  employed  in  several  large  lumber  companies, 
among  them  Messrs.  Proctor.  L.  Thompson,  and  H.  &  A.  Whitney.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  0.  &  L.  C.  Railroad,  where  he  was  engaged  for  eleven  years,  begin- 
ning as  a  brakeman,  and  finally  reaching  the  position  of  conductor.  Owing  to  injury 
received  on  the  railroad  he  was  compelled  to  leave,  and  established  his  present  meat 
business.  He  married  in  June,  1881,  Mary  Paquette.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  Society,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

Beaman,  F.  B.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  October  13,  1855.  His  father  being 
a  farmer,  he  followed  that  occupation  till  1877,  when  he  came  to  Richville  and  em- 
barked in  drug  business.  In  1880  Mr.  Beaman  married  Ruth  A.,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Walker,  and  they  have  one  son,  Daniel  W.     Mr.  Beaman  has  been  a  member  the  Rich- 


094  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

viue  ^'L-bool  Board  since  its  organization,  and  has  been  its  president  for  the  past  seven 
years.  His  father  was  Ezra  Beaman  of  Westminster,  Mass.,  and  his  mother  Lydia  M. 
Jones  of  New  Hampshire.  Some  of  his  ancestors  were  soldiers  of  the  Eevolutionary 
War  and  one  of  his  forefathers  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. 

Bachelier,  Henry  A.,  Pierrepont.  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  January  4,  1844.  His  father, 
P.  L.  Bachelier,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sallie  (Sanford)  Bachelier,  who  had  four  sons 
anjd  three  daughters.  In  1829  Samuel  came  to  Canton,  where  he  died.  P.  L.  Bachel- 
ier was  born  April  16,  1813,  in  Yermont  and  came  to  Canton  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He 
married  Lovina  Perkins,  a  native  of  Potsdam,  and  they  have  one  son  and  six  daughters. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  P.  L.  Bachelier  and  family,  accompanied  by  his  mother, 
came  to  the  town  of  Pierrepont  and  settled.  Mr.  Bachelier  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
Henry  A.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Potsdam  Academy.  He  has  always 
followed  farming,  and  now  owns  200  acres  of  land,  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
dairying.  June  11,  1873,  Mr.  Bachelier  married  Alice  Woodworth,  a  native  of  Madrid 
and  daughter  of  Alanson  C.  and  Mary  (Shaw)  Woodworth,  the  former  a  native  of  Jef- 
ferson county  and  the  latter  of  Yermont.  They  had  two  children,  of  whom  only  Mrs. 
Bachelier  is  living.  Mr.  Woodworth  died  in  Camden,  Oneida  county,  and  his  wife  is 
now  living  in  North  Carolina. 

Amo,  George  N.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  April  21,  1856.  His  earlier 
vears  were  passed  in  doing  odd  jobs  of  whatever  he  could  obtain,  and  eventually  he 
obtained  employment  in  the  0.  &  L.  C.  yard,  where  his  energy  and  perseverance  were 
soon  recognized  by  the  ofiBcials,  who  appointed  him  yardmaster.  After  serving  some 
time  in  this  capacity  Mr.  Amo  entered  the  butcher  business  and  dealt  m  cattle,  and  after 
conducting  this  for  a  time  entered  the  saloon  business,  two  years  ago  the  27th  of  March, 
1891.  In  this  he  has  also  been  successful  and  his  establishment  is  largely  patronized. 
Mr.  Amo  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  C.  M.  B.  A.  He  married  in  1875,  Louisa  Roots, 
and  they  have  four  children. 

Amo,  A.  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  April  27,  1868.  He  received  a 
a  common  school  education,  after  which  he  followed  railroading  for  several  years, 
and  in  1886  assnmed  charge  of  the  hotel  on  Ford  street,  which  he  has  since  so  suc- 
ces.sfully  conducted.  Mr.  Amo  married  in  1874  and  has  a  family  of  five  children. 
His  parents  are  also  living  at  the  present  writing.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of 
St.  Jolin  the  Baptist's  Society,  and  is  much  respected  and  esteemed  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances,  as  well  as  by  the  general  public. 

Abernethy,  Arthur  W.,  Madrid,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Madrid,  March  4,  1847,  a 
son  of  Roswell  T.  Abernethy,  who  was  also  a  native  of  this  town,  born  on  the  same 
farm  in  August,  1808.     His  parents  were  the  first  settlers  of  the  town,  coming  from 

V< •  •   -lyi.]  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land,  which  has  ever  since  been  in  the  hands 

of  y-     The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the    homestead,  and    he 

w»M  educated  in  the  common  scliools.      At  eighteen  years    of    age    he    entered    the 

Btore  of  0.  C.  A:  J.   II.  Robinson  of  Madrid,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 

t  '•'(;  uDlil  the  disaolulion  of  the  firm,  April  1,   1S76.      He    then    became  a  partner 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  295 

with  0.  C.  Robinson,  under  the  firm  name  of  0.  C.  Robinson  Sc  Co.  This  compa- 
ny existed  until  March  1,  1890,  doing  a  very  extensive  and  successful  business,  both 
mercantile  and  as  stock  and  produce  dealers.  On  the  above  date  Mr.  Robinson  re- 
tired on  account  of  ill  health,  and  Mr.  Abernethy  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone,  carrying  a  complete  line  of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  crockery,  groceries  and 
general  merchandise.  Mr.  Abernethy  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Madrid  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  married,  April  29. 
1879,  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Robinson  of  Huntington,  Quebec. 

Austin,  W.  D.,  Edwardsville,  was  born  in  Depeyster,  December  18,  1857,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  cheese  making  for  eighteen  years.  In  1887  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  J.  M.  Tann  in  Edwardsville  cheese  factory,  where  they  make  125,000  pounds 
of  cheese  annually.  In  1891  Mr.  Austin  married  Florence  E.  Brown.  He  is  a  Mason 
a  member  of  the  Chapter,  and  has  been  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge.  He  is  an  active  Re- 
pubHcan  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  town  committee. 

Allen,  Dr.  Alfred  R.,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Nicholville,  Franklin  county,  March  15 
1858.  His  father  was  Abel  Allen,  a  native  of  Peru,  Vt.,  born  in  1812,  and  the  father 
of  Abel  was  a  native  of  England,  who  came  to  Vermont  in  an  early  day.  He  was  a 
sailor  and  spent  most  of  his  life  on  Lake  Champlain.  Abel  was  twice  married  and  by 
his  first  wife  had  three  children.  His  second  wife  was  Jane  Holt,  a  native  of  Clin- 
ton county,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Mr. 
Allen  was  for  fifteen  years  engaged  in  sawmilling  in  Franklin  county,  then  moved  to 
St.  Lawrence  county  and  settled  in  Stockholm,  where  he  died  in  1867,  and  his  wife  in 
1891.  Alfred  R.  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen was  clerk  for  Charles  Whiting  of  West  Stockholm.  In  1878  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Cook,  and  after  four  years  entered  the  University  of  Burlington, 
Vt,  from  the  medical  department  of  which  he  graduated  in  1882.  He  then  came  to 
Parishville,  where  he  has  practiced  successfully  since.  In  1884  Dr.  Allen  married  Min- 
nie A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Griswold.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge 
No.  398,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Ashley,  Joseph,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Canada,  March  14,  1846,  his  parents  mov- 
ing here  when  he  was  three  years  of  age.  He  received  a  meager  education,  and  early 
in  life  had  to  support  his  parents  as  well  as  himself.  He  labored  faithfully,  acquired 
some  little  money,  and  about  twenty  years  ago  started  a  small  grocery  ;  this  he  sold  to 
take  a  small  farm  near  Lisbon,  and  after  a  time  returned  to  Ogdensburg  where  he  again 
started  a  grocery  trade.  He  now  conducts  one  of  the  leadmg  groceries  and  meat  mar- 
kets on  the  west  side.  Mr.  Ashley  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Emily 
Laberlie,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  Mr.  Ashley  is  a  member  of  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist Society,  and  a  staunch  Republican. 

Ayres,  Stephen,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  February  22,  1824,  and  has 
been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  married  Samantha  Breese  in  1853,  and  after  her  death 
he  married  Elizabeth  Kendall,  by  whom  he  had  these  children  :  Arthur,  Louise,  now 
Mrs.  Banker,  and  Nellie,  a  teacher  in  Danville,  III.     In  1881  Mr.  Ayres  married  Mary, 


296  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

dauirhter  of  Barney  Payne,  of  Massena.     He  follows  farming,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Anstead  George  A.,  Potsdam,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  ParishviUe,  No- 
vember 14  1848,  a  son  of  John  Anstead,  a  native  of  Herkimer  county,  born  in  the  town 
of  Manheim  in  1816.  He  followed  farming,  and  married  after  coming  in  to  this  coun- 
try Eliza,  daughter  of  Gideon  Crandall,  of  Pierrepont,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  of  whom  only  George  A.  survives.  Jacob  Anstead  died  March  11,  1861, 
and  Mrs.  Anstead  March  5,  1893.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  the  town 
of  ParishviUe.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and 
a  course  at  the  Ogdensburg  Business  College.  He  was  for  three  and  one-half  years 
engaged  in  George  B.  Swan's  sash  and  door  factory  in  Potsdam,  and  in  1870  bought  a 
farm  of  ninety  acres,  where,  in  1877,  he  built  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  this  part  of 
the  town.  In  1874  he  established  a  milk  route  in  Potsdam,  which  the  first  year  only 
demanded  about  seventy-five  quarts  per  day,  and  now  (1893)  the  average  is  125  quarts 
per  day.  Mr.  Anstead  married  in  June,  1872,  Flora  A.,  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Luceta  (Smith)  Loucks,  and  they  have  one  adopted  daughter,  Maud  Anstead. 

Abell,  Frank  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Canton,  February  20,  1862,  and  has  been 
in  mercantile  business  since  eleven  years  of  age.  He  first  clerked  in  Canton  and 
was  subsequently  a  partner  with  A.  Kinney,  of  Gouverneur.  He  was  also  three  years 
with  Whitney  &  Son,  grocers.  November  10,  1892,  the  partnership  of  Abell  &  Har- 
vey was  formed.  Mr.  Abell  is  a  Mason  and  was  a  member  of  the  Marble  City  Lodge 
of  Foresters.  His  father  was  Charles  C.  Abell,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  his  mother 
was  Roxanna  Burde.  Mr.  Abell  married  Charlotte  Dunley,  and  they  had  two  daugh- 
ters and  one  son. 

Ashley,  Loren  R.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stockholm,  June  20,  1841.  The 
earliest  ancestor  we  find  of  this  family  is  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Enoch, 
who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  in  New  Haven,  May  11,  1759.  He  married  Anna 
Treat,  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  three  children  :  Sarah,  Zenas,  and 
Harry.  Harry  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Vt.,  January  2,  1794,  and  always  made  his 
home  in  his  native  State.  He  married  Betsey  Warren,  and  they  had  six  children,  of 
whom  Norman,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  oldest.  Noiman  was  born  in  Vermont, 
April  11,  181G.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  Slate,  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  taught  one  or  two  seasons.  He  afterward  followed 
farming  for  a  few  years.  He  married  in  1839  Rosalie  Doud,  of  Vermont,  and  the 
8ame  year  moved  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Stockholm.  In  1852 
he  enjraged  in  mercantile  business  in  Stockholm  and  after  a  few  years  came  to  Pots- 
dam, being  engaged  in  a  store  in  the  village  of  Norwood,  of  which  business  he  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  later,  and  followed  the  lialance  of  his  life.  Mr.  Ashley 
wa.H  an  act,ive  church  worker,  and  was  trustee  at  tlie  time  of  the  establishing  of  the 
'ational  church  at  Norwood.     He  died  April  11,  1889.     Norman  was  the  father 

'  »<>m:  Loren  Rolton  and   Henry.     Mrs.  Ashley,  mother  of  our  subject,  is  still 

livuig.    When  HuV)ject  was  thirteen  years  of  age  hispan-nts  moved  into  Potsdam,  where 
he  waH  educated  in  the  common  schools,  old  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  Cowansville 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  207 

Academy  in  Canada.  After  leaving  school  he  was  engaged  in  his  father's  store,  enter- 
ing into  partnership  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  the  firm  of  L.  R.  &  H.  Ash- 
ley succeeded  N.  Ashley  &  Son,  and  has  ever  since  held  a  partnership  in  the  business. 
In  the  spring  of  1886  Mr.  Ashley  formed  a  stock  company,  consisting  of  L.  R.  Ashley 
president ;  Henry  Ashley,  secretary  ;  H.  H.  Day,  superintendent ;  with  the  ofiBcers, 
William  McEchron,  of  Glens  Falls,  and  F.  L.  Day,  of  Glens  Falls,  forming  the  board  of 
directors,  under  the  name  of  Norwood  Manufacturing  Company,  previously  the  Nor- 
word  Lumber  Company.  Mr.  Ashley  is  also  the  vice-president  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Norwood,  and  is  a  member  of  the  School  Board  of  the  Union  Free  School,  and  is  the 
vice-president  of  the  Norwood  Loan  and  Savings  Association.  Mr.  Ashley  married  in 
1863,  Angeline,  daughter  of  M.  Valley,  of  Norwood,  and  they  have  five  children. 

Ashley,  Frank,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg  in  1837.  After  learnino-  the 
meat  market  business  he  established  himself  in  that  branch  of  industry  here,  conduct- 
ing establishments  in  diflferent  parts  of  this  city.  Prior  to  establishing  his  present  first 
class  meat  market,  adjoinmg  Howard's  grocery  store,  he  conducted  a  meat  business 
over  the  bridge.  Mr.  Ashley  is  a  staunch  Catholic,  a  member  of  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist Society,  and  is  much  respected  in  the  city.  He  is  married  and  has  three  chil- 
dren. 

Adams,  Milo,  Parishville,  was  born  in  Dumerston,  Conn.,  September  28,  1821,  a  son 
of  Clark,  son  of  Nathan  Adams,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  early  in  life  came  to  Dumers- 
ton. He  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children.  Clark  Adams  was  a  native  of  Dumerston, 
and  married  Leafy  Stephens,  whose  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
They  had  six  children.  Clark  lived  in  Brandon  for  eighteen  years,  then  removed  to 
Hopkinton,  where  he  died.  Milo  Adams  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen started  out  as  traveling  salesman,  in  which  business  he  continued  for  twelve  years. 
In  1840  he  bought  the  farm  in  Hopkinton  originally  owned  by  his  father,  and  in  1865 
he  came  to  Parishville,  where  he  bought  and  sold  produce  until  1874.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  partnership  with  Frank  Clark,  which  firm  continued  six 
years.  Mr.  Adams  then  engaged  in  partnership  with  his  son,  F.  C.  Adams,  for  six 
years,  and  then  with  Orlando  Capell  one  year.  Two  years  later  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  son,  Henry  Adams,  and  they  carried  on  the  business  till  1893,  at  which 
time  the  senior  member  retired,  the  firm  being  now  known  as  Adams  Brothers.  Milo 
Adams  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Zada  Lee,  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons  :  Fred  C.  and  Henry  A.  The  former  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Colorado,  and  married  Lula  Cook,  daucrhter  of  Samuel  Cook,  of  Potsdam.  Henry  A.  is 
one  of  the  firm  of  Adams  Brothers  of  this  town,  and  married  Clara  Sargeant,  of  Bangor, 
N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Milo  Adams,  jr.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Adams  married  second  Dana  Hayden,  of  Parishville,  by  whom  he  has  two  children: 
Clark  F.,  one  of  the  firm  of  Adams  Brothers  ;  and  Grace.  Mr.  Adams  has  always  been 
a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  constable  and  collector  in  Hopkinton.  He  is  a 
member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  St.  Lawrence  Chapter  No.  24,  R. 
A.  M.  Henry  A.  Adams  was  born  July  24,  1863,  in  Hopkinton,  was  educated  in  the 
Potsdam  Normal  School,  and  entered  the  mercantile  trade  in  Bangor,  N.  Y.  He  is  a 
11 


29S  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and  wife  attend  and  support  the 
Baptist  church. 

Allen  F.  D.,  M.D.,  De  Kalb,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  February  24,  1860.  After  a 
course  of  study  in  the  Gouverneur  Academy  he  took  a  medical  course  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  City  of  New  York,  graduating  in  1885.  He  also  took  a  course  of  study  at 
Burlington,  Vt.,  and  after  graduating  he  began  practice  in  Spragueville,  but  removed  to 
Grouverneur,  and  finally  to  Richville  in  1888.  In  1886  Dr.  Allen  married  Anna  J.  Todd, 
of  Edwards.  The  doctor's  father  was  Lorenzo  D.  Allen,  and  his  mother  Mary  (Cum- 
mings)  Allen. 

Bancroft,  William,  Russell,  was  born  at  Monterey  (at  present  called  De  Grasse),  this 
county,  February  8,  1871,  a  son  of  Samuel  Bancroft,  born  at  Detroit,  September  29, 
1811,  whose  father  came  from  England  to  serve  in  the  Indian  wars.  He  was  also  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  Samuel,  father  of  William,  first  married  Mary  Rude,  by 
whom  he  had  eleven  children.  His  second  wife  was  Phebe  Cummings,  born  in  Canada 
West,  May  2,  1830,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Cummings,  both  of  Canada.  Her 
father  was  a  ship  timber  contractor  on  the  Ottawa  River.  He  served  in  the  Canadian 
militia  in  1812,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Chrysler's  Field.  Samuel,  father  of 
William,  was  a  cartman  in  Prescott,  Ont.,  for  some  years,  but  moved  in  1859  to  Mon- 
terey, where  he  bought  100  acres  of  land  in  the  woods,  cleared  a  place  for  his  house, 
moved  in  and  worked  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  September  26,  188o. 
By  his  second  wife  Mr.  Bancroft  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter :  Daniel,  born  August 
G,  1862  ;  Loren,  born  December  23,  1863  ;  Sarah  E.,  born  October  6,  1867  ;  and  William, 
our  subject,  who  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Russell  and  the  Union  School 
of  Hermon.  He  taught  school  for  some  time,  thirty-four  weeks  in  all,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits  in  De  Grasse,  where  he  is  now  located.  He  carries  a  first- 
class  trade,  making  a  specialty  of  the  hardware  line.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  William,  tlie  oldest  son  of  Samuel  Bancroft,  was  in  the 
late  war  and  was  killed  at  the  attack  on  Fort  Steadman  in  1865. 

Wilder,  William  D.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Ellis  Village,  Jefferson  county,  December 
16,  1835,  a. son  of  William  S.,  Avho.se  father  was  Francis.     William  S.  was  born  in  Jef- 
ferson county  in  1811,  and  married  Mary  A.  Whipple  of  Jefferson  county,  by  whom  he 
had  a  son  and  four  daughters.     He  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
1870.     Our  subject  was  reared  in  Dexter,  Jelferson  county,  and  remembers  seeing  the 
Harrison  log  cabin.     He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  his  father,  with  whom  he  worked  until  1872,   in  Louisville,  this  county,  then 
rented  the  mill  and  operated  it  until  1878.     Then  he  came  to  Lawrenceville  and  bought 
tlie  Lawrenceville  mills,  where  he  has  had  a  very  successful  business,  doing  mainly  cus- 
tom work,  until  1893,  when  he  put  in  four  full  sets  of  roller.s.  and  now  annually  manu- 
factures 4,500  bushels  of  wheat  into  flour  for  custom,  and  about  2,000  for  shipping, 
besides  a  large  business  in  feed,  making  in  all  about  300  tons.     He  is   also  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber,  sawing  about  200,000  feet  yearly.     He  also  owns  a  farm  of 
••'<  in  the  town  of  Lawrence.     In  1858  he  married  Maria  C.  Carpenter  of  Louis- 
y   whom   he  has  had  two  children  :  Eva  G.,  and  Josephine  A.,  wife  of  Frank 
Kenan  of  Lawrence,  who  died  June  13,  1891      The  latter  had  one  child,  ]{ay  W.  Kenan. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  299 

St.  Lawrence  County  Bank,  Canton,  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  May  1,  1881.  The  officers  are:  W.  H.  Kimball,  president;  M.  D.  Packard, 
vice-president ;  S.  D.  Kimball,  cashier ;  F.  W.  Scribner,  assistant  cashier.  The  bank's 
capital  is  $50,000,  the  surplus  §21,000,  and  deposits  amount  to  $175,000. 

Packard,  M.  D.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Madrid.  St.  Lawrence  county,  November  17, 
1828.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  Canton  Academ3^  He  then 
entered  mercantile  life,  going  to  school  in  the  winter,  clerking  in  the  summer.  He  set- 
tled in  Canton  and  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  1854  and  continued  in  business 
for  thirty-three  years.  In  1862  he  was  elected  supervisor  and  held  the  office  five  years. 
He  was  again  elected  in  1871  and  served  five  years  more.  On  January  1,  1876,  he 
became  county  treasurer  and  filled  that  position  nine  years.  His  father  was  John  A. 
Packard  and  his  mother  Elizabeth  Durand. 

Gannon,  J.  H.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  June  3,  1842.  He  was  en- 
gaged on  public  works  and  canals  for  six  years  previous  to  the  war  and  for  four  years 
after.  The  Canton  Lumber  Company  was  established  in  1883  with  Mr.  Gannon  as 
manager,  and  has  been  conducted  successfully  to  date.  In  1874  Mr.  Gannon  married 
Helen  A.  Rice.  They  have  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Gannon  was  supervisor 
of  Fort  Ann,  Washington  countj^,  and  was  postmaster  there  from  1884  to  1888. 

Priest,  Henry,  Canton,  was  born  in  Vermont,  May  5,  1847.  He  was  educated  at 
Tufi"ts  College  and  graduated  in  1874.  He  taught  in  Goddard  Seminary  nine  j^ears  and 
then  came  to  Canton  as  professor  of  mathematics  in  St.  Lawrence  University.  In  1882 
he  married  Flora  E.  Eaton.  They  have  two  children,  Alice  Eaton  and  Ward  Curtis 
Priest.  Professor  Priest  is  dean  of  the  faculty  of  the  college,  and  was  twice  returned 
to  the  Legislature  in  Vermont.     He  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist. 

Rice,  D.  S.,  Canton,  was  born  at  Fort  Ann,  January  12,  1870,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Canton  Lumber  Company  since  1885.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
company  since  1890.     He  married  Gertrude  Folsom,  July  16,  1891. 

Lee,  Rev.  John  Stebbins,  Canton,  was  born  in  Vernon,  September  23,  1820.  He 
was  educated  in  schools  at  Brattleboro,  Deerfield,  Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.,  and  Amherst 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845.  He  taught  in  various  schools  and  semin- 
aries, and  was  pastor  of  some  congregations  and  societies  prior  to  coming  to  Canton  m 
1859  as  principal  of  the  college  department  of  St.  Lawrence  University.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the  university  ever  since.  In  February,  1848,  Mr.  Lee  married  Elmira 
Bennett.  They  have  five  children  living  :  Leshe  A.,  John  C,  Frederick  S.,  Florence  J. 
and  Lulu  G.  L.  Lee. 

Wells,  R.  T.,  Canton,  was  born  in  South  Canton,  August  19,  1849.  Early  in  life  he 
embarked  in  the  lumber  business,  and  has  followed  that  and  deahng  in  real  estate  up 
to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Wells  married  Ella  Miles,  daughter  of  Stephen  Miles,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1869.  They  have  a  family  of  one  son  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Wells  is  a 
trustee  of  the  village  of  Canton  and  vice-president  of  the  Agricultural  Society.  His 
father  was  Dr.  Abner  Wells  and  his  mother  Permelia  Thomas,  a  native  of  Massechu- 
setts. 


300 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 


Atwood  L.  D.,  Hopkinton,  one  of  Hopkinton's  progressive  farmers,  w&s  born  in 
Bethel  Vt,  July  28,  1825,  was  educated  at  Mt.  Csesar  Seminary,  Swanzey,  N.  H.,  and 
taught  school  for  several  years  in  Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  and  New  York.  He  came 
to  St  Lawrence  county  in  1848,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with  the  exception  of  two 
years  in  Wisconsin.  On  August  29,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Forty-third  Regi- 
ment Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  war.  On  January  1, 
1850  he  married  Cordelia  A.,  daughter  of  W.  S.  and  Laura  Phelps.  To  them  were  born 
two  '  '  '^  "' :  Leona  A.,  born  April  20,  1851 ;  and  Arthur  A.,  born  May  1,  1854.  Mrs. 
Atwu  _  ..'i  daughter  Leona  died  in  March,  1805,  in  Fayette,  Wis.  On  December  7, 
1865  he  married  Paulina  S.,  a  sister  of  Cordelia  A.,  and  to  them  was  born  a  daughter, 
who  died  in  infancy.  In  politics  a  Republican  he  has  served  his  town  for  nine  years  in 
succession  as  assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace.  Arthur  A.  Atwood  was  born  in  Hop- 
kinton, educated  at  Potsdam  Normal  School,  and  taught  in  common  schools  for  six 
years.  For  six  years  more  was  engaged  in  creamery  work.  In  1881  he,  with  our  sub- 
ject, bought  the  farm  where  they  now  reside,  one  of  the  most  productive  in  the  town. 
They  have  an  excellent  dairy  of  thirty-five  cows,  making  a  specialty  of  winter  dairy- 
m^.  Both  are  active  grangers,  having  served  as  Worthy  Masters  of  Fort  Jackson 
Grancre  for  two  and  three  years  respectively.  Arthur  A.  has  filled  acceptably  some 
minor  town  offices,  and  in  1894  was  elected  supervisor  without  any  opposition.  Decem- 
ber 3,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Olivia  M.,  daughter  of  T.  S.  Simonds,  of  Lawrence. 
They  have  two  children:  Leon  R.,  born  July  6,  1882,  and  Carl  W.,  born  September  4, 
1889. 

Sanford,  Darwin  E.,  Nicholville,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y., 
November  17,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  B.,  mentioned  in  this  work,  and  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  Potsdam  and  Lawrenceville  Academies.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  left  school  and  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-third  N.  Y.  State  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  one  year  during  the  war,  and  was 
commissioned  first  sergeant  of  his  company  ;  the  regiment  doing  detached  service  along 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Company  F  being  stationed  at  Cumberland,  Aid.,  most  of  the 
time.  Was  discharged  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  January  18,  1866,  by  reason  of  expira- 
tion of  term  of  service.  On  returning  from  the  war  he  commenced  his  career  at  mill- 
ing, but  in  1870  abandoned  this  work  and  commenced  farming.  December  25,  1872, 
he  married  Julia  E.  Leary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Leary,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Brasher,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Our  subject  continued  farming  until  1882,  and  has 
since  been  in  the  creamery  business,  owning  for  some  time  a  one-half  interest  in  the 
Deer  River  and  Eagle  creameries,  but  now  only  in  the  Eagle,  where  he  resides,  making 
about  45,000  pounds  each  season.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  Mr.  San- 
ford is  a  member  of  Sanford  Post  No.  473,  G-.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  always  held  an 
important  position,  being  two  years  its  commander.  The  post  being  named  after  his 
grandfather  makes  it  an  organization  any  one  would  be  proud  to  belong  to.  A  father 
and  grandfather,  making  three  generations,  all  in  the  war  at  the  same  time  and  fighting 
'irne  cause.  Also  grandfathers  on  both  sides  in  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
have  four  children:   Harrison  D.,  born  November  14,    1877;  Scott  W.,  born 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  301 

April  13,  1885;    Jonah,  born  December  10,  1887  ;    Erwin,  born  May  10,  1889;    all  of 
which  are  now  living. 

McEuen,  Carlton  J.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  December  5,  1847,  a  son  of 
George  R.,  whose  father  was  Carlton.  George  R.  was  born  in  Hinesburg,  Vt.,  April  9, 
1821,  and  came  here  in  1825  with  his  parents.  He  married  Maria  A.  Kelsey,  of  Har- 
risburg,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  born  August  23,  1818,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Kelsey,  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county.  They  had  two  children  who  grew  to  maturity  : 
Wealthy  C,  who  died  aged  nineteen  years;  and  Carlton  J.  George  R.  died  March  29 
1890,  and  his  wife  July  15,  1889.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  district  school  and 
Lawrenceville  Academy.  He  follows  farming,  owning  142  acres,  the  old  homestead 
cleared  by  his  father,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  eighteen  cows,  Ayrshire  and  Jersey.  Mr. 
McEuen  is  a  member  of  P.  of  H.,  Deer  River  Lodge  No.  702.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first,  September  25,  1873,  to  Clara  D.,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Susan  (Gibson) 
Weller,  of  Hopkinton.  She  received  her  education  in  Lawrenceville  Academy  and 
Potsdam  Normal  School,  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  county.  She  died  in  1878,  and  April 
26,  1882,  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Eliza  M.  (Giles)  Chapin.  She 
is  a  native  of  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  as  were  also  her  father  and  grandfather.  The  family 
trace  their  descent  to  Samuel  Chapin,  who  came  to  Boston  in  1641  from  Lancashire, 
England.  Mrs.  McEuen  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Mt.  Holvoke  Seminary 
and  followed  teaching  in  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts  for  eleven  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McEuen  have  two  children :  Bessie  C,  born  February  1,  1884 ;  and  Clara  C,  born 
October  1,  1889. 

Converse,  Horace  J.,  Stockholm,  was  born  in  Stockholm,  July  9,  1853.  He  is  a  son 
of  Elijah,  a  son  of  Josiah,  who  was  a  native  of  Middlesex,  Vt.,  who  emigrated  to 
Crown  Point  in  an  early  day,  where  he  died.  Elijah  was  born  in  Middlesex,  Vt.,  March 
3,  1792,  and  came  to  Crown  Point  with  his  parents,  removing  to  Stockholm  in  1819 
and  settling  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  He  was  three  times  married  ; 
first  to  Rhoda  Wilson,  by  whom  he  had  six  daughters ;  second  to  Mrs.  Betsey  Hutchins 
Dewey,  by  whom  he  had  five  children ;  and  third  to  Almeda  Peck,  whos^  maiden 
name  was  Scott.  They  were  married  in  1849  and  had  two  children,  our  subject  and 
one  daughter.  Mr.  Converse  was  a  leading  farmer  in  Stockholm,  where  he  owned  400 
acres  of  land.  He  was  a  Republican  and  was  assessor  twelve  years.  He  died  November 
4, 1879,  and  his  last  wife  December  19,  the  same  year.  Horace  J.  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  owns  183  acres  of  land  where  he  resides  and 
185  acres  of  woodland.  In  1885  he  established  the  Southville  Creamery,  and  the  output 
is  100.000  pounds  of  butter  annually.  He  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty  cows  and  follows 
general  farming.  He  has  also  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  horses  of  the  Wilkes  strain 
of  Hambletonian  horses,  and  now  owns  an  interest  in  the  far-famed  Defendant  Wilkes. 
Mr.  Converse  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  Amber  Lodge  No.  395,  F.  6c  A.  M.  of  Par- 
ishville  and  of  P.  of  H.  Potsdam  Lodge  No.  39,  and  P.  of  1.  Eureka  Lodge  No.  162. 
December  8,  1875,  he  married  Louisa,  daughter  of  John  P.  and  Peninah  (Becdy)  Trask, 
natives  of  Vermont.  Mr.  Trask  and  wife  had  twelve  children.  He  came  to  Stockholm 
in  an  early  day,  and  there  died,  September  1,  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Converse  have  three 
children  :  Lou  A.,  Era  E.  and  Iva  L. 


302  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Irish  Albert  H.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Hinesburg,  Vt.,  June  5,  1829,  a  son  of  Lem- 
uel Irish  born  in  Vermont  in  1796,  whose  father  was  Joseph,  a  farmer  of  Vermont, 
who  was  twice  married  having  by  each  marriage  nine  children.  Lemuel  came  to  the 
town  of  Lawrence  in  1838,  where  he  settled  on  a  small  farm,  also  working  at  his  trade 
of  sboemaking.  In  1824  he  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Mary  (Lake)  Nara- 
more  the  former  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irish  had  two  sons  and  a 
dauo'hter.  He  died  January  18,  1854,  and  his  wife  March  12,  1879.  A.  H.  Irish  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Vermont  and  Lawrence,  and  began  work  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  has  always  worked  the  old  homestead  which  he  now  owns,  and  to 
which  he  has  added  about  forty  acres.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  dairying, 
keeping  about  thirteen  cows.  He  also  has  a  small  sugar  bush.  In  1856  he  married 
Clara  A.,  daughter  of  Abner  and  Abigail  (Goodwin)  Car,  both  of  Amesbury,  Mass. 
They  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  only  two  of  the  children  now  living.  Mr.  Car 
died  September  5,  1846.  and  his  wife  September  18,  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irish  had  one 
son  and  one  daughter,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  Olin  L.  was  born  June  24,  1850, 
and  now  works  the  farm  with  his  father.  December  23,  1884,  he  married  Frankie  Slo- 
comb  of  Lawrence.     Mr.  Irish  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M. 

E.  church  of  Nicholville. 

Sanford,  Edwin  D.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  January  24,  1845,  a  son  of 
Henry  B.  Sanford,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  In  1864  he  enlisted,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war 
receiving  a  bayonet  wound,  however,  on  account  of  which  he  was  forced  to  spend 
some  time  in  the  hospital.  Returning  to  Nicholville  after  the  war,  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed   blacksmi thing.      He  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge    No.  577, 

F.  &  A.  M.,  Deer  River  Chapter  No.  197,  and  of  Sandford  Post  No.  473,  G.  A.  R. 
April  26,  1866,  Mr.  Sanford  married  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Silas  and  Lydia 
(Goodell)  Pratt,  early  settlers  of  Lawrence,  and  to  Mr.  Sanford  and  wife  have  been 
born  six  children  :  Edwin  Wade,  born  May  14,  1867,  who  was  educated  in  Law- 
renceville  Academy  and  at  St.  Lawrence  University,  from  which  latter  he  graduated 
in  1891.  He  followed  teaching  a  short  time,  but  now  has  charge  of  the  store  of  W.  E. 
Thomas,  also  reading  law  with  Mr.  Stacy.  He  married  Evaline  J.  Thomas,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Lester  Edwin,  born  October  12,  1893.  Velma  A.  was  born  November 
25,  1869.  Frank  B.,  born  May  12,  1871,  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy, 
and  received  an  appointment  to  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis.  He  graduated  from 
the  medical  department  of  Union  University  in  1893,  and  is  now  a  practicing  physician 
located  at  Morley.  Silas  J.  was  born  September  26,  1874,  educated  in  St.  Regis  Falls 
Academy,  and  graduated  from  Spencer  Optical  Institute,  New  York  city,  in  1893.  Jen- 
nie C,  born  October  5,  1876,  and  Eugene  B.,  born  June  22,  1878,  reside  at  home. 

"  'wley,  J.  Goodwin,  Colton,  a  son  of  Phineas  and  Esther  (Dunning)  Goodwin,  na- 
ijf  Connecticut,  was  born  in  that  State,  February   27,  1825,  and  was  one  of  nine 
■  en.     At  an  early  age  he  removed  to  New  York  State,  where  he  received  a  com- 
mon .Hchcol  education.     In  1848  he  married  Sabrina  I).  Devereaux,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
'■  ina  (Goodwin)  Devereaux  of  Schoharie  county.     Later  Mrs.    Hawley's  father 

iiiw.i...  lo  East  Creek,  Herkimer  county,  whose  name  was  changed  to  Devereaux  in  his 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  303 

honor.  Here  he  carried  on  an  extensive  lumber  business  until  his  death.  He  was  post- 
master of  Devereaux  fourteen  years,  and  at  one  time  was  member  of  assembly  in  the 
New  York  State  Legislature.  He  was  an  ardent  Abolitionist  and  temperance  man  all 
his  life.  He  died  in  187-i  and  his  Avife  in  1846.  The  subject  of  this  notice  with  his 
family  resided  in  Herkimer  county  ten  years.  They  then  moved  to  Oneida  county,  and 
later  to  Carthage,  Jefferson  county,  having  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  the 
several  named  places.  Finally,  in  1885,  he  removed  to  Colton,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  successful  manufacture  of  piano  sounding  board  lumber,  veneers,  ceiling  and  other 
fine  lumber.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwin  had  three  children:  Harriet  E.  ;  Arthur  W.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  and  Carl  D.,  who  died  March  8,  1890,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years.  Harriet  E.  married  James  A.  Devereaux  of  Bingharaton,  and  has  one  child, 
a  son,  Frederick  Gr.  Her  husband  died  March  9,  1894.  Mr.  Goodwin's  advantages  for 
an  education  were  limited,  but  always  hopeful  and  diligent,  and  being  endowed  with  a 
strong  and  inquiring  mind,  he  became  through  observation  and  association  with  the 
world,  influential  among  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  business  man  and  conducted 
his  business  in  so  conscientious  and  upright  a  manner  that  all  pointed  to  both  the  man 
and  his  calling  with  pride.  He  was  an  active  and  zealous  worker  in  the  church  and 
Sunday  school  where  he  lived,  and  his  character  and  example  did  much  to  raise  the 
standard  of  both.  For  many  years  before  his  death  he  struggled  manfully  against  dis- 
ease and  often  worked  beyond  his  strength.  He  died  at  Tucson,  Arizona,  February  11, 
1890,  where  he  had  gone  with  the  advice  of  physicians.  He  was  buried  at  Boonville, 
N.  T.,  where  he  had  formerly  lived.  Perhaps  it  can  not  be  better  said  of  him  than  in 
the  words  of  one  of  his  friends  who  has  added  to  his  eulogy  :  "  Though  he  stood  not 
among  scholars,  statesmen,  literati,  politicians  or  millionaires,  he  was  by  eminence, 
an  honest  man,  an  mgenious  mechanician,  a  true  patriot  and  citizen,  in  sympathy 
with  everything  right,  a  hater  of  everything  wrong — one  of  God's  own,  and  the 
world  is  better  for  his  living  in  it." 

Sackett,  Martin  Russell,  Gouverneur,  now  holding  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the 
county,  was  raised  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Plymouth,  Chenango  county,  this  State. 
His  family,  on  both  father  and  mother's  side,  is  from  New  England.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  district  school,  a  rather  poorer  district  school  than  the  average 
of  those  days.  Always  a  reader,  and  ambitious  of  education,  he  managed  to  enter  the 
Normal  School  at  Cortland  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  spent  a  couple  of  years  in  that  ex- 
cellent institution.  He  then  spent  a  year  in  teaching  to  obtain  means  for  further' 
school  work,  entering  Cazenovia  Seminary  in  the  fall  of  1875,  and  by  doing  two  years 
work  in  one  was  graduated  from  that  school  in  the  centennial  year  in  the  classical 
course,  and  the  following  autumn  matriculated  at  Syracuse  University,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  June  of  1880.  Before  his  graduation  he  had  been  elected  to  the  principal- 
ship  of  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  which  responsible  place  he  assumed  at  the 
opening  of  the  fall  term  of  1880,  and  held  it  for  seven  years,  or  until  the  institu- 
tion was  discontinued  and  adopted  as  the  academic  department  of  the  present  L'nion 
school  district  of  Gouverneur.  In  1887  he  organized  the  Gouverneur  Publishing  Com- 
pany for  the  publication  of  the  Northern  Tribune,  which  journal  he  has  since  managed 
and  edited.     Since  leaving  the  educational  field  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  poli- 


304  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

tics  and  on  the  stump  in  his  own  and  other  counties  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
debaters  and  strongest  platform  speakers  of  the  section.  In  the  convention  of  his  party 
in  the  fall  of  1893  he  received  a  unanimous  nomination  to  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer entering  upon  the  very  responsible  duties  of  the  office  with  the  opening  of  the 
current  year. 

Reed,  E.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Brownville,  Jefferson  county,  July  18,  1844.  He  is  a 
son  of  Walter  and  Malina  (Nelson)  Reed,  she  of  Herkimer  county  and  he  of  Oneida 
county,  and  the  grandfather,  William  Reed,  a  farmer  of  Deerfield,  Avas  a  pioneer  of 
Oneida  county.  Walter  Reed  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  bought  land,  afterwards  re- 
turnino-  to  Oneida  county.  He  had  these  children:  Harriet  E.,  born  in  1846;  Gordon 
N.  born  in  1842  ;  Francis,  born  in  1848 ;  and  E.  Reed,  our  subject.  The  latter  went 
to  live  with  his  mother's  people  at  the  age  of  five  years,  and  four  years  later  came  to 
St.  Lawrence  county  to  reside  with  C.  L.  Van  Ornum.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  serving  throughout  the  war,  being  dis- 
char<^ed  July  20,  1865.  He  participated  in  the  following  battles :  Gettysburg,  An- 
tietam.  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Chancellorsville,  and  Ringgold,  and  several 
others  where  he  was  wounded.  He  was  also  with  Sherman  in  his  "  March  to  the  Sea." 
After  the  war  Mr.  Reed  worked  at  carpentry  for  seven  years,  and  in  1869  he  bought 
eighty-six  acres  of  land.  This  he  sold  and  bought  190  acres,  where  he  now  lives, 
carrying  on  general  farming  and  dairying,  and  also  working  at  his  trade.  October 
21  1867  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  William  and  Ellen  (Watson)  Stephenson,  of 
Russell,  and  they  have  one  son,  William  E.,  born  March  19,  1876,  who  is  now  at- 
tending Eastman's  Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  Republican  and 
has  been  nine  years  assessor.  Robert  Stephenson,  brother  of  Mrs.  Reed^  served  through 
the  war,  dying  just  at  the  close  at  Wilmington.  N.  C. 

Eastman,  S.  E.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  August  29,  1849,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam E.  Eastman  of  the  same  town,  born  December  16,  1812.  The  father  of  the  latter 
was  Samuel  Eastman,  who  was  a  native  of  Hopkinton,  N.  H.,  born  in  1769,  who  went 
to  Lincoln,  Vt.,  and  from  there  to  Hopkinton,  N.  Y.,  in  1808.  He  bought  200  acres  of 
land  (at  that  time  a  wilderness),  and  commenced  clearing  a  farm,  which  is  the  pres- 
ent home  of  S.  E.  Eastman,  passing  to  the  third  generation.  Samuel  E.  died  in  May, 
1852.  William  E.,  his  son,  died  December  14,  1887,  was  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  cattle, 
butter  and  cheese,  etc.  He  married  Susan  M.  Covey,  of  Cornwall,  Canada,  who  died 
in  March,  1889,  a  daughter  of  Martin  Covey,  of  New  England.  S.  E.  Eastman,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Acad- 
emy. His  occupation  is  general  farming  and  dairying.  December  21,  1871,  he  mar- 
ried Harriet  Sanford,  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  Jonah  Banford,  whese  biography  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.     She  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  March  4,  1850. 

Brundage,  Charles  R.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Williston,  Vt.,  November  20,  1822.  Plis 
father,  Joshua,  was  a  son  of  Abraham,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  brought  here  by  England,  whose  army  he  afterwards  deserted. 
He  married  in  Massachusetts  Lois  Yale,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters.     He  spent  his  last  days  in  Williston,   Vt.,    where    his  wife  also  died.      Joshua 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  305 

Brunda^e  was  born  in  Williston,  Yt,  and  married  'Prudy  Barto,  daughter  of  David 
Barto,  of  Vermont,  and  they  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters.     He  moved  to  Ilhnois 
and  finally  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  died    aged  seventy-four  years.     Charles  R,. 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  learned  the  stonecutter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed over  twenty  years.     He  came  to  Chfton  in  this  county  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  where  he  has  resided  most   of   the    time  since.     He  owns  a  farm  of  140  acres 
and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying.     He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organi- 
zation of  that  party,  and  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town  for  six  years,  assessor  three 
years,  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty  years.     October  1,  1861,  he  was  commissioned 
major  of  the  Sixtieth  N.  Y.  Yolunteers,  which  he  and   Capt.  Hugh  Smith  originated. 
May  1,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant- colonel  of  the  same  regiment,  resigning 
November  6,  1862.     He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Martin  Post  of  Canton.     He  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Samantha  Lockwood 
July  23,  1846,  by  whom  he  had  these  children  :  Sidney  G.,  born  September  23,  1848  • 
Charles  H.,   born  April  27,  1851;    Louisa  M.,  born  June  14,  1855,  died  December  18, 
1858.     Mrs.  Brundage  died  April  7,  1859,  and  he  married  second  Louisa  Bowhall,  born 
in  Gouverneur,  September  14,  1833,  a  daughter  of  Demarcus  and  Henriette  Bowhall,  of 
Johnston,  Fulton  cou'nty,  and  they  have  had  the  following  children :  Mary  L.,  born 
April  29,  1861;  William  D.,  born  April  3,  1864;  Noble,  born  March  11,  1867;  Perly 
J.,  born  April  25,  1871 ;  and  George  R.,  born  October  7,  1876. 

Douglas,  John  W.,  2d,  Colton,  was  born  at  Massena  Point  January  18,  1838.  He  is 
the  son  of  James  Douglas,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  in  1815,  and  the  father  of  James 
was  John,  also  a  native  of  Canada,  whose  father,  Robert  Douglas  came  from  Scotland 
to  Canada  during  the  Revolution.  John  was  born  in  1795  and  came  to  Massena  in  1833 
for  the  first  time.  He  finally  settled  in  Colton,  where  he  died  in  February,  1854. 
James  Douglas  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  district  schools.  He  came  to 
Colton  in  1834,  and  a  year  later  married  Mary  Labounty  of  Canada,  born  in  1816. 
They  had  four  children  :  EHzabeth  (deceased),  wife  of  Andrew  Perkins;  John  W.,  Sarah 
(deceased),  wife  of  Charles  Home  of  Massachusetts;  Nettie,  wife  of  Levi  Chaney ;  and 
our  subject.  John  W.  Douglas,  2d,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  "remained  at  home  until 
the  age  of  twenty-nine.  In  1858  he  bought  108  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  has  since 
added  fifty -four  acres.  He  follows  dairying  and  general  farming,  and  has  also  dealt  to 
some  extent  in  lumber.  October  18,  1866,  he  married  Harriet  Harvey  of  Lisbon,  and 
they  have  three  children  ;  Lena,  wife  of  Herbert  Russell,  by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Gir- 
ard  ;  Mamie  L.  and  James  M. 

Derby,  H.  Stanley,  Russell,  traces  his  ancestry  to  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  May- 
flower, and  all  of  his  progenitors  were  of  Puritan  stock.  Rev.  Charles  Brewster,  the 
ancestor  of  Mr.  Derby's  grandmother,  was  chaplain  of  the  first  Plymouth  colony,  and 
his  great-grandfather  Brewster  and  great-grandfather  Derby  were  both  at  Quebec, 
the  former  with  Arnold,  and  the  later  with  Montgomery  as  major  of  artillery.  At 
the  death  of  Montgomery,  December  31,  1775,  he  fell  into  the  arms  of  Major  Derby, 
where  he  breathed  his  last.  H.  Stanley  Derby  was  born  in  Wood's  Mills,  Jeflferson 
county,  m  March,  1857,  and  educated  in  Ives  Seminary  at  Antwerp,  N.  Y.,  graduating 


306  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWKENCE  COUNTY. 

in  1S7S  In  ISSO  he  bought  his  father's  store  in  Russell,  and  carried  on  a  successful  busi- 
ness for  ten  years.  He  then  went  to  Tupper's  Lake,  and  engaged  with  his  brother, 
Earl,  as  bookkeeper.  In  November,  1892,  he  returned  to  Russell,  where  he  has  since 
been  encratred  in  looking  after  his  father's  property.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served 
as  supervisor  three  years,  and  was  defeated  for  member  of  assembly  by  the  Hon. 
William  U.  Kimball  in  18S8.  He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  F.  &  A  M., 
also  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  No.  1301  of  Tupper's  Lake.  The  father  of  H.  Stanley  was  Capt. 
Hiry  Derby,  born  in  Vermont,  September  18,  1817,  and  died  in  Russell,  January 
31,  1884,  who  married  Ann  Davidson,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Wood  of  Jefferson  county. 
She  was  born  in  Deerfield,  Oneida  county,  October  14,  1819,  and  died  in  Russell,  No- 
vember 6,  1893.  Captain  and  Mrs.  Derby  had  ten  children:  Washington  L.,  Dewitt 
C,  Edmund  E.,  Benjamin  F.,  Edmund  D..  Helen  E.,  Laura  A.,  Mary  E.,  Earl  and  H. 
Stanley.  Captain  Derby  entered  the  army  on  a  commission  of  first  lieutenant.  He 
followed  teaching  in  the  counties  of  Jefferson  and  St.  Lawrence  for  several  years,  and 
for  five  years  was  superintendent  of  schools  in  this  count}'.  In  1849  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  year  and  a  half,  he  continued  until 
1880.  Captain  Derby  had  command  of  Co.  L,  9th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  participated  in 
the  Peninsular  campaign,  being  at  Yorktown  and  West  Point,  and  at  Antietam  with 
Siegel's  11th  Corps.  He  served  about  a  j'ear,  then  returned  to  Russell  and  engaged  in 
business. 

Dunn,  Thomas,  Waddington,  a  son  of  John,  was  born  July  25,  1838.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Waddington.  Excepting  nine 
years  in  California  engaged  in  mining  from  1861  to  1871,  Mr.  Dunn  has  been  a  farmer. 
July  25,  1872,  he  married  Emma,  daughter  of  William  Harper.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Ireland,  January  1,  1816,  where  he  received  a  college  education.  He  came  to  Lisbon 
ia  1836,  and  for  nine  years  he  sold  goods  from  house  to  house.  He  came  to  Wadding- 
ton when  a  young  man  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  here  spent  his  life. 
He  was  a  Republican.  He  married  Sarah  Wallace,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  came 
with  her  parents  to  Lisbon  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  Harper  and  wife  had  six  children.  He 
died  August  6,  1886,  and  his  wife  in  1872.  Mr.  Dunn  and  wife  have  had  these  chil- 
dren :  Sarah  A.,  Mabel  E.,  William  J.  (deceased),  Alexander,  Hattie  B.,  Ernest  H., 
Walter  (deceased),  Annie  E.,  Benjamin  (deceased),  Henry  J.  and  Thomas  B.  (deceased). 
Mr.  Dunn  has  a  farm  of  173  acres  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Clifford,  M.  L.,  Hopkinton,  is  one  of  Hopkinton's  enterprising  business  men  and  was 

born  at  Lawrence,  May  31,  1851,  a  son  of  J.  S.  Clifford,  born  at  Plattsburg,  October  6, 

IHi'S,  whose  father,  John  Clifford,  was  born  in  Plymouth,  N.  Y.,  November  24,   1806, 

and  married  Almina  Seeley,  born  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  November   19,    1803.     They  had 

-  and  three  daughters.     He  went  to  Illinois  and  died  January  27,  1882.     J.  S. 

1  first.  Caroline,  daughter  of  Lucius  Reynolds  of  Lawrence,  who  had 

now  deceased  but  Corneha,  who  is  the  second   wife  of  J,  S.  Clifford, 

wife,  her  sister,  having  died  in  September,  1864.     J.  S.  ClifTord  is  a  carpenter 

having  served  three  years'  apprenticeship  at  Plattsburg.     He  is  now  at  Fort 

Jacii.  >;.,  unga-td  in  the  undertaking  business.     By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  sons  and 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  307 

one  daughter.  M.  L.  Clifford,  our  subject,  learned  the  trade  of  his  father,  at  which  he 
worked  for  a  number  of  years.  Irt  April,  1874,  he  married  Ella  I.  Downey,  daughter 
of  William  and  Harriet  (Griffin)  Downey  of  Kankakee,  111.,  and  they  had  one  son,  Wat- 
son S.,  born  in  Hopkinton,  May  24,  1876.  He  is  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
business  capacity,  and  a  great  assistance  to  his  father  in  his  business.  In  1887  Mr. 
Clifford  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  butter  tubs  at  Fort  Jackson  in  partnership  with 
F.  M.  Kellogg,  and  after  two  years  bought  out  his  partner's  interest,  and  now  conducts 
it  alone,  manufacturing  about  50,000  tubs  annually.  He  also  owns  the  Hopkins  saw 
mill,  turning  out  about  500,000  feet  of  lumber  annually,  of  which  about  half  is  custom 
work.  He  furnishes  employment  to  about  twenty  men.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  carrying  a  general  hne.  He  is  a  Republican  and  is  the  present  road 
commissioner. 

Carncross,  Randall,  Russell,  was  born  in.  Wilna,  Jefferson  county,  October  18,  1848,  a 
son  of  Lewis  Carncross,  son  of  John,  son  of  Lewis  of  Dutchess  county,  whose  father 
was  born  in  Germany  and  came  to  this  country  prior  to  the  Revolution.  John,  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  came  to  Jefferson  county  about  1813.  He  married  Sybel  Van 
Brocklin.  Of  their  children,  Lewis,  father  of  our  subject,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  in 
1847  married  Betsey  Potter,  daughter  of  Luther  Potter  of  Massachusetts,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children,  two  now  living:  Alice,  born  June  26,  1862,  wife  of  Daniel  Van 
Brocklin  of  Pierrepont,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Erskine ;  Betsey  Jane,  born  April 

28,  1855,  died  October  22,  18 — ;  James  L.,  born  April  7,  1861,  died ;  and 

Randall  J.,  our  subject,  who  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  His  parents  came  to  Russell  when  he  was  an  infant.  When  a 
young  man  he  began  work  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  and,  February  21,  1878,  he  married 
Asenath,  daughter  of  Henry  Van  Brocklin  of  Russell,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter, 
Emogene,  born  September  14,  1881.  At  about  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Carncross 
bought  his  present  farm,  which  he  uses  largely  as  a  dairy  farm.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  but  has  never  aspired  to  ofiBce.  The  family  has  in  its  possession  a  forty- 
dollar  bill  of  the  Continental  period,  which  once  belonged  to  John  Potter,  great-grand- 
father on  the  maternal  side,  who  was  paymaster  in  the  Revolution. 

Colton,  Daniel,  Russell,  was  born  in  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  July  17,  1830,  a  son 
of  Lothrop  Colton,  who  was  a  son  of  Aaron,  one  of  Jefferson  county's  early  settlers. 
Lothrop  came  to  Russell  in  1832,  and  after  a  short  time  went  to  Antwerp,  and  in  1846 
returned  to  Russell,  where  he  died  in  1848.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer.  His 
wife  was  Rachael  Calkins,  a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Daniel  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  learned  the  gunsmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  several 
years.  He  then  followed  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1875  engaged  in  undertaking, 
which  he  has  since  followed.  Mr.  Colton  married  in  Russell,  Susan  A.  Chase,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children  :  Lelia  E.,  Arthur  and  Hattie.  Mrs.  Colton  died  December  29, 
1885,  and  in  1887  he  married  second,  Abigail  Bevett  of  Gouverneur.  Mr.  Colton  is  a 
Prohibitionist  in  politics. 

Merrill,  Silas  W.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  February  8,  1845,  a  son  of  D.  L. 
Merrill.     The  latter  was  a  son  of  John,  whose  father,  also  John,  emigrated  from  Eng- 


308  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

land  about  1750  and  settled  at  Concord,  N.  H.     He  was  a  soldier  in   the  Revolution. 
He  married  Sallie  Robinson,  and  his  oldest  son,  John,   was  born  in   Concord  in  1784. 
He  went  to  Tunbridge,  Vt,  at  the  age  of  seven,  where  his  father  died  in  1812.     He 
married  Sallie  De  Cross  and  in  1832  came  to  Franklin   county,  N.  Y.     He  was  at  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg  in  the  War  of  1812.     D.  L.  Merrill  was  born  in  Tunbridge,  Yt.,  in 
1809  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  came  to  Franklin   county  and  settled  on  a  farm 
of  200  acres.     In  1837  he  married  Susan  C.  Lampson  and  came  to  Hopkinton,  where  he 
settled  on  the  Baldwin  farm.     He  had  seven  children.     In  1858  he  built  on  his  farm  a 
potato  starch  factory  and  manufactured  starch  until  1865,  then  sold  his  place  and  re- 
moved to  Nicholville,  where  he  died  June  5,  1891,   and  his  wife  November  13,  1893. 
S.  W.  Merrill  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  and  was  for  several  years 
en<^aged  as  a  clerk  in  the  mercantile  business.     In  1866  he  came  to  Nicholville  and  be- 
gan business  for  himself,  occupying  the  east  half  of  the  block  built  by  his  father,  where 
he  carries  a  full  line  of  house  furnishings.     He  is  a  Republican   and  has  served   two 
years  as  supervisor.     He  is  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge  No.  577,  F.  &  A.  M.     He  is  execu- 
tor of  his  father's  estate  and  has  control  of  about  300  acres  of  land  in  the  towns  of 
Hopkinton  and  Lawrence.     In  1370  he  married  Carrie  L.,  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Caro- 
line S.  (McEuen)  Day,  and  they  have  had  three  children:  Grace  L.,   born   October  9, 
1875 ;  Maude  L.,  born  July  31,  1879;  and  Bessie  L.,  born  May  20,  1884. 

Pease,  Trueraan  A..  M.  D.,  Potsdam,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Brasher,  November  27, 
1842.     The  earliest  ancestor  we  find  of  this  family   in  the  country   is  Captain  John 
Pease  who  was  a  native  of  England  and  immigrated  to   this  country  about  1620,  and 
settled  in  Massachusetts.     Ebenezer  Pease,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,   was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  and  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.     The  grandfather, 
Abel  Pease,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  St. 
Lawrence  county,  and  located  in  the  town  of  Lawrence  about  1828.     He  built  the  first 
farm  house  in  the  village  of  North  Lawrence  and  it  was  there  he  reared  his  family  and 
spent  the  balance  of  his  days.     He  died  in  1868,  aged  eighty-seven  years.     He  was  the 
father  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  Abel,  father  of  our  subject,  is  the  fourth   son.     He 
was  born  in  Yermont  April  5,  1818.     He  has  always  followed  mechanical  pursuits,  and 
the  last  fifeen  or  twenty  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Norwood.     The  mother  of  our 
subject,  Sally  Clark,  was  a  native  of  Grand  Isle  county,  Yt.,  a  daughter  of  Trueman 
Clark,  a  prominent  figure  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State  a  number  of  years.     Dr.  Pease 
vf&s  one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living ;  Lucius  L.  of  Nor- 
wood; William  H.,  a  farmer  of  Canton  ;  and  Trueman  A.     The  early  life  of  our  subject 
was  spent  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  where  he  received  his  education  in  the  Lawrence- 
ville Academy.     He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  while  teaching  in  Lawrenceville 
Academy  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Joseph  Jackson.     In  1864  after  one  year's  study  of  medi- 
cine he  enlisted  in  Co.    K,  193d   N.  Y.  Vol.   Infantry,   and  was  appointed   hospital 
steward,  which    position    he    filled    at    the    Post  Hospital  at  Cumberland  City,   Md., 
until  the  close  of  the  war.      Returning  he  entered    the    University    of    Yermont  at 
liiating  with  the  degree  of   M.  D.,  June    15,  1867.      He    commenced 

1' ."jiwood,  July  13,  1867,  and  has  ever  since  been  here.     He  is  a  member 

of  St.  Lawrence  County  Medical  Snciety,  and  also  of  the  Northern  New  York  Med- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  309 

ical  Association.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Norwood  Lodge.  I.  0.  0.  F.  and  is 
now  a  member  of  Luther  Priest  Post  No.  167,  G.  A.  Pt..  and  has  held  the  office  of 
surgeon.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Norwood,  and  has  filled 
the  office  of  health  officer  of  Norwood  village.  Dr.  Pease  married,  June  10,  18G8 
Helen  M.  Leslie  of  ParishTille,  and  they  had  two  sons,  one  died  at  seven  years  of 
age,  and  Leslie  Allan  is  practicing  law  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Pease  died  August 
30,  1884,  and  he  married  second,  October  6,  1886,  Ella  E.,  daughter  of  John  Walker 
of  Sherbrook,  Quebec. 

Shepard,  Fred,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  LaAvrence,  April  22,  1862,  a  son  of  E.  W. 
Shepard,  but  he  was  reared  by  his  grandparents,  Hon.  0.  F.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Wilber) 
Shepard,  natives  of  Vermont,  the  former  born  in  Middletown,  November  16  1813  and 
the  latter  at  Grand  Isle,  September  17,  1818.  Heman  Shepard,  father  of  0.  F.  was 
born  in  Vermont,  November  3,  1789,  and  married  Loretta  Rockwell,  and  had  ei"^ht 
children.  He  came  to  Lawrence  November  17,  1826,  He  died  July  31,  1874.  O.  F. 
Shepard  graduated  from  Potsdam  Academy  in  1836  and  taught  school  twenty-two 
years,  and  also  engaged  in  surveying  to  some  extent.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two 
sons  and  a  daughter  :  Edwin,  Azro  and  Amelia.  Mrs.  Shepard  died  February  10,  1875, 
and  he  married  for  second  wife,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Romaine,  widow  of  Wilham  Romaine,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1876,  and  she  still  resides  on  the  homestead.  Mr.  Shepard  was  for  many 
years  inspector  of  schools,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  about  thirty-two  years.  In 
1857  he  was  elected  member  of  assembly,  and  again  in  1858.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
standing  committee  on  claims,  then  one  of  the  most  important  committees  in  the  Assem- 
bly. He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Lawrence- 
ville  Academy,  and  a  trustee  until  his  death,  January  24,  1892.  Fred  Shepard  was 
educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  teaching, 
which  he  continued  four  years.  He  inherited  the  farm  from  his  grandfather.  He  has 
about  230  acres,  and  keeps  about  thirty  cows,  besides  a  considerable  amount  of  young 
stock.  He  is  a  Repubhcan,  and  has  been  excise  commissioner  for  ten  years,  also  in- 
spector of  elections  several  years.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and 
agent  for  the  unsold  lands  in  the  town.  He  is  correspondent  for  the  following  papers  : 
Courier  and  Freeman,  Potsdam  Herald,  Adirondack  News  and  Ogdensburg  Repuhlicaii. 
January  22,  1885,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and  Maria  (Clark)  Charlton, 
and  they  have  two  sons :  Cscar  Fred,  born  May  24,  1887 ;  and  Arthur  Romaine,  born 
November  8,  1889.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepard  are  prominent  members  of  the  Deer  River 
Grange  No.  702,  also  of  the  Good  Templars,  and  they  are  active  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational church.  Mr.  Shepard  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  His  farm 
is  as  good  as  can  be  found  in  the  town  and  is  kept  in  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation. 
He  believes  there  is  no  nobler  occupation  in  life  than  farmiug. 

Patten,  Herbert  G.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  June  23,  1863.  His  father 
was  Davis  S.,  a  son  of  Robert,  who  was  born  in  England,  but  emigrated  to  Ireland, 
where  he  died  in  1818.  David  S.  was  born  in  Ireland,  County  Armagh,  November  26, 
1809,  and  about  1820  he  and  his  brother,  William,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Ver- 
mont. In  1840  David  came  to  Lawrence,  and  in  1842  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  the 
subject.     He  married  in  Vermont,  February  7,  1840,  Martha  C.  Randall,  of  that  State, 


310  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

born  December  30,  1822.  They  reared  six  sons  and  six  daughters.  Mr.  Patten  died 
May  1  1884.  and  his  wife  June  26,  1878.  The  children  of  David  S.  and  wife  were  as 
follows:  Mary  M.  born  August  9,  1842,  married  A.  E.  Chafflee,  and  died  June  12, 
1855,  leavino-  four  children;  Porter,  born  1844,  died  1846;  William  C,  born  April  19, 
1846 ;  Delia  and  Amelia,  twins,  born  in  1848  and  died  in  1850 ;  Henry  S.,  born  March 
15,  1851,  who  resides  with  our  subject;  Emma,  born  December  5,  1854,  married  Rich- 
ard Clark  of  Waddington ;  Timothy  T.,  born  September  3,  1857,  resides  in  Waverly, 
N.  Y.  ;  Ella  M.,  born  April  18,  1859,  married  Leon  Barney ;  George  S.,  born  March  4, 
1861,  and  lives  in  Badaxe,  Mich.  ;  Herbert  G. ;  Ida,  born  October  2,  1865.  and  resided 
with  our  subject  until  her  death,  October  7,  1893.  Herbert  G.  was  educated  in  the 
Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  has  devoted  considerable  attention  to  veterinary  work,  re- 
ceiving in  1890  a  license  to  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  Deer  River  Lodge  No.  499, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Lawrenceville  Lodge  No.  619,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  also  of  Good  Templar 
Lod"-e  No.  173,  and  P.  of  H.  No.  702  of  the  same  place.  January  26,  1886,  he  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Margaret  Gabler,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Howard 
L.,  born  October  31,  1886;  and  C.  Arthur,  born  November  27,  1888.  Mrs.  Patten  died 
December  17,  1892. 

Robinson,  H.  N.,  Massena,  born  April  17.  1806,  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Esther  (Kil- 
burn)  Robinson,  the  former  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1774.  The  father  of  Daniel  was 
Ichabod,  who  lost  his  property  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  moved  from  Massachu- 
setts to  Vermont,  where  he  cleared  a  home.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  and 
died  in  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1804,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son,  being  the  first  person 
buried  in  the  Massena  cemetery.  Daniel  came  here  in  1802,  one  of  the  first  settlers, 
and  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  He  was  an  extensive  land  and  lumber 
dealer.  He  had  nine  children,  all  deceased  but  three:  H.  N.,  Holton  and  George. 
Daniel  died  July  9,  1855,  and  his  wife  in  1829.  H.  N.  Robinson  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  Massena,  and  educated  at  the  Potsdam  Academy.  He  followed  farming  until  about 
1874,  when  he  retired  and  rented  the  farm.  In  1837  he  married  Mary  M.,  daughter  of 
Ira  and  Chloe  (Nichols)  Goodridge,  of  whose  ten  children,  four  survive.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robinson  have  one  adopted  son,  Joseph,  now  in  New  York  in  the  mercantile  bus- 
iness. He  was  educated  in  Fort  Edward  and  Potsdam  Academies,  and  was  prepared 
for  college  when  the  war  broke  out,  when  he  volunteered,  and  served  about  four  years. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  engaged  to  write  the  discharges  of  soldiers.  He  served 
as  adjutant,  quartermaster,  and  on  Ricket's  staff.  In  politics  H.  N.  wishes  to  go  down 
as  a  Cleveland  man.     Joseph  is  a  Republican. 

Horton,  R.  J.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Ira,  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  a  son  of  Hezekiah,  a 
native  of  Guilford,  Vt.,  born  in  1791,  who  went  to  Clarenden,  Vt.,  when  a  boy,  and 
there  married  Anna  Hutchinson,  born  in  1790,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  In 
1810  they  came  to  Massena  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  R.  J.  Horton,  where 
''  '■•'lier  died  in  1844,  and  the  mother  in  1875.  At  the  time  of  his  parents' settlement 
I  own  our  suVjject  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  February  16,  1853,  he  married  Har- 
ri(rt  Russell  of  Massena,  born  September  7,  1830,  in  Peru,  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Naomi  Rus.sell  of  this  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton  have  had  two 
children  ;  Ed.son  J.,  l^orn  February  11,  1854,  who  was  educated  in  the  Potsdam  Normal 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  3H 

School,  and  is  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Philemon  Polley 
of  Massena,  and  has  two  children,  Mark  P.  and  Harlan  R. ;  Elon  A.  was  born  in  Mas- 
sena,  June  26,  1859,  was  educated  in  Massena  and  Potsdam,  and  graduated  from  East- 
man's Business  College  in  1880.  He  is  engaged  in  the  carriage  business,  both  whole- 
sale and  retail.  March  22,  1888,  he  married  Una  E.  Benson  of  Massena,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Benson,  and  they  have  had  two  children :  Hazel  H.  and  Floyd  E.  R.  J.  Hor- 
ton  has  been  a  Republican  smce  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church. 

Dodge,  S.  W.,  M.  D.,  Massena  was  born  in  Massena,  March,  9,  1845,  a  son  of  Levi  R. 
born  in  Andover,  Vt.,  April  2,  1815,  whose  father  Major  Thomas  Dodge  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  born  August  13,  1773,  a  descendant  of  the  Salem  Dodges,  who  came  to  Massa- 
chusetts in  1629,   from  Cheshire,  England,   where  they   are  of  very   ancient  lineage. 
Thomas  Dodge  had  eleven  children.     He  received  the  title  of  major  from  the  Vermont 
militia.     Levi  R.  came  with  his  parents,  when  two  years  of  age,  to  Massena,  where  the 
major  bought  160  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  is  still  in   the   possession  of  the  family. 
He  was  among  the  earliest  settlers.     March  20,   1844,  Levi  married  Lois  P.  Younc, 
daughter  of  Robert  Young  of  New  Hampshire,  born  December  31,  1790.     To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dodge  were  born  these  children  :  S.  W.,  our  subject ;  Luther  A.,  born  October  12, 
1846,  died  December  22,  1881;  James  B.,  born  December  22,  1847;  Orange  W.,  born 
January  17,  1850,  a  professor  in  Ogdensburg  Academy;   Henry,  born  January  18,  1852, 
died  September  12,  1877  ;  Mary  L.,  born  March  12,  1857,  a  teacher ;  Harvey  R.,  born 
June  9,  1852.     Mr.  Dodge  died  in  1880,  and  his  wife  survives  him.     S   W.  Dodge  was 
on  the  farm  until  the  age  of  fifteen.     He  was  educated  in  Lawrenceville,  Malone  and 
Potsdam,  teaching,  attending  school  and  preparing  for  the  medical  college.     He  studied 
medicine  with  W.  P.  Gordon,  M.  D.,  of  Old  Ripley,  111.,  for  one  year,  and  was  over  a 
year  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  medical  department.     Returning  home  on  a  visit  he  decided 
to  finish  his  medical  education  at  the  University  of  Vermont,  where  he  was  for  a  year. 
He  was  two  years  at  Bloomingdale,  N.  Y.,  then  a  year  at  Vermont  University,  gradu- 
ating in  the  spring  of  1875.     He  began  practice  at  Bloomingdale,   where  he  remained 
until  1889,  then  came  to  Massena,  where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  practice.     He  is 
a  member  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Northern  New  York  Medical  Societies,  is  a  Republican, 
and  was  town  clerk  five  years  in  Franklin  county.     He  was  U.  S.  examining  surgeon 
at  Bloomingdale  fourteen  years.     He  is  a  Grood  Templar  of  Massena  Lodge  No.   566, 
belongs  to  Massena  Orange  No.  704,  Massena  Court  No.  693,  L  O.  F.,  is  a  court  deputy 
and  a  court  physician.     He  is  a  member  of  Gordon  (111.)   Lodge  No,  473,  F.  &  A.  M. 
July  28,  1875,  he  married  B.  Narina,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Martha  (Rice)   Fish,  and 
they  have  had  four  children  :  Leon  H.,  born  June  15.  1876  ;  Mark  F.,  born  January  20, 
1878;  Sidney  W.,  born  January  11,  1885;  Ruth  Lucmda,  born  September  8,  1893. 

Cooper,  Eugene,  Lawrenceville,  was  born  May  7, -1846,  a  son  of  James  Cooper, 
born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  about  1804,  whose  father  came  to  Constable  and  later  to 
Brasher,  buying  a  farm,  where  he  lived  until  shortly  before  his  death.  He  married 
Jane  Ann,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Polly  (Mansfield)  Smith,  of  Vermont  and  Con- 
necticut respectively,  the  former  having  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cooper  had  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  living  but  one,  Robert  U., 


312  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

whu  ..  ..o  .ailed  January  9,  1891,  at  Denver,  Col.,  by  falling  from  a  building,  on 
which  he  was  working,  a  distance  of  forty  feet.  Eugene  Cooper,  our  subject,  Avas 
reared  on  a  farm  and  began  life  on  the  same.  After  seven  years  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Connecticut  which  he  sold  after  two  years  and  bought  again.  In  1877  he  again 
sold  and  came  to  St.  Regis,  Province  of  Quebec,  and  was  there  three  years  engaged 
in  mercantile  business.  He  sold  out  and  bought  a  farm  of  200  acres  near  Law- 
renceville,  where  he  remained  till  March  4,  18!t3,  then  rented  his  place  and  bought 
a  small  farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows,  and  is 
also  engaeed  in  raising  horses.  One  of  his  principal  crops  is  hops.  Mr.  Cooper 
married  first,  Laura,  daughter  of  Joel  Wheeler  of  Connecticut,  by  whom  he  had  one 
daughter,  Jenette,  wife  of  Samuel  Barrett  of  Seymour,  Conn.  Mrs.  Cooper  died  in 
1879,  and  he  married.  May  1,  1880,  Anna  E.  Burkett,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Margaret  (Connors)  Burkett,  and  they  have  two  children:  Walter  E.,  born  Febru- 
ary 22,  1881;  and  Eva  May,  born  Mry  16,  1882.  In  politics  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Lawrence. 

Atwood,  I.  M.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Pembroke,  Genesee  county,  March  24,  1838. 
Received  the  usual  academic  and  high  school  education,  graduating  from  the  Lockport 
Union  School  in  1855.  He  taught  school  several  terms,  founded  and  conducted  the 
Genesee  Classical  Institute,  and  fitted  for  entrance  to  the  sophomore  year  in  Yale  Col- 
lege, in  1859.  He  began  preaching  and  studying  for  the  ministry  in  that  same  year, 
and  was  ordained  at  Clifton  Springs  in  1860.  In  1867  he  became  editor  of  the  Univer- 
salistj  now  the  Christian  Leader,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  has  held  editorial  connection 
with  that  journal  continuously  up  to  the  present  time.  After  twenty  years  of  service  as 
preacher  and  editor,  he  was  called  from  his  parish  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Canton,  entering  on  his  duties  in  that  position  in 
June,  1879.  The  same  year  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Tufts 
College,  having  been  given  the  degree  of  M.  A.  by  the  St.  Lawrence  University  ten 
years  before,  in  1869.  Dr.  Atwood  has  contributed  to  the  journals  and  quarterlies  of 
of  the  day  on  a  great  variety  of  themes,  and  has  published  besides  ''  Have  We  Out- 
grown Christianity,"  Boston,  1870;  "  Glance  at  the  Religious  Progress  of  the  Country." 
Boston,  1874;  ''The  Latest  Ward  of  Universalism,"  Boston,  1878;  "Walks  about 
Zion,"  Boston,  1882  ;  "  Episcopacy,"  1884  ;  •'  Revelation,"  1890  ;  and  ''  A  System  of 
Christian  Doctrines,"  1894.  He  contributed  papers  to  the  Religious  Press  Congress 
and  the  Parliament  of  Religions,  in  Chicago,  1893.  In  1861  Dr.  Atwood  was  married  to 
Almira  Church  of  Clarendon,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  four  daughters  and  one  son,  the  Rev. 
John  Murray  Atwood  of  Clifton  Springs. 

Gilbreth,  William,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  May  14,  1828, 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Ellen  (Garven)  Gilbreth,  the  latter  also  born  in  Ireland,  Avho  reared 
nine  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbreth  came  to  America  in  1841,  setting  first  in  Vermont, 
■  '  •  years  later  they  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
ject.  The  latter  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Vermont,  and  six- 
teen when  he  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county.  lie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
arn!  wurked  in  the  woolen  factory  in  Vermont  about  five  years.  He  is  the  owner  of 
about  113  acres  of  land,  and  follows  general  farming,   keeping  twelve  cows.     He  also 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  313 

has  about  500  sugar  trees.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1856  he  married  Mar- 
tha Beattie,  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1832.  died  February  16,  1885,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Forsythe)  Beattie,  who  had  two  sons  and  five  daughters.  Our  sub- 
ject and  wife  had  four  children:  Mary  E.,  born  November  16,  1857,  died  May  27, 1882  • 
Sarah  J.,  born  June  4,  1859,  died  May  29,  1879;  Alice  L.,  born  June  18,  1864,  and  mar- 
ried September  20,  1887,  Webster  A.  Ballard,  a  native  of  Lawrence,  born  October  20 
1864,  a  son  of  Elwood  D.  and  Ruth  M.  (Day)  Ballard  of  Peru,  Essex  county.  Webster 
A.  Ballard  and  wnfe  have  had  two  children  :  Warner  D.,  born  June  18,  1889;  and  May 
R.,  born  February  23,  1892.  The  fourth  child  of  our  subject,  Anna  M.,  was  born  Augu«t 
5,  1869,  and  married  H.  D.  Blaachard  of  Nicholville,  by  whom  she  has  one  child 
WiUiam  L. 

Andrews,  Morris  B.,  Massena,  was  born  inMassena,  July  23,  1821,  a  son  of  John  B., 
mentioned  in  this  work.  Mr.  Andrews  was  reared  and  educated  in  Massena,  and  also 
attended  the  Malone  Academy  and  Potsdam  Academy.  He  engaged  in  farming  when 
a  young  man,  and  inherited  about  107  acres  of  land  from  his  father,  to  which  he  has 
added  until  he  now  owns  about  250  acres  of  land  and  village  property.  He  resided  on 
his  farm  until  1888,  when  he  came  to  the  village  and  has  since  lived  retired.  Mr.  An- 
drews has  always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  has  not  aspired  to  office.  March  16, 
1863,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (England)  Carney,  the  former 
a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Massena,  who  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  and 
who  bo4i  died  in  Massena.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  have  had  one  son,  Justin  B.,  born  in 
Massena  on  the  old  homestead,  January  5,  1865.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  Massena  High  School,  and  also  follows  farming,  living  in  the  old  home. 
He  is  a  member  of  Massena  Grange  No.  704,  of  which  he  is  a  past  master.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  I.  0.  F.  Court  No.  693  of  Massena.  His  wife  was  Evelyn  Chittenden, 
daughter  of  Nelson  Chittenden  of  Louisville,  by  whom  he  has  two  daughters,  Lena  C. 
and  Velma  E. 

Aldrich,  Newton,  Gouverneur,  was  born  June  6,  1830,  in  Luzerne,  Warren  county, 
N.  T.,  a  son  of  Seth  Aldrich,  born  in  Athol  in  1799,  and  Mira  Adams,  born  in  Luzerne 
in  1805.  He  came  to  Gouverneur  in  1867  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  in  which 
he  is  still  interested.  Mr.  Aldrich  is  president  of  the  Bank  of  Gouverneur,  of  the  Gouv- 
erneur Wood  Pulp  Company,  and  of  the  United  States  Talc  Company.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  W.  Weston,  Dean  &  Aldrich  of  Natural  Dam.  March  17,  1858, 
he  married  Kate  Griffin,  a  native  of  Warren  county,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret 
(Lindsay)  Griffin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aldrich  have  one  son,  Herbert  G.,  born  December  3, 
1860,  at  Luzerne,  who  is  now  practicing  law  at  Gouverneur.  He  graduated  from  Ham- 
ilton College  in  1884  and  from  Harvard  Law  School  in  1888.  September  2,  1890,  he 
married  Jennie  A.  Loucks. 

Bridges,  J.  D.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Chester,  Vt.,  November  22,  1821,  a  son  of  Wil- 
son, whose  father,  John,  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Wilson  was  born  in 
Athol,  Mass.,  in  1792.  He  came  to  Chester,  Tt.,  with  his  parents,  and  there  married 
Lucy  L.  Dana,  a  native  of  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  two  now  living,  J. 
0.  and  J.  D.     In  1826  Mr.  Bridges  came  to  Massena  and  settled  at  Racket  River  Bridge 


314  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

on  a  farm  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife  died  in  1834,  and  he 
married  secoud,  Maria  Hall  of  Fort  Covington.  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children. 
He  served  in  various  toAvn  offices  and  died  in  1876.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
J.  D.  Bridges  was  five  years  old  when  he  came  to  Massena.  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  school  and  later  went  to  Potsdam  Academy.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer, 
and  has  been  extensively  engaged'in  cattle  buying,  for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He 
first  engaged  in  teaching,  which  he  followed  for  several  terms.  He  now  owns  400 
acres  and  has  also  given  his  only  son  175  acres.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  sixteen  years.  In  1845  he  married  Lydia  Boynton  of  Massena, 
born  March  19,  1826,  a  daughter  of  Luke  Boynton  of  Montpelier,  Vt.,  born  October  9, 
1798,  who  came  to  Massena  in  1823.  and  here  died  in  1862.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bridges  have 
had  two  children  :  Guy  B.,  born  in  1846,  now  residing  in  Massena,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  connected  with  the  stage  line,  also  the  steamboat  line.  He  married  first,  in 
1808,  Louisa  Hodgkins  of  Massena,  and  had  one  son,  Fred,  now  married  in  Brooklyn. 
Mrs.  Bridges  died  in  1878,  and  he  married  second,  Margaret  Combs,  bv  whom  he  has 
three  sons:  Roy,  Guy  and  Harry.  Ida,  second  child  of  J.  D.  Bridges,  was  born  April 
3,  1853,  and  married  James  Britton  of  Massena,  who  afterwards  established  the  Mas- 
sena Bank,  of  which  he  was  president  several  years.  Ida  died  November  19,  1878,  and 
Mr.  Britton  died  in  January,  1894. 

Robertson,  D,  M.,  Canton,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  December'l,  1829,  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Gouverneur  Wesleysn  Seminary  and  the  Canton  Law  School.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871,  and  opened  his  present  office  in  the  same  year.  In  1861 
Mr.  Robertson  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  60th  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  served  nearly  two  years, 
enlisting  as  a  private  and  returning  home  as  a  major.  In  1872  he  married  Sarah 
Thatcher,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Jessie  Robertson.  Major  Robertson  has  been 
president  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Veteran's  Association  for  two  years,  was  for- 
merly deputy  county  clerk  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  was  for  several  years  superinten- 
dent of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  is  now  and  has  been  for 
three  years  president  of  the  Canton  Savings  and  Loan  Association. 

Delaney,  Thomas,  Massena,  was  born  in  Mountrath,  on  of  the  chief  towns  in  Queens 
county,  Ireland,  March  3,  1820,  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Kennedy)  Delaney  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  Canada  in  1848,  and  two  years  later  to  Massena,  where  the 
mother  died  in  1858,  aged  seventy-two  years,  and  the  father  in  1805,  aged  eighty- 
four  years.  Of  their  seven  sons,  only  two  survive.  Thomas  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  in  1840  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  land- 
ing in  New  York  on  May  15,  and  worked  for  the  Shakers  of  Albany  at  gardening 
until  late  in  the  fall,  then  went  to  Woodville,  Jefferson  county,  where  he  engaged 
'illing  until  Noveraber,  1844,  when  he  went  to  Dickinson's  Landing,  Ontario, 
■'  -'iperintend  a  large  distillery  at  that  place,  and  remained  in  that  position  until 
the  clo.se  of  1850,  when  the  concern  closed  up  business,  and  he  then  came  to  Mas- 
xfiiii  and  commenced  farming,  in  which  he  is  still  interested.  He  owns  a  farm  of 
"  '  acres  ef  highly  cultivated  land,  nicely  situated  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 

'  "^>  with  his  family,  moved  into    Massena    \'illage,  where  he  owns  a  com- 

fy.:,       lesidence  and  where  he  still    resides.      Yet,  though  partly  retired  from  the 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  315 

active  duties  of  farming,  he  still  takes  a  lively  interest  in  the  progress  and  devel- 
opment of  agriculture.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  was  appointed  census  erumerator  in 
1875,  held  for  many  years  the  offices  of  inspector  of  elections  and  excise  commis- 
sioner, and  has  also  filled  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility,  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharged  with  scrupulous  fidelity  and  care,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
all  the  parties  interested.  He  and  all  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
In  1845  he  married  Caroline  Jaycox  of  Massena  born  February  4,  1826,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Barbara  (Ruport)  Jaycox,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
town,  the  former  dying  in  1836,  the  latter  in  1886,  in  Massena.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De- 
lany  have  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  namely :  John  M., 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years  :  E.  Ado,  died  aged  five  years;  Martha  A.,  born  July  6, 
1854,  died  April  2,  1892;  and  William  J.,  born  March  28,  1848,  and  died  October  6, 
1893,  leaving  two  daughters,  Bessie  L.  and  Mary  L.  The  surviving  children  are :  Lu- 
cilia,  wife  of  Herbert  H.  Holcomb  of  the  town  of  Stockholm,  now  of  California,  by 
whom  she  has  had  seven  children,  Maud  (deceased),  T.  Tyler,  Delany  J.,  Kate  E.,  James 
F.,  Harry  and  Jeremiah;  Agnes,  wife  of  Capt.  James  Fox  of  Massena,  owner  and 
captain  of  the  steamer  Algona,  a  freight  and  passenger  boat  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River  ; 
T.  Edwin,  married  first,  Ella  Costigan,  who  died  April  26,  1890,  and  second,  Sarah 
Bennet,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Ella  M.  He  resides  in  Ogdensburg;  and  S. 
Inez,  wife  of  Charles  McQuillan  of  Chicago,  by  whom  she  has  one  daughter,  named 
Ellen  A. 

Sanford,  Hon.  Jonah,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Vt.,  November  30,  1790. 
He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Sanford,  who  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  in  1756, 
and  in  1784  removed  to  Cornwall,  Vt.,  of  which  town  he  was  a  prominent  citizen. 
Jonah  Sanford's  educational  advantages  were  limited,  and  through  his  own  effiDrts  he 
became  an  influential  citizen  of  this  county.  He  was  a  farmer,  but  being  ambitious  he, 
while  young  and  the  country  new,  purchased  a  few  law  books  and  mastered  them  even- 
ings, after  working  throughout  the  day  on  his  farm.  He  was  elected  to  various  offices 
of  trust:  supervisor  of  his  town,  member  of  Congress  during  the  unexpired  term  of 
Silas  Wright,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  also  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention.  He  was  appointed  commissioner  to  lay  out  a  road  between  Hopkinton 
and  Port  Kent,  a  distance  of  seventy-two  miles.  He  discharged  this  duty  with  strict 
integrity  and  untiring  zeal.  He  made  several  trips  through  the  great  woods  before  a 
tree  was  cut.  In  the  military  service  he  began  early  life  as  a  volunteer  in  the  War  of 
1812.  Mr.  Sanford  was  granted  power  by  Governor  Morgan  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
volunteer  infantry,  and  in  1861-2  he  organized  in  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  the  Ninety-second 
Regiment  and  accompanied  it  to  James  River.  Here  his  health  failed.  His  extraordi- 
nary efforts  in  this  work  with  his  age.  being  seventy-one  years  old,  so  told  upon  him 
that  he  reluctantly  resigned  his  commission  and  Col.  Sanford  returned  to  his  home.  In 
1811  he.  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Green,  of  Cornwall,  Vt.  He  then 
came  to  Hopkinton  and  purchased  the  farm  where  he  resided  over  fifty  years,  and  until 
his  death  December  25,  1867,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Sanford's  first 
wife  died  in  1842,  and  in  1845  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Barney,  of  Belleville,  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.     She  is  living  and  is  eighty-two  years  of  age.     Mr.  Sanford  was  the 


316  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

father  of  eight  children  by  his  first  marriage,  and  two  by  his  last  marriage.  He  was  a 
stronw  Republican  and  a  lover  of  his  country.  At  one  time  he  had  two  sons  and  four 
grandsons  in  the  war.  His  son  Rollen  died  in  Andersonville  prison  after  suffering  for 
weeks  for  the  want  of  food  and  care. 

Palmer,  George  W.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  December  18,  1831,  a 
son  of  Leonidas  Palmer  of  Hinesburg,  Vt.,  born  in  1801,  who  married  CyrenaHoadley, 
of  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  four  of  them  were  school  teachers,  one  was 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  supervisor  for  about  fifteen  years,  a  member  of 
assembly  two  terras  in  the  third  district  and  land  surveyor,  our  subject  being  the  oldest. 
L.  Palmer  first  came  to  Franklin  county,  and  in  1840  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  set- 
led  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  George  W.  Here  he  died  in  1874.  He  was  a  Republi- 
can and  served  in  various  town  offices.  His  wife  is  now  living  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three,  there  being  now  four  generations  in  one  house.  Our  subject  was  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  this  county,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  teach- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  when  a  young  man.  He  is  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade, 
but  follows  farming  principally.  He  owns  159  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  nine- 
teen cows,  owning  Jersey  cows  among  the  stock,  and  also  keeps  sheep.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  served  several  years  as  trustee  of  schools.  He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  L 
Riverside  Lodge  at  Lawrenceville.  His  wife  was  Eliza  Washburn,  a  native  of  Wil- 
mington, Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Israel  and  Asenath  Hurd,  who  came  from 
New  Hampshire  to  Essex  county,  where  they  died.  By  a  previous  marriage  to  Caro- 
line Sweet,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sweet,  of  Hopkinton,  our  subject  had  two  children : 
Edwin  E.,  who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Estelle  M.,  a  music  teacher,  who  married  L'riah 
Denton,  by  whom  she  has  had  one  child,  Carl  E. 

Maley,  A.  J.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  August  19,  1844,  a  son  of  John,  a  nat- 
ive of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  when  a  child.  He  settled  in  Massena,  and  there 
married  Philena  Perkms,  a  native  of  Stansted,  Canada,  born  in  1802.  Mr.  and  2*Irs. 
Maley  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  sons  survivmg.  He  went  to  California 
in  1851,  returned  to  Massena  in  1852,  and  died  in  1860,  leaving  a  farm  of  300  acres  in 
Massena,  besides  other  real  estate  in  Iowa.  His  widow  resides  with  our  subject  at  the 
age  of  ninety-three.  A.  J.  Maley  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  went  to  Iowa  (1861).  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Iowa 
Volunteers  and  served  eight  months,  when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 
In  August  of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Iowa  Cavalry  and  served  two 
years  and  four  months.  He  was  in  several  engagements  and  many  skirmishes,  and  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  13,  1864,  taken  to  Andersonville,  held  for  five 
month.s,  then  removed  to  Florence,  S.  C,  where  he  remained  till  February  13,  1865, 
when  he  was  paroled,  and  remained  in  the  hospital  at  Annapolis  and  at  Little  York,  Pa., 
where  he  was  discharged  in  July,  18G5.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  spent  a  short  time 
in  Massena,  then  returned  to  Iowa.  He  spent  the  next  few  years  in  various  work.  He 
went  to  Cornwall,  Canada,  and  was  proprietor  of  the  American  House  for  seventeen 
years.  In  1891  he  came  to  Massena  and  became  proprietor  of  the  Allen  House,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  followed  farming  several  years  prior  to  this.  He  is  a  Republican 
and   a  member  of  Cornwall  Lodge  No.  125,  F.  &  A.  M.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  317 

A.  0.  TT.  W.  No.  214  of  Cornwall,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  of  Massena.  In  1867  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Patterson,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  who  was  ef^ucated  in  Williams- 
town  Convent,  in  Canada,  and  who  now  lives  at  home.  Mr.  Maley  owns  163  acres 
of  the  original  homestead,  and  has  added  eighty-five  acres,  keeping  a  dairy  of  forty 
cows. 

McEuen,  A.  E.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  January  17,  1834.     His  father, 
Captain  Carlton,  was  a  son  of  George,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hinesburg,  Vt.,  who  came 
from  Shaftsbury,  Vt.,  and  the  grandfather  of  George  came  from  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
Capt.  Carlton  McEuen  married  Wealthy  Calkins,   of  Hinesburg,  Vt..  born  in  1797  and 
died  in  1826.     They  had  three  children.     He  married  second  Phoebe   Millino-ton    of 
Lawrence,  in  1833.     She  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vt.,  in  1799.      By  her  he  had  four  chil- 
dren.    He  settled  in  Lawrence  in  182"),  his  death  occurring  February  2,  18GG,  and  there 
lived  and  died.     His  farm  is  now  owned  by  our  subject,  Augustus  E.,  who  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  is  a  farmer,  owning  300  acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  an- 
other place  of  250  acres.     In  partnership  with  his  brother,  R.  H.,  he  owns  260  acres 
and   his  sons  at  home  also  own  125  acres  at  Fort  Jackson.     He  has  a  dairy  of  forty 
thorough-bred  Ayrshire  cattle,  and  is  also  an  extensive  breeder  of  Shropshire  sheep  and 
Chester  white  hogs.     He  has  a  fine  sugar  bush  of  about  1200  trees.     In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  his  town  as  highway  commissioner,  assessor  and  supervisor. 
He  belongs  to  the  P.  of  H.  No.  702,  and  was  first  master  of  the  lodge.     Mr.  McEuen 
married,  March  14,  1860,  Martha  Witlierel,  of  Hopkinton,  who  was  born  in  Orwell,  Vt., 
October  7,  1841.     They  have  had  four  children  ;  J.  W.,  who  died  August  27,  1876,  aged 
thirteen  years ;  Guy  C,   G.  Wright,  and  Clyde  A.,  all  living  at  home.     Mrs.  McEuen 
died  September  25,  1886. 

Hopson,  B.  M..  Massena,  was  born  in  Salisbury,  Herkimer  county,  August  3,  1818,  a 
son  of  Abel,  son  of  Alvirus,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  The  wife  of  the  latter  was  Mary 
Munger,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children.  He  and  wife  both  died  in  Salisburj',  N.  Y. 
Abel  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Herkimer  county,  where  he  spent  most  of  his  life.  He  married  Hannah  .Vvery, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Avery,  formerly  of  Connecticut,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. B.  M.  Hopson  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  his  native  town.  He  came 
to  Brasher  in  1847  and  had  just  forty-five  dollars,  and  settled  on  a  dairy  farm,  coming 
to  Massena  twelve  years  later,  where  he  bought  a  large  farm,  keeping  a  dairy  of  fifty- 
one  cows.  He  is  a  Republican  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  General  Harrison  in  1840,  and 
has  been  assessor,  excise  commissioner,  etc.  In  1838  he  married  in  Herkimer  county, 
Catharine,  daughter  of  George  Loucks,  and  they  have  had  seven  children :  Richard  M., 
who  was  drowned  in  Wisconsin,  aged  twenty-two ;  George  H.,  who  lives  on  his  fath- 
er's farm.  He  married  Libbie  Hitchcock,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons  :  Fred  M.  and  Nor- 
man A. ;  Norman  A.,  son  of  B.  M.  Hopson,  who  resides  on  his  father's  farm,  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Tracey,  by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Floyd  B.  and  Lulie ;  Irving  F.,  who 
lives  in  Massena  village,  and  married  Delia  Carton,  by  whom  he  has  two  children : 
Carlie  and  Catharine;  Amelia  A.,  wife  of  Jacent  H.  Denison,  of  Wisconsin,  by  whom 
she  has  six  children  :  Burton,  Elsie,  Delia,  Martin,  Roweca,  and  Lon  ;  M.  Rowena,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Nathan  H.  Denison,  who  left  two  children :  Nellie  A.,  and  Floyd  M. ; 


3|g  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

S  Lo.sa,  wife  of  Allen  Kezar,  of  Massena,  by  whom  she  has  two  children  :  Ernest  and 
Earl  Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  farming  lands  in  Brasher,  Massena  and 
vicinitv.     Since  1884  he  has  lived  in  the  village. 

Dana.  L.  A..  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena  Center,  December  18,  1820,  a  son  of 
Samuel  Dana,  born  in  Amherst,  Mass.,  March  26,  1790,  and  married  Julia  bloody  of  that 
town  born  November  6,  1792.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  nine  grew  to  matu- 
rity. In  1814  Mr.  Dana  came  to  Massena,  where  he  lived  on  a  farm.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  his  death  occurred  in  July,  1882,  that  of  his  wife  in  July,  1880. 
L.  A.  Dana  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  remained 
on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  purchased  in  1S82.  He  afterwards  sold  all  but  ten  acres, 
and  in  1891  came  to  the  village  of  Massena,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, a  member  of  the  P.  of  H.  No.  704  of  Massena,  and  married  April  11,  1871.  Fan- 
nie Dunn,  of  Massena,  born  August  27,  1830,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Dunn  and  Relief  Lis- 
comb,  the  former  born  in  Bakersfield,  Vt.,  September  20,  1798,  and  the  latter  born  in 
Hartland,  Vt.,  September  4,  1798.  Both  came  to  Massena  when  young,  their  marriage 
occurring  in  1829.  The}--  had  five  children.  Mr.  Dunn  died  in  March,  1871,  and  his 
wife  in  August,  1868. 

Smith,  Frank  H.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Moira,  Franklin  county,  January  15,  1836, 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  E.  (Sails)  Smith,  the  former  born  in  Grafton,  N.  H.,  in  1813, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Grand  Isle  county,  Tt.  Frank  H.  came  to  Gouverneur  in  1837. 
His  first  business  was  in  a  hotel  until  1861,  since  which  he  has  been  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  now  lives  in  the  village  and  owns  a  farm  of  ISO  acres  on  Johns- 
town street,  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Gouverneur.  February  7,  1861,  he  married 
Martha  H.  Parsons,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Maria  Parsons,  natives  of  Johnstown,  N. 
T.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  one  child,  Henry  C.  Smith,  born  in  1864.  Mr.  Smith  is 
an  active  member  of  the  Gouverneur  Masonic  Lodge,  and  is  a  past  master,  member  of 
Marble  City  Commandery,  Media  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine. 

Lavack.  Frederick,  Gouverneur,  was  born  March  27, 1842,  in  Canada,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Lizzie  Lavack.  He  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ogdens- 
burg.  In  1860  they  came  to  Gouverneur,  where  Mr.  Lavack  has  since  resided,  with  the 
exception  of  the  years  1868-75,  when  he  was  in  Syracuse  engaged  in  the  factory  of  D. 
L.  Fry.  From  1875  to  1877  he  was  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Gouverneur,  and 
at  that  date  founded  the  drug  business,  which  he  has  successfully  conducted  up  to  the 
present  time.  In  1870  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Noah  Loomis,  of  Gouverneur,  and 
they  have  had  five  children  :  Jennie,  born  December  18,  1882 ;  Winifred,  born  May  27, 
18>1  ;  Florence,  born  January  1 1,  1889 ;  Anna,  born  August  6, 1877  ;  and  Robert,  born 
February  28,  1879,  all  now  living.  Mr.  Lavack  is  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  in 
politics  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  prosperous  business  man,  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
fellow  townsmen. 

Witherell,  H.  E.,  Hopkinton,  wag  born  in  Hopkinton,  July  31,  1835,  a  son  of  Stephen 
K.,  born  April  17,  1799,  in  Vermont.  His  father  was  Job  Witherell.  Stephen  R.  mar- 
ried Abigail  Moon,  came  to  Hopkinton  and  bought  a  farm,  where  he  lived  the  remainder 
of  his  lif"-,  dying  August  14,  1878.     His  wife,  who  died   in  1882,  bore  him   these  chil- 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  319 

dren :  Clarissa,  Charlotte,  George  R.,  Eugenia  (who  during  the  war  was  a  prisoner  at 
Libbj  prison  and  was  nearly  starved  to  death,  his  weight  being  reduced  from  200  to 
ninety  pounds),  and  our  subject,  H.  E.  Witherell,  who  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
worked  with  his  father  as  long  as  the  latter  lived.  Afterwards  he  bought  the  home- 
stead, which  he  still  owns,  together  with  other  property,  comprising  about  500  acres  in 
all.  He  keeps  about  thirty-five  cows  and  also  a  flock  of  sheep,  about  110  head.  In 
1863  he  married  Louisa  Miller,  daughter  of  Stephen  Miller,  of  Essex  county,  born  July 
25,  1844.  His  wife  was  Abigail  Jenney.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witherell  have  had  two  sons 
and  one  daughter:  Edna,  born  June  22,  1864,  attended  the  Lawrenceville  Academy 
and  Potsdam  School,  and  has  been  a  teacher  for  a  number  of  years  ;  Georo-e.  born 
August  24,  1865,  is  a  bookkeeper  for  a  lumber  company ;  Charles,  born  February  5, 
1867,  is  also  m  the  lumber  business  in  Washington.  Mr.  Witherell  is  a  Republican  in 
politics. 

Smith,  E.  M.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  this  county,  November  10,  1820,  a  son 
of  Perez  Smith,  who  came  from  Massachusetts  to  this  toAvn  in  1812,  settling  near  Mas- 
sena Centre,  and  in  1840  came  to  the  Springs,  where  he  died  in  1855,  aged  seventy- five 
years.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Fields,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  they  had  eight 
children.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  Democrat  and  was  overseer  of  the  poor  many  years.  Our 
subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Massena  and  Potsdam  Academy.  In  1849 
he  married  Margaret  E.  Policy,  of  Canada,  daughter  of  William  Policy,  who  was  born 
in  Massachusetts.  She  was  reared  by  an  uncle,  Capt.  John  Polley,  the  first  man  who 
owned  the  springs  at  Massena,  and  who  was  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  built  the 
house  now  owned  by  our  subject.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  custom  house 
oflScer  under  Buchanan.  He  engaged  in  keeping  boarders  in  Massena  Springs  in  1850, 
and  has  continued  in  that  business  longer  than  any  other  man  in  the  place.  He  owns 
a  very  comfortable  home,  and  has  about  eight  acres  of  land,  known  as  the  old  Captain 
Polley  place. 

Wight,  Allen,  Gouverneur,  was  born  November  14,  1824,  in  Fowler,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Laura  (Hodgskin)  Wight.  He  prepared  himself  for  teaching  at  the  Normal 
School  at  Albany  and  taught  twelve  terms.  He  was  school  commissioner  four  and  a 
half  years,  having  charge  of  153  schools.  He  has  since  followed  civil  engineering  and 
surveying,  and  managing  his  farm  near  Little  Tork  for  the  past  thirty-two  years.  In 
1888  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  the  village  of  Little  York.  In  1891  he  bought  his 
present  location  of  twenty-two  acres,  where  he  has  since  lived.  December  25,  1853, 
Mr.  Wight  married  Lury  Geer,  born  in  Fowler,  July  6,  1831,  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Martha  (Burdick)  Geer.  She  died  July  31,  1859,  and  he  married  second,  September  21, 
1859,  Lucy  (Fuller)  Johnson,  born  in  Fowler,  May  1,  1835,  daughter  of  John  and  Zeruah 
(Bly)  Johnson.  Mr.  Wight's  children  are :  Laura,  born  June  28,  1855,  who  married, 
September  16,  1873,  Andrew  Leach  (their  children  being  Clarence  E.,  born  March  G, 
1877,  and  Flossie) ;  Edgar  Allen,  born  January  29,  1857,  married  in  Nebraska  Mary 
Cleveland  (their  children  being  Hattie  L.,  born  July  20, 1883  ;  Nora  J.,  born  November 
28,  1885;  Blanche  B.,  born  February  2,  1888;  Mary  E.,  born  May  2.  1891);  Nora 
Jane,  born  February  12,  1861,  and  married,  February  21,  1882,  William  S.  Griffiths; 
Juha  Ann,  born  July  25,  1862,  married,  November  19,  1885,  Sidney  Brown  (their  chil- 


goo  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

dreu  i  litif  Sayles  Allen,  born  April  10, 1888;  and  Nora  Linn,  born  December  10,  1890) ; 
Grant  John,  born  March  15,  1864,  married,  July  29,  1890,  Anna  Meridith  Hanna  ; 
Blanche,  born  March  8,  1878,  died  January  24,  1883.  Mr.  Wight  is  a  direct  descendant 
of  Thomas  Wieht,  who  settled  in  Dedham,  Mass..  about  1636,  who  probably  came  from 
the  Isle  of  Wight. 

White,  Erastus  R.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Hermon.  September  15.  1838,  a  son  of  Al- 
phonso  White,  born  in  Oswego  in  1808,  who  came  to  Hermon  and  married  Janette  Hale, 
daughter  of  Peleg  Hale.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  had  four  children,  two  now  living.  He 
and  wife  are  dead,  the  latter  dying  in  Russell  in  1860.  Erastus  R.  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  learned  carpentry,  which  he  followed  until 
1871,  except  for  two  years,  when  he  served  in  the  war.  In  1871  he  came  to  Monterey 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  purchasing  the  Rose  saw  mill,  and  in  1873 
he  bought  his  present  farm.  In  1883  he  went  to  ^lonterey  and  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  for  two  years,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  farmer,  owning  seventy- 
two  acres  of  fine  land.  He  is  a  Repablican  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Eighty-third  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and 
served  two  years.  He  was  wounded  in  the  hand  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  Mr. 
White  is  a  G-.  A.  R.  man,  of  Rice  Post  No.  169,  and  a  member  of  High  Fal's  Lodge  No. 
428,  F.  &  A.  M.  In  1860  he  married  Hannah  Robinson,  of  Antwerp,  by  whom  he  has 
had  two  children  :  Floyd,  who  died  aged  eighteen  months  ;  and  Carrie,  wife  of  Silas 
Wright,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Floyd  W.  Mrs.  White  died,  and  October  4. 1870, 
he  married  second  Ellen  Van  Ornum,  daughter  of  Harry  Yan  Ornum,  of  Russell,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Lewis  Phillips,  of  Russell. 

Pierce,  William  H.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  October  4,  1845.  He  was  a 
son  of  Porter,  who  was  a  son  of  Rolland  Pierce,  of  Maine,  who  came  to  this  county 
and  town  with  his  wife,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Porter  was 
born  in  1816  and  came  to  this  town  with  his  parents.  His  wife  was  Mary  Wilkinson, 
a  native  of  Jay,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  eight  children.  They  died  in  1871  and  1877  re- 
spectively. William  H.  Pierce  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  brought  up  to 
farm  work,  owning  now  100  acres  of  dairy  land  and  keeping  fourteen  cows.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  During  the  late  war  he  enli.<ted  in  Compaiu'  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Volunteers  (1863),  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  having  been  in 
the  following  battles:  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Monocacy 
Jimction,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Sailor's  Creek.  He  was  wounded 
at  Winchester  and  also  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  was  in  the  hospital  five  months.  In 
1874  Mr.  Pierce  married  Sarah  C,  daughter  of  Joseph  Kempton,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Ada,  wife  of  Addison  Snell,  a  farmer  of  Hopkinton,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Guy  Snell. 

Thoma.s,  Alonzo  H.,  Parishville,  was  born  in   this  town  July  20.  1853,  a  son  of  Har- 
rison Tlio:iia.';,  who  was  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Rhoda  (Rice)  Thomas,  who  had  six  chil-  • 
dren.     Tliey  were  natives  of  Clareniont,  N.  H.,  and  came  to  Parishville  in  1812.    Alonzo 
II.  wa«  reared  on  a  farm  and   edu<,'ated  in  the  common  schools  and  Potsdam  Normal 
School.     He  followed  teaching  for  three  years,  and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  321 

fourteen  years,  but  has  for  some  time  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  owns  143  acres  of 
land.  In  October,  1882,  Mr.  Tliomas  married  Frances  H.,  daughter  of  Capt.  J.  H. 
Hitchcock,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Mr.  Thomas  and  wife  have  three  children  :  Ethel  E., 
Eva  M.,  and  Helen  A.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  West  Parishville  Grange  No.  542.  He  and  wife  are  Free  Will 
Baptists. 

Tharrett.  James,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  December  11,  1825,  a  son 
of  James,  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  about  1797,  whose  father,  Joseph  Tharrett,  of 
England,  had  five  sons,  only  one  of  whom,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  America. 
James  was  married  in  England  in  1818  to  Mary  Needham,  crossing  the  ocean  in  1821, 
and  settling  in  Cham  plain,  where  he  worked  in  the  lumber  yards  for  five  years.  From 
there  he  went  to  Canada,  then  came  to  Franklin  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  for  about 
seven  years.  He  then  returned  to  Canada  and  followed  farming  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  died  in  1872  and  his  wife  November  10,  1886.  They  had  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. At  the  age  of  about  ten  years  our  subject  came  Avith  his  parents  to  this  county, 
and  he  early  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed  as  an  occupation  all  his  life.  He 
bought  and  sold  several  pieces  of  land,  but  finally  settled  in  Hopkinton,  where  he  now 
owns  a  good  farm  of  about  200  acres,  a  small  portion  of  which  is  in  Lawrence.  Jan- 
uary 9,  1851,  he  married  Celinda  Clark,  born  May  2,  1826,  daughter  of  Orange  B.  and 
Hannah  (Sweet)  Clark,  who  came  from  Vermont  in  1825.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tharrett  have 
had  three  sons  and  three  daughters :  Clark  and  Milton,  who  live  at  home ;  George,  who 
went  west  and  became  a  successful  farmer,  afterwards  sold  his  farm,  and  has  not  since 
been  heard  from  ;  Annie,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Matthews  of  this  town  ;  Eva,  wife  of  Josiah 
Smith,  also  of  this  town  ;  and  Nellie,  wife  of  Edgar  Corser,  a  farmer.  Mr.  Tharrett  is 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  they  attend  the  M.  E.  church. 

Shaw,  A.  B.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Bolton,  Warren  county,  March  20,  1817.  His 
father,  Samuel,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who  married  Delight  Barker,  by  whom 
he  Lad  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  came  with  his  family  to  Russell  in  1843  and 
here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  When  our  subject  was  three  years  of  age  he  went 
with  his  parents  to  Herkimer  county,  where  they  lived  previous  to  coming  to  Russell. 
In  1843  he  married  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Susan  (Rodgers)  Dodge,  of  New 
Hampshire  and  Canada,  respectively,  who  had  three  children :  Charles  Dodge,  Helen 
M.,  and  Mrs.  Shaw.  After  their  marriage  our  subject  and  wife  lived  for  a  time  in  Rus- 
sia, Herkimer  county,  and  then  for  three  years  in  Wilna,  Jefi'erson  county.  They  then 
came  to  Potsdam,  and  later  to  Jefferson  county.  Next  they  spent  some  time  in  the 
west,  returning  to  Potsdam,  where  they  lived  till  1875,  since  which  time  they  have  re- 
sided in  Russell.  Mr.  Shaw  at  present  owns  1,200  acres  of  farming  land,  and  keeps  100 
cows  and  young  stock.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  poormaster  and 
member  of  the  Board  of  Excise.  He  has  also  been  offered  the  office  of  supervisor  three 
different  times,  but  has  always  dechned.  He  is  a  member  of  Russell  Lodge  No.  666, 
F.  &  A.  M. 

Sayer,  Ransom  E.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  county  in  1852.  He,  in 
connection  with  his  father,  inaugurated  the  business  here  in  1875.     The  copartnership 


322  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

existed  until  two  years  ago,  when  his  father  returned  to  agricultural  pursuits.  The 
latter  possessing  three  or  four  farms  a  few  miles  from  Ogdensburg.  Ransom  E. 
married  Mary  Jane  Lawrence,  and  they  have  two  sons.  Mr.  Sayer  keeps  several 
hands  and  a  team  busy.  His  business  consists  of  wholesale  and  retail  baker  and 
confectionery. 

Perkins,  A.  J.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Parishville,  January  28,  1848, 
a  son  of  John  L.,  whose  father,  Leonard,  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
John  L.  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  May  27,  1810,  and  died  in  Parishville  Aug- 
ust 17,  1876.  He  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Parishville  when  a  young  man,  own- 
ins  800  acres  of  land.  He  was  a  Republican  and  was  assessor  and  postmaster. 
January  8,  1834,  he  married  Clarissa  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  Mrs. 
Perkms  died  December  31,  1891.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  owned  a  fa-m  oE  200  acres  in  Parishville,  which 
in  1891  he  exchanged  for  160  acres  in  Hopkinton,  where  he  now  carries  on  general 
farming,  keeping  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.  June  20,  1872,  he  married  Harriet,  daugh- 
ter of  Hasting  S.  Cowles,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Parishville,  who  died  May  3, 
1893.  His  wife  was  Lucretia  Sampson,  by  whom  he  had  three  children.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Perkins  have  had  two  children  :  Alice,  wife  of  Frank  Wilson  of  Parishville; 
and  Olive  J.,  who  died  October  25,   1885. 

Putnam,  B.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Sutton,  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  December  12, 
1816.  Moses,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  that  State  also,  born  in  1789,  who  mar- 
ried Lovina  Liverniore  and  had  two  children.  They  came  to  Jefferson  county  and 
finally  to  Russell,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  they  died,  Mr.  Putnam  in  1869  and 
and  his  wife  in  1882,  aged  ninety-two  years.  Our  subject  went  to  Jefferson  county 
at  the  age  of  seven,  with  his  parents,  and  there  grew  to  manhoood.  He  married 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Thuseba  (Grimes)  Burton,  of  Swanzey,  N.  H.,  who 
came  to  Herkimer  county  in  an  early  day  and  later  went  to  Jefferson  county,  where 
Mr.  Burton  died  in  1869  and  his  wife  in  1854.  They  had  six  children.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burton  were  born  three  children:  Oscar,  who  died  ag(d  eight  years; 
Florence,  wife  of  C.  C.  Spencer  of  De  Kalb,  who  has  two  sons,  Oscar  and  Ira ; 
and  Charles  B.,  born  in  Champion,  Jefferson  county,  March  25,  1861,  who  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  fie  came  with  his  parents  to  Rus- 
sell in  infancy  and  married,  November  18,  1875,  Adda  Hosley,  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  daughter  of  Almon  Hosley,  who  died  in  Russell  in  1875.  Charles  B.  and 
wife  have  had  one  child,  Florence,  born  December  23,  1881.  Mr.  Putnam  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  he  and  liis  father  are  engaged  in  farming,  havings  a  place  of 
210  acres,  and  a  dairy  of  thirty  aows. 

Peck,  Daniel,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt.  July  1,  1822,  a  son  of  John  and 
Sabra  (Rounds)  Peck,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Fullerville  in  1837.  John  Peck 
was  a  Baptist  minister.  Our  subject  was  connected  with  the  iron  business  in  Fuller- 
ville until  1861,  the  firm  being  Fuller  &  Peck.  In  June,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
106th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry,  and  served  two  years.  He  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, brigaded  at  Harrisburg,  and  was  aide  on  the  staff  of  Col.  B.  F.  Smith.     He  was  in 


PERSONAL  SKETCnES.  303 

the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  was  on  General  Seymour's  staff.  He  was  mustered  out 
July  1,  1864.  He  then  began  the  business  of  hotel  life  in  Fowler,  came  to  Gouverneur 
in  1876,  and  kept  the  Peck  House.  He  was  supervisor  of  Fowler  nine  years  and  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1879,  for  the  regular  term  of  three  years.  ]\rarch  10,  1842 
he  married  Martha  Fuller,  a  native  of  Rossie.  by  whom  he  has  had  children  as  follows  : 
Anna,  born  December  25,  1842,  married  Justus  Pickett,  April  6,  1864,  and  now  lives  at 
Fergus  Falls,  Minn.  ;  Celinda,  born  February  2, 1849,  married  February  2,  1866,  Hor- 
ace Pickett,  and  now  lives  at  Fergus  Falls,  Minn.;  Everett,  born  January  11,  I860 
married  February  7,  1884,  and  resides  in  Gouverneur,  occupying  the  position  of  clerk 
in  the  Peck  House. 

Johnston,  J.  P.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Hinesburg,  Chittenden  county,  Vt.,  August 
21,  1841.  His  parents  moved  into  this  county  from  Vermont,  early  in  1846.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education  and  afterwards  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
followed  contracting  and  building  for  a  number  or  years,  but  desiring  to  materialize 
some  of  his  plans  regarding  buildings,  he  commenced  the  study  of  practical  architecture 
and  soon,  through  persistent  effort,  became  a  leading  man  in  his  profession.  Gradually 
extending  his  work,  he  became  known  most  favorably  within  a  radius  of  seventy-five 
miles  of  this  city,  in  both  this  country  and  Canada,  and  to-day  there  is  hardly  a  hamlet 
in  St.  Lawrence  county  but  what  contains  specimens  of  his  skill  and  ingenuity.  In 
Ogdensburg  he  designed  the  Ogdensburg  Club  House,  and  many  churches,  residences, 
etc.  Mr.  Johnson  married  in  October,  1871,  Emma  E.  Burt,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dred.  He  is  a  member  of  Masonic  lodge,  Ogdensburg  Club  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  council  for  the  past  four  years. 

Ingerson,  Eneas,  Russell,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  February  18,  1833.  His 
father,  David,  was  a  son  of  Jonathan,  who  came  to  Jefferson  county  in  an  early  day, 
where  he  died.  David  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  came  to  Jefferson  county  when  a 
young  man.  He  married  Almira  Grover,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  In  1843  he 
went  to  Gouverneur  and  settled.     He  served  two  years  in  the  late  war,  and  his  death 

occurred ,  his  wife  dying  in  1850.     Eneas  was  ten  years  of  age  when  his  father 

settled  in  Gouverneur,  where  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated.  He  engaged  in 
farming,  working  by  the  month  at  first,  and  later  renting  in  Hermon.  Later  he  came 
to  Russell  and  followed  the  same  work  until  about  1869,  when  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber  for  twenty  years  in  Clifton.  He  next  came  to  Monterey  and  manu- 
factured lumber  for  four  years.  He  then  bought  the  lot  he  now  owns,  on  which  he 
erected  a  fine  residence  and  an  ice  house.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, in  connection  with  milling,  for  the  past  twenty  years,  and  for  the  last  six  years 
has  kept  a  hotel  at  Monterey.  Mr.  Ingerson  voted  for  Lincoln,  but  has  been  a  Demo- 
crat ever  since.  While  residing  in  Clifton  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  town  clerk, 
and  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  Vernon  Lodge  No.  500,  P.  &  A.  M., 
and  has  been  a  Free  Mason  since  1861.  He  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Vesta  A. 
Wait,  of  Jefferson  county,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Seymour  C,  deceased  ; 
Florence  G.,  deceased  ;  and  Charles,  deceased.  Mrs.  Ingerson  died  April  22,  1891,  and 
he  niP,rried  second  Emma  Hamilton,  of  Russell. 


324  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Parker.  B.  G.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Gouverneur,  May  13,  1858,  the  only  .son  of 
Georo-e  and  Helen  R.  Parker.  The  father  was  at  that  time  a  merchant,  but  at  the 
breakiuo"  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  served  as  captain 
of  Company  D,  Sixteenth  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  afterwards  represented  his 
district  two  terms  in  the  Assembly,  and  was  collector  of  customs  at  the  port  of  Oswe- 
gatchie.  Captain  Parker  died  in  1883.  Mrs.  Parker  is  of  English  birth  and  education, 
and  during  her  husband's  absence  in  the  army  and  on  official  duties  was  most  able  and 
successful  in  business  affairs,  and  the  training  of  her  family.  B.  G.  Parker  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  Ogdensburg  and  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Semi- 
nar3^  He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  the  printing  trade,  beginning  his  work  in  that  line 
at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Four  years  later  he  established  the  Norwood  News,  which  he 
conducted  five  years.  In  1882  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and  established  the 
Gouverneur  Free  Press,  a  flourishing  and  popular  Republican  newspaper.  In  this  busi- 
ness his  sister,  Helen  I.  Parker,  has  assisted  him,  having  been  local  editor  since  1887. 
Mr.  Parker  is  now  associated  with  P.  L.  Doyle  in  the  publication  of  the  Potsdam  /Re- 
corder. Aside  from  his  newspaper  business  Mr.  Parker  has  been  a  large  investor  in  real 
estate,  and  has  added  much  to  Gouverneur  by  the  building  of  numerous  fine  residences 
and  two  marble  blocks.  He  has  been  actively  identified  with  the  Masonic  orders  and 
Avith  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Hatch,  E.  B.,  Hermon,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  December  25,  1842.  His  father 
was  a  hotel  keeper,  and  our  subject  was  connected  with  that  line  of  business  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Hermon  and  in  company  with  his  father  conducted 
the  Hermon  House  for  three  years.  He  then  traveled  for  a  Syracuse  boot  and  shoe 
house  for  two  years,  and  then  went  to  Georgetown,  Col.,  and  followed  minmg  for  five 
years.  Proceeding  to  California  his  party  was  the  second  one  to  cross  the  wilds  of 
Arizona.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  farmed  for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
St.  Lawrence  county  and  went  into  the  saw  mill  and  cheese  box  business,  and  this  oc- 
cupation he  followed  nineteen  years.  In  April,  1893,  he  bought  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise  in  this  place  and  began  his  present  business.  In  1872  Mr.  Hatch  married 
Susan  Beach,  of  Winchester  Springs,  Canada,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Cecil.  Mr. 
Hatch  is  a  member  of  the  Foresters  and  also  a  Mason. 

Haselton,  Harry  S.,  Hopkinton,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  February  22,  1836,  a  son  of 
Albanus,  who  was  a  son  of  Moses  Haselton,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who  married 
Harriet  Fulsome,  and  came  to  this  county  among  the  first  settlers.  Albanus  was  born 
in  New  Hampshire  in  1807,  and  came  to  Lawrence  when  a  boy.  He  married  Charlotte 
Merchant,  born  in  Vermont  in  1809,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  and  died  in  1882. 
His  wife  resides  with  her  son,  Silas  E.  Harry  S.  Haselton  took  up  farming  after  his 
education  was  completed.  He  re.'^ided  in  Lawrence  until  1862,  when  he  came  to  Hop- 
kinton, and  now  owns  165  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-two  cows.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  been  assessor  for  nine  years,  highway  commisioner 
four  years,  etc.  He  and  family  attend  the  Congregational  church.  January  1,  1861, 
Mr.  Haselton  married  Mary  J.,  daugliter  of  Silas  Merchant,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Lawrence. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  325 

Hatch,  L.  B.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Russell  in  1857,  a  son  of  S.  C.  Hatch.  The  (^rand- 
father  of  our  subject  was  William,  who  married  Temperance  Chalker,  of  Yermont  and 
had  five  children,  three  now  living.  Of  these  S.  C.  Hatch  came  to  Russell  in  an  early 
day.  and  by  industry  has  made  for  himself  a  fine  home,  his  farm  being  a  valuable  one 
of  about  200  acres,  upon  which  he  now  resides.  L.  B.  Hatch  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  bet^an  teach- 
ing in  the  schools  of  Russell,  working  at  farming  during  the  summer  time  and  teacbinw 
winters.  He  taught  about  ten  terms,  and  on  May  7,  1889,  he  married  Libbie  Davis 
daughter  of  Wheeler  Davis,  of  Russell,  formerly  of  Delaware  county.  In  1881  our 
subject  bought  the  farm  in  Russell  upon  which  he  now  resides  and  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  dairying.  He  keeps  an  average  of  about  fifteen  cows  and  six  or  seven  head 
of  young  cattle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hatch  have  two  children  :  Herbert  S.,  born  October  16 
1882;  and  Grover  L,  born  November  9,  1884.  Mr.  Hatch  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Hatch,  A.  J.,  M.D.,  Russell,  wa.s  born  in  Russell,  April  12, 1861,  a  son  of  S.  C.  Hatch 
a  native  of  South  Canton,  born  in  1820,  whose  father  was  Dr.  Hatch,  born  in  Vermont, 
who  came  to  South  Canton.  S.  C.  Hatch  came  to  Russell  with  his  parents  when  six 
years  of  age,  and  has  always  followed  agriculture.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Justus 
Ives,  of  Russell,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  four  now  living;  Victor  C,  L.  B. 
Martha  B.,  and  A.  J.  The  latter,  our  subject,  was  educated  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Semi- 
mary  and  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  beginning  practice  in 
1885  in  Norwood,  where  he  remained  about  eighteen  months.  He  then  came  to  this 
town,  where  he  has  bui't  up  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  reliable  practitioner,  his  rides 
extending  into  the  towns  of  Russell,  Fine,  Clifton,  Pierrepont,  Clair,  etc.  In  1886  he 
married  Fannie  F.,  daughter  of  T.  P.  and  Harriet  Johnson,  both  of  Vermont,  but  now 
residents  of  Russell.     They  have  had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Hunkins,  John,  Russell,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  May  7,  1828,  a  son  of 
Moses  C.  whose  father,  Moses  Hunkins,  was  a  native  of  Bradford,  Vt.,  born  July  16, 
1775,  and  married  Hannah  Scagel,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mr. 
Hunkins  and  wife  came  to  Russell  in  1842,  where  they  lived  a  number  of  years,  until 
Mr.  Hunkins  became  blind,  when  he  lived  with  his  sons.  His  death  occurred  in  1878 
and  that  of  his  wife  in  1848.  His  second  wife  was  a  Mrs.  Lampson.  The  father  of 
Moses  was  Robert  Hunkins,  who  came  with  General  Wolfe  to  Quebec.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  remained  in  America  and  became  a  captain  in  the  Revolution. 
Moses  C.  Hunkins  was  born  in  Bradford,  Vt.,  August  27,  1801.  He  lived  in  his  native 
State  until  the  age  of  eighteen,  then  went  with  a  colony  of  young  men  to  Quebec, 
where  he  married  Salona  Gilfillian,  of  Canada,  born  May  2,  1809,  and  afterwards  he  and 
wife  came  to  Russell  (1842)  and  .'lettled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Ira  Curby.  Mr. 
and.  Mrs.  Hunkins  had  seven  children,  all  now  living.  He  died  January  15,  1877,  and 
his  wife  March  15,  1892.  John,  our  subject,  came  to  Russell  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  fourteen,  and  lived  on  the  farm  until  he  became  of  age,  when  he  went  as  a  sailor 
on  the  lakes,  and  during  the  coldest  part  of  the  year  was  on  Lake  ]\Iichigan  and  the 
Illinois  Canal.  He  followed  this  calling  three  years,  then  married  Maria  Grieve,  a  nat- 
ive of  Edwards,  born   October  19,    1840,  daughter  of  James  Grieve,  of  Edinburgh, 


396  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Scotland  born  October  1,  1793,  whose  wife  was  Mary  Watson,  born  October  13,  1831. 
Thev  came  to  Edwards  in  1818,  where  he  died  April  19,  1877.  and  she  on  October  7. 
18(J0  Our  subject  and  wife  have  had  four  children  :  Lucina  S.,  born  January  12,  1859  ; 
Celia  S.,  born  December  9,  1865,  died  August  29,  1892;  Miaa  J.,  born  April  28,  1871  ; 
and  Bessie  G.,  born  January  1,  1877,  died  March  17,  1887.  Mr.  Hunkins  followed 
farmin'T  till  1861,  then  went  on  the  Erie  Canal  and  wintered  in  Washington,  where  he 
Ijo-hted  for  the  government.  He  followed  the  canal  for  seven  years  and  then  returned 
to  Russell  and  sold  his  farm,  buying  the  one  he  now  owns  of  110  acres.  He  is  now 
filiino-  the  office  of  game  protector.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  Her- 
mon  "Lodge  No.  500,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Hasbrouck,  Levi,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg  in  April,  1851.  He  received 
an  academic  education,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in  banking  for  three  years.  Mr. 
Hasbrouck  then  became  cashier  of  the  Ogdensburg  and  Lake  Champlain  Railroad  and 
Ogdensburg  Transit  Company,  and  in  1891  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  wholesale  grocery  concern.  Levi  Hasbrouck's  grandfather,  Louis  Hasbrouck, 
was  the  first  county  clerk  of  this  county,  president  of  the  village  of  Ogdensburg,  a 
member  of  the  State  senate,  postmaster,  etc.,  and  his  father  was  an  eminent  lawyer. 
The  Hasbrouck  family  originally  came  from  Hasbrouck,  France,  in  1675,  and  settled  in 
Ulster  county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Hasbrouck  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Episcopal 
church,  is  a  member  of  the  Ogdensburg  Club,  and  is  both  socially  and  financially  rated 
among  Ogdensburg's  most  popular  and  solid  citizens. 

Hodgkin,  Jay  F.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  December  5,  1845,  a  son  of  Phineas  and 
Esther  A.  Hodgkin  of  the  town  of  Fowler.  In  1877  they  moved  to  Spragueville  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cheese,  and  still  own  the  factory.  They  came  to  Gouv- 
erneur  in  1890,  where  they  have  since  resided,  dealing  in  dairy  products.  Our  subject 
married,  March  28,  1871,  Delia  A.,  daughter  of  Smith  Cleveland,  and  they  have  two 
children :  Nora  M.,  born  January  10,  1872 ;  and  Blanche  A.,  born  August  4,  1875. 
November  3,  1863,  Mr.  Hodgkin  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  18th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  May  11,  1866.  He  was  under  General  Banks  in  the  Red  River  ex- 
pedition, and  after  Lee's  surrender  was  in  the  service  in  Texas,  where  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Victoria.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  Rossie  for  eight  years. 
In  1894  he  was  re-elected  assessor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Banks 
Post  No.  156,  G.  A.  R..  and  is  a  Republican. 

Gore,  James,  Russell,  was  born  in  Canada,  June  20,  1844,  a  son  of  John,  who  was  a 
son  of  William  Gore,  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Gore,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1832  he  came  to 
Canada,  and  there  died.  John  Gore  was  b'^rn  in  Ireland,  where  he  married  Mary  Mar- 
tin, and  they  had  three  sons  and  six  daughters.  He  came  to  Canada  in  1832,  and  in 
1 -').■'  came  to  Canton.  About  1869  he  went  to  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
\i<'.  was  killed  by  an  engine,  March  18,  1870.  His  wife  lives  in  Canada.  James  Gore 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  Canada.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  harness-maker 
with  his  brother,  at  the  age  of  twenty- two,  and  in  1871  came  to  Russell  and  engaged 
in  tli.   manufacture  of  harness,  and  here  has  continued,  with  the  exception  of  two  years. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  327 

September  21,  1870,  he  married  Olive  J.,  daughter  of  George  L.  Ilosford,  and  tliey  have 
had  one  adopted  daughter,  Geitie  B.  Gore,  who  died  aged  eleven  years.  Mr.  Gore  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  town  clerk.  He  is  a  member 
of  Russell  Lodge  No.  566,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Grandy,  J.  L.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  10,  1829,  a  son  of  Samuel,  whose 
father,   Samuel,  sr.,  resided   in   Vermont  many  years.     He   had  seven   sons  and   four 
daughters,  and  came  to  Stockholm  in  his  later   days,  where  he   died.     Samuel,  jr.,  was 
born  in  Vermont  in  1786,  and  there  married  Phoebe  Brockway,  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  daughter  of  Mar:in  Brockway,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grandy  were  born  thirteen  children.     Mr.   Grandy   came   to  Stockholm  in   1841,  and 
three  years  later  to  Russell,  where  he  died  in  1858  and  his  wife  in   1863.     J.  L.  Grandy 
came  to  Stockholm  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  and  to   Russell   at  the  age   of  thirteen. 
He  has  always  followed  agriculture,  and   manufactured  lumber   two  years.     He  owns 
360  acres  of  land.     April  17,  1849,  he  married  Arvilla  M.   Gibbs,    a  native  of  Russell, 
born  April  17,  1828,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Gibbs  of  Vermont.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grandy 
have  had  eight  children:  Eliza  A.,  who  married  first,  Charles  W.    Alverson,   by  whom 
she  had  two  children,  Emma  L.  and  J.  Wesley.     Mr.  Alverson  died  September  2,  1882, 
and  she  married  second,  G.  H.  Knox  of  Hermon  ;  Nettie  M.,  wife  of  Abel  Andrews 
by  whom  she  has  had  four  children  living  and  one  deceased,   Minnie,  Leon,   Gertrude 
Grace  and  Floyd.     They  live  in  Pitcairn  ;   Charles  L.,  married  Nettie  Manchester  of  Pit- 
cairn,  and  has  one  child,  Floyd ;  John  B.,  married  Luna  Berth  ;  Jay   C,  married   Chloe 
Northrup  of  Russell,  and  has  two  children,  Gertrude  M.  and  Lelon  E. ;  Frank,  married 
Jennie  E.  Hall  of  Gouverneur,  and  has  one  child,  Florence;  Clara  D.,  married  William 
W.  Rose  of  Kansas  City,  and  has  three  children;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Addison  G.  Hall, 
and  has  two  children,  Lynn  and  Annis.     Mr.   Grandy   is  a  Republican,   and  has  been 
highway  commissioner  of  the  town. 

Eaton,  J.  B.,  Gouverneur,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  September  1, 1823,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  millwright,  which  he  has  followed  up  to  the  last  three  years,  during  which 
he  has  been  engaged  m  the  grocery  business.  He  married  Elizabeth  Smith  in  1848, 
and  their  children  are :  George  and  Wilfred.  His  present  and  second  wife  is  Adelia 
Van  Duke,  whom  he  married  in  1884.     She  is  of  Mohawk  Dutch  descent. 

Stearns,  Melvin  J.,  M.  D.,  Massena,  was  born  in  town  of  Massena,  October  5,  1843  ; 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  attended  the  school  at  Massena  Center,  which  was  one  of  the 
best  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  In  the  autumn  of  1860  he  attended  Potsdam  Academy, 
and  the  following  winter  taught  the  school  in  what  is  known  as  the  Carton  school  dis- 
trict in  Massena.  During  the  winter  of  1861-2  and  spring  of  1862  he  attended  the 
academy  at  Lawrenceville.  Returnino-  to  his  home  from  school  in  the  summer  of  1862 
and  feeling  that  the  government  needed  his  service,  he  was  the  first  man  to  enlist  in 
Co.  F,  106th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  July  24,  1862,  and  was  made  first  sergeant 
of  the  company,  afterwards  quartermaster  sergeant  of  the  regiment,  and  later  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant  of  his  old  company,  which  he  commanded  in  the  closing  cam- 
paign of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  which  terminated  at  Appomattox.  He  with  his 
regiment  participated  in  many  of  the  important  battles  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  and 


328  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

was  severely  woauiled  at  Monocacy,  Md.,  July  9,  1864.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  mustered  out  of  the  army  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Massena.  September  2.3, 
1865  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  L.  Staphn  of  Gouverneur.  and  resided 
in  Massena  until  1871  when  he  with  his  family  went  to  Iowa.  In  1878  he  entered 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  and  graduated  in  1880,  and  graduated  near 
the  head  of  a  class  of  eighty-seven.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Atlantic,  la., 
but  returned  to  Massena  and  began  practice  early  in  the  year  1882,  since  which  time  he 
has  had  a  successful  practice.  He  has  always  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  been  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Massena  Union  Free  school.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church. 

Stone,  John  G.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville  on  the  farm  he  owns,  June  18,  1847. 
He  is  the  second  of  a  family  of  three  children  born  to  I.  G.  and  Ann  (Powers)  Stone. 
John  G.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  aud  has  always 
followed  farming.  He  owns  104  acres,  the  original  purchase  of  his  grandfather,  to 
which  he  has  added  thirty-one  acres.  He  keeps  seventeen  cows,  five  yearlings,  eight 
honses  and  ihirty  sheep.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  assessor  one  term.  He  is  a 
member  of  Louisville  Grange  No.  732.  and  also  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  of  Ogdensburg,  No. 
375.  He  and  family  attend  and  support  the  Methodist  church.  Mr.  Stone  married  in 
1872,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Patrick  Matthews  of  Louisville,  and  they  have  had  four 
sons:  Willie  J.,  at  home;  George  M.,  a  student  at  Potsdam  Normal  School;  Fred  C 
and  Ray  B.,  both  at  home. 

Scarborough,  James  M.,    Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  March  25,  1826,  a  son  of 
Michael  (born  January  6,  1785),  a  native  of  Canada.     Michael  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Massena,  coming  previous  to  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  he  served  and  for  which 
service  his  wife  drew  a  pension.     He  first  settled  where  Mr.  Andrews  now  lives,  but 
later  moved  west  of  Massena  village  on  to  400  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared.     It 
was  upon  this  farm  that  his  wife  (Maria  Robinson)  and  child,  a  daughter,  were  mur- 
dered by  a  Frenchman  named  Gerteau,  on  February  22,  181 G,  for  money,  of  vshich  he 
obtained  only  twelve  dollars.     He  also  murdered  his  nephew  who  was  working  for 
Mr.  Scarborough.     The  latter  was  left  with  one  daughter  three  years  old,  who  grew  to 
womanhood  and  married  Wm.  Monroe,  of  Canada,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons  and 
one  daughter.     The  sons  are  now  living,  one,  Watson,  a  farmer  on  the  homestead,  and 
William,  a  physician  at  Newington,  Canada.     Mr.  Scarborough  married  second  Mary 
A.  Marsh  (born  May  29,  1794)   in  Cornwall,  Canada.     They   had   ten   children — three 
sons  and  .seven  daughters — all  living  except  the  youngest  son  and  two  of  the  daughters. 
Mr.  Scarborough  engaged  in  shipping  flour  to  foreign  countries,  and  failed  in  business, 
after  which  he  contracted  for  land,  a   part  of   which   is  now  owned  by  James  M.     He 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.     He  was  upright,  honest  and  kind  to 
his  family.     He  died  in  1878,  and  his  wife  in  1888.     James  M.  Scarborough  was  reared 
on  a  farm  until  eighteen  yeirs  of  age,  when  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  until  1863,  when  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  now  owns  507  acres  on  Long 
Saiit  Island,  and  thirty-four  where  he  now  resides.     He  keeps  in  all  seventy-five  cows. 
He  1    :i  Republican,  and  has  never  asked  for  office.     Mr.  Scarborough  has  been  twice 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  329 

married,  first,  March  25,  1864,  to  Inez  Hutchins,  a  native  of  Long  Saut  Island,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Hutchins.  She  bore  him  three  children,  two  living  :  Ella,  wife  of  Will  G. 
Clark  (has  one  child,  Edna  I.) ;  Susan  E.,  wife  of  Loren  Earl,  of  Long  Saut  (have  two 
children,  Rufus  and  Charlotte  L.)  Mrs.  Scarborough  died  May  11,  1874,  and  he  mar- 
ried, in  1876,  Alice,  daughter  of  Alfred  Edwards,  of  Brasher.  They  have  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  living  at  home,  Estella.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  subject  was  Abram 
Marsh,  a  native  of  Massachusetts ;  his  wife  was  Catherine  French  ;  they  had  eight  chil- 
dren.    They  lived  and  died  in  Cornwall,  Canada. 

Andrew,  Jacob,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Canada,  August  26, 1838,  a  son  of  John  Andrew 
of  Canada,  who  died  in  1870  at  the  age  of  seventv-one.  His  wife  was  Katie  Morsran, 
and  they  had  nine  children.  Mrs.  Andrew  died  in  1879.  Jacob  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  In  1856  he  came  to  Louisville,  where  he  has 
ever  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  place  of  200  acres,  and  keeping  a  dairy 
of  thirty-five  cows.  He  married  in  1860  Marion  Wright  of  Louisville,  daughter  of 
Asel  and  Wealthy  Clark,  early  settlers  of  the  town.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  have  had 
eleven  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  maturity :  Charles  J.,  Adalbert  A.,  Almeda  A., 
and  Nellie  A.  ^Ir.  Andrews  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  Massena  Grange  No. 
704.     His  wife  and  children  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 

Bayley,  J.  B.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Newbury,  Orange  county,  Vt.,  April  27,  1818, 
a  son  of  James  Bayley,  2d,  who  was  a  son  of  Colonel  Joshua,  a  son  of  General  Jacob 
Bayley,  who  was  in  the  French  and  Indian  Wars.  He  settled  in  Newbury,  Vt.,  where 
he  died  March  1,  1816.  Colonel  Joshua  was  born  in  1753  in  Newbury,  Vt.,  and  died 
in  1841.  He  had  eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  was  a  colonel  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  James  Bayley  was  born  in  the  same  town  June  10,  1784,  and  died  in  1859. 
His  wife  was  Sirena  Bigelow,  born  in  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters.  He  came  to  Massena  in  1838  and  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  died.  Our 
subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  came  to  Massena  at  the  age  of  twenty 
and  has  resided  on  a  farm  most  of  his  life.  He  came  to  the  village  in  1869,  where 
he  has  since  lived  retired.  He  has  200  acres  of  land  and  village  property,  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  has  been  a  successful  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  Maley,  a  native  of  Massena,  who  married  Philena  Perkins,  the  latter 
surviving  him,  aged  ninety-two  years.  Mrs.  Bayley  died  in  1876  and  he  married  sec- 
ond, Eliza,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann  (Shirkley)  Dixon  of  Canada.  They  have  had 
two  children,  Maude  and  James  G.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Bayley  was  born  July  27,  1799, 
and  died  July  13,  1879.     Mrs.  Dixon  was  born  in  May,  1819,  and  died  in  ^859. 

Benson,  0.  P.,  Massena,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Massena,  December  28,  1842,  a  son 
of  Samuel,  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  December  12,  1815,  who  came  to  Massena  in 
1840,  and  cleared  a  home.  He  was  left  without  a  father  at  nine  years  of  age,  but  be- 
ing energetic,  became  possessed  of  a  comfortable  competency.  Another  gejieration 
back  were  Cyrus  and  Mary  (Mills)  Benson,  he  born  in  Vermont  August  22,  1786,  and 
she  in  Scotland  April  17,  1792,  the  former  dying  March  19,  1843,  and  the  latter  Octo- 
ber 1,  1860.  Samuel  Benson,  father  of  our  subject,  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
died  August  16,   1865,  and  he  married  second,   Abigail  Riley  of  Bombay,  Franklin 


pp 


330  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

county  bom  May  6,  1829,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Una,  and  two  who  died 
youno-.  He  died  December  10,  1883.  O.  P.  Benson  remained  on  the  farm  till  the  age 
of  eighteen,  and  October  1,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  97th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  etc.,  and  Octo- 
ber 27  186^,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  second  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  and  confined  in 
Pemberton,  Salisbury  and  Libby  prisons.  He  was  released  in  February,  1865.  At  the 
time  of  his  capture  he  was  sergeant  major,  and  on  his  return  he  was  made  first  lieuten- 
ant. He  was  honorably  discharged  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  in  November  of  that 
year  he  married  Susan  C,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Carter)  Prunner  of  Vir- 
o-inia,  by  whom  he  has  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ben- 
son engaged  in  farming  in  Virginia  till  1881,  when  he  sold  and  bought  the  old  home- 
stead in  Massena,  where  he  lived  until  1894,  when  he  rented  the  farm  for  three  years 
and  removed  to  a  home  close  by.  He  now  owns  180  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy 
of  sixtj'^-two  cows.  He  built  the  first  silo  in  the  town,  and  made  it  a  success.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  of  Massena. 

Crooks,  H.  F.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Malone,  Franklin  county,  September  5,  1824,  a 
son  of  John,  a  native  of  Brandon,  Vt.,  born  in  1777,  whose  father,  John  Crooks,  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1737,  and  came  to  America  and  married  Lydia  Holbrook,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, by  whom  he  had  six  children,  of  whom  John   came  to  Malone  in  1810,  his 
parents  coming  with  him.     (They  died  in  1825  and  1840  respectively).     John  married 
first  Elizabeth  Lull,  born  in  Brandon,  Vt,  in  1787,   a  daughter  of  John  and  Deborah 
Lull.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crooks  had  eight  sons  and   two  daughters.     He  died  in  1864,  his 
wife  having  died  in  1846.     H.  F.  Crook  was  educated  at  Malone  Academy,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  learned  the  miller's  trade,  which  he  has  always  followed.     He  assisted 
in  the  building  of  the  first  factory  at  Bicknellville.     He  resided  in  various  places  until 
1852,  when  he  came  to  Massena  Springs  and  bought  thirty-nine  acres  of  land,  where  he 
now  lives.     He  owns  260  acres  in  Norfolk  and  keeps  thirty  cows.     He  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  and  family  are  Episcopalians.     He  married,  February  26,  1852,  Mary  Reed,  of 
Massena,   born  February  27,   1825,    a  daughter  of  Stephen  E.   Reed,   whose  father, 
Stephen,  was  a  native  of  New  York  city,  born  in  1762,  and  came  to  Massena  in  1801. 
Stephen  E.  was  born  in  Essex,  Vt.,  in  1797,  and  at  the  age  of  four  years  came  to  Mas- 
sena with  his  parents,  where  he  spent  his  life  on  a  farm,  and  died  in  1871.     His  wife 
was  Ilulda  Clalflin,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Mary,  as  above  ;   Alma,  wife  of  J. 
E.  Clary  ;  and  Stephen  W.,  who  married  Agnes  Ellis.     Our  subject  and  wife  have  had 
two  children  :  Ella  F.,  born  November  24,  1855,  who  married  Newton  W.  Lawrence, 
of  Bangor,  Franklin  county,  March  10,  1880,  and  has  one  child,  Mary  R. ;  and  Cora  A., 
who  was  born  July  27,  1864,  and  married,  November  19,  1889,  Eugene  Sullivan,  an  en- 
gineer on  the  R.  W.  &  0.  R.  R.,  and  they  have  two  children :  Harry  R.,  born  October 
28,  1890 ;  and  Thomas  T..  born  September  14,  1892.     Mrs.  Crooks  died  April  30,  1888, 
near  Gainesville,  Florida,  where  she  is  buried. 

Chase,  H.  Benjamin,  Massena,  a  young  and  enterprising  lawyer  of  Massena,  was  born 
November  22,  1867,  a  son  of  Clark  E.  Chase,  whose  father,  Hiram,  came  from  Ver- 
mont to  Massena  when  the  country  was  new.  His  wife  was  Lydia  Spaulding,  also  of 
Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  now  living  except  Clark  E., 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  331 

father  of  our  subject,  whose  death  occurred  May  15,  1884.  Clark  E.  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  educated  at  the  Fort  Covington  Academy,  and  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel Brewer,  of  Massena,  who  came  from  Massachusetts  and  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers.  Miss  Brewer  was  educated  at  the  Fort  Covington  Academy  and  the  Potsdam 
Academy,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  in  teaching,  as  was  also  Mr.  Chase, 
though  his  principal  occupation  was  farming.  He  was  also  engaged  in  surveying  at 
Massena  and  the  surrounding  towns,  and  practiced  Jaw  in  the  justice's  court.  He 
and  wife  had  one  daughter  and  six  sons:  Eliza,  Nathaniel,  Giles,  Charles,  Alonzo,  Clark 
and  H.  E.,  all  now  living  except  Clark.  Mr.  Chase  was  a  Republican  and  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  fifteen  years.  He  was  also  highway  commissioner.  Mrs.  Chase 
is  still  living  on  the  homestead  farm.  H.  B.  Chase  graduated  from  the  Massena 
Union  School  in  1889,  taught  school  a  portion  of  the  year  for  three  years,  and  began 
reading  for  the  law  in  1890,  having  been  eighteen  months  in  the  office  of  Hon.  J.  C. 
Keeler,  of  Canton.  He  then  went  to  the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  in  the  spring 
of  1892,  upon  which  he  went  into  the  ofBce  of  Hon.  John  I  Gilbert,  of  Malone,  and  in 
February,  1893,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  On  the  r)th  of  April  following  he  opened  his 
office  at  Massena,  where  he  is  now  located  in  the  bank  building.  He  is  attorney  and 
general  counsellor  and  will  give  prompt  attention  to  all  business  or  cases  brought  to 
him.  In  politics  he  is  Democratic,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Court  Massena  No.  623,  I. 
0.  F. 

Carton,  Z.  B.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  December  8, 1856,  a  son  of  Luke,  born 
in  Massena,  September  10,  1823,  whose  father  was  James  Carton,  born  in  County  Wex- 
ford, Ireland,  in  1787,  who  came  to  America  in  181'!  and  settled  in  Massena.  After  a 
short  time  he  took  a  farm,  which  he  cleared,  and  before  his  death  owned  220  acres, 
which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He  died  May  17,  1874.  Luke,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  teacher  and  a  county  school  commissioner  of  long  standing.  The 
latter  part  of  his  life  he  spent  on  the  homestead  farm.  January  1,  1840,  he  married 
Marcia  E.,  daughter  of  Caleb  Russell,  of  Massena,  and  of  their  eight  children  six  sur- 
vive. He  was  a  Republican  and  served  as  assessor  and  supervisor  a  number  of  years. 
He  died  October  16,  1893.  Z.  B.  Carton  was  educated  in  the  Union  School  at  this 
place,  also  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  con- 
tinuing six  years.  He  then  bought  the  St.  Lawrence  Creamery  and  Cheese  Factory, 
where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  successful  business.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member 
of  Massena  Lodge  No.  513,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  the  Court  of  Massena  No.  G23,  I.  0.  F.,  of 
which  he  is  chief  ranger.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grange. 

Crinklaw,  Jerome,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  November  24,  1850,  a  son  of 
James,  son  of  Robert,  a  native  of  England,  born  in  1790,  whose  wife  was  Frances 
Young,  also  born  in  England,  in  1792.  Robert  came  to  Essex  county,  and  to  Lawrence 
in  1838,  settling  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  where  he  died  in  1873,  and 
his  wife  in  1857.  James  was  born  February  28,  1814,  and  married,  April  28,  1839, 
Electa  Williams,  born  July  4,  1818,  in  Onondaga  county,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Phoebe  (Tappan)  Williams,  the  latter  a  cousin  of  Judge  Tappan  of  Potsdam.  James 
Crinklaw  and  wife  had  two  sons  and  seven  daughters.  He  died  September  21,  1892. 
Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Lawrenceville  Academy.     He 


332  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

owns  300  acres  of  land,  keeping  a  dairy  of  thirty-four  cows  and  young  stock.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  Deer  River  Grange  No.  702  of  Lawrenceville. 
December  10  1881,  he  married  Christy,  daughter  of  Stillman  Griffin  of  Moira,  whose 
father  was  an  early  settler  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crinklaw  have  three 
children  :  Edith,  born  May  11,  1883  ;  James,  born  May  26,  1888 ;  and  Horace,  born  No- 
vember 15,  1890. 

Drake,  Loren  M.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Moira,  Franklin  county,  October  8,  1846,  a 
son  of  J.  A.  Drake,  born  in  Grafton,  N.  H.,  in  1814,  whose  father  was  Daniel  Drake  of 
Grafton,  who  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  In  1817  he  came  to  Franklin  county, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm  and  built  a  log  cabin.  J.  A.  Drake  began  business  for  him- 
self at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  He  bought  130  acres  of  land  in  Moira,  which  he 
sold  and  bought  again.  Again  he  sold,  then  bought  the  farm  of  156  acres  where  he 
now  lives  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  The  farm  is  now  carried  on  by  his  son,  Reuben. 
Mr.  Drake  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Caroline  Moody  by  whom  he  had  six  sons 
and  four  daughters.  He  married  second,  Caroline  Lavery.  L.  M.  Drake,  our  subject, 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  select  schools  of  Moira,  and  has  always  been  a  farmer. 
He  first  invested  in  a  farm  with  his  brother,  which  they  worked  together  nine  years, 
then  sold.  Loren  then  came  to  Lawrence,  buying  the  farm  of  208  acres,  which  he  now 
owns.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  dairying,  keeping  about  thirty  cows,  and 
also  has  a  sugar  bush  of  about  500  trees.  Mr.  Drake  married,  in  1867,  Lucina,  daugh- 
ter of  Milton  and  Lois  (Washburn)  Watson,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Franklin 
county  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake  have  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters  : 
Arthur  G.,  Almon  P.,  Milton  M.,  Clara  C,  Alice  M.,  Lois  D.  and  Julie  E. 

Day,  Luther  B.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Underbill,  Vt.,  November  11,  1842,  a  son  of 
Noah  Day,  whose  father  was  Edward  Day  of  Jericho,  Vt.     The  wife  of  Edward  was 
Susan  Ransom,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen  children.     Noah  was  born  in  Jericho,  Vt.,  in 
1804,  and  married  Alvira  Castle  of  Essex,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.     He 
died  in  Vermont  in  1890,  and  his  wife  in  1878.     Our  subject  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Lawrence.     When  a  young  man  he  went  to  Muskegan,  Mich.,  where 
he  engaged  in  lumbering.     He  also  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  at  work  for 
some  time  in  the  oil  regions.     His  home,  however,  has  been   in   Lawrence.     He  is  a 
Republican,  and  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge  No.  577,   F.   &  A.  M.,  and  of  Deer  River 
Chapter  No.    197,   R.  A.  M.     He  married  first,  November  14,  1870,  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Harris,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Clinton  and  Clayton,  twins,  the 
latter  dying  in  infancy.     Mrs.  Day  died  February  8,  1885,  and  January  6,  1894,  he 
married  Mary  G.,  sister  of  his  first  wife.     November  2,   1861,  Mr.  Day    enlisted    in 
the  92d  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  after  one  year's  service  was  discharged    on    account 
of  disability.     Daniel  Harris,  father  of  Mrs.  Day,  was  born  in  Middlesex,  Vt.,    July 
30,  1806,  a  son  of  Samuel,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  came  to  Lawrence  in  1807 
and  built  the  Hrst  frame  house  in  the  town.     Daniel  married  Christiana  Long.     He 
di.-(i  November  24,   1893,  and  his  wife  October  15,  1890.     Mr.  Day  owns  197  acres 
an<l  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty  cows.     He  also  owns  160  acres  in  Kansas. 

Donaghue,  A.  F.,  Massena,  a  native  of  Windsor,    \'t.,  born  September  27,  1826,  a 
son  of  William  Donaghue,  born  at  Windsor,  February  1,  1786.     The  grandfather  of 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  333 

A.  F.  Donaghue  came  from  Ireland  to  Abington,  Mass..  where  he  married  Mary 
Nash,  and  they  had  nine  children.  In  1787  he  -went  to  Vermont,  where  he  died 
in  1839,  and  his  wife  in  1825.  William  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  for  a  time  taught 
school,  as  did  all  his  sisters  but  one.  Mr.  Donoghue  was  eleven  years  deputy  sheriff 
at  Windsor,  Vt.  He  married  Sophia  Orvise,  born  February  7,  1780,  daughter  of 
David  Orvise,  of  Vermont  and  they  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  died  in 
1874,  and  his  wife  in  1879.  A.  F.  Donaghue  received  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  worked  for  a  time  in  a  meat  market  in  Boston.  In  1853  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Massena,  which  he  soon  sold  and  bought  another  one,  which  he  still  owns.  He 
keeps  about  fifteen  cows  and  thirty-five  sheep,  and  also  raises  thorough-bred  Chester 
White  swine,  besides  having  a  large  sugar  bush.  March  23,  1853,  he  married  Laura 
daughter  of  Ephraim  Hyde,  and  they  have  four  daughters  and  one  son  :  Isabel  gradu- 
ated from  the  Normal  School  of  Potsdam,  and  taught  for  a  time.  She  is  the  wife  of 
Orange  Dodge  of  Ogdensburg  Academy  ;  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Guy  Russell,  a  teacher 
of  music;  Dora  was  a  graduate  of  Ogdensburg  Academy,  and  a  teacher.  She  died 
March  16,  1892,  aged  twenty-seven  years:  Helen  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Clark,  a  civil 
engineer  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of  the  N.  P.  R.  R. ;  David  was  educated  at  Mas- 
sena and  Potsdam,  and  has  taught  several  terms  of  school.  Mr.  Donaghue  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  a  member  of  Massena  Grange  No.  704. 

Denison,  R.  H.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  Ma)-  15,  1850,  a  son  of  E.  M.  Deni- 
son,  a  native  of  Lewis  county,  born  28,  1807.  The  grandparents  were  Nathan  and 
Betsey  (Frazer)  Denison,  the  former  born  in  Stonington,  Conn.,  February  8,  1766,  and 
the  latter  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  parents  of  Nathan  were  Ehsha  and  Katurah 
(Minor)  Denison.  Nathan  had  one  child,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  came  to  Mas- 
sena with  his  parents  about  1814,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  for  thirty 
years  on  the  River  St.  Lawrence.  About  twenty-two  years  ago  he  gave  over  the  full 
control  of  the  farm  to  his  son,  R.  H..  who  took  care  of  his  parents.  Mrs.  Denison  died 
August  14,  1888,  but  Mr.  Denison  survives.  R.  H.  Denison  has  spent  most  of  his  life 
on  the  homestead  farm,  which  he  devotes  to  general  produce,  dairying,  etc.,  having 
also  a  sugar  bush  of  about  1,400  trees.  He  is  a  breeder  of  Percheron  horses.  Febru- 
ary 3,  1872,  he  married  Emma  Howard,  born  August  9,  1854,  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Delia  (Harris)  Howard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  have  had  two  sons  and  a 
daughter.  George  Howard  was  a  railroad  contractor.  He  was  a  member  of  Co.  H, 
11th  Illinois  Cavalry,  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  received  several  wounds.  He 
was  also  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Tennessee.  The 
mother  resides  in  Massena  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

Douglass,  Henry  A.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Louisville,  January  22,  1825,  a  son  of 
Lucas  L.,  born  in  1793,  whose  father  was  born  in  Scotland.  Lucas  L.  came  to  Louis- 
ville, settling  on  a  farm  in  w'hat  was  then  known  as  Douglass  Bay,  and  in  1826  he 
came  to  the  farm  owned  by  our  subject,  where  he  died  in  1837.  He  married  Clara 
Reed  of  Essex,  Vt.,  and  of  the  children  of  this  union  five  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Doug- 
lass died  December  25,  1872.  Henry  A.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  owning  at  present  fifty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  highway  commissioner. 
February  9,  1853,  he  married  Carohne  Joy,  a  native  of  Colchester,  Vt.,  born  February 


334  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

-i  1831  and  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Susan  (Russell)  Joy.  They  have  had  these  chil- 
dren: Fred  L.  born  October  29,  1854,  died  in  1859  ;  Luke,  born  March  19,  1857,  is  em- 
ployed in  a  wholesale  store  in  Buffalo;  G-eorge  H.,  was  born  May  2, 1859,  was  educated 
in  the  Union  Free  School  at  Massena,  and  resides  with  his  parents  on  the  farm.  He  is 
a  member  of  Massena  Grange  No.  704.  Mr.  Douglass  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church 

Dewey,  Willard  E.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Potsdam,  September  6,  1860,  a  son  of 
James  Dewey,  son  of  Eli  Dewey,  born  in  Connecticut  in  1796,  who  came  to  Canton 
with  his  parents  in  1800,  they  being  Chester  and  Annie  (Parish)  Dewey,  natives  of 
Connecticut,  Mr.  Dewey's  father  having  been  a  native  of  England,  and  the  first  of  the 
family  to  come  to  America.  Chester  and  family  settled  in  Potsdam,  being  the  fifth 
family  in  the  town.  He  was  pressed  injo  the  army  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  met  his 
death  from  exposure  in  the  service.  He  and  wife  had  six  children.  He  died  in  1813. 
Eli  Dewey  married  Maranda  Champion,  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Potsdam  and  taught 
school.  She  was  married  in  Potsdam  and  was  the  mother  of  one  son,  the  father  of  our 
subject.  Eli  died  in  1834,  and  his  widow  married  for  her  second  husband  Lucius 
Dewey,  no  relation  of  Eli,  and  they  had  one  daughter.  Mrs.  Dewey  died  in  1872. 
James  Dewey  was  born  in  Potsdam,  March  29,  1828,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and,  except  for  three  years  as  cheesemaker,  has  since  fol- 
lowed agriculture.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  first  cheese  factory  in  the  county.  He 
lived  in  Postdam  until  1865,  then  came  to  Massena  and  lived  on  Barnhart  Island  three 
years,  and  then  moved  to  the  Phelps  farm,  and  in  1882  bought  back  the  Earl  farm  of 
268  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  highway 
commissioner  and  assessor.  In  1850  he  married  Sarah  Abbott,  of  Potsdam,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Davis)  Abbott,  of  Potsdam,  and  they  had  five  children  :  Louisa  L., 
born  October  16,  1851,  who  married  Alfred  Bangle;  Edna  L.,  born  September  2,  1853, 
married  John  H.  Bacon,  of  Massena,  and  died  January  29,  1890;  Willard  E.,  who  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  is  in  partnership  with  his  father.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  Massena  Grange.  December  22,  1877,  he  married  Mary  E.  Harris,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children  :  Elmer,  Arthur  and  Frank.  Mrs.  Dewey  died  November 
20,  1892,  and  he  married  second,  January  24,  1894,  Annie  Elger,  of  Massena,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Cordelia  Elger.  The  fourth  child  of  Mr.  Dewey  was  Albert  J.,  born 
January  2,  1863,  who  was  an  electrician,  and  married  Louisa  Wise,  of  Boston,  where 
she  now  lives.  He  died  in  1889.  The  fifth  child  was  Robert  C,  born  November  25, 
1868.     He  is  a  clerk  for  J.  L.  Hyde,  of  Massena. 

Davis,  Truman,  Fowler,  was  born  in  Canajoharie,  October  21,  1835.  His  first  busi- 
ness experience  was  acquired  as  a  clerk.  At  nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  into  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  Brier  Hill,  and  remained  there  twenty  years.  He  then  went  to 
Ilarri.sville,  where  he  lived  thirteen  years.  He  came  to  Little  York  in  1879.  He  does 
an  fextt;n«iv(-  business  in  condition  powders  for  horses  and  cattle,  and  takes  much  inter- 
est in  tiioiough  bred  trotters,  owning  some  himself.  He  was  supervisor  of  Diana, 
in  Lewis  county,  in  1869,  and  in  1870  was  nominated  for  sherifl'  of  tiie  county,  and 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  F-nvier  until  he  refused  the  office.  He  was  post- 
ma-ster  at  Harrisville  for  a  term  of  years.     In  1856  Mr.  Davis  married  Maria  Van  Evra, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  335 

and  their  children  are  Mrs.  R.  E.  Webb,  Roscoe.  and  G.  C.  Davis,  the  postmaster  at 
Little  York.  This  gentleman  is  also  largely  interested  in  talc  mining.  Mr.  Davis's 
father  was  A.  S.  Davis,  who  was  born  in  1803,  and  died  in  187"). 

Ellithorpe,  Paschal  B.,  Lawrence,  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  Lawrence,  August 
27,  1841,  a  son  of  Danforth  Ellithorpe,  born  in  Vermont,  November  17,  1797,  who  mar- 
ried Paulina  Phelps,  born  in  Orwell,  April  10,  1797,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  only  two  sons  now  living.  Mr.  Ellithorpe  and  family  came  to  Nichol- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  about  1820,  and  here  they  died,  the  father  November  14,  1877,  and  the 
mother  May  23,  1867.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  pub'ic  schools  and  Potsdam 
Academy.  He  remained  on  the  homestead  until  the  death  of  his  mother,  then  clerked 
in  the  Union  store  at  Nioholville  four  years,  after  which  he  and  his  brother  built  the 
store  owned  by  Mr.  Smith,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  five  years,  residing 
in  the  village  until  1886,  when  he  removed  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  lives. 
He  owns  160  acres  of  land  here,  besides  seventy-five  acres  in  Dickinson,  also  village 
property.  Mr.  Ellithorpe  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  assessor  two  terms,  being 
now  on  his  third  term.  He  is  a  member  of  P.  of  H.,  No.  702,  of  Lawrenceville  and 
November  11,  1873,  he  married  Ella,  daughter  of  George  Falkner,  of  Parishville,  and 
they  have  had  these  children  :  Thurman,  born  July  19,  1875,  who  is  a  conductor  on  an 
electric  car  in  Brooklyn;  George  W.  F.,  born  April  2,  1877;  P.  B.,  jr.,  born  August 
17,  1879;  W.  Henry,  born  January  11,  1882  ;  Celestia  A.,  born  June  15,  1884;  Howard 
P.,  born  March  13,  1886. 

Fish,  H.  R.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  July  23,  1853,  a  son  of  Hiram  Fish,  born 
in  Ira,   Rutland  county,  Yt.,  September  3,  1805.     The  grandparents  of  our  subject 
Preserved  and  Abigail  Fish,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts,  and  Mr.  Fish  was  one  of 
the  first  men   in  prominence  in  the  county,  being  magistrate  and  selectman  twenty  one 
years,  and  member  of  assembly  seventeen  years.     Of  their  twelve  children  Hiram  was 
the  eighth  child.     He  engaged  in  various  pursuits,  and  finally  settled  on  a  farm.     He 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Farmers'  National  Bank  at  Malone,  of  which  he 
■was  one  of  the  principal  stockholders.     He  was  an  active  church  worker  and   contri- 
butor.    He  married  first,  in  1827,  Maria  Newtown,  who  died  in  1831 ;  and  second, 
Minerva  Chapman,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,   the  only  survivor  being  Marcus, 
who  died  in  1876.     His  third  wife  was  Martha,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Betsey  (Brad- 
ley) Rice,  of  Franklin  county,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  George  P.,  of  Iowa; 
Narina  B.,  wife  of  Dr.  Dodge,  of  Massena ;  Jessie  M.,  wife  of  James  Rankin,  of  Mas- 
sena; and  Hiram  R.     Mr.  Fish  died  in  March  25,  1891,  and  his  wife  in  September, 
1880.     H.  R.  Fish  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  eilucated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
with  the  exception  of  a  year  in  Iowa  has  worked  on   the  homestead  farm   all  his  life, 
and  this  farm  he  bought  of  his  father  about  1882.     He  carries  on  general  farming  and 
dairying,  the  farm  comprising  about  204  acres.     June  23,  1881,  he  married  Bertha  L., 
daughter  of  D.  T.  and  Sarah  (Hyde)  Beebe,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter,  Josephine 
C,  born  August  26,  1883.     Mr.  Fish  is  a  Republican  and  member  of  Massena  Grange, 
No.  704.     They  are  Baptists. 


336  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY.      - 

Fortune  W.  E.,  M.D.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Nicholville,  October  25,  1856,  a  son  of 
Carr  Fortune,  born  in  Scotland,  July  16,  1820.  Archibald  Fortune,  grandfather  of  the 
doctor  came  to  America  in  early  life,  bringing  a  family  of  eight  sons,  another  having 
been  born  in  this  country.  Mr.  Fortune  first  settled  in  Essex  county,  removing  in  1841 
to  Lawrence,  where  he  died  in  1856.  Carr,  when  a  young  man,  went  to  Canada  and 
learned  the  tanner's  trade,  coming  to  Lawrence  in  1841,  where  he  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness in  Nicholville.  He  died  August  19,  1881.  He  married  Huldah,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Olin  of  Lawrenceville,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  two 
sons  surviving.  Mrs.  Fortune  survives  her  husband  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  W. 
E.  Fortune  was  for  a  short  time  with  his  father  in  the  tannery.  He  attended  Potsdam 
Normal  School,  taught  school,  and  in  1881  graduated  from  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  has  since  practiced  with  marked  success  at  Nicholville  and  locality.  In  1882 
he  married  Martha  Traver,  daughter  of  Alexander  Traver,  of  Adirondack,  and  they  had 
one  son,  Carr.  The  family  are  Democrats,  and  the  father  was  for  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge  No.  577,  F.  &  A.  ^I.,  and  is  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason. 

Fisk,  Charles  A.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Malone,  January  16, 1849,  a  son  of  Nathaniel 
and  Sarah  A.  (Blachley)  Fisk,  who  had  these  children  :  Darius  N.,  born  December  19, 
1833;  Almina  S.,  born  October  19,  1835;  Jane  A.,  born  October  27,  1837;  Edward  B., 
born  April  29,  1840;  Lucy  J.,  born  November  15,  1842;  Marion  M.,  born  May  14-, 
1845  ;  Herbert  A.,  born  December  10,  1847;  Charles  A.,  born  January  16,  1849;  Jeda 
C,  born  May  12,  1854;  and  Emma,  born  April  15,  1857.  Mr.  Fisk  came  to  Malone  in 
an  early  day,  where  he  died  in  1862.  He  was  a  tinner  by  trade,  which  business  he 
followed  many  years.  Mrs.  Fisk  died  in  1893,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  Charles  A. 
Fisk  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Malone,  and  was  educated  in  the  academj'  at  Malone. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Nicholville  and  bought  out  Benjamin  F.  Kellogg,  and 
has  since  carried  on  a  very  successful  business.  He  is  a  manufacturer  of  tin  and  cop- 
per goods  of  all  kinds,  and  also  a  dealer  in  gla«swaie,  stoves  and  hardware,  occupying  a 
three  story  building.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  Elk  Lodge  No.  577,  F.  & 
A.  M.  September  1,  1874,  he  married  Celestia  M.  Bay,  daughter  of  Russell  Day,  of 
Nicholville,  and  they  have  two  children,  Blanche  and  Ella. 

Hamlin,  D.  A.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Lawrence,  August  1 1,  1838,  a  son  of  Leonard, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  born  January  13,  1807,  whose  father  was  Joseph  Hamlin.  Leon- 
ard came  to  Lawrence  in  the  early  days  and  cleared  him  a  home.  His  wife  was  Mary 
Hrifrgs,  of  Vermont,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The}'  spent  their 
last  ihiys  with  their  son  D.  A.,  who  in  1867  took  charge  of  h's  father's  farm,  and  cared 
for  his  parents  until  their  death,  the  mother  July  16,  1877,  and  the  father  January  20, 
Vbout  1878  Mr.  Hamlin  sold  the  homestead  and  bought  128  acres  where  he  now 

'  '  '  wliifli  he  has  added  seventy-two  acres.  He  follows  general  farming  and  dairy- 
11.;,'.  MiiMjii  27,  18G1,  he  married  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Levi  Lavery,  who  came  to  Law- 
r.Mi.f.  in  1R25,  and  died  November  30,  1883.  In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Hamlin  enlisted  in 
*  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  N.  Y.  Infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at 

'  of  the  war.     He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Martins! loro',  Vt.,  and  confined  in  Libby 

l-i.-M,  -vbout  «ix  vveek.s,  from  whence  he  was  taki-n  to  .\nnapolis,  where  he  was  set  free 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  337 

and  at  once  joined  the  regiment  at  Culpepper,  Va.  He  was  among  those  who  wit- 
nessed the  surrender  of  General  Lee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamlin  have  had  two  children : 
Sherman  R.,  born  July  19,  1866,  resides  in  Boston,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Lawrence- 
ville  Academy  ;  and  Cora,  born  April  25,  1868.  Mr.  Hamlin  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  Deer  River  Grange  No.  702.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Sanford  Post 
G.  A.  R. 

Hartwell,  J.  W.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  February  16,  1861,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  F.  (Smith)  Hartwell  The  father  of  Joseph  was  a  farmer  of  Vermont,  and 
the  parents  of  Sarah  F.  Smith  were  ^lartm  and  Polly  (Ramsey)  Smith,  who  came  to 
Massena  about  1815.  Mr.  Hartwell  was  in  the  cardins:  busmess  at  Bennincton  Vt  a 
short  time,  and  then  came  to  this  town,  going  into  partnership  with  H.  Reed  and  build- 
ing a  carding  mill,  which  they  conducted  for  many  years.  The  latter  part  of  his  life 
he  spent  in  farming.  He  died  in  1874,  leavmg  a  farm  of  330  acres.  J.  W.  Hartwell 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  Massena  Union  School  and  the  Potsdam 
Academy.  He  is  now  working  the  old  homestead,  carrying  on  general  farming,  with 
a  dairy  of  about  forty-five  cows.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Massena 
Grange  No.  704. 

Hawley,  George  ^V.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Calais,  Me.,  April  3,  1859,  a  son  of 
George  and  Carrie  (Hill)  Hawley,  the  latter  dating  her  lineage  back  to  one  of  the  pas- 
sengers of  the  Mayflower.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawley  had  four  children.  They  came  to 
Hamilton  county  in  1871,  and  later  to  St.  Regis  Falls,  where  they  now  reside.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  Hawley,  was  a  native  of  England,  who  settled  in  Nova 
Scotia,  where  he  died.  George  W.  Hawley  was  reared  in  Lawrence,  his  father  being 
a  contractor.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  came  to  Hamilton  county,  and  then  to  St. 
Lawrence  county,  St.  Regis  Falls.  In  1880  he  came  to  this  town  and  purchased  thirty 
acres,  to  which  he  has  added  140  acres,  making  170  in  all.  He  keeps  a  large  dairy,  a 
number  of  horses,  and  has  a  sugar  bush  of  800  trees.  In  1881  he  married  Sarah  M. 
Stewart,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Maria  (Howell)  Stewart, 
early  settlers  of  Canada,  where  the  father  died,  his  widow  residing  with  her  daugh- 
ter. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawley  have  had  four  children  :  Carrie  M.,  William  G.,  and  Jen- 
nie. He  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  St.  Lawrence  County  Lodge,  No.  619, 
I.'  0.  0.  F. 

Jones,  WiUiam  Henry  Harrison,  Louisville,  was  born  in  East  Bethel,  Vt.,  April  27, 
1816,  a  son  of  Wilham  Jones,  whose  father,  William,  was  born  in  England,  and  came 
to  New  Hampshire,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  His  son  William 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1782,  went  to  Vermont  when  a  young  man,  where  he 
married  Polly,  daughter  of  Daniel  Cole,  of  East  Bethel,  Vt.  They  had  eight  children. 
In  1822  he  and  family  came  to  Massena  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  died  at  Massena  Center  in  1844,  and  his  wife  in  1850. 
William  H.  H.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  while  in 
Massena  he  owned  several  farms,  havin"-  a  reputation  for  first-class  ability  in  his  chosen 
occupation.  In  1882  he  came  to  Louisville  and  bought  twenty  acres  of  fine  land,  on 
which,  in  1893,  he  raised  thirty-five  large  loads  of  bay  and  350  bushels  of  grain.     He 


338  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

has  been  interested  in  the  raising  of  horses,  and  although  seventy  eight  years  of  age,  he 
still  delights  in  breaking  colts.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Second  Advent  Church,  of  w^hich  he  has  been  deacon  eleven  years,  trustee,  etc., 
fifteen  years.  Mr.  Jones  married  first  in  1841,  Irene  Plumly,  daughter  of  Deacon 
Pluraly,  of  Potsdam.  She  died  February  29,  1844,  and  December  16,  1845,  he  married 
Cordelia  U.  Carpenter,  of  Moriah,  Essex  county,  born  November  22, 1821.  Her  parents 
were  Elisha  and  Salhe  Carpenter,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Essex  county  in  an 
early  day.  Mr.  Jones  and  wife  have  had  four  children:  Theodore,  who  married  Mary 
Eggleston,  and  lives  at  West  Potsdam;  Melros,  who  married  Florence  Eggleston,  and 
lives  in  West  Potsdam;  Mary,  who  died  aged  twenty-two  years;  and  Helen,  who 
married  J.  R.  Hawley,  and  lives  at  Albuquerque,  N.  M. 

Kingsley,  Wesley,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville  in  1853  (June  19),  a  son  of  Or- 
vis  Kingsley,  a  son  of  Elias,  who  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  October  31,  1762, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  His  wife  was  Abigail  Story,  born  January  7, 
1788,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  He  came  to  Louisville  in  1840  and  settled  on  the 
farm,  a  part  of  which  our  subject  now  owns.  He  died  August  13,  1840,  and  his  wife 
December  7,  1880.  Orvis  Kingsley  was  born  in  1816,  and  came  to  Louisville  at  the  age 
of  twenty-four,  where  he  married  Mary  Simpson,  a  native  of  Stowe,  Vt.,  born  in  1820 
(May  5).  Tliey  had  one  son,  our  subject.  Mr.  Kingsley  died  March  10,  1894,  his 
widow  surviving  him.  Wesley  Kingsley  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  ciercantile  business  at  Racket  River  one  year.  Hi£  principal  occupation 
has  been  farmmg  and  stock  dealing.  He  also  handles  agricultural  implements,  and 
represents  the  Worcester  Buckeye  Mower  and  the  Osborn  Binder,  etc.,  the  Deer  River 
Plow,  Curtis  Plow  and  Scotch  Plow.  Mr.  Kingsley  owns  210  acres,  and  keeps  a  dairy 
of  fifty  cows.  March  17, 1885,  he  married  Libbie,  daughter  of  Rufus  Heague,  of  Louis- 
ville, who  died  November  25,  1886.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican  m  politics.  He  has 
made  a  specialty  of  breeding  Elial  Gr.  and  Wilkes  strains  of  horses.' 

Kinney,  John  S.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  December  25,  1864,  a  son  of  John 
Kinney,  who  was  also  a  son  of  John,  a  native  of  Ireland.  John,  jr.,  was  born  October 
8,  1821,  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  Massena  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  where  he  died. 
In  1859  he  married  Miss  A.  A.  Kingston,  a  native  of  Brasher,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Avi  Kingston,  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Brasher  in  1831.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinney 
had  two  children :  M.  Jennie,  who  was  educated  in  the  Union  Free  School  and  Pots- 
dam Normal,  from  which  she  graduated  in  1885,  and  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Windom,  Minn.  Our  subject,  John  S.,  was  reared  and  educated  in  Massena,  and  at 
the  close  of  his  schooling  he  taught  one  term.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  owning 
124  acres,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
he  and  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Lord,  Alexander  H.,  Ogdensburg,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  September,  1838,  of  Eng- 
lish parents.  His  father,  Henry,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  British  army,  and  later  a  pro- 
fessor in  McGill  College  at  Montreal.  His  parents  died  when  he  was  but  nine  years 
old,  from  cholera,  witliin  a  week  of  each  other.  The  son,  thus  left  an  orphan  and 
destitute,  by  industry  and  energy  worked   his  way  up   and  obtained  a  good  education. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  339 

When  twenty-two  years  old  he  secured  the  position  of  engineer  upon  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  Ottawa  Railroad.  May  1,  1860,  he  married  Sarah  Tomlinson,  who,  with  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  survives  him.  In  1861  Mr.  Lord  was  employed  as  engineer 
upon  one  of  the  steamers  of  the  Northern  Transit  Company,  which  position  he  held  for 
seven  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  February  1,  1868,  he  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  the  city  waterworks,  then  just  completed.  He  held  this  position  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  discharging  the  duties  with  fidelity  and  ability  until  about  four  years 
ago,  when,  illness  preventing  him  from  engaging  in  active  business,  his  eldest  s^on, 
Harry,  has  performed  the  duties  of  superintendent  under  the  advice  and  direction  of  the 
father.  In  ISSO  Mr.  Lord  opened  a  furniture  store  in  the  building  where  Bell  Brothers' 
block  now  stands.  His  own  time  being  occupied  at  the  waterworks,  Mr.  A.  M.  Herri- 
man  attended  to  this  store  and  also  conducted  an  undertaking  business  for  himself. 
From  that  location  his  store  was  moved  to  the  site  now  occupied  by  L.  McGillis  and 
from  there  he  moved  to  the  present  site.  Mr.  Herriman  resigned  his  position,  when 
Harry  Lord  took  charge  of  the  management  of  this  store,  which  he  has  since  conducted 
with  marked  success.  During  his  years  of  active  business  life,  his  thoroughness,  ability 
and  integrity  in  the  discharge  of  bis  official  duties,  and  his  kindness  of  heart,  won  him 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Lord  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Masonic  fraternities.     He  died  May  18,  1893. 

Lavery,  W.  N.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lawrence,  July  29,  1847,  a  son 
of  Marda  Lavery,  born  October  11,  1801,  a  son  of  John  L.,  who  came  from  Ireland  at 
an  early  da}",  settling  on  a  farm  in  Essex  county.  He  had  eleven  children.  Marda 
Lavery  began  business  for  himself  early  m  life,  being  put  out  to  work  at  the  age  of 
eleven.  At  about  twenty-one  years  he  came  to  Lawrence  and  bought  a  farm,  his  deed 
being  the  first  oae  given  in  the  town.  He  marrried,  in  Essex  county,  Hannah  Moore, 
and  came  at  once  to  Lawrence,  where  they  settled  upon  a  farm  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  They  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  died  August  28, 
1879,  and  his  wife  in  October,  1881.  W.  N.  Lavery  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Lawrence  and  the  Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  has  always  re- 
sided on  the  old  homestead,  having  added  seventy-five  acres,  and  now  owns  a  tract  of 
225  acres.  He  engages  in  general  farming  and  dairying,  keeping  about  thirty  Ayrshire 
cows,  and  he  also  deals  in  horses  and  sheep.  February  8,  1877,  he  married  Alice  E., 
daughter  of  H.  A.  and  D.  J.  (Dudley)  Boland,  natives  of  Castleton,  Tt.,  who  came  to 
this  county  about  1848.  Mr.  Boland  was  a  practicing  physician  in  Waddington  four- 
teen years,  then  came  to  Lawrenceville,  where  he  practiced  twenty  yeans.  He  died 
in  October,  1891,  and  his  widow  still  resides  at  Lawrenceville.  Our  subject  has  had 
two  children :  Jennie,  born  March  24,  1879,  died  in  infancy  ;  and  R.  W.  Lavery,  born 
May  20,  1882.  Mr.  Lavery  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Deer 
River  Grange,  No.  702. 

Murphy,  James,  Massena,  was  born  in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  August  15,  1817,  a  son 
of  James"  and  Julia  (Riley)  Murphy,  who  had  six  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  now  de- 
ceased. James  came  to  America  in  1837,  and  on  the  passage  shared  his  berth  with 
a  "  stowaway,'"  who  robbed  him  of  his  money,  and  he  was  obliged  to  go  on  foot  from 
here  to  Cornell,  where  he  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  River  into  Brasher,  his  sister  being 


340  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

then  a  resident  there.  He  was  a  man  of  learning,  having  taught  school  in  Ireland.  In 
America  he  learned  the  trade  of  stone  dresser,  at  which  he  worked  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  He  worked  on  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  on  Suspension  Bridge 
at  Niaf^ara  Victoria  Bridge  at  Montreal,  etc.  In  1842  he  married  Bridget  Melmoe, 
daughter  of  Bartholomew  and  Margaret  (Donnaher)  Melmoe.  She  was  a  cousin  of 
the  famous  General  M.  Corcoran,  of  the  Sixty-ninth  N.  Y.  Vols.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mur- 
phy had  seven  children :  Thomas,  a  farmer  on  the  homestead ;  J.  P.,  a  clergyman  at 
Cherubusco,  N.  Y. ;  J.  L.,  a  lawyer  at  Spring  Valley,  III,  and  city  attorney:  Julia, 
wife  of  Peter  Martin,  a  farmer  of  Waddington;  J.  E.  and  M.  B.,  farmers  at  Massena. 
Mr.  Murphy  Avas  a  Democrat  and  a  Catholic,  was  a  genial,  witty,  honorable  man,  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  died  in  1890,  and  he,  March  24,  1894.  J.  E. 
Murphy  was  educated  in  the  Lawrenceville  and  Fort  Covington  Academies,  and  was 
two  years  in  Holy  Cross  College,  Worcester,  Mass.  He  has  taught  school  six  years  in 
this  State  and  two  years  in  Canada.  He  was  three  years  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Potsdam,  but  since  the  death  of  his  mother  he  has  resided  on  the  homestead,  where, 
with  his  brother,  he  carries  on  the  farm.  In  1870  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Barnhart)  McGinn,  and  they  have  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  one  son  and  three  daughters  died  in  infancy.  John  F.  was  educated  in  the 
Malone  Academy,  and  is  station  agent  at  Lisbon  on  the  C.  V.  R.  R.  M.  B.  Murphy 
was  born  at  West  Point  in  1851,  and  was  educated  at  Ft.  Covington  Academy  and 
Potsdam  Normal  School.  He  has  taught  school  and  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Ogdensburg  six  years.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  worked  the  old 
Langtry  homestead  of  228  acres,  to  which  his  wife  fell  heir.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he 
rented  the  homestead,  with  a  dairy  of  forty  cows.  In  1881  he  married  Jane,  daughter 
of  Joshua  and  Catharine  (Smith)  Langtry,  he  a  native  of  Brasher,  born  August  15, 
1825,  and  she  of  Massena,  born  February  12,  1830.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  B.  Murphy  have 
had  two  sons  and  a  daughter:  James  1,  died  in  infancy:  James  2,  born  September  14, 
1886;  and  Catharine,  born  March  11,  1884. 

Maher,  Dennis  J.,  Lawrence,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Lawrence,  April  9,  1845,  a  son 
John  B.,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  there  educated,  and  became  a  teacher.  He 
married  Margaret  Moore  of  his  native  country,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  He  came  to  New  York  city  and  then  to  Hinesburg,  and  worked  in  a 
woolen  factory  for  several  years.  About  1842  he  came  to  Lawrence  and  settled  on 
twenty-five  acres,  where  our  subject  now  lives,  and  here  he  and  his  wife  died,  the 
latter  November  27,  1885.  Dennis  J.  Maher  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
Lawrenceville  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  Ninety- 
second  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Co.  "G.,  and  served  eighteen  months.  He  was  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  June  5,  1864,  and  received  his  discharge  on  account  of  disabilities  in  February, 
1865,  He  then  learned  photography,  which  business  he  followed  in  Colton  a  short 
time,  then  came  to  Lawrence  and  settled  on  the  homestead  in  1871,  when  he  sold  his 
interest  to  his  brother,  and  rented  a  farm  in  Lawrence,  which  he  bought  in  1873,  then 
sold  it,  and  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  lives  retired.  He  has  a 
farm  of  loO  acres  of  land  and  follows  general  farming  and  dairying,  keeping  about 
twenty  cows,  and  has  a  sugar  grove  of   700  trees.     In  1893  be  engaged  in  breeding 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  341 

registered  Jersey  cattle,  and  has  now  sixteen  head,  the  only  herd  in  the  town.  Mr. 
Maher  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of 
Deer  River  Grange,  No.  702,  and  of  Sanford  Post,  G.  A  R.,  No.  473,  at  Nicholville. 
In  1871  he  married  Mary  J.  Richmond,  of  Potsdam,  by  whom  he  had  five  children: 
Ellen  M.,  Varick  E.,  Edith  G.,  Earl  D.,  and  Mary  J.  Mrs.  Maher  died  May  12,  1878. 
and  May  10,  1879,  he  married  second  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Oliver,  widow  of  Edgar  H.  Oliver. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  E.  Moody  Dana,  of  Lawrence. 

Dana,  Elihu  M.,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Mai?sena,  January  12,  1820,  a  son  of  Samuel 
Dana,  a  farmer  of  Massena,  who  settled  there  when  a  young  man.  Elihu  M.  came  to 
the  town  of  Lawrence  in  an  early  day,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town.  He  at 
first  engaged  in  farming,  but  being  accidentally  disabled,  gave  up  farming  in  1855  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Lawrenceville.  His  death  occurred  February  22 
1894.  In  1884  Mr.  Dana  took  as  a  partner  in  his  business  M.  H.  Ross,  who  is  the 
present  proprietor.     Mr.  Dana  was  twice  married. 

McKimm,  James,  Lawrence,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  County  Sligo  in  1829  a 
son  of  James  McKimm,  who  came  to  America  about  1851,  with  eight  children  and  set- 
tled in  Vermont  at  first,  then  removed  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  settled  on  the  farm  in 
Lawrence  now  owned  by  James.  He  married  Elizabeth  Littell,  a  native  of  Ireland. 
Mr.  McKimm  died  in  1867,  and  his  wife  about  1854.  James  came  with  his  parents 
from  Ireland  and  bought  the  farm  of  150  acres,  which  he  now  owns.  His  parents 
lived  with  him  until  their  death.  George,  brother  of  James,  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  a  member  of  Co.  A,  lOGth  N.  Y.  Vols.  James  married,  in  1865,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Mary  Whitesides,  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  about  1851.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McKimm  have  had  two  sons,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy,  and  Albert  H.  was 
born  October  22,  1858.  He  is  now  carrying  on  his  father's  farm,  which  consists  of 
general  produce  and  dairying.  He  married  first  Charlotte  A.  Whitcome,  of  Norfolk, 
and  had  one  daughter,  Hattie  M.,  born  April  6,  1886.  Mrs.  McKimm  died  November 
6,  1888,  and  he  married  second  Nellie  Bartley,  daughter  of  De  Witt  C.  and  Lorenda 
(Wolson)  Bartley,  of  Oswego.  Mr.  McKimm  is  president  of  the  Lawrenceville  Center 
Cemetery.  Albert  is  a  member  of  the  Deer  River  Grange,  No.  207,  Elk  Lodge,  No. 
577,  and  Iroquois  Lodge,  No.  593,  L  0.  0.  F. 

Newland,  Peabody,  of  Lawrenceville,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Vt.,  September  30, 
1801,  a  son  of  Beria  M.  and  Lida  (Grinnell)  Newland,  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Law- 
renceville in  1827.  The  ancestors  of  this  family  came  to  America  in  the  Mayjioiver, 
and  the  first  white  child  born  after  the  arrival  of  the  Pilgrims  belonged  to  this  family 
on  the  maternal  side.  Our  subject's  father  was  a  man  of  influence  in  his  time  and  died 
aged  sixty  years,  his  wife  dying  aged  seventy-six  years.  From  1840  to  1860  Mr.  New- 
land  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  horse  rakes,  but  later  returned  to  farming. 
In  August,  1828,  he  married  Mary  Handy,  who  died  in  July,  1839.  They  had  two 
children :  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Joseph  Farrington,  of  Lawrence,  and  Adoniram  A.,  who 
has  been  a  merchant  and  farmer  in  the  West  for  many  years.  Mr.  Newland  married 
second  Eliza  Chose,  by  whom  he  had  three  children :  David  J.,  a  successful  lawyer  in 
5srew  York  ;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Charles   B.  Partridge ;  Helen  A.,  who  died  aged  twenty 


342  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

years      Mr.  Newland  inherited  the  homestead  of  sixty  acres,  to  which  he  has  added 
forty  acres,  makinp^  it  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  town. 

Orinsbee,  Amos,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville.  October  16.  1844,  a  son  of  Peter, 
whose  parents  were  Samuel  and  Hannah  Ormsbee  of  Vermont.  Peter  was  born  in 
Vermont,  May  16,  1800,  and  came  to  Louisville  about  1830,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  part 
of  which  our  subject  now  owns.  He  was  three  times  married,  first  to  Sallie  Hackett, 
in  1822,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  She  died  in  1833,  and  he  married  second,  Eliza 
Tracey  of  Massena,  in  1834,  and  they  had  five  children.  She  died  June  6,  1855,  at  the 
a<^e  of  forty-one,  and  Mr.  Ormsbee  then  married  Phoebe  Chamberlain,  May  25.  1856, 
and  she  died  in  Madrid.  Mr.  Ormsbee  died  April  28,  1872.  Our  subject  was  reared  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  school".  October  22,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  92d  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  three  years  and  two  months.  He 
was  at  Fair  Oaks,  Petersburg,  Fort  Anderson  and  in  several  engagements.  He  was 
also  in  the  hospital  nine  months.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Louisville  and 
engaged  in  farming,  having  over  100  acres  and  keeping  a  dairy  of  fifteen  cows.  He 
also  breeds  Hambletonian  horses.  Mr.  Ormsbee  is  a  Republican,  and  has,  served  as 
overseer  of  the  poor  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Anderson  Post  No. 
425,  and  also  of  the  Massena  Grange  No.  704.  October  31,  1872,  he  married  Janette 
Ferguson,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  November  20,  1853,  daughter  of  John  and  Frances 
Ferguson,  of  Scotland  and  Canada  respectively.  Our  subject  had  one  son,  Daniel  P  , 
who  died  aged  five  months. 

Paddock,  William  H.,  Massena,  w^as  born  in  ^lassena,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns 
June  14,  1822,  a  son  of  Dr.  William  S.,  a  son  of  William  Paddock,  born  in  Connecticut, 
who  came  to  Malone  in  an  early  day,  where  he  died.  Dr.  William  S.  was  born  in 
Woodstock,  Vt.,  in  1787,  was  educated  in  that  State,  and  came  to  llassena  to  practice 
his  profession  in  1818,  being  the  first  physician  in  the  town.  He  married  Wealthy 
Porter,  born  in  Salisbury,  Vt,  in  1796,  and  they  had  four  children.  Dr.  Paddock  was 
a  Democrat,  and  represented  his  district  in  the  Assembly  in  1834-35-36.  He  died  May 
6,  1859,  and  his  wife  February  6,  1870.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  Malone  and 
and  the  Manchester  (Vt.)  Academies,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  owning 
200  acres  of  land  and  keeping  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has 
been  inspector  of  elector  of  elections,  president  of  the  corporation,  and  took  the  U.  S. 
census  in  the  towns  of  Louisville  and  Massena.  Mr.  Paddock  is  a  member  of  Massena 
Grange,  and  is  one  of  the  loan  commissioners  of  the  county,  September  2,  1847,  he 
m:lr^;•^l  .Susaa  Andrew-?  a  native  of  Massena,  birn  June  23,  1826,  a  daughter  of  John 
B.  Amlrews.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paddock  have  had  eight  children  ;  John,  who  died  in 
infancy  ;  .S.  Florence,  born  October  18,  1849,  wife  of  George  D.  Ormisfon  of  Arkansas  ; 
Fred  M.,  born  October  26,  1851,  re^des  at  home:  .Mary  A.,  born  February  17,  1854, 
wife  of  George  McCartney,  married  .September  2,  1883  ;  John  S.,  born  January  2,  1856, 
'   'una  Spratt,  and  lives  in  Aspen,  Col.  ;  Jenny,  born  April  9,  1858,  wife  of 

:  (deceased);  William  S.,  born  March  12,  1861,  married  Belle  Ellis  of  Red 

Jacket.  Mich  ;  George  C,  born  March   31,  1866,  resides  in   Montana.     Our  subject  is 
"riu'inators  of  the  village  school,  of  which  he  was  trustee  twenty-five  years 
ftiiii  i    oaiilent  uf  the  board  ten  year.><. 


PEESONAL  SKETCHES.  343 

Riley,  Daniel,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Beekman,  Clinton  counly,  January  5,  1825,  a 
son  of  John  Riley,  whose  father  was  Lawrence  Riley,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  catre 
to  Clinton  in  an  early  day,  where  he  died.  John  was  born  in  Vermont,  where  his 
parents  6rst  settled,  in  179L  and  came  to  Clinton  county  with  his  parents,  where  he 
married  Orpha  Finch,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity. Mr.  Riley  finally  settled  in  Louisville,  and  died  in  1867,  his  wife  dying  in  1881. 
Our  subject  came  to  Louisville  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  here  has  since  re- 
sided. He  owns  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twelve  cows,  and  has 
also  twenty-four  sheep.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  excise  commissioner. 
He  was  married  in  Massena  to  Caroline  Hutchens,  a  native  of  Massena,  who  has  had 
one  child,  George  C,  born  June  16,  1859.  He  was  educated  in  the  Massena  Union 
Free  School,  and  resides  at  home  on  the  farm.  In  1887  he  married  Annie  L.  Bayley, 
daughter  of  William  Baley  of  Massena.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  the  fami- 
ly attend  the  Episcopalian  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member.  Mrs.  Riley,  wife 
of  our  subject,  died  August  8,  188G. 

Russell,  E.  F.,  Massena,  was  born  in  Massena,  August  11.  1862,  whose  father,  N.  T.. 
was  also  born  here  January  25,  1833.  He  was  a  son  of  John,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
born  in  1785.  The  latter  was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife  being  Sarah  Wilcox, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children;  his  second  wife  was  Lucy,  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and 
by  her  he  had  four  children  ;  his  third  wife  was  Naomi  Horton,  born  in  1796,  by  whom 
he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter.  In  1832  he  came  to  Massena  and  settled  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  his  son  Norman  T.,  where  he  died  in  1865,  his  wife  having  died  in 
1873.  N.  T.  Russell  has  followed  farming  most  of  his  life,  but  in  1877  he  engaged 
in  the  meat  business  in  partnership  with  D.  Hamilton  and  W.  R.  Stearns,  they  be- 
ing the  first  to  keep  a  market  open  the  year  around  in  Massena.  In  1854  he  mar- 
ried Philena  F.  Hutchinson,  of  Jefferson  county,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  : 
Ida,  wife  of  J.  B.  Dodge  ;  Clara  M.,  a  teacher  in  Albany  College  ;  and  Edson  F.,  who 
was  educated  in  the  Massena  Union  School  and  the  Potsdam  Normal  School.  He  was 
for  a  few  years  engaged  in  school  teaching,  then  bought  the  Massena  Center  Cream- 
ery, which  he  has  remodeled  and'  refitted.  He  is  now  doing  a  thriving  business,  mak- 
ing about  100,000  pounds  of  butter  annually.  He  at  first  operated  the  creamery  sum- 
mers and  taught  school  winters,  but  now  conducts  it  the  year  around.  He  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  bnsiness  at  the  Center,  carrying  a  general  line  of  groceries.  June 
21^1880,  he  married  Dora  E.,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Baily,  of  Massena,  by  whom  he  has  had 
fom-  children  :  Bessie  P.,  born  March  13,  1883 ;  Leon  N.,  born  February  26,  1887  ;  Lou 
D.,  born  June  28,  1891  ;  Lela  E.,  born  November  13,  1893.  Our  subject  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  a  member  of  Massena  Lodge  No.  513,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Massena  Grange  No.  704, 
Good  Templars,  and  I.  0  F. 

Reed,  Byron  G.,  Lawrence,  was  horn  in  Lawrence,  November  20,  1839,  a  son  of 
William  Reed,  born  in  Vermont,  April  4,  1795,  and  grandson  of  Moses  Reed,  also  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  was  a  farmer  bv  occupation,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  In  1837  William  and  his  family  came  to  Lawrence,  where  he  remamed  till 
his  death  in  July,  1860.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  receiving  a  land 
warrant  for  services.     He  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  John  Parks,  jr.,  and  granddaugh- 


344  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

ter  of  John  Parks,  one  of  the  Indian  captives  at  the  burning  of  Royalton,  Vt.,  Oc- 
tober IG,  1780.  Her  death  occurred  in  November,  1867.  Five  children  were  born 
to  them  namely  :  Edwin,  Alanson,  Sarahette,  Truman  and  Byron  G.  Edwia  married 
Miranda  Bates,  moved  to  lUinois,  and  died  in  1868,  leaving  wife  and  five  children. 
Alanson  married  Martha  Lewis.  He  was  a  soldier  in  Company  I,  Thirty-first  Regi- 
ment N.  Y.  State  Volunteers,  during  the  Rebellion.  He  died  in  February,  1889,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  four  children.  Sarahette  married  Amasa  Tyler,  and  died  in  April, 
1856.  Truman  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  Arizona.  Byron  G.  remained  with  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  of  age.  He  is  now  a  successful  farmer,  owning  a  fine  place 
of  117  acres  in  Lawrence,  which  he  devoted  to  general  farming  and  dairying,  keep- 
ino-  about  fifteen  cows  of  good  breed.  In  1866  he  married  Ellen,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Louisa  (Simons)  Brwin.  Her  grandfather  was  Joseph  Erwin.  (See  biography 
of  Senator  George  Z.  Erwin  elsewhere).  Mrs.  Erwin  died  February  18,  1879,  and 
Mr.  Erwin  April  28,  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  had  one  son,  Charlie  B.,  born 
February  21,  1872.  He  has  had  a  good  academic  education,  but  has  chosen  the  call- 
ing of  his  father,  that  of  farming.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Deer  River  Grange 
No.  702,  and  Charlie  B.  is  a  member  of  Lawrenceville  Lodge  No.  619,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Sanford,  E.  Jonah,  Lawrence,  was  born  in  Hopkinton,  May  13, 1842,  a  son  of  Henry  B., 
who  was  a  son  of  Col.  Jonah  Sanford,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Henry  B.  was 
born  in  Hopkinton  in  1818,  and  died  in  1881.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  six  years.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  92nd  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  1861,  and  October  30 
of  the  same  year  he  received  his  commission  as  lieutenant,  and  was  in  command  of  the 
Fourth  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fourth  Army  Corps,  from  January  30,  1863.  November 
13  of  the  same  year  he  was  in  command  of  the  Ambulance  Corps,  Third  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  stationed  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.  His  wife,  who  was  president  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  of  Nicholville,  presented  to  the  company  of  which  he  was  in  command,  in  be- 
half of  the  society,  sixty-three  volumes.  In  1837  Mr.  Sanford  was  corporal  in  the  Sev- 
enth Regiment  of  Riflemen,  Forty-ninth  Brigade,  State  militia,  and  was  commissioned 
adjutant  of  the  same  regiment  September  3, 1842.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Sanford  was  Casen- 
dania  Ellithorpe,  daughter  of  Danforth  Ellithorpe,  and  they  have  had  eight  children : 
Henry  T.,  Edwin  D.,  Darwin  E.,  Charles  A.,  B.  Jonah,  Calista  P.,  Annie  C,  Rosalia. 
Our  subject  at  the  age  of  eighteen  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  has  since 
made  his  principal  occupation.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Sixteenth  N.  Y. 
Volunteers,  and  served  two  years,  was  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  West  Point, 
Gaines  Mill,  where  he  was  wounded,  and  at  Fredericksburg.  Mr.  Sanford  owns  a  farm 
of  eighty-six  acres  where  he  resides  at  Nicholsville.  He  has  also  patented  the  section 
bar  u.sed  in  mowing  machine.s,  which  has  brought  him  a  handsome  sum,  and  he  is  now 
living  retired  from  active  busines.^.  He  is  a  Republicao,  and  has  served  as  excise  com- 
missioner. He  married  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Bibbins,  of  Lawrence,  and  they  have  one 
«on,  Ira  A.,  who  lives  at  home. 

Sanford,  Ciiarles  A.,  Lawrence,  was  born   in   Lawrence,   January  29,  1855,  a  son  of 
HtMiry  B.  Sanford,  mentioned  in  tins  work.     He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 

»"''  1  in  farming,  which  has  h(;en  his  life  occupation.     In  1883   he  bought  the 

'«' ■  iL'lii  v-onc    !\crp<i    whicli     I  c  now    r>\\u^    and   on    which  he   keeps  a  dairy 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  345 

of  fourteen  cows.  Mr.  Sanford  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  family  attend 
the  M.  E.  Church  of  Nicholville,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member.  April  11,  1876,  our 
subject  married  Martha  L.  Goodell,  a  daughter  of  Joel  Goodell,  of  Hopkinton,  who  was 
also  a  son  of  Joel,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town,  who  settled  on  the  farm 
where  part  of  the  family  now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanford  have  one  son,  C.  Ralph, 
born  May  27,  1893. 

Wells,  Charles  H.,  Massena,  a  native  of  Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  was  born 
July  28,  18J:9,  a  son  of  Samuel  Wells,  born  in  Louisville,  July  13,  1805,  and  the  father 
of  Samuel  was  Elijah,  of  Vermont,  who,  about  1800,  leased  the  Croil's  Island  for  100 
years  of  the  Indians,  but  owing  to  the  dishonesty  of  a  brother-in-law  he  lost  the  lease. 
He  married  a  Miss  Bellows,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  died 
aged  ninety-three.  Samuel  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  cared  for  his  parents  until 
nearly  the  time  of  their  death.  He  owned  a  farm  in  Louisville  of  120  acres,  and  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Elizabeth  Heague,  a  native  of  England,  by  whom  he  had  six 
sons  and  a  daughter.  Mrs.  Wells  died  October  8,  1872,  and  he  married  second  the 
widow  of  Dana  Moore,  of  Potsdam.  Charles  H.  Wells  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  beginning  teaching  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He 
spent  a  year  in  Iowa  and  Illinois  farming,  and  was  in  the  tin  business  at  Massena  for  a 
while,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  Robinson  place  of  250  acres  (1887), 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a  dairy  of  forty-five  cows,  and  in  one  year  sold 
$2,000  worth  of  milk.  He  is  also  making  a  specialty  of  high  grade  swine.  In  1873 
he  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Harvey  and  Isabel  (McLeod)  Robinson,  of  Massena, 
and  their  children  are:  William  H.,  born  May  3,  1875;  John  A.,  born  November  7, 
1877;  N.  Eugene,  born  Januarys,  1879;  Gertrude  M.,  born  February  9,  1881;  Mary 
E..  born  February  26,  1884 ;  and  Grace  L.,  born  October  28,  1888.  Mr.  Wells  is  a 
Republican,  and  a  member  of  Aultsville  Lodge  No.  351  A.  0.  U.  W.,  and  of  the  Good 
Templars  of  Massena. 

Barnhart.  E.  J.,  Massena,  was  born  on  Barnhart  Island,  April  16,  1839,  a  son  of 
Peter,  a  son  of  Jacob,  a  native  of  Cornwall,  Canada,  and  son  of  George  Barnhart,  of 
German  extraction,  who  settled  in  Cornwall  in  1780,  and  died  there  in  1811.  Three 
of  the  sons  of  George — George,  Jacob  and  John — came  to  the  island,  of  which  their 
father  had  secured  a  permanent  lease  from  the  St.  Regis  Indians.  John  afterwards 
went  to  Toronto  and  became  prominent ;  Jacob  and  George  resided  on  the  island 
until  their  deaths.  Peter  Barnhart  was  born  on  the  island.  May  8,  1801,  and  there 
reared  and  educated.  He  followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  died  on  the  island  his  father 
settled.  His  wife  was  Amarilla  Barnhart,  a  native  of  the  island,  born  October  10, 
1807,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  are  now  liv- 
ing. Peter  died  May  31,  1853,  and  his  wife  February  23,  1880.  They  were  members 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  E.  J.  Barnhart,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  the 
island  and  there  educated.  His  life  occupation  has  been  farming,  and  he  now  owns  169 
acres  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty-five  cows;  he  also  owns  the  Maple  Leaf  cheese 
factory  and  manufactures  about  44,000  pounds  of  cheese  yearly.  Mr.  B.  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  and  his  wife  are  Episcopalians.     December  26,  1861,  Mr.  Barnhart  was 


346  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

married  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  David  Barnbart  (son  of  George  W.).  David  Barnhart 
was  born  on  the  island  and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  He  was  married  first  to 
Lucia,  daughter  of  Elijah  Burpee,  of  Canada.  Mrs.  Barnhart  died  in  1855,  and  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Burgett.  The  subject  and  wife  have  one  adopted  daughter.  Bertha  A., 
a  native  of  Canada,  and  educated  in  Masseua.  She  taught  school  in  Massena  village 
for  three  years,  after  teaching  on  the  island  and  in  Brasher  a  short  time,  beginning  at 
the  a^e  of  sixteen.  She  married  Cassius  A.  Hamilton,  of  Massena,  and  they  live  in 
Susquehanna,  Pa.,  where  he  is  engaged  with  a  pubHshing  liouse  as  general  manager. 

Fish,  Marcus,  Massena,  was  a  son  of  Hiram.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated 
at  Massena  Union  School,  and  graduated  from  Rochester  Business  College.  He  was 
for  a  while  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  J.  L.  Hyde,  of  Massena.  March  5,  18G8,  he 
married  Callie  J.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Hyde)  Bebee,  he  of  Vermont  (born  in 
LS12),  and  she  of  Massena  (born  July  2,  1819).  The  father  of  Mr.  Bebee  was  Calvin, 
who  came  from  Vermont  to  Massena  about  1834.  He  was  a  farmer.  Daniel  T.  Bebee 
was  a  shoemaker.  He  bought  in  Massena  145  acres  of  land,  which  he  left  to  his 
widow,  who  rents  it  witli  a  dairy  of  eighteen  cows.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marcus  Fish  was 
born  one  daughter,  Sarah  Genevieve,  who  inserts  this  sketch  through  respect  for  her 
parents,  who  are  both  deceased.  Her  father  died  December  15,  1876,  and  her  mother 
August  20,  1883.  They  left  to  their  daughter  a  farm  of  76t  acres,  which  she  rents  with 
a  dairy  of  seventeen  cows.  Mr.  Fish  was  a  Republican,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
clerk  of  Massena.  He  and  wife  were  active  and  consistent  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  of  Massena,  of  which  he  was  a  deacon.  Miss  Fish  is  a  member  of  the  Good 
Templars  Lodge  566  of  Massena  and  of  Massena  Grange  No.  704. 

Wells,  Otis  H.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Louisville,  February   14,    1839. 
He  is  a  son  of  Elijah  Wells,  a  native  of  Louisville,  born  November  7,  1808.      Subject's 
grandfather  was  also  Elijah  Wells.     Elijah  Wells,  jr.,  was  a  farmer  and  owned  160  acres 
in  Louisville,  which  he  left  to  his  family.     His  wife  was  Joanna  Hosraer,  born  in  New 
York,  November  27,  1815.     She  was  a  daughter  of  Otis   G.  Hosmer,    who   came  from 
Vermont  to  Massena  in  1806  and  settled  on  a  farm  now  known  as  the  Captain  Bridges 
farm.     He  sold  this  and  moved  to  Louisville,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  lite. 
He  died  in  1883  and  his  wife  in  1872.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  were  born  three  sons 
and  two  daughters :  Celia,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years  ;   Henry,   a  carpenter  in  Ten- 
nessee ;  Jesse,  a  farmer  in  Louisville ;  Ida,  now  resides  with  Otis   H.     Mr.    Wells  was 
a  Democrat,  and  he  and  wife  were  Universalists  in  religious  faith.     He  died   February 
7,  1882,  and  she  April  23,  1861.     Otis  H.  was  raised  on   a  farm   and  educated   in  the 
common  schools  and  St.  Lawrence  Academy.     He  taught  school  four  years  in   Minne- 
sota, and  has  followed  teaching  at  home  in  connection  with  farming,   which  has  been 
hiH  principal  occupation  except  during  the  time  he  was  in   the  army.     He  now  has  a 
farm  of  260  acres,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty  cows.     In  1862  he  enlisted  in   the    106th 
N.  y.  Vols.,  and  served  till  the  close  of   the  war  ;  he  was  honorably  discharged  June 
'.'"    '-'-'      Fie  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fairniount,  second  Cold  Harbor,   Spottsyl- 
•  ildemess,   Monocacy,    Wiucliester  and  Cedar  Creek,   the   time  of  Sheridan's 
memorable  ride.     He  was  promoted  to  fourth  sergeant,   orderly  sergeant  and   to  first 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  347 

lieutenant  of  Company  H.  Mr.  Wells  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  now  supervisor.    He  is  lib- 
era) in  his  religious  views,  but  is  a  Universalist  in  belief. 

Whalen,  Edward,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  April  17,  1840.  His  father  was 
William,  born  in  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1797.  The  grandfather  was  John,  who 
came  from  Ireland  about  1783,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  county,  where  he 
spent  his  days.  A  brother  Charles  was  a  chaplain  in  La  Fayette's  army,-  and  was  the 
first  Catholic  priest  to  say  mass  in  New  York  city.  This  family  comprised  four  sons 
and  four  daughters.  John  W  died  in  Louisville,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son,  Charles. 
William  was  a  farmer,  and  came  to  Louisville  about  1825,  where  he  owned  over  700 
acres  of  land.  He  was  twice  married;  first  to  Miss  Goff  of  Montgomery  county,  who 
bore  him  three  sons ;  she  died,  and  he  married,  second,  Ann  Murphy,  who  came  to 
America  from  Ireland  when  nineteen  years  old ;  she  bore  him  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  living  but  Charles,  who  died  in  1872  Mr.  Whalen  came  to  Louisville 
abous  182-5  and  purchased  land.  At  his  death  he  left  700  acres  to  his  family.  He  died 
February  14,  1886,  and  the  mother  of  subject  in  Xovember,  1878.  Edward  Whalen 
has  made  farming  his  chief  occupation.  He  now  owns  three  farms :  200  acres  where 
he  lives  and  raises  cattle  for  the  other  two  farms;  one  of  120  acres  with  twenty  cows  ; 
and  one  of  270  acres  with  fifty-six  cows.  He  also  owns  a  half  interest  in  the  grist 
mill  at  Louisville  and  has  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Texas.  January  20,  1881,  he  married 
Kate,  daughter  of  Patrick  Spratt  of  Piossie,  by  whom  he  has  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters :  Anne,  Mary,  Catharine,  Edward  A.  and  John  W.  Mr.  Whalen  is  a  Democrat, 
and  the  family  are  Catholics. 

Matthews,  R.  B.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  March  9,  1844,  the  sixth  son  of 
a  family  of  eight  children  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Moore;  Matthews  of  Ireland,  who  came 
to  America  in  1832,  and  after  a  short  time  in  Canada  went  to  Vermont,  finally  coming 
to  Louisville  about  1840,  and  on  the  farm  owned  by  subject  about  1846,  where  they 
spent  their  lives.  He  died  in  1889.  and  she  in  November,  1880,  both  aged  about  eighty 
years.  R.  B.  Matthews  was  raised  on  the  farm  he  owns  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon and  Canton  public  schools.  He  followed  teaching  for  fourteen  terms  and  then 
went  to  farming,  which  he  has  followed  in  connection  with  butter  manufacturing  and 
buying  farm  produce.  Mr.  Matthews  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  assessor  three  years 
and  justice  of  the  peace  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  of  Aultsville, 
Canada,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  married  in  1872.  Irda, 
daughter  of  David  and  Murilla  Summers  of  Canada.  They  have  had  five  daughters : 
Lena  G.,  Lottie  M.  and  Ida  M.  (twins),  Jennie  and  Florence.  Ida  M.  died  in  1878, 
aged  four  years.  Mr.  Mathew  owns  223^  acres  and  a  hotel  with  U  acres  at  Louisville 
Landing,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-eight  cows. 

Matthews,  James,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Canada,  January  27,  1836,  third  child  of 
Patrick  Matthews.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
Potsdam  Academy.  He  followed  teaching  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  teaching  in 
Wisconsin  when  the  war  broke  out.  He  belonged  to  the  home  guard  and  was  cap- 
tured and  held  prisoner  for  a  short  tims.  He  returned  to  Louisville,  and  after  teaching 
one  term,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Louisville  Landing,  and  for  twenty-five 

7  DO 


348  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

years  has  followed  that  occupation.  He  ha.=!  also  carried  on  farming,  and  owns  214 
acres  on  which  he  keeps  twenty-five  cows.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  justice 
of  the  peace  seven  years,  notary  public  fifteen  years,  and  September  10,  1890,  was  ap- 
pointed custom  house  officer  at  Louisville  Landing,  which  latter  position  he  now  holds. 
He  was  married,  January  25,  1865,  to  Christianna  (born  October  29,  1842),  daughter  of 
Israel  6.  and  Ann  (Powers)  Stone  of  Louisville.  They  have  had  six  children  :  Eva  E., 
George  P.,  James  G.,  Annie  M.  and  Edith  M.  :  one  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Matthews  are  Methodists. 

Singleton,  Peter,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  December  4,  1825,  third  child  of 
five  born  to  Thomas  and  Ellen  (Murphy)  Singleton,  he  a  native  of  England,  born  in 
1793,  and  she  of  Ireland,  born  in  1791.  He  came  to  Canada  in  1817,  and  after  three 
years  to  Louisville,  settling  on  a  farm  on  the  county  road,  from  which  he  removed  to 
the  farm  now  owned  by  the  subject.  He  died  in  April,  1856,  and  his  wife  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872.  The  subject  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He 
has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  also  has  been  a  pilot  on  Long  Saut  Rapids.  Mr.  Single- 
ton owns  233  acres  of  land  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  at  present  is  one  of  the  assessors,  serving  his  second  term  ;  he  has  been  election  in- 
spector, overseer  of  the  poor,  and  highway  commissioner.  Mr.  S.  was  married  in  1852 
to  Ella  A.,  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Ellen  McCarthy,  of  Massena.  They  have  had  seven 
children  :  1.  John  F.,  who  married  Amelia  McGee  and  had  six  children  ;  he  died  August 
28,  1893,  in  Wisconsin.  2.  G-eorge  H.,  who  was  educated  at  the  Potsdam  Normal 
School ;  he  studied  law  with  Parker  &  Mclntyre,  and  is  now  practicing  in  Wisconsin ; 
he  is  also  prominent  in  politics  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  board  in  his  town,  and  has 
also  served  his  county  in  public  office.  His  wife  is  Hannah  Brosnan,  a  graduate  of 
Potsdam  Normal  School,  and  they  have  four  children.  3.  Michael  A.  4.  Charles  D., 
at  home.  5.  Joseph  W.,  who  graduated  at  Ogdensburg  Academy  and  taught  school  for 
a  short  time  in  that  city.  He  also  received  the  first  prize  for  oratory  at  Ogdensburg 
Academy  offered  by  Dr.  Brownlow.  He  afterwards  graduated  from  Georgetown  Col- 
lege, receiving  two  medals,  one  for  elocution  and  one  for  oratory.  He  went  to  Bur- 
lington, Vt.,  and  taught  in  the  college  for  gome  time,  and  also  practiced  law  in  that  place 
for  two  years.  He  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  for  State  attorney  and  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  the  votes  in  the  city  of  Burlington.  He  is  now  in  Eau  Claire, 
Wis.,  practicing  law,  where  he  is  also  quite  prominent  in  politics.  6.  Minnie  A.,  at 
home.  7.  Lydia  J.,  at  school  in  female  seminary  in  Vermont.  Mrs.  Singleton  died 
March  24,  1892.     Tiie  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

Cole,  Edwin  N.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  January  18, 1827.  He  is  the  fifth 
child  born  to  Levi  and  Phoebe  (Baxter)  Cole,  he  a  native  of  Vermont  and  she  of  Hart- 
ford. Conn.  They  came  to  St.  Lawrence  county  when  young  and  were  married  in 
^f''  fr.  Cole  was  a  hotelkeeper,  and  kept  the  first  hotel  in  the  northwest  part  of 

'  '•<;  he  was  among  the  tirst  settler^.     He  was  also  a  farmer,  and  a  clothier 

was  a  Democrat,  anij  was  constable  for  a  number  of  year.«.     He  died  in 
'^•'••-  ife  in  1887.     Edwin  N.  Cole  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the 

CO''  He  has  always  been   a  farmer,  and  owns  a  farm  of  200  acres  and 

keepM  .1  .;,i:ry  ut  twenty  one  cows.     He  is  a  Democrat,  but  never  aspired  to  office.    The 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  349 

family  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  church.  He  was  married  twice  ;  first,  in  1856,  to  Jane 
Roddick,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  :  A.  W.,  E.  M.,  Viola  J.,  Elma  (deceased  1882). 
Mrs.  Cole  died  in  1887,  and  he  married,  in  1888,  Harriet  Gr.  Kentner,  of  Waddington, 
a  daughter  of  Gardner  and  Clarissa  (Burlingame)  Kentner.  By  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Cole  has  one  child,  Stella  C.  M. 

Bradford.  Henry,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  March  7,  1837,  a  son  of  Samuel, 
a  son  of  Joseph,  a  son  of  William  and  Jane  Bradford,  of  England,  who  removed  to 
Leland,  where  Joseph  was  born  November  12,  1766,  in  Banbndge,  County  Down.  He 
came  to  America  in  1785,  landing  in  Philadelphia.  He  settled  in  New  London,  Conn., 
where  he  married,  and  went  to  Vermont,  and  finally  came  to  Louisville,  June  15,  1806. 
and  settled  on  the  river  road,  three  miles  east  of  subject,  and  in  1814  came  to  where 
William  Bradford  now  resides  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days;  his  death  occurred 
July  6,  1834.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Colfax)  Rose, 
born  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  December  12.  1771,  and  died  October  26,  1856.  They  had 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Samuel  Bradford  was  born  in  Pawlet,  Vt.,  1796,  and 
came  to  Louisville  with  his  parents  in  1806.  He  was  twice  married  :  first  to  Abigail 
Wright,  born  in  Vermont,  whose  parents  came  to  Louisville  in  an  early  day.  Mrs. 
Bradford  died  May  12,  1830.  She  had  two  daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Mary.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Mary  Chaplin,  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Polly  Perkms,  born  in  Massena, 
December  10,  1807.  Her  father  was  born  in  1783,  and  came  to  Massena  in  1805.  This 
second  marriage  produced  two  sons :  William,  born  November  17,  1834,  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Bradford  was  a  Whig,  and  a  Republican  after  the  formation 
of  that  party  ;  he  was  supervisor,  custom  house  officer,  and  justice  of  the  peace, 
holding  the  latter  office  many  years.  He  died  November  1,  1871,  and  his  wife  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1881.  Henry  Bradford  has  been  a  steamboat  pilot  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
from  1868  to  1894  inclusive.  He  owns  154  acres  of  land  and  follows  general  farming, 
keeping  a  dairy  of  thirteen  cows.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  inspector  of 
customs  for  six  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Waddington  Lodge,  No.  393,  F.  &  A.  ^I. 
September  28,  1859,  he  was  married  to  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Lucy  Allen, 
born  in  Canton,  June  16,  1840.  Reuben  Allen  was  born  in  Madrid  in  1807.  and  his 
wife  in  Louisville  in  1808.  Mr.  Allen  and  wife  had  four  children.  He  died  at  Spring- 
ville,  Wis.,  in  18-55,  and  his  wife  in  Canton  in  July,  1843.  Henry  Bradford  and  wife 
have  three  children:  Mary  R.,  born  April  22,  1863,  educated  in  Lawrenceville  Academy 
and  Potsdam  Normal  School ;  her  profe.'sion  is  that  of  an  artist,  and  she  has  much 
ability  in  that  line  ;  Samuel  P.,  born  March  3,  1867,  educated  in  Ogdensburg,  and  is  en- 
gaeed  as  a  commercial  traveler;  Walter  A.,  born  March  30,  1871,  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  is  at  home. 

Dewy,  Aaron,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Canada  in  1839.  He  was  a  son  of  James,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  whose  parents  were  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth  (Goodell)  Dewy,  of 
New  England  stock,  who  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  now  de- 
ceased. They  went  to  Canada  when  James  was  a  boy.  Mr.  Dewy  was  a  farmer  and 
innkeeper.  His  wife  and  daughter  were  accidentally  burned  to  death.  Three  sons 
came  to  the  United  States;  two  settled  in  Fort  Covington,  and  James  came  to  Louis- 
ville and  bought  120  acres  of  land,  which  is  now  in  possession  of  the  widow  of  the  sub- 


350  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COtJNTY. 

iect  of  this  sketch.  The  wife  of  James  was  Martha  Priest,  of  Hammondsford,  who 
bore  him  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  one  son  and  two  daughters  are  now 
livinfT.  James  and  Amos  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war,  and  both  died  in  the  South. 
This  so  ffrieved  their  father  that  on  hearing  of  the  death  of  his  second  son,  he  fell  sick 
and  soon  died  ;  his  death  occurred  in  September,  1863.  The  subject,  who  was  at  this 
time  in  the  West,  came  home  and  rented  the  homestead  for  three  years,  and  then 
bono-ht  it.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  homestead  farm  and  attended  the 
schools  of  Louisville.  He  was  on  the  road  for  a  time  as  a  speculator  and  worked  on 
a  farm  a  while  in  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Dewy  was  an  active,  energetic  man,  and  was  largely 
eno-ao-ed  in  speculating.  He  added  forty  acres  to  the  old  homestead,  and  left  in  all  160 
acies  of  land  unincumbered  to  his  family.  He  died  suddenly  of  heart  disease,  April  27, 
1886.  April  22,  1867,  he  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Isabel  (McMurphy) 
Short  both  of  New  England.  The  grandparents  were  John  and  Eleanor  (Emerson) 
Short,  and  Samuel  and  Jane  (Beaty)  McMurphy.  The  father  of  Jane  was  a  weaver. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewy  were  born  one  son  and  two  daughters :  Bertha  A.,  born  July 
10,  1869,  died  August  12,  1889  ;  Ada  I.,  born  February  3,  1871,  educated  at  Massena, 
and  is  a  teacher ;  William  A.,  born  Januarys,  1877,  has  had  charge  of  the  farm  for 
three  years.  They  have  160  acres  of  land  and  keep  a  dairy  of  twenty-five  to  thirty 
cows  and  a  few  sheep.  They  also  have  a  one-fourth  interest  in  a  farm  of  177  acres  in 
Massena,  where  they  furnish  six  cows;  this  farm  is  rented.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Dewy 
were  Methodist,  and  the  family  attend  and  support  the  M.  E.  church. 

Mulholland,  Henry,  Louisville,  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, who  were  brought  from  Antrim,  Ireland,  by  their  parents,  David  and  Mary  (Mc- 
Curry)  Mulholland,  to  the  town  of  Louisville,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  fall 
of  1831.  Henry  was  born  in  April,  1831.  Mr.  Mulholland  died  in  February,  1832,  soon 
after  his  arrival,  and  the  farm  he  he  bad  bought  was  sold.  Mr.  Mulholland  was  reared 
a  farmer,  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Ireland.  His  father  was  James  Mul- 
holland, and  the  father  of  Mrs.  M.  was  Henry  McCurry.  Henry  Mulholland  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Louisville  and  the  acad- 
emy atGouverneur.  His  first  business  enterprise  was  mining  m  California  and  Nevada, 
whicn  he  followed  for  sixteen  years.  He  next  purchased  a  farm  of  106  acres  in  Iowa 
on  Des  Moines  River.  Here  he  married  Kate,  a  daughter  of  John  Soule,  a  farmer  and 
carpenter  of  Fort  Dodge,  la.  One  child  was  born,  Charles  A.,  July,  1870,  died  in  May, 
1871.  Mrs.  Mulholland  died  in  September,  1870,  and  he  returned  to  Louisville  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  262  acres,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a  dairy  of  thirty -six 
cows  besides  young  stock.  November  8,  1871,  he  married  Jane  E.,  widow  of  William 
Dodge,  ot  Louisville,  who  has  borne  him  three  sons  and  two  daughters :  Mollie  H.,  born 
December  21,  1872,  a  graduate  of  Alassena  Union  School  and  now  in  Potsdam  Normal 
School,  Edward  J.,  born  April  10,  1875,  educated  at  Alassena  Union  School.  Ellen 
M.,  born  July  20,  1877,  now  in  Massena  Scbool.  Henry  E.,  born  May  22,  1879.  Fan- 
nie E.,  born  August  12,  1882.  Mr.  Mulholland  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  supervisor 
and  highway  commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  .Massena  Lodge  No.  513,  F.  &  A.  M. 
The  family  adhere  to  the  Episcopal  church. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  351 

Hosmer,  Ira  G.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Louisville,  May  G,  1820.  He  is  the  third  son 
of  a  family  of  eleven  children  born  to  Otis  G.  and  Betsey  (Perkins)  Hosmer,  natives  of 
Chester,  Vt.,  who  came  to  Massena  about  1806,  and  soon  moved  to  Louisville  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  where  Mr.  Hosmer  died  in  1883,  and  his 
wife  in  1835.  The  grandfather  of  subject,  Wm.  Hosmer,  was  born  in  Boston  and  moved 
to  Chester,  Vt.,  where  he  lived  and  died.  He  had  eleven  sons  and  one  daughter,  and 
all  save  one  weighed  over  200  pounds  each.  He  was  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and 
four  of  his  sons  were  in  the  War  of  1812,  one  of  them,  Martin,  being  a  quartermaster. 
The  subject's  father  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  held  most  of  the 
town  offices.  Mr.  Hosmer  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  has  always  followed  farming  and  owns  438  acres  of  land,  and  keeps  a  dairy  of  thirty- 
five  cows.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  family  are  Universalists.  September  29 
1858,  he  was  married  to  Betsey,  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Lucy  Perkins,  he  of  Stanstead, 
Vt.,  and  she  of  Connecticut.  They  had  three  children  :  William,  at  home  ;  Martin,  who 
married  Jane  Han,  by  whom  he  has  three  children,  Hattie  M.,  Ida  M.,  and  an  infant ; 
Harriet  M.,  wife  of  A.  John  Heague. 

Heague,  Roff  J.,  Louisville,  was  born  in  Huntington,  Canada,  February  28,  1830.  He 
was  the  fifth  child  of  William  John  and  Dorothy  (Newman)  Heague,  who  came  from 
England  to  Canada  in  1827.  thence  to  Frankhn  county,  where  Mrs.  Heague  died  in 
January,  1835,  and  he  moved  to  Waddington,  afterward  to  Louisville,  and  finally  in 
1849  went  overland  to  California,  and  died  in  Momence,  111.,  in  1864.  He  married 
second  Widow  Stowell,  of  Waddington,  and  had  two  children.  Roff  J.  Heague  was 
reared  by  his  uncle,  John  Newman,  of  Ogdensburg,  and  learned  the  painter's  trade. 
He  came  to  Louisville  when  a  yonng  man  in  1848,  and,  excepting  seven  years  in  Pots- 
dam, always  lived  there.  He  followed  farming  in  Louisville  and  owned  250  acres  and 
carried  thirty-eight.  He  was  a  Republican  and,  with  his  family,  a  Presbyterian.  He 
was  married,  January  1, 1850,  to  Louisa,  daughter  of  Amariah  and  Clarissa  (Wells)  Har- 
ris, born  February  18,  1831.  WiUiam  Harris  was  from  Massachusetts,  and  his  wife 
from  Croil's  Island.  Mrs.  Heague  was  their  only  child.  In  1820  they  came  to  Louis- 
ville, where  the  father  died  August  13^  1873,  and  the  mother  February  4,  1855.  Mr. 
Heague  and  wife  have  had  five  children  :  Amariah  J.,  who  married,  November  9,  1888, 
Hattie  M.  Hosmer,  of  Louisville,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Winnifred  M.,  they  reside 
in  Johnsville,  Minn.  Amos,  died  in  infancy.  Winnifred  M.  was  married,  June  27, 
1877,  to  Dr.  Henry  F.  Campfield,  of  Louisville.  Libbie,  who  died  October  25,  1886. 
She  was  the  wife  of  W.  D.  Kingsley,  of  Louisville.  Amos  L.,  at  home.  Mr.  Heague 
died  December  22,  1883. 

Babcock,  Allen,  Massena,  was  born  in  Brasher,  February  5,  1840.  The  family  is  of 
English  descent,  and  date  their  ancestry  to  three  brothers,  George,  John  and  Benjamin, 
who  were  among  those  who  came  to  America  in  the  Mayfiower.  Benjamin  Babcock 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  in  1820  came  to  Bombay,  Franklin  county,  and  engaged 
in  the  timber  trade  until  his  death.  W.  H.  Babcock  was  born  in  Alburg,  Vt.,  in  1812, 
and  when  eight  years  of  age  came  to  Bombay,  and,  excepting  a  few  years  in  Brasher, 
spent  his  life  there.  His  wife  was  Harriet  Wait  of  Isle  la  Motte  ;  she  was  a  cousin  of 
General  Scott  and  President  Fillmore.     They  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters.     Mr. 


352  HISTORY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

Babcock  was  iustice  of  the  peace,  and  deputy  custom  house  office  at  Hogansburg.  He 
is  dead  and  his  widow  now  resides  in  Brasher.  Allen  Babcock  was  reared  in  the  vil- 
lao-e  of  Ho'i-ansburg  and  educated  in  the  same  place.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  be- 
gan as  clerk  in  Hogansburg  and  continued  as  such  until  he  reached  seventeen,  when  he 
went  to  Helena  and  learned  the  miller's  trade.  He  then  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  92d  Reg't 
N.  Y.  Vols,  and  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  96th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and  served  four 
years  and  four  months.  He  was  absent  from  his  regiment  but  eight  days,  and  served 
as  quartermaster  on  the  staff  of  General  Curtis.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to 
Helena  and  purchased  the  mill  in  which  he  learned  his  trade  and  carried  it  on  four 
years,  and  after  one  year  in  North  Lawrence  he  purchased  the  mill  at  Raymondville, 
and  was  there  twelve  years.  In  1882  he  came  to  Massena  and  purchased  the  gristmill 
and  has  since  had  a  very  successful  business.  July  26,  1886,  he  was  burned  out,  with 
no  insurance,  but  rebuilt,  aad  on  November  26  was  again  in  running  order.  His  mill 
capacity  is  fifty  barrels  daily  and  500  bushels  of  other  grain  ;  his  business  is  local,  and 
he  grinds  about  15,000  bushels  of  wheat  and  30,000  to  40,000  bushels  of  coarse  grain 
annually.  Mr.  Babcock  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  sought  office ;  he  has  been 
school  trustee  for  eleven  years,  and  at  the  present  time  is  president  of  the  board  of 
education.  He  is  a  member  of  Deer  River  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and  family  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  churdi.  Mr.  Bal)Cock  was  married  March  1,  1866,  to  Margaret 
Carpenter  of  Cornwall,  Canada,  by  whom  he  has  had  four  children  :  Orville  A.,  Fred  L., 
Alma  D.  and  Martha  E. 

Cubley,  William  H.,  Massena,  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  furniture,  and  undertaker, 
embalmer  and  funeral  director.  Mr.  Cubley  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Vt.,  October  28, 
1833,  a  son  of  Wm.  Cubley,  a  native  of  Englai;d,  who  came  to  Canada  when  a  young 
man  and  worked  on  the  locks.  He  was  a  marble  cutter  by  trade,  and  afterwards 
settled  in  Woodstock,  Vt,  where  he  died.  His  wife  was  Wealthy  Kinney.  She  was 
born  in  Vermont  and  raised  in  Winsor,  Vt,  by  an  aunt,  the  wife  of  Deacon  Hart  Smith. 
They  had  three  children:  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Gr.  B.  Skinner,  of  Middleport, 
Ohio;  William,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Cubley 
died  in  Woodstock,  Vt.,  and  his  wife  in  Massena,  where  she  had  resided  with  William 
H.  for  several  years.  William  H.  Cubley  was  a  mere  child  when  his  father  died, 
and  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  by  Deacon  Hart  Smith  in  Winsor,  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  He  came  to  Massena  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  afterwards  lived 
with  James  Danforth  until  he  reached  his  majority,  working  on  a  farm  and  at  the 
carpeter  trade  and  furniture  business.  After  he  became  his  own  master  he  worked  at 
carpentering  in  the  summer  and  in  a  furniture  shop  in  the  winter,  and  for  two  years 
in  the  armory  at  Winsor.  In  1867  Mr.  Cubley  engaged  in  his  present  business,  and 
has  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Cubley  was  a  Republican  for  many  years,  but  at  present 
i^  a  Prohi'uitionist,  and  was  town  clerk  one  year.  He  is  a  Congregationalist,  as  also 
V.  aa  his  wifo.  Mr.  Cubley  was  married,  September  15,  1862,  to  Martha  S.  Jones,  of 
Parifilivill.-,  horn  December  26.  1835,  daughter  of  Ralph  and  Martha  (Welch)  Jones, 
of  Potsdam.  They  have  had  fix  children:  Wni.  il.,  liorn  August  28,  1863,  who  has 
chargf!  of  his  father's  store;  his  wife  is  Jessie  .Mawson,  of  Cazenovia,  who  was  a 
teacher  nt  Miiv^.na  for  several  years      Katie,  born  April  25,  1865,  died  February  10, 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES.  3r,3 

1860.  Mary  M.,  born  May  1,  1867,  wife  of  Rev.  Wm.  Rochester,  of  Prince  Albert, 
Canada,  and  have  one  son,  Herbert.  Charles  E.,  born  May  2."),  1869,  who  is  now  in 
Potsdam  Normal  School.  Frank  L.,  born  October  15,  1870,  now  in  Rochester  Uni- 
versity. Ralph  J.,  born  December  SO,  1872,  at  home.  Mrs.  Cubley  died  April  16, 
1893.  The  grandfather  of  subject  was  Samuel  Cubley,  who  came  to  America  July 
2J:,  1828,  with  sixteen  children  and  grandchildren.  He  settled  in  Essex,  Yt,  and 
there  lived  and  died  December  29,  1829,  and  his  wife,  Sarah,  died  May  8,  1829. 

Crary,  Ryland  A.,  Pierrepont,  was  born  in  Pierrepont,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns, 
August  25,  1850.  He  is  a  son  of  Stephen  A.  Crary,  a  son  of  Nathan.  Stephen  A. 
Crary  was  born  in  Potsdam  in  1812,  and  was  a  young  man  when  his  parents  came  to 
Pierrepont.  His  wife  was  Juliet  Reynolds,  whom  he  married  in  1832,  and  they  had 
six  children.  Mrs.  Crary  died,  and  he  married  Mary  Smead,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children.  Crary  was  a  farmer  and  owned  270  acres  of  land.  He  died  July  30,  1880, 
and  his  wife  August  21,  1890.  Ryland  A.  Crary  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  school.  He  has  alway.s  followed  farming  and  breeding  Hambletonian  and 
Phil  Sheridan  horses.  He  owns  the  old  homestead,  consisting  of  270  acres,  and  at 
present  has  thirty  head  of  fine  horses,  with  Ryswood  216  at  head  of  herd.  Mr.  Crary 
also  keeps  a  fine  dairy  of  twenty-five  cows.  Ha  has  been  twice  married :  first  to  Maria 
Bacheller,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Maud  A.  Mrs.  Crary  died  in  1873,  and  in  1875 
he  married  Orley  Holcomb,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Maria  E.,  Mack  L., 
Nathan  C,  Gretchen  C.  In  pohtics  Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican,  but  not  an  aspirant  for 
office. 

Palmer,  J.  M.,  Russell,  was  born  in  Wilna,  December  11,  1830,  a  son  of  Ichabod,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  came  to  Jefferson  county  and  there  married  Lura  Cooley  of 
that  county,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  six  now  living.  Mr.  Palmer  and  wife 
came  to  Russell  in  1847,  and  took  up  four  thousand  acres  of  land  near  the  village  of 
Russell.  Mr.  Palmer  was  justice  of  the  peace  and  highway  commissioner  of  the  town. 
J.  M.  Palmer,  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared  on  the  farm,  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  being  more  than  ordinarily  studious,  managed  to  become  possessed  of  a 
good  business  education,  and  by  a  thorough  course  of  reading  became  a  well-informed 
man.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  Russell  and  studied  surveying  with  Benja- 
min Smith.  He  followed  surveying  several  years,  and  has  acted  in  that  capacity  on 
many  occasions.  In  1851  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Russell,  in  which 
calling  he  has  since  been  engaged,  excepting  two  years  spent  on  a  farm.  He  has  been 
a  great  loser  by  fire,  having  been  twice  burned  out  with  no  insurance  on  stores  or  con- 
tents. His  lumber  mills  at  Monterey  were  also  burned,  without  insurance.  He  carries 
in  his  store  a  general  stock  of  goods,  with  drugs  and  medicines.  He  is  also  a  large  real 
estate  owner,  having  m  the  towns  of  Fine  and  Russell  2,500  acres  of  wild  lands,  and 
several  dairy  farms  in  Russell,  and  villa?e  lots  and  residences  in  Russell  village.  He 
owns  the  tub  factory  of  Russell,  also  the  lumber  mills  at  Silver  Hill.  In  April,  1851, 
he  married  Mary  Van  Ornum,  daughter  of  Harry  Van  Ornum,  who  came  with  his  pa- 
rents to  Russell  in  1813,  and  is  now  Hving  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  They  have  had 
five  children  :  Celia  G.  (deceased),  Morton  J.  (deceased),  Harry  F.  (deceased),  Alden  L., 


354  HISTOKY  OF  ST.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

who  has  charge  of  a  printing  olnce  in  Russell,  and  Rolla  C,  who  is  engaged  in  his 
father's  store.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  various  town  oflSces,  including 
that  of  town  clerk  for  six  years,  supervisor  for  seven  years,  and  justice  of  the  peace  for 
twenty  years.  He  was  member  of  the  assernbly  from  1867  to  1871,  and  has  been  jus- 
tice of  sessions  two  years,  also  was  a  member  of  the  commission  appointed  to  equalize 
the  assessments  in  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  has  charge  of  the  postoffice  for  a  number 
of  years,  under  Nelson  Doolittle,  and  in  1860  was  appointed  postmaster,  holding  the 
oflSce  until  1866.  He  was  re-appointed  under  Grant,  and  held  office  until  Cleveland's 
first  administration.  He  was  again  appointed  under  Harrison,  and  has  since  held  the 
position. 

Carton,  James,  Massena,  was  born  in  County  Wexford,  town  of  Gory,  Irtlaud,  in 
1787,  came  to  America  in  1816,  having  been  recently  married  to  Mary  Doren.  who  ac- 
companied him  on  the  voyage.  She  was  born  in  1785  in  the  town  of  Camolin.  They 
settled  in  the  town  of  Massena.  They  came  empty  handed,  but  by  their  industry  be- 
came possessed  of  a  comfortable  competence.  They  possessed  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  they  divided  among  their  cliildren,  three  sons  and  one  daughter  :  John, 
Gregory,  Luke  and  Ellen,  all  deceased  Ijut  Ellen.  She  was  the  wife  of  Daniel  Tracey, 
deceased.  Mr.  Carton  was  a  Republican  and  was  nine  years  assessor  of  Massena.  He 
died  May  17,  1874,  aud  Mrs.  Carton  died  December  27,  1864.  John  Carton,  when 
young,  taught  school  in  New  York  and  Canada,  and  afterwards  followed  farming. 
He  died  July  9,  1886,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  Gregory  Carton  was  a  farmer  in 
Massena.  He  died  March  4,  1874,  aged  fifty  three  years.  Luke  Carton  was  teacher, 
county  school  commissioner  and  farmer.  He  was  a  Republican  and  was  assessor 
and  supervisor.  His  wife  was  Marcie  E.  Russell  of  Massena,  by  whom  were  born 
three  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  six  survive.  The  family  are  liberal  in  reli- 
gious views.     Luke  Carton  was  l)orn  September  10,  1823,  and  died  October    16,  1893. 


INDEX-PART  I 


Aborigines,  characteristics  of,  29. 

subdivision  of  nations  of,  39. 

theories  concerning  the,  27. 

twelve  divisions  of,  28. 
Acadia,  settlement  of,  34. 
Act  of  erection  of  St.  Lawrence  countv, 

107. 
Acts     fol-     preventing     obstruction     of 

streams,  164. 
Adirondac  Pulp  Companj-,  .171. 
Agalite  Fiber  Company,  569. 
Agricultural  societies,  214  et  seq. 
Aiken,  James  F.,  718. 
Aldrich,  Newton,  158. 
Alexander,  Seth,  140. 
Allen,  Dr.  Andrew  H.,  804. 

E.  B.  &Son,  172. 

E.  S.,  171. 

George  B.,  393. 

Horace,  258. 

John,  199. 

Samuel,  322. 

W.  B.,  171. 
American  Talc  Company,  574. 
Analyses  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Oswegat- 

chie  Rivers,  125  et  seq. 
Andrews,  "William  H.,  281. 
Anthony,  Charles,  200. 
Asbestos  Pulp  Companv,  575. 
Ashley,  Charles,  219. 
Assistant  justices,  249. 
Atwater,  R.,  163,  526. 
Austin,  J.  H.,  portrait  of,  facing  356,  Part 

Averell,  William  J.,  217. 

portrait  of,  facing  375,  Part  1. 
Aztecs,  the,  30. 

Babcock,  Z.  W.,  portrait  of,  facing  .")5, 

Part  II. 
Bailey.  Ansel,  156. 
Baldwin,  Benjamin  G.,  252. 

Silas,  257. 
Banks  of  Ogdensburg,  374. 


Bar,   present,  of  St.   Lawrence    countv 

282. 
Barber,  Dr.  George  W.,  290. 
Barnes,  Joseph,  161. 
Barnett,  Dr.  Cornelius  A.,  320. 
Barter,  105. 

Bartholomew,  Charles  C,  295. 
Bartlett,  Capt.  David  L. ,  198. 
Bassett.  jr..  Dr.  John  N.,  313. 
Battle  of  Isle  Royal,  68. 
"  Bay  State  "  steamboat,  171. 
Bavlev,  Dr.  C.W.,  portrait  of,  facing  11 

Part  II. 
Bean,  Dr.  John,  297. 

James   S.,    portrait   of,    facing    136, 
Part  I. 
Beckstead,  Dr.  Morris,  319. 
Bill,  Frank  L.,  717. 
Benedict,  E.  W.,  206. 
Benevolent  organizations,  235. 
Benton,  Dr.  Charles  C,  290. 
Dr.  J.  H.,  293. 
Dr.  John  W.,  307. 
Birge,  John  W.,  183. 

Oliver  W.,  184. 
Bixbv,  Charles  N.,  279. 
Black  Dick,  131. 
"Black  Hawk,"  steamboat,  169. 
Black  Lake,  110. 
Bloodshed,  the  first  between  the  French 

and  Indians,  36. 
Bower,  Dr.  Silas  J.,  313. 
Boy  fifer,  incident  of  the,  77. 
Boynton,  Joseph,  296. 
Braddock's  expedition,  57. 
Brasher,  churches  of,  638. 
early  settlers  of,  632. 
organization  of,  631. 
supervisors  of,  635. 
Center,  637. 
Falls,  636. 
Iron  Works,  638, 
Brewerv  Artesian  Well,  analysis  of  wat- 
er of,  124. 


356 


INDEX— PART  I. 


Bridges,  Z.  B.,  217. 

portrait  of,  facing  284,  Part  I. 
Brinckerhoff,  John  R.,  200,  257. 
"British  Oueen,"  steamboat,  171. 
Bromaghim,  Francis,  336. 
Brookdale,  523. 
Brooker,  Dr.  John  B.,  319. 
Brooks,  Dr.  Erasmus  D.,  302. 
Brown,  Anthony  C,  177. 

C.  H.,  218.  ' 

Dr.   Hiram  D.,  311. 

Dr.  S.  E.,  305. 

General,  in  the  War  of  1812,  139. 

William  C,  256. 
"  Brown ville,"  steamboat,  170. 
Buck's  Bridge,  502. 
Buckton,  or  Buck's  Corners,  522. 
Burning  of  the  "Caroline,"  181. 
Burns,  Dr.  Robert,  296. 
Buswell,  C.  T.,  292. 

Cabot,  John,  English  explorer.  31. 
Campaign  of  1758,  65. 

1759,  66. 

1760,  67. 

Campbell,  Dr.  Robert,  296. 

Canadians,  enmity  of,   after  the  Patriot 

War,  193. 
Canton  early  settlers  of,  424. 
organization  of,  423. 
supervisors  of,  429. 
Morley    and    Madrid    Plank     Road 

Company,  167. 
Plank  Road,  167. 
Village,  430  et  seq. 
banks  of,  435. 
churches  in,  440. 
fire  department  and  water  works 

of,  438. 
mills  of,  432. 
presidents  of,  437. 
press  of,  436. 
schools  of,  444. 
Capture  of  a  girl  by  an  Indian,  344. 

of  an  infant  by  an  Indian,  338. 
Carpenter,  Dr.  James  B.,  299. 
Carr,  P.  G.,  portrait  of,  46,  Part  II. 
Car  tier  at  Hochelaga,  33. 

voyages  of,  32. 
"Cataract,"  steamboat,  171. 
Celebration,  first  national,  130. 
Chamb(  ilain,  Philo,  173. 
Cliaiiijjhiiii,  Samuel,  34. 

alli,t:i(c    Ijctween,    and   the    Algon- 

'I'^i'i^,  36. 
<li  alh  .if.  40. 

and  labors  f)f,  37  cl  stri. 

I  .r-rlil  ion   of,   38. 


Chaney,  Gavlord  T.,  263. 

Chapin,  David  M.,  205,  259. 

"Charles  Carroll,"  steamboat,  170. 

Charlevoix's  mention  of  La  Galette,  46. 

Cheesman,  Dr.  B.  C,  313. 

Cliene}',  Allen,  171. 

Child,  Dr.  N.  N.  298. 

Christianity,   effects  of,   upon   discovery 

and  civilization,  18. 
Church,  Baptist,  Canton,  440. 

De  Kalb,  517. 

Fine,  700. 

Fowler,  606. 

Go\iverneur,  580. 

Hermon,  684. 

Hopkinton,  422. 

Lawrenceville,  676. 

Madrid,  403. 

Morristown,  621. 

Nicholville,  676. 

(_^gden.sburg",  381. 

Parishville,  598, 

Potsdam,  494. 

Russell,  532. 
Catholic,  Brasher,  640. 

Canton,  443. 

Colton,  698. 

Gouverneur,  584. 

Hopkinton,  422. 

Lawrence,  677. 

Lisbon  Center,  716. 

Louisville,  540. 

Madrid,  404. 

Massena,  416. 

Norfolk,  631. 

Ogdensbm-g,  386. 

Potsdam,  497. 

Rossie,  594. 

French,  Ogdensburg,  307. 

St.  Henry's,  De  Kalb,  517. 

St.John's,  Morristown,  622. 

St.  Mary's,  Waddiugton,  712. 

Apostolic,  Potsdam,  497. 
Christian  Advent,  Massena,  416. 
Congregational,  Brasher,  639. 

Canton,  440. 

De  Kalb,  515. 

Depeyster,  650. 

<'iouverneur,  581,  582. 
Hopkinton,  422. 

Lawrenceville,  677. 

Lisbon,  334. 

Marshfield,  684. 

Massena  Center,  414. 

Morristown,  621. 

Norfolk,  630. 

North  Lawrence,  677. 

Norwood,  501. 


INDEX— PART  I. 


Church,     Congregational,     Ogdensburo;. 
387. 

Parishville,  598. 

Rensselaer  Falls,  .IfiU. 

Richville,  olo. 

Stockholm,  5'2:5. 
Episcopal,  Canton,  443. 

Massena,  416. 

]\Iorlev,  459. 

Ogdensburg,  383. 

Potsdam,  495. 

Russell,  532. 

Christ,  Morristown,  619. 

Grace,  Norfolk,  630. 

St.  Andrew's,  Norwood,  501. 

St.  Luke's,  Lisbon,  333. 

St.  Paul's,  Waddington,  71 0. 

St.  Thomas,  Lawrence,  677. 

Trinity,  Gouverneur,  583. 
Evangelical   Lutheran,   Morristown, 

622. 
First,    and  Congregation  of  Christ, 

379. 
First  Reform,    or   Covenanter,  Pres- 
byterian, Lisbon,  333. 
Freewill  Baptist,  Fowler,  607. 

Hopkinton,  423. 

La^^Tence,  676. 

Parishville,  599. 

PieiTepont,  613. 

Potsdam,  498. 

Stockholm,  525. 
Jewish,  Ogdensburg,  388. 
Methodist,  Brasher,  638. 

Canton,  441. 

Colton,  697. 

De  Kalb,  516. 

Depevster,  650. 

Edwards,  668. 

Fine,  700. 

Fowler,  606. 

Gouverneur,  582. 

Hammond,  660. 

Hermon,  683. 

Hopkinton,  422. 

Lawrenceville,  676. 

Lisbon,  332. 

Louisville,  539. 

ilacomb,  693. 

Madrid,  402. 

Massena,  415. 

Morristown,  622. 

Nicholville,  676. 

Norfolk,  631. 

Norwood,  501. 

Ogdensburg,  384. 

Parishville,  598. 

Pierrepont,  613. 


Church,  Methodist,  Potsdam,  494. 
Rensselaer  Falls,  461. 
Russell,  532. 
Somerville,  594. 
Stockholm,  524. 
Waddington,  712. 
of  Visitation,  Norwood,  502. 
Presbyterian,  Brasher,  639. 
Canton,  441. 
De  Kalb,  517. 
Gouverneur,  583. 
Lisbon,  331. 
Morristown,  621. 
Ogdensburg,  381. 
Rossie,  594. 
Waddington,  711. 
Hammond,  660. 
St.  Paul's,  Potsdam,  493. 
Second  New  Light  or  Reformed  Cov- 
enanter, Lisbon,  334. 
Seventh  Dav  Adventist,  Pierrepont 

613. 
Union,  Brier  Hill,  622. 

Edwards,  668. 
,      Pitcaim,  688. 
Universalist,  Canton,  442. 
Fowler,  607. 
Hammond,  661. 
^lorristown,  622. 
Nicholville,  577. 
Ogdensburg,  389. 
Potsdam,  495. 
Somer\nlle,  594. 
Stockholm,  525. 
Weslvan  ^Methodist,  Lisbon,  335. 
:\Iacomb,  694. 
Morley,  459. 
Stockholm,  524. 
D.  W.,325. 
rules,  stringent,  51. 
Churches  at  Buck's  Bridge,  502. 

West  Potsdam,  503. 
Claflin,  Norman  H.,  265. 
Clare,  organization  of,  715. 

supers-isors  of  716. 
Clark,  Dr.  Darius,  288. 

Edwin,  171. 
Clarkson,  J.  C,  214. 

T.  S.,  162,  200. 
Cleaveland,  F.  N.,  271, 
Clifton,   organization  and  settlement  of 
713. 
super\dsors  of,  714. 
Close,  Dr.  S.  W.,  302.  _ 
Colton,  churches  of,  697. 

organization   and  early  settlers   of, 

694. 
super\nsors  of,  695. 


358 


INDEX— PART  T, 


Colton  village,  696. 
Columbus,  Christopher,  23. 
early  life  of,  23. 

di.smal  ending  of  the  life  of,  26. 
final  discovery  by,  25. 
.struggles  of,  to  obtain  assistance,  24. 
CompanVof  the  West,  the,  49. 
Conger,  Gerrit  S.,  portrait  of,  facing  541, 

Part  I. 
Congress  of  colonial    rejiresentatives  at 

Albany,  61. 
Constitutional  provision  concerning  In- 
dian lands,  93. 
Cook,  J.  H.,218. 
Cooper,  Judge  William,  505. 
Corbin  Family,  The,  portraits  of,  facing 

571,  Parti. 
Cortereal,  voyage  of,  in  1463,  22. 
County  buildings,  removal  of,  155  et  seq. 
opposition  to  the  establishment 

of,  at  Ogdensburg,  132. 
struggle  for  removal  of,  after  the 
burning  of  the  court  house  in 
1893,  158. 
clerks,  220. 

building,  130. 
office,  the  first,  134. 
office,  the  new,  160. 
judges,  250. 

officers  appointed,  first,  129. 
plans  for  division  of,  154. 
Treasurers,  220. 
Court,  County,  249. 

house,  burning  of,  157. 

enlargnicnt  of,  in  1S51,  157. 
of  1.S93,  the  new,  151). 
the  first,  132  et  seq. 
the  second,  156. 
of  Ajjpeals,  246. 
Common  Pleas,  247. 
Supreme,  246. 
Surrogate's  250. 
the  first,  in  Ogdensburg,  248. 
Courts,  origin  of,  243. 
Cousin,  French  navigator,  23. 
Crampton,  Lucius,  218. 
Cranberry  Lake,  111. 
Crapser,  )\.  S.,  160. 
Croil's  Island,  537. 
Curtis,  Gates,  portrait  of,  facing  40,  Part 

Curtis,  N.  M.,  197,  198,  210,  218. 

portrait  of,  facing  197,  Part  I. 
Custom  house  and  post-office  at  Ogdens- 
'  »urg,  359. 


na 

hah 


'«ert,  160. 
.  i>r.  S.,  304. 


Daniels,  W.   H.,   portrait  of,   facing  348 

Part  I. 
Darrow,    G.  F.,   portrait  of,   facing  369 

Part  I. 
Dart,  Dr.  G.,  296. 

Wm,  A. ,  portrait  of,  facing  120,  Part  I. 
Davidson  Marble  Compan^^  564. 
Davics,  Thomas  A.,  198. 

Thomas  J.,  255,  336,  379,  383. 
Dav,  Hiram  W. ,   portrait   of,   facing  38, 

Part  II. 
Dead  Sea  water,  analysis  of,  121. 
De  Chastes,  patent  of,  34. 
Deer  River,  110. 
De  Kail),  churches  of,  514. 

early  settlers  of,  505. 

Junction,  513. 

organization  of,  504. 

su])ervisors  of,  511. 

village,  511. 
De  la  Salle,  Robert,  expedition  of,  53. 
De  Monts,  Sieur,  34. 
Denio,  H.,  184. 
r)e  Peyster,  churches  of,  649. 

organization  of,  640. 

settlement  of,  641. 

supervisors  of,  650. 

wild  animals  in,  644. 
Derby,  T.  N.,217. 
Discovery,  Arabian,  21. 

Chinese,  19. 

Columbus's,  23. 

Irish,  19. 

Norse,  20. 

pre-Columbian,  of  the  western  hemi- 
sphere, 19. 

Welsh,  21. 
District  attorneys,  251. 
Douglass,  Dr.  De  Witt  C,  315. 
Dorwin,  (lustave  S.,  274. 

portrait  of,  facing  274,  Part  I. 
Drury,  Dr.  Alfred,  312. 

Dr.  B.  F.,  300. 
Dutch  chimneys,  104. 
Dyke,  Chester,  217. 

EartlKpiakc  of  1663,  52. 
Eastman,  Benjamin,  197. 
East  Stockholm,  522. 
Edsall,  Joscli,  90,  91,  92,  130,  134. 
Edwards,  churches  of,  66.S. 

early  settlers  of  662. 

organization  of,  661. 

supervisors  of,  6(55. 

village,  667. 
Ed\vards\ille,  620. 

Egerl,  Amos  S.,   portrait  of,    facing  168. 
Part  I. 


INDEX— PART  I. 


359 


Ellsworth,  H.  G.,  portrait  of  facing  4: '.s. 

Part  I. 
Embargo  act,  the,  187. 
Empire  State  Marble  Company,  060. 
English,  awakening  of,  61. 

posts  and  claims,  54. 

successes,  65  et  seq. 
Erickson,  Lief,  voyage  of,  20. 
Erwin,  George  Z.,  portrait  of,  facing  72, 

Part  I. 
Esquimaux,  the,  80. 
Everett,  Edward  A.,  717. 
Expedition,  Frontenac's,  44. 

Father  Le  Moyne,  48. 

Father  Raymbault,  48. 

to  Oswegatchie  of  Lieutenants  Mc- 
Clelland and  Hardenburgh,  77. 
Exploration,  beginning  of  French,  81. 

Fairchild,  E.  N.,  171. 
Farmers,  benefits  accruing  to,  by  open- 
ing of  railroads,  177. 
Feek,  Dr.  R.  G..  817. 
Fenian  atTair,  the,  204  et  seq. 
Fine,  John,  153,  192,  197,  199,  253. 

churches  of,  700. 

organization  and  settlement  of,  698. 

supervisors  of,  700. 

village,  699. 
Finnegan,  Dr.  AV.  B.,  319. 
Finnimore,  Dr.  Daniel  W.,  316. 
First  judges,  248. 
Flackville.  826. 
Flahertv,  Michael  H.,  158. 
Fletcher,  Willis  J.,  271. 
Flouring  mills  of  Ogdensburg,  376. 
Floyd,  Dr.  William,  295. 
Food  of  pioneers,  101. 
Foot,  Henry  G.,  215. 

Stillman,  129. 
Ford,  David,  92. 

mansion,  the,  347. 

Nathan,  86,  87,  88,  89,  90,  92,  93,  94, 
95,  96,  97,  98,  129,  180,  182,  183, 184, 
187,  149,  255,  837,  389,  347,  870,380. 

vault,  the,  348. 
Forsythe,  Captain,  146,  147,  148,  149. 

expedition  of,  to  Brockville^l44. 
Fort  Duquesne,  establishment  of ,  577"'"'^ 
fall  of,  66. 

Necessity,  Washington's  victory    at, 
57. 
Fossil  turtle,  a,  (note)  114. 
Foster,  Edwin  W.,  161. 
Foundries  and  machine  shops  of  ( )gdens- 

burg,  377. 
Fowler,  churches  of,  606. 

early  settlers  of,  600. 


Fowler,  organization  of,  599. 

supervisors  of ,  605. 
France,  efforts  of,  at  colonization,  82  ct 

seq. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  56. 
Freemansburg,  664. 
French  colonization  at  Quebec,  38. 

colony,  condition  of  the,  in  1659.  47. 

enclosures,  238. 

first  attempts  at  colonization  by  the 
32. 

hopes,  failure  of,  71. 

influence  with  the  Indians,  58. 

king,  efforts  of  the,  to  encourage  set- 
tlement, 49. 

the,  on  the  Ohio,  55. 

the  first  white  settlers,  18. 
Friday,  coincidence  of  events  occurring 

on  (note),  26. 
"  Frontenac,"  steamboat,  169. 
Frontenac's  expedition,  44. 
Fuller,  Dr.  Ira  J.,  314. 
Fullerville,  603. 
Fullington,  Charles  Y. ,  257. 

Gabriels,  Rev.  Henrv,  portrait  of,  facing 

335,  Part  I. 
Galloupville,  325. 
Gardner  Pulp  Company,  572. 
Garrow,  Nathan,  185. 
Garvin,  Dr.  James,  310. 
Geology  and  mineralogy,  118. 
George^,  Joseph,  278. 
Gibson,  Capt.  Warren,  198. 
Giflin,   Dan  S.,   portrait    of,  facing  342, 

Part  I. 
Gillett,  Ransom  H.,  259. 
Gillson,  O.  C,  218. 
Gilmour,  Capt.  John  C,  198. 
Gleason,  G.  M.,  218.  219. 
Goodrich,  Lt-  Col.  William  B.,  198. 
Gouverneur  Agricultural  Society,  215. 

and  Oswegatchie  Railroad,  178. 

churches  of,  580. 

Dairymen's  Board  of  Trade,  219. 

early  settlers  of,  542. 

Marble  Compauv.  5(>8. 

Masonic  Temple',  230. 

organization  of,  541. 

Pulp  Company,  570. 

quarrv  industries,  55!J  ct  scci- 

Richv'ille  and  Canton   Plank    Road 
Companv,  167. 

Somerville     and     Antwerii      Plank 
Road  Company,  167. 

supervisors  of,  558. 

village,  547. 

-    educational  matters  in,  550. 


3  GO 


INDEX— PART  r. 


Gouverueur  village  hotels  of,  'hu. 

libraries  and  reading  rooms  in, 
553. 

manufacturers  of,  555. 

press  of.  578. 

public  improvements  in,  554. 
"Governor  Smith,"  boat,  174. 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  285. 
Grantjers,  236. 
Gras.s  River,  109. 
Greene,  George  Sears,  200. 
Gregor,  Dr.  A.  R. ,  297. 
Grist  mill,  the  first,  94. 

Hailesborough,  (502. 
Hale,  H.  W^,  218. 
LedyardP.,  158. 

portrait  of,  facing  252,  Part  I. 
O.  H.,  218. 
Hall,  George,  portrait  of,  facing  362,  Part 

I. 
Hamelin,  Dr.  J.  A.,  306. 
Hammond,  churches  of,  660. 
early  settlers  of,  652,  654. 
in  the  war  of  181V,  652. 
organization  of,  651. 
Rossie    and  Antwerp    Plank    Road 

Company,  167. 
supervisors  of,  659. 
village,  659. 
Hannawa  Falls,  611. 
Harrison.  R.  X.,  215. 
Ha.sbrouck,  Louis,  129,  130,  134,  153,  255, 
379. 

portrait  of,  facing  6,  Part  H. 
Hawkins,  William  M.,  717. 
Hawlev,  Dr.  C.  B.,  303,315. 
Hayward,  William  B.,  199. 
Helena,  635. 
Hendrick,  Chief,  61. 
"Henry  Burden,"  novel  steamer,  170. 
Hcrjulson,  Bjarne,  Norse  navigator,  20. 
Hermon,  churches  of,  683. 
early  settlers  of,  379. 
organization  of,  678. 
Plank  Road  Company,  108. 
'S(jrs  of,  683. 
,.      681. 
Hcmman,  C.  B.,  219. 
Hfuvelton  and  Canton  Plank  Road  Com- 
pany. H'lH. 

and  De  Kalb  Plank  Road  Company, 


16« 


Hi 
Hi^ 


•ss  of,  342. 
n,  341. 
a,  :VAU. 
tirv,  288. 
■.f,'l7. 


Hoard,  Louis  De  V.,   portrait  of,   facing 

36,  Part  II. 
Hochelaga,  32. 
Holland,  Henrv,  portrait  of,   facing  370, 

Part  I. 
Holt.  Marvin,  218. 
Home  guards,  Ogdensburg,  203. 
Homeopathic  Medical  Societv,  St.  Law- 
rence. 287. 
Hooks,  Dr.  Don  M.,  319. 
Hopkins,  Roswell,  163,  256. 
Hopkinton,  churches  of,  422. 
early  settlers  of,  420. 
settlement  of,  417. 
topograph}-  of,  419. 
Hosford,     Prof.     E.    A.,    researches    of, 

21, 
Hospital,  St.  Lawi-ence  State,  210  et  seq 
first  board  of  managers  of 
211.  ^ 

Hossie,  Dr.  T.  R.,  306. 
Hotel,  the  American,  94. 
Hough,  Dr.  Franklin  B.,  12U. 
Houghton,  J.  C,  217. 
Hughes,  John,  murder  of,  357. 
Huiburd,  Calvin  T.,  200. 
Hurlburt,  George  W.,  158,  271. 
Hutchinson,  W.  B.,  219. 

Idler,  Charles  G.,  718. 
Improvements  at  La  Galette  under  Fa- 
ther Pifiuet,  60. 
Indian  River,  109. 

sovereignty  of  the  soil  of  Northern 
New  York,  80. 

story,  346. 
Indians,  decadence  of  the,  30, 

removal  of,  from  La  Galette,  bv  the 
English,  74. 
Intemperance,  1648-62,  51. 
International  Agricultural   and  Mechan- 
ical Association,  216. 

Pulp  Companv,  575. 
Irving,  Wasliington,  343. 
Isle  Roval  (note),  63. 
•'It  takes  the  cake,"  46. 
Ives,  M.  V.  n.,  1.58. 
"Jack  Downing,"  steamboat,  170. 
"Jail  liberties,"  157. 

tlie,  156. 
James,  A.  1'...  161,  192,  191,  217.261. 

Maj.  IvlwardC,  ION,  20(t,  266. 

llenrv  R.,  197. 
Johnson,  Hill,  192. 

Iiiram,215.  . — 

William.  182.  C-^ 

J(»rdoii  Lake,   111. 
Judgi  s,  24s. 


INDEX— rART  I. 


3G1 


Judson,  David  C,  130,  153,  VAi,  176,  ■,M7, 
256,  336. 

John  D.,  217. 

portrait  of,  facing  45,  Part  II. 
Roscius  W.,  150. 

portrait  of,  facing  199,  Part  I. 
Justices  of  Sessions,  250. 

Fourth  Jt:dicial  District,  247. 

Keeler,  John  C. ,  269. 
Kellogg.  C.  A.,  269. 

portrait  of,  facing  269,  Part  I. 

J.  M.,  716. 
Keene,  H.  B. ,  219. 
Kerr,  Dr.  H.  K.,  316. 
King,  John,  130. 

Preston,  188,  190,  260. 
Kingsbury,  E.  P.,  278. 
Knapp's  Station,  528. 
Knights  of  Labor,  236. 
Knights  Templar,  231. 

St.  Lawrence  Commandery,  231. 

Ogdensburg  Commandery,  232. 
Knowles,    HenrvL.,   portrait  of,  facing 
248,  Part  I.      ' 

"  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  steamboat,  170. 
La  Galette,  description  of,  bvDela  Barre, 
63. 

fir.st  occupation  of,  by  Father  Lalle- 

mant,  41. 
Indian  village  at,  74. 
mention    of  in    early   expeditionary 

records,  45. 
occupation  of,  by  the  English,  73. 
occupation  of,  by  Father  Piquet,  59. 
surrender  of  to  the  English,  69. 
traditionary    account   of  settlement 
and  naming  of,  41. 
Lake  Ontario  Steamboat  Company,  169. 
Lakes,  110. 

minor,  112. 
Lallemant,  Father,  51. 
Land  leases  at  Oswegatchie  granted  by 

the  English,  79. 
Langdon,  A.,  218. 
Langworthy,  Dr.  Stephen,  295. 
Larkin,  Dr.  Aaron  M.,  312. 
Laughtin,  Dr.  Henry  D.,  297. 
Laurentian  Well,   analysis   of  water  of, 

122  et  seq. 
Lawrence,  churches  of,  676. 
early  settlers  of,  670. 
organization  of,  669. 
supervisors  of,  671. 
Lawrenceville,  673. 
Le  Caron,  Father  Joseph,  38.  , 

Leeds,  Ph.  D.,  Albert  R.,  125,  126J 
tt 


Lisbon  Centre,  326. 

early  settlers  of,  322  et  seq. 

events  of  early  days  in,  328. 

measures  taken  by,  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  328. 

superyisors  of,  329. 

topography  and  organization  of,  321. 
Little  York,  now  Fowler,  601. 
Livingston,  Robert,  324. 
Logan,  Rev.  Alfred,  382. 
Log  houses,  102. 
"Long  Tom,"  131. 
Lorimier,  the  claim,  91. 
Louisville,  churches  of,  539. 

in  the  war  of  1812,  535. 

organization  of,  533. 

sad  event  in,  534. 

supersnsors  of,  540. 
Lucey,  D.  B.,  277. 
Lvon,  David  H.,  portrait  of,   facing  360, 

Part  I. 
Lyttle,  John,  324. 

Macomb,  Alexander,  82,  83. 

churches  of,  693. 

mining  comj^anies  in,  691. 

organization  and  settlement  of,  688. 

supervisors  of,  693. 
.McChesney,  Dr.  Robert,  289. 
!\IcClair,  Charles  W.,  portrait    of,  facing 

15,  Part  II. 
McFalls,  Dr.  David,  portrait  of,   facing 

553,  Part  I. 
McGregor,  Peter,  217. 
Mclntyre,  John  Gilbert,  265. 
McKay,  Dr.  James  S.,  318. 
McKenzie,  WilHam,  181. 
McNaughton,  J.,  279. 
Madill,  Dr.  Grant,  306. 
]\Iadoc,  Welsh  adventurer,  21. 
Madrid,  bridges  in,  399. 

churches  of,  402. 

during  the  war  of  1812,  396. 

early  settlers  of,  394  et  seq. 

settlement  of,  391, 

supervisors  of,  399. 

village,  400. 
Magone,  D.,  portrait  of,  facing  104,  Pari 

I. 
]\larine  Railway,  171. 
Marsh,  Dr.  James  M.,  311. 

Samuel,  198. 
Marshville,  683. 

'•  Martha  Ogden,"  steamboat,  169. 
Martin,  A.  T.,  217. 

James  H.,  718. 
Masonic,  224  et  .seq. 

Acacian  Lodge,  229. 


362 


INDEX— PART  I. 


Masonic,  Amber  Lodge,  228, 

Benevolence  Lodge,  226. 

Black  Lake  Lodge,  227. 

Brasher  Lodge,  229. 

Canton  Lodge,  226. 

Deer  River  Lodge,  228. 

Depevster  Lodge,  229. 

Elk  Lodge,  229. 

Fellowship  Lodge,  230. 

Gouverneur  Lodge,  227. 

Gra.ss  River  Lodge,  227. 

Hamilton  Lodge,  226. 

Hermon  Lodge,  228. 

High  Falls  Lodge,  228. 

Louisville  Lodge.  228. 

Massena  Lodge,  229. 

New  Oswegatchie  Lodge,  225. 

Norfolk  Lodge,  228. 

Northern  Light  Lodge,  No.  II,  225. 
Lodge  No.  440,  226. 

North  Star  Lodge,  227. 

Ogdensburg  Lodge,  227. 

Oswegatchie  Lodge,  229. 

Raquette  Riv-er  Lodge,  227. 

Richville  Lodge,  229. 

Russell  Lodge,  229. 

St.  Lawrence  Lodge  No.  Ill,  227. 
Lodge  No.  186, 226. 

Scotch  Lodge,  227. 

Waddington  Lodge.  228. 

What  Cheer  Lodge,  229. 

Wildwood  Lodge,  228. 
Massawepie  Lake,  111. 
Massena  Center,  410. 

churches  of,  414. 

early  settlers  of,  407  et  seq. 

in  the  war  of  1812,  408. 

settlement  of,  404. 

Springs,  411. 

Springs,  analysis  of  water  of,  124. 

supervisors  of,  410. 

village,  412. 
Masters,  Frederick  J.,  on  Chinese  discov- 
ery of  America,  19, 
Matrimonial  market  of  Quebec,  50. 
Mav,  John.  218. 
Mavne  T.,218. 
Mciulf.  General.  206,  207. 
Medical    Association   of   Northern    New 

.  Si.  Lawrence  County,  2S4. 
1  Assembly,  220. 
:ia  T.,  200. 
I'red  J.,  27;.' 
i.'iwiij  A.,  p(irtrail(*t,  laciu^  l',2. 


icT.,  19H. 
Dr.,  Sb2. 


Miller,    Rev.   L.    M.,  portrait   of,  facing 

382,  Part  I. 
]\Iineral  waters,  etc.,  121. 
Minerals,  115. 

list  of,  117. 
Mining,  evidences  of  early,  44. 
Missionaries  Joliet   and   Marquette,    ex- 
plorations of,  53. 
Monackey,  Dr.  P.,  311. 
]\[onroe,  visit  of  President,  153. 
Montreal  of  1659  contrasted  with  the  city 
of  to-day,  48. 

surrender  of,  70. 
Moore  and  Fields,  160. 
Moreland,  F.  R.,  269. 

Forrest   K. ,    portrait   of,    facing   44, 
Part  IL 
Morgan  Dr.  J.  S.,  296. 
Morley,  458. 

churches  of,  458. 
Morris,  Dr.  Robert,  293. 
Morrison,  Rev.  J.  D.,  384. 
Morristown  and  Hammond   Plank  Road 
Company,  16 1. 

churches  of,  621. 

early  settlers  of,  615. 

organization  of,  614. 

supervisors  of,  (il9. 

village,  619. 
Morse,  A.  P.,  216. 
Morton,  (leorge,  268. 
Mounds,  239. 

Murphy,  Thomas  N.,  276. 
Musgrove,  J.  W. ,  portrait  of,   facing  56, 

Part  II. 
Myers,  Charles  G.,  192,  217,  259. 
Myres,  Geo.  B.,  198. 

Natural  Canal,  the,  110. 
Natural  Dam,  558. 

Pulp  Company,  570. 
Navigation,  attempts  to  improve  tiie,  of 

the  St.  Lawrence,  163. 
Neary,  E.  II.,  263. 
Nevin,  Ci\\)l.  David  A.,   lt)T. 
Newell,  Edgar  A.,  portrait  of,  facing  26, 

Part  II. 
New  i'^ran-jc,  the  Company  of,  34. 
New^papers  of  Canton,  4:i(). 

of  Gonverneur,  578. 

of  Hermon,  682. 

of  Massena,  414. 

ill  Morristown,  619. 

of  Norwood,  500. 

of  Ogdensburg,  366. 

of  Potsdam,  483. 
"NewYork,"  steamboat,  17L 
Nicholville,  674. 


INDEX— PART  I. 


"Xiagara,"  steamboat,  ITO. 
Noble,  Dr.  W.,  288. 
Norfolk,  churches  of,  080. 

early  settlers  of,  624. 

organization  of,  623. 

Raymondville  and   Massena    Plank 
Road  Company,  1()8. 

village,  627. 
Norsemen,  17. 
North  Lawrence,  672. 

Russell,  531. 
Northern   New  York  Marble   Compan\-, 

Railroad,  174  et  seq. 

Transportation  Company,  172. 
"Northener,"  steamboat,  171. 
Northrup,  Samuel,  161. 
Norwood,  business  of,  499. 

churches  of,  501. 

press  of,  500. 

O'Brien,  Martin,  710. 
Odd  Fellowship,  283. 
Ogden,  David  A.,  254. 

Samuel,  83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  90,  95,  97, 
132,  133,  137. 
Ogdensburg  and  Heuvelton  Plank  Road 
Company,  167. 

as  affect-ed  by  the  war  of  1812,  139. 

banks  of,  374. 

bombardment  of,  143. 

capital  crimes  or  executions  in,  354. 

cholera  in,  353. 

chtirches  of.  379  et  seq. 

cit}'  officers  of,  862. 

Club,  373. 

Dairymen's  Board  of  Trade,  219. 

defence  of,  in  1813,  146  et  seq. 

effect  of  embargo  act  upon,  lo^. 

Electric  Light  Company,  373. 

evacuation  of,  149. 

fires  in,  354. 

flouring  mills,  376. 

foundries  and  machine  shops,  377. 

Gas  Company,  373. 

improvements  in,  352. 

in  1812,  plan  of,  145. 

incorporation  of  village  of,  3.")  1 . 
of  city  of,  864. 

manufacturers  of,  375. 

population  of  in  1809,  185. 

presidents  and  trustees  of  the  village 
of,  360.  1 

press,  366. 

public  buildings  of,  857. 

resumption  of  business  in,   aftfer  the 
war  of  1812,  152. 

sacking  of,  149. 


Ogden.sburg  schools  of,  371. 

Transit  Company,  174. 

Turnpike  Company,  166. 

visit  of  President  ^lonroe  at,  153. 

water  power,  364. 

water  works,  364. 
"Ohio  Company,"  the,  55. 
"Oneida,"  steamboat,  170. 
O'Neill,  Andrew,  322. 
"Ontario,"  steamboat,  168. 

the  second  steamboat,  171. 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  233. 
Orvis,  H.,  215. 
Oswegatchie  Agricultural  Society,  217. 

beginning  of  settlement  of,  89. 

bridges  in,  340,  349. 

business  of  in  early  times,  342  et  seq. 

evidences   of  earlv  occupation  near 
the,  43. 

Fair  Ground  Company,  217. 

first  death  and  first  marriage  in,  337. 

Ford's  letter  regarding  land  claims 
at,  90. 

unimportance  of,  to  the  English,  77. 

Isaac  Wells's  description  of,  78. 

occupation  of  b\'  Nathan  Ford.    85 
et  seq. 

River,  109. 

settlement  of,  335. 

supervisors  of,  360. 

the,  on  French  maps,  42. 
"Oswego,"  steamboat,  169. 

Packard,  M.  D.,  161,  218. 
Paddock,  Dr.  William  S.,  297. 
Palmer,  Buel,  198. 

Capt.  Frank,  198. 

Samuel  H. ,  262. 

portrait  of,  facing  367,  Part  L 
Parish,  David,  136,  350. 

George,  153,  176,  198,  214. 

mansion,  the,  350. 

stone  store,  80. 
Parishville  Center,  597. 

churches  of,  598. 

organization  and  earlv    settlers    of, 
595. 

supervisors  of,  599. 

Turnpike  Company,  166. 
Parker,  Abraham  X.,  portrait  of,  facing 
256,  Part  L 

David  R.  P.,  278. 

Dr.  Francis,  295. 
Partridge,  Samuel,  161. 
Passport  system  during  the    Rel)i-lli'>ii. 

202. 
Patriot  War  of  1887,  180  et  seq. 
failure  of,  189. 


noj 


INDEX— PART  I. 


"  Paul  Pr>%"  steamboat,  169. 
Peace,  proclamation  of ,  in  1815. 
Pearson,  H.  C,  172. 
Pease,  Dr.  Freeman  A. .  309. 
Peck,  Hiram  H.,  200. 
Perkins.  Bishop,  130,  258. 
John  C.  161. 
Matthew,  180. 
Pettibone,  Chauncey,  161. 
Pickens,  John,  217. 
Pierce,  Dr.   Caleb,  294. 
Pierrepont  Center,  611. 
churches  of,  613. 
early  settlers  of.  608. 
organization  of,  607. 
supervisors  of,  612. 
Pioneer  life,  98  et  seq. 

social  life,  105. 
Piquet.  Father,    aggressive   movements 
of,  63. 

at  La  Galette,  58  et  seq. 
dislike  of,  by  the  English,  0  . 
sketch  of  (note),  71. 
Pitcairn,  churches  of,  687. 
organization  of,  685. 
supervisors  of,  687. 
Pitt,  William,  65. 
Plank  road  companies,  167. 
Plumb,  Henry,  143. 
Pohlman,  Jacob,  336. 
Pomeroy,  Capt.  James,  198. 
Pont-  Greve,  35,  36. 
Poor-expenses,  statistics  of,  162. 
Poorhouse  and  asvlum,  161. 
Pope,  SethG.,  162. 
Population,  222,  223,  224. 
Porphvrv,  566. 
Port  of  Transfer,  174. 
Potsdam,  earlv  settlers  of,  463. 
in  the  war  of  1812,  466. 
"r-anization  of,  462. 
I'laiik  Road  Company,  167. 
Red  Sandstone  Company,  474. 
supervisors  of,  482. 
village,  470. 

banks  of,  482. 
Hayside  Cemetery  in,  474. 
churches  of.  492. 
fire  department  of,  471. 
hotels  of,  473. 

manufacturing      industries      of, 
47'i  et  seq. 

Mtsof,  471. 
' ,  483. 
n(.  486. 
vorks,  472. 
I'rc  imj.h-ments.  241. 

Icncosof.  in  Si.  I.aw- 
237. 


Prentice,  Rev.  Albert  Isl.,  381. 

Proclamation.  General  Wilkinson's,   150. 

Proctor,  William  L.,  portrait  of,  facing 
376,  Part  I. 

Public  buildings,  dissatisfaction  with  lo- 
cation of,  154. 

Railroad,  celebration   of  completion     of 

first,  176. 
Railroads,  174  et  seq. 
Raquctte  River,  109,  411. 

Vallev   and  St.    Regis    Agricultural 
Society,  216. 
Raymond,  Ephriam  S.,  161. 

Judge,  165. 
Raymi.ixlville,  629. 

Recollects  and  Jesuits,  founding  of  mis- 
sions by  the,  38. 
Red  Granite,  566. 
Regiment,  Fifteenth  Infantry,  199. 
Ninetv-second  Infantry,  199. 
One  IlundredandSixthlnfantrv,  199 
Sixteenth  Infantry,  198. 
Sixtieth  Infantry,'  199. 
Regiments,  various,  containing  St.  Law- 
rence county  men,  199. 
Religious  beliefs  and  organizations,  329. 
Rensselaer  Falls,  459. 
Revnolds,  Dr.  G.  W.,  portrait  of,  facing 
400,  Part  I. 

Dr.  Jesse,  300,  309. 
Mrs.  Truman,  324. 
Revolution,  the,  75. 
Richville.  512. 
Ripley,  Dr.  Joseph  H.,  297. 
Rivers,  109. 

Roads,  the  first,  laid  out,  92. 
Robertson,  D.  M.,  280. 

Rev.  .Mr.  383. 
Roberval,  Lord,  first  voyage  of,  33. 
Robinson,  George,  157,  200. 
"Rochester,"  steamboat,  170. 
Rodee,   Henrv,  portrait  of,  facing  378, 

Part  I. 
Rome,     Watertown     and     Ogdensburg 

Railroad,  177. 
Rose,  David,  336. 

Parker  \V.,  157. 
Routes,  earlv,  100. 
Row. and,  Ci-orge  H.,  218. 
Roval  Arch  Masonry,  230. 

Elk  Chapter,  231. 
(iouverneur  Chapter,  231. 
Ogdensburg  Chapter,  231. 
St.  Lawrence  Chapter,  230. 
Royal  and    Select  Masters, 
231. 
Ros^   ',  churches  of,  .594. 
e.irly  settlers  of,  585. 


INDEX— PART  I. 


3Qr, 


Rossie,  Furnace,  58fl. 

in  the  war  of  1812,  ."iST,  .")-2T. 

Iron  Works,  588. 

mining  in,  590. 

organization  of,  584. 

supervisors  of,  592. 

village,  593. 
Russell,  arsenal  at,  528. 

churches  of,  531. 

in  the  war  of  1812,  527. 

organization  of,  52fi. 

supervisors  of,  529. 

village,  530. 

Lawrence,  278. 

Leslie  W.,  158,  160. 

.Sacking  of  Ogdensburg  in  1813,  149. 
St.  Albans  raid,  the,  200  et  seq. 
St.  Jean  Bajitiste  Society-,  235. 
St.    Lawrence    County    Agricultural  So- 
ciety, 215. 

boundaries  of,  108. 

causes  which  led  to  the  erection 

of,  106. 
Dairj-men's  Association,  21S. 
Dairymen's  Board  of  Trade,  218. 
geology  and  mineralogy  of,  113 

et  seq. 
lakes  of,  110. 
minerals  of,  115. 
mineral  waters  of,  121. 
rivers  of,  109. 
soil  and  timber  of,  128. 
troops  from,  for  the  war  of  1812. 

139. 
first  occupation  of  the  southern 
part  of  the,  by  the  French,  40. 
International  Camp  Ground  Associ- 
ation, 622. 
Marine  Railway  Company,  172. 
Pulp  Company,  572. 
River,  discoverer  of,  32. 

peculiarity  of,  in  Massena,  405. 
steamboat,  170.  i 

University,  446  et  seq. 
St.  Martin,  Antoine,  (note)  181. 
St.  Regis  River,  110. 
Sanburn,  Dr.  Louis,  295. 
Sanford,  Carlton  E.,   portrait  of,   facing 
3,  Part  II. 
Jonah,  215. 
Sanches,  Spanish  pilot,  22. 
Saw  mill,  hrst  at  La  Galette,  60. 
Scarborough,  Mrs.,  murder  of,  354. 
Schemes  for  improving  the  navigaion  of 

rivers,  163. 
Schools  of  Ogdensburg,  371. 
Scolvus,  John,  Polish  navigator,  2fi 


Scott,  Gen.  Winheld,  193. 
Scottish,  or  Ancient  and  Accepted  Rite 
232. 

Princes  of  Jerusalem,  233. 
Princes  of  Rose  Croix,  233. 
St.  Lawrence  Lodge  of  Per- 
fection, 233. 
Seaver,  Capt.  Joel,  198. 

Henrv  E.,  277. 
Seeley,  Dr.  John,  296. 
Sentinel,  a  faithful,  140. 
Seipentine  ^larble,  560. 
Setree,  Dr.  E.  W.,  308. 
Sejanour,    Dr.   E.  G.,  portrait  of,   facing 
48,  Part  II. 

David,  135. 

Geo.  D.  v.,  217. 

George  X.,  216. 
Shanty  building,  99. 
Shea,  Dr.  Patrick  H.,  317. 
Shepard,  Charles,  200,  216. 

Dr.  Pierce,  298. 

George  B. ,  275. 
Sheriffs,  252. 
Sherman,  Dr.  A.  B.,  292. 

Dr.  B.  F.,  290. 

Dr.  Frank  R.,  292. 

Dr.  J.  Chipman,  293. 

Dr.  S.  N.,  291. 
Sherwood,  Dr.  Solomon  P.,  296. 
Sisson,   George  W. ,    portrait  of,    facing 

477,  Part  I. 
Skinnerville,  522. 

Smith,  Alonzo  A. ,  portrait  of,  facing  359, 
Part  I. 

A.  E.,  217. 

Calvin  Harrison,  257. 

Dr.  Joseph  W. ,  289. 

Dr.  Moses  E. ,  305. 
Smithers,  Samuel  and  Joseph,  325. 
Soil  and  timber,  128. 
Somerville,  593. 
South  Colton,  697. 

Edwards,  663. 
Southwick,  Dr.  David  E.,  293. 
Southworth,  E.  H.,  218. 
Southville,  or  South  Stockholm,  522. 
Spaulding,  M.  W.,  portrait  of,  facnig  27, 

Part  IL 
Special  County  Judges,  250. 
Spinner,  an  aged,  48. 
Sprague.  jr..  Asa,  156,  161. 

Dr.  F".  P.,  295. 

Dr.  Gideon,  295. 
Spratt,  Thomas,  portrait  of,   facing  244, 

Part  I. 
Squires,  A.  Z.,  718. 

Benjamin,  157. 


366 


INDEX— PART  I. 


Stadacona,  32. 

State  Normal  School. at  Potsdam,  489. 

Road,  the,  134. 

r.  ads,  105. 
Steamboat  navigation,  168. 
Sterlin,  James,  swindle  b}-,  6.")6. 
Stetson,  Capt.  JohnL.,  198. 
Stilhvell,  Dr.  H.  S.,  304. 

Smith,  161,  214. 
Stockholm  Center,  523. 

churches  of,  523. 

organization  of,  518. 

supervisors  of,  521. 
Stowell,  Prof.  T.  B.,   portrait  of,   facing 

491,  Part  I. 
Streams,  remarkable  course  of ,  1. 2. 
Street  Railway,  179. 
Streeter,  Reuben,  161. 
Strong,  E.  L.,  716. 
Superstition,  effects  of,  52. 
Supervisors,  first  board  of,  130. 
Supplies  and  money,  difficulty  in  obtain- 

mg,  95. 
Surrogates,  251. 

Sweenev,  "Major-general,"  206. 
Sweet,  H.  L.,  218. 
Swift,  Theodore  H.,  274. 

Talc,  567  et  seq. 

Mining,  577. 
Tappan,  Charles  ().,  portrait  of.  facing 

88,  Part  I. 
Taxation  of  the  colonies,  effect  of,  75. 
Telegraph  lines,  209. 

steamboat,  170. 
Telephone  line,  210. 
Ten  townships,  the,  81. 
Thatcher,  Dr.  Hervev  D.,  301. 
Thompson,  Dr.  Abram  X.,  307. 

J.,  218. 
Tibbets,  John,  322. 
Ticonderoga,  fall  of,  66. 
Timber    growth    on    the   Oswegatchie, 

(note),  76. 
Towns,  summary  of  the  transfer  of,  83. 
Treaty  of  Paris,  71. 
Trout  Lake,  111. 
Tuck,  Andrew,  218. 
Turner,  Alexander,  130.  134. 

Alexander  J.,  323. 
Turnpike  companies,  166. 
Townsend,  Dr.  Richard,  289. 

United  States  Pulp  Company,  573. 

^'  -t,  Hiij. 

Usht:  licld,  portrait  of,  facin-  4S2, 

Part  i. 
Utica  and  Black  River  Railroad,  17^ 


Vance,  John  A.,  260. 

Vanden  Heuvel,  Jacob,  340-342. 

Van  Kenneu,  George  E.,  270. 

Van  Rensselaer,    Henrv,  153,   171,   214, 

215,  325,  351. 
Verrazzani,  John,  vo\-age  of,  31. 
Vespucci,  Madame,  351. 
Von  vSchoultz,  patriot  commander,  183. 
Voyageurs,  41. 

Waddington,  churches  of,  710. 
supervisors  of,  710. 
village,  706. 

organization  and  settlement  of,  701. 
Wadhams,  Rev.  E.  P. ,  portrait  of,  facing 

50,  Part  I. 
Wadleiuh.  Luther  E. ,  264. 
Wait.  M.  R.,  218. 
Walch.  Dr.  Edwin  C,  308. 
AValker.  Daniel,  161. 
"Walk-in-the- Water,"  steamboat,  169. 
War  of  1812,   as  affecting  Ogdensburg, 
139. 

declaration  of,  138. 
one  of  the  alleged  causes  of.  136. 
of  the  Rebellion,  196  et  seq, 
Washington,  George,   mission  of  to  the 

French  at  Erie.  56. 
Waterman,  Robert  Emmet,  278. 
Weed,  Wjlliam   R..    portrait    of,    facing 

478,  Part  I. 
Wells,  Xathaniel,  717. 
West  Potsdam,  502. 
Stockholm,  521. 
Western  continent,  virtual  beg'inning  of 

historvof,  17. 
Wheeler,  William  A.,  199. 
Whitney,  Dr.  E.,  297. 
Wilkinson,  General,  expedition  of,  150. 
Williams,    Charles,    portrait   of,    facing 

513,  Parti. 
Williams,  Dr.  F.  P.,    portrait   of,    facing 

2S7,  Part  1. 
Winthrop,  522. 
Wise,  Dr.  P.  M.,  297. 
Wolves,  336. 

Women,  importation  of  young,  49. 
Wood,  Ca])t.  Wallace  W..  198. 
Wooster.  Charles.  219. 
Worth,  Colonel,  185,   189,  192,  194. 
Wright,  Benjamin,  165. 
jr.,  Silas,  161,  214.  253. 
Stephen  S.,  statement  of,  185. 

Youn^- Men's  Christian  Association,  Og- 
densburg, ;J90. 

Zeni,  Xicolo  and  Antonio,    narrative  of, 
22. 


INDEX-PART  11. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Austin,  John  H.,  (i2. 
Averell,  James,  48. 
Averell,  William  J.,  7. 
Babcock,  Z.  W.,  55. 
Bayley,  Dr.  C.  W.,  11. 
Bean,  James  S.,  53. 
Bridges,  Dr.  Zena  B.,  32. 
Carr,  Philetus  G. ,  4(5. 
Clarkson  Family,  The,  84. 
Conger,  Gerrit  S. ,  58. 
Corbin  Family,  The,  8. 
Curtis,  50. 

Daniels,  William  H.,  60. 
Darrow,  George  F. ,  80. 
Dart,  William' A.,  17. 
Day,  Hiram  W.,  38. 
Dorwin,  Gustave  S. ,  58. 
Egert,  Amos  S. ,  28. 
Ellsworth,  Horaee  D.,  87. 
Erwin,  George  Zalmon,  20. 
Gabriels,  Rev.  Henry,  52. 
Giffin,  Dan  Spafford,  11. 
Hale,  Ledyard  P.,  45. 
Hall,  George,  61. 
Hasbrouck,  Louis,  6. 
Hoard,  Louis  De  Villers,  86. 
Holland,  Henry,  68. 
James,  Henry  R. ,  41. 
Judson,  John  D.,  45. 
Judson,  Roscius  W. ,  49. 
Kellogg,  Charles  A. ,  40. 


Knowles,  Henry  L.,  12. 
Lee,  Rev.  John  S.,  65. 
Lyon,  David  H.,  56. 
McClair,  Charles  W.,  15. 
McFalls,  Dr.  David,  32. 
Magone,  Daniel,  57. 
Merritt,  Edwin  A.,  1. 
Miller,  Rev.  L.  Merrill,  62. 
Mcjreland,  Forrest  K.,  44. 
Musgrove,  J.  W. ,  56. 
Newell,  Edgar  A.,  26. 
Palmer,  Samuel  H.,  87. 
Parker,  Abraham  X.,  18. 
Proctor,  William  F.,  81. 
Reynolds,  Dr.  G.  W..  61. 
Rodee,  Henrv,  39. 
Russell,  Leslie  W.,  43. 
Sanford,  Carlton  E.,  3. 
Seymour,  Dr.  Elbridge  G., 
Sisson,  George  W.,  5. 
Smith,  Alonzo  A.,  29. 
Spaulding,  M.  W.,  27. 
vSpratt,  Thomas,  57. 
Stowell,  Thomas  B.,  16. 
Tappan,  Charles  O.,  24. 
Usher,  Bloomfield,  9. 
Wadhams,  Rev.  E.  P.,  42. 
Weed,  WimamR.,54. 
Williams,  Charles,  28. 
Williams,  Dr.  F.  F.,  59. 


48. 


INDEX. 


PERSONAL    SKETCHES. 


Abbott,  Rev.  Henry  Craunce,  3. 
Abell,  Frank  B.,  296. 
Abernethy.  Arthur  W.,  294. 

Cvrus  C,  5. 
Adams,  Charles  F.,  4. 

Milo,  297. 
Aikens,  John,  182. 
Aitchison,  Robert,  7. 
Aldrich,  Newton,  313. 
Allen,  Alexander,  6. 

Dr.  Alfred  R.,  205. 

Dr  F.  D.,  2q8. 

Freeman  H.,  4. 

Peter,  6. 

R.  T.,  10. 

Samuel,  ^34. 

Thomas,  10. 
Ames,  Fisher  F.,  3. 

Frank  W.,  4. 
Amo,  Alexander,  6. 

A.  H.,  294. 

George  N.,  294. 
Anderson,  Duncan,  1. 
Andrew,  Jacob,  329. 
Andrews  Family,  The,  77. 

"Morris  B.,  313. 
Anstead,  Alvin,  7. 

George  A.,  296. 
Archer,  William,  3. 
Armstrong,  Abner  H.,  236. 
Ashley,  Frank,  297. 

Joseph,  205. 

Loren  R.,  296. 
Ashton.  William  H.,  iSo. 
At  water,  Edwin  H.,  5. 
Atwood,  I.  M.,  312. 

L.  D.,  300. 
Henrv'  A.,  2. 

n,  Edward  J.,  i. 

S.  A.,3. 

S.  H.,  I. 

W.  D.,  295. 
Ay  res.  Stephen,  295. 


Habcock. 

All( 
Shi 

z  ■ 

A. 

en. 

A..  12. 

-  -I. 

'iVy  A.,  294. 
Hovey,  17. 

Bair 
Bak 

■-IS. 
W.,  .74. 

i;..  173. 

J.  v.. 


t92. 


Balcome,  Elon  S.,  288. 
Baldwin  Family,  21. 

G.  S.,  21. 

Henrv  K.,  11. 
Ball  &  Fletcher,  289. 
Ballou,  Hiram  H.,  8. 
Bancroft,  William,  29S. 
Barber,  Ira,  17. 

Luman  M.,  17. 
Barbour,  W.  J.,  243. 
Barker,  Harvey,  16. 
Barnes,  A.  X.,  289. 

E.  S.,  16. 

George  B.,  18. 
Barnett,  Michael  J.,  --4 

Barrows,  Aaror..  15. 
Bamhart,  K.  J.,  345. 
Barry,  Frank  D.,  201. 
Bartell.  W\  V.,  23.  ' 
Bartholomew,  Jeromo,  14. 
Bartlett.  Nathan  W.,  -. 
Batchelder,  Benjamin  F.,  13. 
Baum,  Fred  E.,  10. 

Jatnes  N.,  22. 
Bayley.  J.  B.,  320. 
Beach,  James,  q. 
Beaman,  F.  B.,  243. 
Beckwith,  M.  D..  275. 
Bedal,  T.  W.,  179. 
Beede,  Royal  S.,  270. 
Bell,  Oliver.  17c. 
Benham,  S.  R.,  175. 
Benson,  Charles  H.,  201. 

O.  P.,  329. 

S.  Ellis,  II. 
Benton,  Joseph,  21. 

Knowlton,  14. 
Bergeron,  J.  B.,  9. 
Berrj',  John  H.,  11. 

William  C,  i8. 
Billines.  A.  B.,  19. 
Bissell,  Ralph,  289. 
Bixby,  (Veorge  H.,  292. 
Bliss,  Oliver,  19. 
BlodgLit,  James  B.,  22. 
Blood,  Amos,  290. 
Bless,  Albro  E..  24. 

George  W.,  286. 
Bolami,  William,  289. 
Bolton,  Thomas  H.,  23. 
Bonney,  lieorge  W.,  7. 

Oliver  E.,  20. 
Boo-i'-    I  ......1,      c- 

Bo 

Hf  .  _  .;.  „.cw.nv    T     tR._. 

Houck,  t^tordon,  29J. 


Bo  wen,  A.  D.,  289. 

David  H.,  18. 

William  C.,  274. 
Bowhall,  William,  16. 
Bradford,  Henry,  349. 
Bradish,  John,  19. 
Bradley,  Oral,  23'. 
Brassard,  John,  243. 
Breckenridge,  M.  P.,  286 
Bridges,  J.  D.,  313. 
Briggs,  Benjamin  P.,  287. 
Bristol,  L.  M..  15. 
Brodie,  James,  291. 
Brogan,  Henry,  166. 
Brouse,  Jacob,  19 

Wesley,  10. 
Brown,  A.  P  ,  9. 

Le  Rov  S.,  22. 

N.  E.,'i8. 

Orson  L.,  179. 
Brundage,  Charles  R.,  304. 
Brush,  Charles  H.,  189. 

Joseph  A.,  194. 
Buck,  Alfred  G..  12. 

Epaphroditus,  188. 
Buckley,  John  H.,  286. 
Bullis,  Lewis,  178. 
Burnhara,  Francis  S.,  202. 

G.  C,  288. 
Burt,  G.  W.,  176. 
Burtis,  S.,  243. 
Butler,  Edwin  H.,  275. 

Ira  Daniel,  290. 

John  F.,  14. 
Buttolph,  James  S.,  20. 

Callaghan,  Peter,  24. 
Callanan,  Thomas  F.,  281. 
Capell,  Harvey  A.    74. 
Capron.  E.  B.,  76. 

Royal  E,  281. 
Carey,  F.  T.,  32. 
Carn'cross,  Randall,  307. 
Carpenter,  Adam  F.,  25. 

A.  S.,  2S1 

C.  C,  29 

H.D.,  27. 

L.  P  ,  280. 

Robert  Byron,  280. 
•."arswell,  John,  -27,). 
Carton,  James,  354. 

Z.  B.,  33'- 
Casey,  L.  B..  276. 
Catlin,  Christie,  «2. 
Chaffee,  James  E.,  3". 
Chamberlain,  Worth,  276. 


INDEX— PART  Iir. 


;]G0 


Chambers,  W.  O.,  34. 
Chandler,  Charles  A.,  28. 
Chaney,  John  H.,  162. 
Chapman,  H.  A.,  281. 
Charlton,  John,  26. 
Chartrand,  Georg-e,  25. 
Chase,  H.  Benjamin,  2^0. 
Chellis,  J.  S..  31. 
Chittenden,  King  S.,  193. 

Varick  A.,  193. 
Church,  Charles  B.,  283. 
Harvey,  33. 
Jonathan,  280. 
Clark,  Amos  F.,  28. 
Charles  A.,  29. 
Charles  A.   281. 
Edmund,  187. 
George  F  ,  32. 
Harry  Noble,  283. 
James,  285. 
M.  W.,  279. 
Nathan  Edgar,  283. 
Richard,  25. 
S.  L  ,  284. 
Silas  S  ,  33. 
Silas  W.,28. 
Thomas,  275. 
W.  T.,31. 
Clifford,  M.  L.,  306 
Close,  Henry  J.,  181. 

John,  276. 
Clulterbuck,  William  H.,  285. 
Coates,  T   A..  278. 
Cogswell,  Enos  Loomis,  28'. 

Seth  L.,  282. 
Colborn,  Benjamin,  276. 
Cole,  E  iwin  N.,  348. 
Colnon,  J.  W.,  279. 
Colton.  Carlos,  160. 

Daniel,  307. 
Compton,  H.  M.,  197. 
Conroy,  Rev.  J.  H.,  32. 
Converse,  Horace  J.,  3O1. 
Cook.  \y  J.,  25. 
Cooper,  Eugene,  311. 
Coughlin,  D.  J.,  27. 
Couper,  Joseph,  284. 
Joseph  P..  284. 
Covey.  David  M.,  278. 

H.  M.,  278. 
Cox,  James  A.,  286. 
Craig,  John,  45. 
Crampton,  L.,  155. 
Crane,  P   M.,  no. 
Crary,  Ezra,  163. 

Rj'-land  A.,  353. 
Crawford,  George  A.,  285. 

James  V.,  30. 
Crinklaw,  Jerome,  331 
Crooks,  H.  F.,  330. 
Crosby,  Samuel  T.,  27. 
Crossman,  Marcus,  169. 

W.  R.,  26. 
Crouch,  C.  F.,  169. 
Crowley,  P.  M.,  34. 
Crysler,  G.  M.,  33. 
Cubley,  William  H.,  352. 
Currier,  L.  S.,  277. 
Curtis,  Francis,  196. 
Lafayette,  187. 
Lyman  P.,  26. 
Cuthbert,  William,  30. 
Cutting.  A.   B.,  31. 

Daggett,  Henry  L.,  34. 
Dailey,  .S.  W.,  39. 
Dalton,  Thomas,  38. 
Dalzell,  Robert  S.,  40. 


Dana.  Elihu  M.,  341. 

L.  A.,  318. 
Daniels,  John,  273 
Dardis,  James  D  .  38. 
Darrow.  George  F.,  35. 
Dart,  Dennis  R.,  272. 
Davenport,  C.  L.,  235. 
Davis  H.  K.,  35. 

Lorenzo,  no. 
P.  A.,  192. 
Truman,  334. 
Dawson,  Asa,  274. 
Day,  Chester.  181. 

Luther  B.,  332. 
William  H.,  184. 
De  Lack,  John,  273. 
Delaney.  Thomas,  314. 
Denison.  R.  H  ,  333 
Derby  H.  Stanley,  305. 
Deschamps   George,  272. 
Desmond,  John,  2"77. 
Dessert,  George  H  ,  273. 
Dewy,  Aaron,  349. 

Frederick  L.,  37. 
Willard  E.,  334. 
Dezell,  Kenneth  R.,  36. 
Dixon,  William  Henry,  190. 
Dodd,   Henry,  37. 
Dodds,  George  M.   272. 
Dodge,  Dr.  S.  W.,  311. 
Dominy.  Levi  S.,  74. 
Donaghue,  A.  F.,  332. 
Donald,  Henry,  40. 
Dorgan,  William,  272. 
Doud.  George  C,  40. 
Douglas,  John  W.,  305. 
Douglass,  Henry  A.,  333. 
Dousey,  Dr.  George  H.,  277. 
Dow,  James  M.,  272. 
Drake,  Loren  M.,  332. 
Draper,  W.  H.,37. 
Duff,  William,  38. 
Dunkclberg,  C.  C,  37. 
Dunn,  Alexander,  39. 
Robert  F.,  277. 
Thomas,  306. 
Dunntry,  F.,  273. 
Dutton,  Ira,  36. 

Eacutt,  William,  271. 
Earl,  Grant,  42. 

John  W.,  42. 

William,  43. 
Eastman,  George  L.,  269. 

S.  E.,  304. 
Easton,  J.  D.,  42. 

William  H.,  43. 
Eaton,  J.  B.,  327. 
Ehle,  M.  P.,  269. 
Elderkin,  Noble  S  ,  42. 
Elliott,  Admiral  M.,  271. 

Xerxes  C,  271. 
Ellis,  Frank  D.,  269. 
Ellison,  Wayland  F.,41. 
Ellsworth,  E.  S.,  126. 
Ellithorpe,  Paschal  B.,  335. 
Ellwood,  Alexander,  43. 

Gibson,  43. 
Emery,  Charles,  41. 
Ewingsj  H.  H.,  7s. 


Fackerdl,  L.  J.,  49- 
Fairbanks,  Richmond  J.,  197. 
Pairbrother,  George,  264. 
Panning,  Benajah  C,  201. 
Farley,  John,  265. 
Farmer"  Brothers,  212. 
Calvin  E.,  48. 


Farnsworth,  Amos,  265. 
Farwell,  Charles,  46. 
Faulkner,  Joseph.  265. 
Fay,  Francis  E  ,  268. 
Fenner,  C.  W.,  44. 

Judson  F.,  265. 
Fife,  Andrew,  267. 
James  S.,  46. 
Thomas  W.,  47. 
Finne.gan,  Dr.  W.  B.   76. 
Fish,  H.  R.,  335. 

Marcus,  346. 
Fisher,  James,  267. 
John  C,  40. 
"Robert  A.',  268. 
William,  266. 
Fisk,  Charles  A.,  336. 
Fitch.  A.  N..  4  .      ' 
Fitzgerald,  John,  266. 
Flack,  Garrett  P.,  44. 
Flagg,  Edward  W.,  45. 
Flaherty,  Michael  H.   76. 
Fletcher,  Calvin  T.,  176. 
Flint,  Frank  P,,  264. 
Flood,  Dr.  J.  Q.,  T92. 
Ford,  James,  49. 

John,  50. 
Forrester,  Irwin  D.,  266. 
Forsythe,  Walter,  266. 

W.  W.,  264. 
Fortune,  Dr.  W.  E.,  336. 
Foster,  W.  J  ,  265. 
Frank,  Nathan,  44 
Freeman,  David,  47. 
William  A.,  46. 
Fuller,  A.  P.,  264. 
Edward,  266. 
William  D.,  45. 
Fulton,  John  J.,  48. 

Gaddis,  E.  W.,  263. 
Gage,  John  C,  57. 
Gagnon,  J.  L.,  55. 
Gannon,  J.  H.,  299. 
Gardner,  A.  D,,  263. 

Clark  A.,  i68. 

L.  M.,  262. 

Otis,  260. 
Garfield,  Milton,  262. 
Gates,  Arba,  175. 
^         A.  A.,  55. 
Gary,  Shepard  S.,  50. 
Gedbaw.  Francis,  53. 
Gibbons,  Williams,  51. 
Gibson,  George,  260. 

George  N.,  56. 

Jason,  54. 
Giffin,  A.  D..  262. 
Gilbert,  E.  Howard,  263. 

Joseph,  261. 
Gilbreth,  William,  312. 
Gilman,  Alnian,  187. 
Gladding,  William  L.,  260. 
Glazier.  Ward,  191. 
Glennan,  John,  260. 
Glover  &  Orne,  262. 
Goodale,  Lucius  L.,  53. 

R,  P.,  172. 
Goodnough,  William  H.,  55. 
Gore,  James,  326. 
Graham,  John,  56. 
Grand5s  J.  L.,  327. 
Grange,  John  D.,  261. 
Grant,  Andrew,  51. 

George,  52. 

Nelson  J.,  52. 

Samuel,  261. 
Graves,  James  M.,  55. 


370 


INDEX— PART  III. 


Gray.  C.  F.,. 
Gregor.  Da\  . 

GreKoO'-  ■^-  ^^  •  -" 
Griffith.  D.  C,  57- 

J.  W..  =62. 

Griswold.  loseph  N.,  54- 

Robert  H.,  53- 
Groulx,  V.  J.,  263. 
Guerin,  Ainos,  54- 
Gustin.  A.  H..  185. 
Gwin.  Hilend.  51. 

Hackett,  Patrick.  69. 
Hagparty,  William,  254- 
Haig,  J.  A.,  73- 
Hale.  Oscar  H.,  71- 
Hall,  Anson  b.,  68. 

Erastus  F..  59. 

Giles  J.,  61. 

Hezeklah  B.,  72. 

John,  257. 

Walter  W.,  66. 
Hamell,  Henry  W.,  65. 
Hamlin.  D.  A.,  336. 

Emory  A..  62. 
Hannan.  John.  61. 
Hargrave,  John  and  Richard 

2S5* 

H arrigan ,  Jay  D . ,  66. 
Harris.  Allen  E..  67. 

H.  J.,  66. 
Harlwell.  J.  W..  337. 
Harvey.  James  Freeman,  255. 

Orson.  161. 
Hasbrouck,  Levi.  326. 
Haselton,  Harry  S..  324- 
Hatch.  Dr.  A.  J..  325- 
E.  B.,  324. 
L.  B..  325- 
Robert  R..  256. 
Hatley,  Walter,  68. 
Haven.  J.  M..  60. 
Havens.  Samuel.  62. 
Hawkins.  Harry.  68. 
Hasvley,  George  W..337. 
J.  (ioodwin,  302. 
Morris  B.,  162. 
Haywood.  C.  Eugene.  255. 
Ha/.elton,  M.  V.,  68. 
Tliomas  J  ,  71. 
Healy,  Philip,  260. 
Heath,  Alinon  D.,72. 
Frederic  M.,  64. 
Milton,  63. 
Heavrue,  Roff  J..  351. 
Heaton,  Charles,  62. 
Heckles.  William.  258. 
H<-nrv,  William  Y  ,  254. 
I!  Arthur  T.,  256. 

1  C.  B.,  65. 


Hilt' 
Hoi, 


,  70. 


ii'M 


Hornier,  Ira  G..  351- 
Howard,  Ansel  T.,  163.; 

Gil:red  E..  173. 

Maro  L.,  no. 

William  Penn,  258. 
Hubbard,  Benjamin  P.,  253- 
Hulburd,  Calvin  T.,  258. 

Luther,  168. 

Sanford  W.,  168. 
Hull.  Royal,  256. 
Htinkins,  John,  325. 
Hurlbut.  E.  A.,  257. 
Hutton.  G.  E..  72. 

Ide,  Russell  B..  76. 
Idler.  John  G.,  78. 
Ingerson,  Eneas,  323. 
Irish,  Albert  H.,  302. 

lesse  C  250. 
Ives,  "Martin  V.  B.,  79. 

Tarvais,  Frank,  79. 
"lefft-rson,  N.  W.,  251. 
"Jenkins,  Jotham,  78. 
"ienne,  E.  A.,  253. 
Jennings,  John,  162. 
,     "jewett  Proctor,  79. 
johnst>n,  Abner  A.,  249. 
James  O.,  249. 
j.B.,  77- 
J.  E..251. 
Johnston,  ti.  P.,  76. 
J.  P.,323-  , 
William  H.,  251. 
Jones,  Cyrus  O..  252. 
Harvey  L..  78. 
William  H.  H.,  337. 
Joyce,  James.  250. 
John,  252. 

Keene,  Col.  H.  B.,  80. 
Keenan,  William  L.,  247. 
Kegle,  M..  249. 
Kellev,  J.  H.,249. 

James  J..  82. 
Kellogg.  Fayette  N..  1 1 1. 
Kelly.  James.  249. 
Kelsey,  Delos  D.,  248. 

Elias.  81. 

Henry  G.,  81. 
Kennedy.  Martin,  248. 

William  L..  247. 
Kennehan.  Patrick  E.,  171. 
Killmcr,  John.  248 
Kingsley,  Wesley,  338 
Kinnc'V.  A..  81. 

Hart  S..  80. 

John  S..  338. 
Kinsman,  John  M.,  8.;. 
Kirby,  Reynold  Marvin,  248. 
Kirk,  Vernon  H.,  80. 
Knapp,  Moore  B.,  246. 

Labeidee,  M.  L.,  83. 

W.  J..83. 
Lally,  P.,  243. 
Lalone,  G.  A.,  243. 

J.  H.,245. 
Lamb,  Harlan.  242. 
Lane,  (ie   rge  E..  84. 
Laqui'i',  .\.  J.,  86. 
Laramii-,  Rev.  E.  C,  87 
La  koi  I;    !•■.  H.,  87. 
Larock,   I'lscph.  87. 
Lak'.  .     Rev.  P   O.,  88 
Lathi.  :     Mrs.  .Serepta  ."-  ,  181. 
Luv;i'  '. .  Alexandei,  346. 

I  !■  Iirick,  318. 


Lavery,  W.  N.,  339. 
Lavier,  Thomas  H.,  243. 
Laving,  Andrew,  jr.,  246. 
Lawyer,  A.  D.,  245. 
Leach,  J.  S.,  243- 
Lee,  Rev.  John  Stcbbins,  299. 
Leete.  Asa  H.,  245. 
Lennev.  William.  83. 
Lesperance,  h.  H..  243. 
Lewis,  William  H..  86. 

Libbey.  George  E  ,  178. 

Liddeil,  James,  244. 

Lindsav,  William  P.,  245. 

Livingston.  James  N.,  244. 

Lockie,  George.  87. 

Lockvvood,  jr..  Aldis  L.,  88. 
Family.  The,  88. 
Homer  R.,  8c. 

Long,  Ransom  B.,  185. 

Lord,  Alexander  H.,  338. 

Losee,  W'illiam,  244 

Louis,  Christopher,  84. 

Lovejoy,  Henry,  243. 

Loveland.  M.  E.,  87. 

Lucey,  D.  B.,  195- 

Lyman,  James  W.,  246. 

Lynde    D.  S..  166 
Elliot,  246. 

Lytle.  Andrew.  86. 
David.  244. 

McAllaster.  J.  E..  238. 
McCabe,  James  B..  112. 
McCaffrey.  J.  G..  240. 
McCall.  Harry  W..  100. 
McCarricr.  Ja'mes.  f'9. 
McCarthy.  John  H..  167. 
McCarty,  Charles,  95. 
McClair,  J.  E.,  236. 
McCormick,  Francis  H  ,  241. 
McCrea,  jr..  A.  L.,  98- 
>  McDonald,  Edwin  F.,  92. 
McDougall,  John  H.,  242. 
McKueti,  A.  E.,  3'7- 
Carlton  J.,  30'- 

McGinnis,  Edward,  264. 

McGregor,  R.  B.,  94. 

McGruer,  A.,  100. 

McGuire.  James,  240. 

McKimni,  James,  341- 

McMillan.  Angus,  15Q. 

McMonagle,  Dr.  N.  D.,  112. 

McMullin,  Paul.  185. 

McTavish,  A..  92. 

McVean,  John  C,  90. 

Mackey,  Thomas,  239. 
Madock.  John  H.,  241. 
Maher.  Dennis  J..  340. 
Mainville.  John.  93. 
Maley.  A.  J..  316. 
Manley.  Gilbert  B..  90. 
Mann.  Warren.  92. 

William  T..  242. 
Manning,  John,  91. 
Marceau,  C.  C,  q3. 
Marsh,  Morgan,  95. 
Martin,  Joseph  C,  98. 

Orrin  K.,  186. 

Thomas,  94. 
Mason,  M.  C,  94. 
Matthews,  James,  347. 

R.  B.,347 
Maxfield,  Elijah   E.,  237. 
Mellette,   Paul,  242. 
.Merriam,  C.  A.,  90. 

E.  X..99- 
Merrill,  .Silas  W.,  307. 


INDEX— PAET   in. 


!Merriman,  Fred  J.,  190. 
Merritt,  S.  C,  99. 
Merrv,  Edward,  06. 

'I.  T.,  q8. 
Millar.  Dr.  William  J.  L.,  200. 
Millard.  W.  L.,  94. 
Miller,  Benjamin  H.,  241. 

Kdward  H.,  242. 

Rev.  L.  M.,  96. 

S.  Harrison,  93. 
Mills,  J.  A..  240. 
Mitchell,  William  H.,  94. 
More,  David  A.,  242. 

James,  95. 

J-  S..  93 
Morehouse,  Albert  W.,  238. 
Morgan,  Charles  G.,  237. 

Daniel,  239. 

Dorson  D.,  236. 

George,  239. 

James,  238. 
Morley,  George  H.,  240. 
Moore,  Samuel,,  190. 
Morrison,  Rev.  J.  D.,  06. 
Moulton,  George  A.    97. 
MulhoUand,  Henry,  350. 
Munro,  Donald  D.,  02. 
Murphv,  Jpmes,339' 

M".  J.,  264. 
Murray,  Andrew,  241. 
Musgrave,  Benjamin,  93. 

Nash,  Sidney  L.,  233. 
Needhani,  Fred  S.,  100. 
Negus,  A.  I  ,  270. 
Newland,  Peabody,  341. 
Newton,  A.  L..  236. 

Charles  W.,  102. 
Newell,  H.  A.,  234. 
Nevin,  Henry  F.,  234. 
Nichols,  Calvin,  102. 
Nicolson,  R.,  100. 
Nightengale,  John,  233. 
Noble,  E.,  112. 

Tremont  H.,  234. 
Norman,  J.  H.,  loi. 
Norihrup,  Hiram  D.,  loi 

Lorenzo,  233 
Nyhan,  Rev.  William  B.,  159. 

O'Brien,  Michael,  104. 

&  Maxfield,  232. 
O'Driscoll,  Father  James,  232. 
Olin,  Charles  M.,  233. 
Oliver,  Ttomas,  104. 
Olmstead,  Joel,  103. 

William  H.,  232. 
Ormsbee,  Amos,  342. 
Ormston,  Walter,  105. 
Oswell,  George  B.,  103. 
Overacker,  William  D.,  105. 
Overton,  John  A.,  105. 
Owen,  Frank,  103. 

Packard,  M.  D.,  299. 
Paddock,  William  H.,  342. 
Paige,  A.  A.,  107. 

J.  W.,226. 
Palmer,  George  W.,  316. 

J.  M.,353. 
Paquette,  A.  A.,  107. 
Parker,  B.  G.,334. 

M.  Sabin,  112. 
Parr,  William,  225. 
Parsons,  George  S.,  113. 
Paterson,  J.  A..  106. 
Patten,  Herbert  G.,  309. 


Pearson.  Andrew  M.  H.,  115. 

John,  114. 

Urias,  1C7. 
Pease,  Trueman,  308. 
Peck,  Comer  M.,  109. 

Daniel,  322. 

Frank  M.,  no. 
Peet,  Charle-;  W.,  113. 
Pelsue,  James  B.,  231. 

Orson  J.,  184. 
Perkins,  A.  J.,  322. 

D.  F..  105. 

Isaac  E.,  106. 
Perrigo,  Harlan  S.,  113. 
Perrin,  Byron,  228. 

Walter  W.,226. 
Phair,  William,  230. 
Phelps  Familv,  The,  226. 
Phillips,  D  ,  225. 
Phippen,  Amasa  B.,  107. 

Warren  T.,  108. 
Pickert,  Hiram  L.,  108. 
Pickrell,  Dr   Evan,  230. 
Pierce.  T.  W  ,114. 

William  H.,  320. 
Pike,  Nelson  W.,  229. 
Pinnev,  H    D.,  ic6. 
Plumb,  L.  R.,  115. 
Popple,  G.  N.,  229. 

William  J.,  224. 
Porteous,  John  S.,  114. 
Potter,  Edson,  224. 

Henrv,  161. 
Pratt,  Henry  W.,  228. 
Predmore,  H.  S.,  114. 
Price,  John  E.,  229. 
Priest,  Henry,  299. 
Pringle,  Gilbert,  231. 

Ralph,  G.,  230. 
Proctor,  Charles  Davis,  225. 

H.  I.,  109. 
Putnam,  B.,  322. 

Ralph  L.  D.,  120. 
Ramsey.  Isaac,  220. 
Raymond,  George  B.,  123. 
Read.  James  C,  220. 
Reed,  Byron  G.,  343. 

E.,  304. 
Remington,  W.  R.,  116. 
Renter,  J.  E  ,  j20. 
Rex,  Joseph,  220. 
Reynolds,  J.,  182. 
Rhodes,  Harlow,  222. 
Rich,  S.  D.,  219. 
Richards,  Alfred,  120. 

George,  W.,  119. 

James  A.,  183. 
Richardson  Famil3-,  The,  160. 
Rice,  D.  .S  ,  2QQ. 

HaK-ey,'  119. 
Rider  Family,  The,  219. 

Jaines  il  ,202. 
Riggs,  4shlev  S.,  121. 

PhJlO  P  ,  272. 

Risley,  Hvibbard,  188. 
Roach,  E.  A\  .,  223. 
Robertson,  Alexander  M.,  loS. 

D.M.,3i3- 

Robinscn,  C.  M.,  118. 

G.W.,  116. 

hJn.,3io. 

J.]e.,  21S. 
Jchn  H.    116. 
Oliver  C.,  117. 
r7t.,  117. 
Rodee,  fohn  V.,  119. 


Rodger,  Dr.  G.  H.,  183. 

H.    W.^I22. 

John  T.,  222. 

i^utherford,  122, 
Rogers,  Clark,  279. 
Rose,  Parker  W..  130. 
Rowell,  George  W.,  223. 
Rule,  George,  121. 
Runions,  Oscar,  234. 
Russell.  E.  F  ,343. 

Edwin  F.,  118. 

George  H.,  122. 

Oscar,  173. 

S.  K.,  223. 

William  H.,  223. 
Rutherford,  Andrew  J.,  221. 

Alexander,  221. 

James,  221. 

Jerome,  125. 

John,  127. 

John  D.,  2ig. 

J.  H.,  >3o. 

John  T.,  128. 

John  W.,  127. 

Nelson,  125. 

Richard  M.,  12S. 

R.  Edward,  220. 

Robert,  123. 

Thomas,  129. 

Thomas  F.,  126. 

Walter,  115. 

Walter,  127. 

W"ilHam,  125. 

W.  L.,  124. 

Sackett,  Martin  Russell,  303. 
St.  Denny,  Charles,  139. 
St.  Germain,  Frank,  214. 

Louis,  140. 
St.  Lawrence  County  Bank,  299. 
Sanford,  Charles  A.,  344. 

Darwin  E.,  300. 

Edwin  D.,  302. 

E.  Jonah,  344. 

Herbert  J.,  200. 

Jonah,  315. 

Joseph  H.,  134. 

Silas  H.,  i8q. 
Sargeant,  Harvey  A.,  135. 
Sauve,  Emory,  139, 
Sawin,  J.  P.,  215. 
Sayer,  M.,  210. 

Ransom  E  ,  321. 
Scarborough,  James  M.,  32S. 
Schrier,  John,  135. 
Schwartzman,  J.,  216. 
Scott,  Brayton  T.,  72. 

Robert,  137. 
Scullin,  Nicholas,  211. 
Seaman,  R.  L.,  136. 
Seaver,  Robert  R,,  132. 
Seely  Family,  The,  131. 
Selleck,  Truman  M.,  143. 
Sellers,  George  W.,  213. 
Senter,  Alpheus  A.,  133. 
Shattuck,  E.  A  ,  136. 

Henry  B.,  164. 
Shaw,  A.  B.,  321. 

El;  M.,  142. 

William,  138. 
Sheldon,  E.  H.   213. 

George  A  ,  177. 

G.  B.,  213. 
Shepard,  Fred,  309. 

George  W.,  140. 
.Shields,  Isaiah,  134. 
Shiell,  George,  130. 


INDEX— PART  III. 


Sholette,  Leo,  135^ 
Simmons,  Philander,  142- 
Simonet,  Kuffene  J  ,  i37- 
Simpson,  Thomas,  215. 
Singleton,  Peter,  3  l^- 
Sisson,  jr..  George  W.,  132. 
Skinner.  John  F.,  171. 

Rev  NV  I*-.  142- 
Smead,  Oscar  H.,  144. 
Smith,  Bela  B.,  141- 

B.  Howard,  136. 

Carlton,  217. 

E.  M.,  3'9- 
Frank  H.,  318- 
Frank  L.,  217- 
James,  141. 
John  C,  iq6. 
R.  G  ,  igS. 
Robert  W.,  216, 
S.  W.,  139- 
W.  F.,  218. 
Snyder,  John,  210. 
Soper,  William,  210. 

William,  214. 
Southwell,  Daniel,  218. 
Spaulding,  B.  D..  216. 
Spear,  George,  218. 
Spencer.  James  M.,  i44- 
Spinks,  Levi.  216. 
Sprague.  Daniel  W.,  139. 
Squires,  John  B.,  170. 
Stofford,  Thomas,  171. 
Stanton,  Alexander  B.,  211. 
Stearns,  Dr.  Melvin  J.,  327- 

Nathan  W.,  201. 
Steinburg,  Harvey,  211. 
Stephens,  David.  143- 
Stephenson,  Dr.  A.  Revis,  215. 
Stevens,  Lewis  E.,  214. 
Stevenson,  M.  L.,  140. 
Stewart.  Wiley.  155. 
Stockwin,  C.  H.,  131- 
Stone.  R  B..  132. 
John  G.,  328. 
Nathan  L.,  133. 
Oscsr  O.,  210. 
Storie,  George  D.,  215. 

T.  D.,  138. 
Story,  Harvey  M.,  137. 
Stoutenger,  Joseph,  130. 
Stowe,  Charles  A.,  214. 


Stowe,  Thomas,  211. 
Sturtevant.  De  W^tt  C.  164. 
Sudds,  H.,  I3q  I 

W.  F.,  138. 
Sweatt,  Charles  A  ,  222! 
Sweet,  George  H.,  133- 
Swi!t,  Norman,  212 

Tait,  G   P.,  147- 
Taitt,  James  D.,  147. 
Tallman,  WiUiani  H..  146. 
Tann,  J.  M.,  200. 
Tate,  Thomas  B.,  145. 
Taylo'-,  D.  R.,  209. 

George  F  ,  209. 

P.  R  ,  148. 

Randolph,  167. 
Tharrett.  James,  321. 
Thomas,  Alonzo  H.,  320. 

John,  209 
Thompson,  John  S  ,  146. 

Robert,  147. 
Timerman,  M.  W.,  147. 
Tracy  Family,  The,  144- 
Tracey,  James  D.,  145- 
Tuck,  Andrew,  148. 

Usher,  Luke,  148. 

Valley,  Mab,  hq. 
Vanderburg.  Fred,  20S. 
Van  Ornum.  Chester.  196. 
Vebber,  William,  165. 
Veitch,  Thomas  A.,  20S. 
Vilas,  Alden,  159. 

Erastus,  149. 
Volans,  Thomas,  149 

Wainwright,  J.  W.,  203. 

Lorin  M..  203. 
Wait,  John,  205. 

Myron  H.,  205. 
Waldron,  T.  F.,  154. 
Walker.  Charles  R  ,  163. 

William,  203. 
Walling,  (  ol.  William  H.,  1; 
Walrath.  Philip,  204. 
Wand,  Philip.  204. 
Watkins,  Henry,  204. 
Watt,  George  T.,  158. 
Wea^rant,  Ernest  E.,  20' '. 


Webster,  W.  A.,  184. 
W'eed,  William  W.,  150. 
Welch.  David  M..  157. 
Michael,  207. 
Svlvester.  207. 
Wells.  "Charles  H..  345- 
George  K.,227. 
Henry,  195. 
Otis  H.,  346. 
R.  T.,  299. 
Wallace  H .,  167. 
West,  Harvey  C.  157. 
W'estbrook  Family,  The,  206. 
Weston,  John  R..  207. 
Westurn.  Thomas,  151. 
Whalen,  Edward,  347. 

Thoinas,  2-6. 
White.  Erastus  R.,  320. 
Whitney.  Abner  D.,  156. 
A.  S.,  154. 
D.  J...  152. 
Milton  A.,  156. 
Thomas  J., 208. 
Whitton,  I.  R.,  207. 
Wight,  A  len,  319 
Wilder,  William  D.,  298. 
Williams,  C.  E.,  io6. 
I^aac  B.,  150. 
William  G.,  i=,i. 
Williamson,  WMUiam  C,  157- 
Willis,  .Austin,  149 

Eben.  165. 
Wilson,  George  B..  203. 
George  E.,  157. 
John,  183 
I.oren  H.,  152. 
Mvron,  150. 
Witherell.  H    E.,  318. 
Wood,  Hnnry  H.,  204. 

J.  H.,  207. 
Woodward,  G.  W.,  194. 
Worden,  H.  E.,  157- 
Wrigglesworth,  Mrs.  Jane,  174- 
Wright,  T.  W.,  204. 

Melville  S.,  154- 
S.  B.,  204. 

202. 


Yerden,  George  S., 
Voung.  Enoch,  202. 
W.  H.,  158. 

Zellar,  Henry  F.,  158. 


1.0S  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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